Australia’s Catherine Deveny has a lot of titles, according to her bio: writer, comedian, author, social commentator and speaker. She also touts herself as a “feminist, atheist, cyclist, Gunnas Writing Master, Curvy Crumpet, Pushy Woman, Trollhunter & Atheist Kibbutz founder.” But she seems to have left one important title off: garbage person.
In advance of Anzac Day, the day of remembrance for members of the Australian and New Zealand armed forces, she vomited up this take on the military:
Why do people in the armed forces use the word 'serve' to describe their work despite it being no more dangerous or prone to upheaval than many other jobs? It's just a job and work. Throw the term 'serve' in the bin. It's part of the fetishisation of war and violence.
— Catherine Deveny (@CatherineDeveny) April 23, 2018
Uh …
I don't know about Australia, but in the USA we use the term "serve" for public service jobs. It is not about fetishing war, it is about people working on behalf of their fellow citizens and for the good (I know this is debatable) of the collective nation – city clerk to soldier
— Erin_Miller (@millerlawmd) April 24, 2018
But they choose that job so it's their choice to play by those rules. No gun to their head, so to speak. They choose to work under that agreement.
— Catherine Deveny (@CatherineDeveny) April 24, 2018
Yes, choosing to serve the public
— Erin_Miller (@millerlawmd) April 24, 2018
choosing to serve the public = having a job. The veneer of sacrifice is unnecessary and self-serving
— Catherine Deveny (@CatherineDeveny) April 24, 2018
She’s special, isn’t she?
Give me an example of another job that people are exposed to a hidden threat and death around every corner ? You’re obviously against war and that’s fine but don’t play down the risk that we took to give you the right to post a ridiculous tweet like this.
— Damien Brown (@beatdown155) April 24, 2018
Firefighters, paramedics, police, doctors, social workers, nurses, window cleaners, miners, arborists, labours, farmers, construction workers, people who work with those suffering severe mental illness, prison officers, roofers, teachers (in American schools), loggers, fishermen
— Catherine Deveny (@CatherineDeveny) April 24, 2018
Window cleaners. Are you having some kind of breakdown?
— Caroline Bresson (@bressoncaroline) April 24, 2018
It would appear that way, yes.
Catherine, I served my country, as a Soldier, for 26 years. How many years did you serve? Zero! @tnjordon
— Diane ?WeAreUK (@KentuckyDiane) April 24, 2018
You didn't 'serve your country' you chose a job in the violence industry.
— Catherine Deveny (@CatherineDeveny) April 24, 2018
Holy crap.
Awful. Just an awful comment.
— M G Burst (@horseneverlies) April 24, 2018
Don’t worry — there’s still more where that came from:
World War II: 1939–45. Over 993,000 Australians served in the armed forces during World War II. Of those on active service, 27,073 were killed in action or died, 23,477 were wounded, and 30,560 were taken prisoner of war. Sorry 10% of those soldiers suffered for you.
— ken (@coolrunning2009) April 23, 2018
The suffered because they were sucked in with the glamour of war and racism under the guise of patriotism. They were uneducated and ignorant. Most were up for an adventure and and identity. That's why they went. For their own self serving reasons.
— Catherine Deveny (@CatherineDeveny) April 24, 2018
It’s like a train wreck. We can’t look away, no matter badly we want to.
"Fetishisation of war"? Another moron who can't help herself on the eve of this country's most sacred day. #anzacday @penbo @chriskkenny
— John Whistler (@johnawhistler) April 24, 2018
Come to Anzac Day in Melbourne with me. I am happy to explain the notion of service. Seriously.
— Peter Davidsen (@davepetersenis) April 23, 2018
you seem to assume I have never been to a dawn service, an ANZAC day march or met people who have worked in the violence industry.
— Catherine Deveny (@CatherineDeveny) April 24, 2018
OK, that’s probably enough.
Nice healthy ratio on this one https://t.co/7vW68uZT1N
— Alex Griswold (@HashtagGriswold) April 24, 2018
And with good reason.
— Jason Powers (@JPowers247) April 24, 2018
https://twitter.com/sweeney_denis/status/988567459627089920
It takes a lot of effort to concoct something as asinine as that statement. I can only assume you’re desperate for some form of notoriety. Poor form.
— Mick Snowden (@MickSnowden) April 23, 2018
Your ignorance is breathtaking ?
— Gary Lowe (@GaryLowe37) April 23, 2018
— Andrew Caraway (@Caraway6) April 24, 2018
This pic is of a young Sapper ( #CombatEngineer) in Afghanistan that I served with He is laying down because he is trying to defuse an #IED yes a #bomb they blow up kill & maim people like me. He is #Serving the Afghan people by making the road safe & his country #DangerousJob pic.twitter.com/UysH4gVaFM
— David Savage (@DavidSavage63) April 24, 2018
Why don’t you say this to my family and me in person? First ANZAC Day tomorrow without my Brother. C4L
— thinking positive (@thinkingpositi2) April 24, 2018
We are called service men and women. We preform a job, one that is inherently dangerous and can wreck our bodies. Why would we do something like that? Not because we are selfish but because we are selfless. We swear to an oath that we will defend our country
— Armyvetmom22 (@momma22js) April 24, 2018
I served my country in Afghanistan on the “frontline” and dam right I will use the word “serve”. I watched soldiers get blown up, lost a work friend, Get shot at and whilst you sit behind the comfort of your computer writing such bullocks. Be grateful for people that have served
— Dane Woods (@DMGWoods) April 24, 2018
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