Retired Special Forces Major Heston Russell responds to ABC star Greg Larsen's Anzac Day comments
Retired Special Forces Major Heston Russell has responded to ABC star Greg Larsen's shocking comments about Anzac Day during a podcast rant about the national day of remembrance.
In the hour-long episode of The Greg Larsen Show, titled 'ANZAC DAY SPECIAL', Mr Larsen said he wanted to 'stoke some controversy' and 'up his listener count'.
"Here's my hot take: I reckon I could beat all the Anzacs in a fight," he said.
"There, I said it. I reckon they're not so tough."
The self-described "leftie" quickly reversed his position, claiming he was joking about fighting the Anzacs but went onto to characterise the public holiday as based on a 'jingoistic' national myth.
Mr Russell, a retired special forces major and combat veteran, characterised Mr Larsen's comments as 'clickbait to further his own career'.
'(Greg's) opinion on Anzac Day does not deserve any more serious consideration or conversation given his own words opening to the podcast: 'Pissing off everyone - it's a good way to be a viral hit', in my opinion,' he told SkyNews.com.au in a statement.
'The ANZACs and all of us who have served since, served to preserve rights including the freedom of speech for all Australians.'
The national day of remembrance honours the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) landing at Gallipoli during World War I- a campaign in which approximately 8,709 Australians and 2,779 New Zealanders died.
The retired soldier also warned the public not to get 'overly distracted' by critics of Anzac Day who have never served the country.
'Those of us who have served know there is a massive difference between actions and words, and which is actually required when faced with true combat,' he said.
'It's important not to get overly distracted by critics who have never served but instead look to profit off 'pissing off everyone'.'
Later in the podcast episode, Mr Larsen continued his tirade against the national day of remembrance by claiming the Gallipoli soldiers 'died like dogs' for 'no good reason'.
"All of them were tricked, all of them were lied to, all of them were led to their deaths by the dog c***s that run this dog c*** nation," he said.
Mr Larsen further claimed that the Anzacs form the "myth" underpinning Australia's national identity.
"Anzac Day is our myth," he said.
"Anzac Day should not be a day where we fly a flag, Anzac Day should be a day where we burn a flag."
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