Yesterday carried a double-weighted meaning in Australia. It being November 11th, our thoughts were drawn to the awful conflict of 1914-1918, the Great War, which ended in an Armistice on that day in 1918. From the consequences of the Armistice, namely the Versailles Treaty (and similar lesser documents), another conflagration was set in motion. 

November 11 is also significant in Australia because it is the anniversary of the controversial sacking of the Whitlam Labor Government in 1975, the most tumultuous event in Australian politics since the Rum Rebellion. The latter pales by comparison when we consider the endless debate, anger, hand-wringing and dispute that has followed in the past 50 years. Being a great fan of the Whitlam Government, my position vis-a-vie the G-G is obvious - it was done slyly and it was done badly and it should not have been done.

I don't know if the next 50 years on this issue will play out with such passion. Life goes on  and people forget. It's much the same with the Armistice, for despite the best efforts of politicians and citizens to keep the flame alive, things cloud over, and cloud over again. Another great war will sweep all before it as never before. That's a good reason to remember now.

Lest We Forget.