Comments on: VUWSA: ANZAC wreath would support war

By: Matt Fairhurst

Matt Fairhurst — Fri, 08 May 2009 01:45:27 +0000

Emma: Did you mean you *can’t* get over that fact? In which case you’re saying you can’t get over the fact that she’s able to put her strong personal feelings on the issue second to the responsibility to carry out her job as a democratically elected official? Huh. You people sure are hard to please.

By: Emma

Emma — Thu, 07 May 2009 09:03:10 +0000

I just read Freya’s rebuttal to her actions… I can get over the fact she wears her relative’s medals to services and yet doesn’t feel passionately enough about ANZAC to say stuff a mandate and YES laying a wreath is what students want….?

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 06 May 2009 07:13:26 +0000

Mandate. n.
2. Polit. [After French mandat (1789 in this sense). In quot. 1796 the phrase mandate instructions is probably after French mandats impératifs (1789).] The commission to rule or to pursue stated policies conferred by electors on their elected representatives; support for a policy or measure of an elected party regarded as deriving from the preferences expressed by the votes of the electorate.
Oxford English Dictionary

By: nz soldier

nz soldier — Wed, 06 May 2009 06:33:15 +0000

I have recently read the article about VUWSA refusal to lay a wreath for ANZAC day commerations on stuff.co.nz and I am disgusted.
I am a member of the New Zealand Defence Force and would firstly like to state that the views stated here are my own and i know way represent the views of the NZDF, I have served my country on four seperate operational deployments in three seperate countries and both my great grandfathers and grandfaters served during WW1 and WW2 respectivly.
How can a body selected by the students to represent them be so stupid, you speak of requiring a mandate to lay a wreath, it is every new zealanders mandate to remember and respect those that have gone before and fought and died for the way of life that you now live.
ANZAC day in no way condones war, infact it is the opposite, it teachs and reminds us of the mistake made in the past that have cost so much.
I am physically sickened by your lack of respect, I hope that your student mandate also states that all students not of christen faith do not have good friday and easter monday off……….no it doesnt well there is my point.

Hopefully your student body will see the error of there ways and elected a new executive that doesnt make a mockery of its universtiy and its student assocition.

By: diddums

diddums — Tue, 05 May 2009 02:06:21 +0000

Freya, you are an idiot.

By: Annoyed_Citizen

Annoyed_Citizen — Sun, 03 May 2009 22:03:55 +0000

Unfortunately gibbon you probably are.
I to would like to know the answer to your question.

By: Gibbon

Gibbon — Fri, 01 May 2009 11:32:09 +0000

Sigh, am I wasting my time?
Freya:
Does VUWSA believe that students should be forced to be a member of its association? If so, how can VUWSA continue to accept student’s money each year, when, to quote Freya Eng, “some students may not feel the same way”?

By: Mum

Mum — Fri, 01 May 2009 11:17:28 +0000

Good on you Freya…though you won’t likely read this I will at least say I’m impressed you’ve taken the time to reply. I like someone who fronts up and faces the crazy mob. I look forward to reading Salient’s next issue.

By: Hamish

Hamish — Fri, 01 May 2009 11:16:44 +0000

Is the government not representing the views of New Zealanders when it lays wreaths on Anzac day? Would Australians be disgusted the their High Commissioner placed a wreath at Wellington’s cenotaph just because a minority oppose war? New Zealanders are turning up to dawn services in record numbers. VUWSA should probably note that just because a minority is more vocal, doesn’t make it the majority; it seems to have done jus that, sadly.

I wore a Poppie on Anzac Day.

By: dave

dave — Fri, 01 May 2009 10:16:53 +0000

but anzac day isnt a contentious issue. its a nationally recognized day of rememberence where people gather in the thousands at cenotaphs all around the country standing in complete silence as the bugle sounds. people of all age, from young children through to the vets of WWII, malaya and vietnam. even primary school student have enough smarts to realise why anzac day is so important.

given that there is no “official mandate from students” to recognise ANZAC Day means that officially no student objects the VUWSA on recognizing and supporting anzac day. if this is the case the best pratice would be to use common sense and show respect to those that gave some much.

i just hope that next year the VUWSA doesnt make the same mistake