I’m 62 years old. My father is 85. I spent most of my adult life not realizing what having my father in my life had meant to me. He didn’t point out how he provided for us. He never demanded my appreciation. He wasn’t an affectionate man. But he lived responsibly, with integrity, quietly providing an environment where I could grow, fail, and succeed. Thankfully I grew up enough to realize how important he has always been in shaping the person that I am. My mother gave me her heart. But my father gave me the means to find and build my own heart. And I am so thankful, finally, to have this man in my life.
I don't offer my respect to politicians (former) often, nevertheless, I've been listening to the former Vice-PM for some time now and the more I do, the more respect this man earns from me. HON Mr John Anderson, you are the definition of a true Australian. Sir, I may not have agreed with all your idea's and politics during your years in office, however, I can clearly see you deserved to be there. Thank you for the service of your country...and my thanks and gratitude to your Father for his. Happy Father's Day ! Marc
Well said, I'm a Pom happily living in Australia for 15 years and grateful to be here. My political leanings have taken a sharp right turn recently given the lunacy of the alternative option. And a new appreciation of the values of Christianity as well. John's channel is very much welcomed.
@@MatthewJohnCrittenden Hey Matt (Cobber) 15 years deserves the title...Aussie. However, being first generation Italian/Australian I totally understand the "need" to cherish our/your ancestry. I love the Poms, you're the funniest mob on the planet...If nobody has ever said it to you before...I'll say it now, "Welcome to Australia...we're glad to have ya !" God bless, and yes the values of Christianity are my guide in life. Marc, WA
I’m female, born in England, my father was killed when I was two months old leaving my mother with three very young children and so soon after they began a family after the second world war. My mother remarried when I was three. Fortunately my stepfather was a generous, loving, hard working man and so I was never left without a fatherly influence and I am so thankful for that. My older sister could never accept him and it scarred her deeply, there was never a conversation that didn’t include her bitterness and loathing of him though she admits he never mistreated her. It is due to my stepfathers desire to come to Australia, as he had served on a Corvette in the Med and loved the sun drenched countries, that inspired me to bring my family to Australia in 1981. They did come twice but only to visit, my mother couldn’t leave her home. I knew this was where I belonged the moment I stepped off that 747 in the balmy eucalyptus scented air of Perth with a toddler and fractious twelve week old baby in my arms after 28 hours of no rest or sleep that it had been worth it and I would never leave, I wanted to raise my family on this land. I was a teacher in London but I am so glad my children didn’t get schooled in the UK where inevitably they would have become like their UK peers, churned out left wing social justice warriors. My three kids love this land and they will fight to keep it as the blessed free nourishing place they grew up in and love deeply. I have my stepfather to thank for that and Australia has three freedom loving, Australian loving, peace loving well balanced adults who will work and fight to keep Australia the wonderful place it is and not let the socialists imprison their souls.
Thank you for this. My 'stepfather' and I were never very close...mostly from my ignorance. The fact that he was s Staff Sargent stationed in the Aleutian Islands really was unimpressive for me. Until near the end of his life, I finally began to understand him, and love him for who he was; what he had experienced and what he hoped for me and his other children. I was present at his death and will ever remain conscious of our last our last conversation" Dad: Who are you? Me: I am your son.
God bless you John. Thank you for sharing your story with such open honesty. The world would be a much kinder and gentler place if we all acknowledged the importance of good fathering especially of our young men. I thank God each and every day for the parents I was blessed with and your sharing this is very humbling.
John, thank you so much for sharing this. I was deeply moved by it, and have a tear rolling down my cheek as I type this. My own father, while a very different man to yours by the sound of it, was also a deeply troubled man, haunted by the demons of his own traumatic experiences of which I never once heard him speak. Like you, I was only able to piece together some idea of his earlier life from piecemeal anecdotes shared with me by others who had known him in those times. My father caused me a great deal of pain and suffering in my childhood years, and I was deeply resentful for many years. It was only as an adult I was able to recognise & appreciate that he'd done the best he knew how to do, and loved me deeply despite his inability to show it. I lost my father last year, and the people I met at his funeral, the stories & memories they shared with me, added a whole new dimension to my understanding of his life, of what shaped him into the man he was. It greatly deepened my empathy for him, and my appreciation for everything he instilled in me despite his flaws. My father was also looked upon as a hero by many who came into contact with him, albeit in a very, very different context to that you shared here, and I will always admire his devotion to helping those who nobody else would. His actions set a great example of how to be a good man, along with what *not* to do as a father - even in his failings he taught me many invaluable lessons. Like you, I'm deeply passionate about the role of good, strong men in society, which is entirely contingent on the presence of good fathering. The denigration of men, masculinity - and especially fathers/fatherhood - is one of the most tragic sicknesses afflicting Western culture today. Personally I believe that shifting attitudes & values around this is the most fundamental prerequisite for any hope we may be able to save what we have from the brink of collapse we are rapidly approaching. I've developed a deep respect & admiration for you & your work over the last few years, which has further deepened by what you share here. Much love & gratitude to you John; you're setting a great example for the men of my own (millennial) generation - particularly us Australians - who aspire to, and strive towards, making the greatest contribution we can to our society. Thank you for everything you do.
Powerful words John.... it is lost on so many in today’s society, especially in my home country of America. The greatest tragedy of today’s world in my humble estimation.
This is a wonderful story reminding us of the gift of ‘good’ parents and how their commitment to their family lays a foundation that fosters growth in character and healthy values. Thank you John Anderson
I’m so glad I listened to this. I lost my own father when I was 19. It’s a difficult age to lose a father as the rebel in one is starting to take shape and it leaves many regrets. 40 years on I still have a very real sense of his absence. I have immense respect for John Anderson. Men like him help to fill in the void.
"When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.” - Mark Twain
Very moving rendition of an entire lifetime. I've always loved and admired my father and am thankful for all he has done for me and my siblings, but your appreciation of your own makes mine all the more poignant. Thank you.
Před 4 lety
Did not know about the tragedies and suffering of your family, Mr Anderson. My admiration for what you do has grown as a result. Best to you, and know that ppl ARE listening. And understanding.
Thankyou Mr Anderson for sharing that with us all, my customary eloquence fails me in trying to conjure up the words to describe how deeply I felt what you said. However I assure you that I like you recognise that we play in the shadows of giants and the good men we call Dad.
I am truly moved by your sentiments John as indeed so many others have written before I. My father would be your fathers' generation and he was active in the pacific. So many other uncles were also involved and some in the North African Campaign. As you mentioned, I too grew up in the shadow of the post-war era and topics of conversations amongst the adults always ended up sooner or later with reference to aspects of the war. Indeed the profound effect it had on all was not lost on me as a child. Your words resonated with me and I have made peace with my father a few months ago, to the point that he resides in the shed in the form of a framed photo as his life was characterized by his ceaseless time in his shed, so now I share my ceaseless time in my shed with his portrait upon the galvanized iron wall. Thank you for the efforts you make to bring a well-rounded perspective to the static noisy discourse of CZcams. We certainly need more of it.
It was only in my 40s that I fully appreciated all my father had done to help me become that man that I am today, and for that I am grateful. Our family had our share of hardships (mom died of cancer when I was 14) but Dad was from a generation that was expected to 'man up'. And he did. What more could you ask?
This was such a lovely remembrance of your Dad! Thanks for this. It's good to contextualize the situation rather than judging solely from our own vantage point. Indeed, I hope our children will have the wisdom and grace to view us in this way.
Thank you John for sharing your personal story so honestly. I too did not appreciate what my father went thru as a young man until it was too late and in my case, after going thru similar heartbreak. Your message is so needed today.
Strangely I feel as though I knew your father - though I did not. Perhaps it is because you articulate so well my personal belief's about the men of that generation and their son n daughters. Perhaps because my own son's had no possibility of what you describe. Or perhaps because your humanity comes shining through and you bring your dad along with you. Thank you Mr Anderson and may He continue to bless you n yours as we travel this new road in 2022.
Similar story for me. I am 2 years older, father was in the 9th Division, spent a lot of his time after the way in Repatriation hospital receiving electric shock therapy. However I was blessed to have a strong mother and no other family tragedy.
You can never live your father's life as time keeps flowing and no moment is the same as the last, so all you can do is live your life as it unfolds as well as he did, in full appreciation of what he faced and accomplished, but without direct comparison with yourself. If you manage to inspire gratitude in future generations, without ever expecting it or asking for it, then you have done very well indeed.
Just FYI, Rodney King didn’t die in that event. The riots happened after the acquittal of the officers charged in his beating. Respect to your father for fighting in the war and raising good kids amidst those challenges you mentioned.
Very touching. The level of fatherless families among the bantu in South Africa is around 80% ... this may help to explain such dysfunctional behaviour.
It is almost impossible to be a good father today because women, our wives, simply won't let us be. The battle just to stay in our own home with our children is what rages everyday even if many men haven't recognised it until it's too late. It is a spiritual battle for our souls, for our children's souls.
I am a bit older than you. My eyes teared up listening to you. It is that people like your father (and mine) and indeed you exist that I still hold out hope for this world. I know that President Donald J. Trump has started a process that he can not complete. Eight years is simply not enough time to fully take back control of Western Society but he can forge a strong beginning and just maybe we will have others that will continue the task. This really is WWIII it is just not fought the same way.
I remember years ago, My son had found a use for his little pecker and when I got home his Mum was livid. She demanded I talk to my filthy boy. I went into his room to see a terrified boy. I immediately assured him he had done no wrong. It was only the way he cleaned himself up that was the problem. I resolved the problem But what could have happened if I as not there.
You forgot about the gift of good mothering whereby about one in three mothers murders their baby in the womb, but could not give a stuff. Lovely people women.
I’m 62 years old. My father is 85. I spent most of my adult life not realizing what having my father in my life had meant to me. He didn’t point out how he provided for us. He never demanded my appreciation. He wasn’t an affectionate man. But he lived responsibly, with integrity, quietly providing an environment where I could grow, fail, and succeed. Thankfully I grew up enough to realize how important he has always been in shaping the person that I am. My mother gave me her heart. But my father gave me the means to find and build my own heart. And I am so thankful, finally, to have this man in my life.
I don't offer my respect to politicians (former) often, nevertheless, I've been listening to the former Vice-PM for some time now and the more I do, the more respect this man earns from me. HON Mr John Anderson, you are the definition of a true Australian. Sir, I may not have agreed with all your idea's and politics during your years in office, however, I can clearly see you deserved to be there. Thank you for the service of your country...and my thanks and gratitude to your Father for his. Happy Father's Day ! Marc
Well said, I'm a Pom happily living in Australia for 15 years and grateful to be here. My political leanings have taken a sharp right turn recently given the lunacy of the alternative option. And a new appreciation of the values of Christianity as well. John's channel is very much welcomed.
@@MatthewJohnCrittenden Hey Matt (Cobber) 15 years deserves the title...Aussie. However, being first generation Italian/Australian I totally understand the "need" to cherish our/your ancestry. I love the Poms, you're the funniest mob on the planet...If nobody has ever said it to you before...I'll say it now, "Welcome to Australia...we're glad to have ya !" God bless, and yes the values of Christianity are my guide in life. Marc, WA
@@themessenger5868 Thanks for that Marc! I still support the Poms at the cricket though so smarting at the latest loss :)
@@MatthewJohnCrittenden Yeah I get that...I would be the same if I was in the UK...Cheers.
An intensely moving story. John Anderson is obviously a good man, and i'm sure his Father would have been proud of the man he became.
I’m female, born in England, my father was killed when I was two months old leaving my mother with three very young children and so soon after they began a family after the second world war. My mother remarried when I was three. Fortunately my stepfather was a generous, loving, hard working man and so I was never left without a fatherly influence and I am so thankful for that. My older sister could never accept him and it scarred her deeply, there was never a conversation that didn’t include her bitterness and loathing of him though she admits he never mistreated her. It is due to my stepfathers desire to come to Australia, as he had served on a Corvette in the Med and loved the sun drenched countries, that inspired me to bring my family to Australia in 1981. They did come twice but only to visit, my mother couldn’t leave her home. I knew this was where I belonged the moment I stepped off that 747 in the balmy eucalyptus scented air of Perth with a toddler and fractious twelve week old baby in my arms after 28 hours of no rest or sleep that it had been worth it and I would never leave, I wanted to raise my family on this land. I was a teacher in London but I am so glad my children didn’t get schooled in the UK where inevitably they would have become like their UK peers, churned out left wing social justice warriors. My three kids love this land and they will fight to keep it as the blessed free nourishing place they grew up in and love deeply. I have my stepfather to thank for that and Australia has three freedom loving, Australian loving, peace loving well balanced adults who will work and fight to keep Australia the wonderful place it is and not let the socialists imprison their souls.
Thank you for this. My 'stepfather' and I were never very close...mostly from my ignorance. The fact that he was s Staff Sargent stationed in the Aleutian Islands really was unimpressive for me. Until near the end of his life, I finally began to understand him, and love him for who he was; what he had experienced and what he hoped for me and his other children. I was present at his death and will ever remain conscious of our last our last conversation" Dad: Who are you? Me: I am your son.
God bless you John. Thank you for sharing your story with such open honesty. The world would be a much kinder and gentler place if we all acknowledged the importance of good fathering especially of our young men. I thank God each and every day for the parents I was blessed with and your sharing this is very humbling.
We could really use a man like John Anderson in Canadian politics.
No kidding
Desperately.
Maxime Bernier
@@silkhead44 lol
John, thank you so much for sharing this. I was deeply moved by it, and have a tear rolling down my cheek as I type this. My own father, while a very different man to yours by the sound of it, was also a deeply troubled man, haunted by the demons of his own traumatic experiences of which I never once heard him speak. Like you, I was only able to piece together some idea of his earlier life from piecemeal anecdotes shared with me by others who had known him in those times. My father caused me a great deal of pain and suffering in my childhood years, and I was deeply resentful for many years. It was only as an adult I was able to recognise & appreciate that he'd done the best he knew how to do, and loved me deeply despite his inability to show it.
I lost my father last year, and the people I met at his funeral, the stories & memories they shared with me, added a whole new dimension to my understanding of his life, of what shaped him into the man he was. It greatly deepened my empathy for him, and my appreciation for everything he instilled in me despite his flaws. My father was also looked upon as a hero by many who came into contact with him, albeit in a very, very different context to that you shared here, and I will always admire his devotion to helping those who nobody else would. His actions set a great example of how to be a good man, along with what *not* to do as a father - even in his failings he taught me many invaluable lessons.
Like you, I'm deeply passionate about the role of good, strong men in society, which is entirely contingent on the presence of good fathering. The denigration of men, masculinity - and especially fathers/fatherhood - is one of the most tragic sicknesses afflicting Western culture today. Personally I believe that shifting attitudes & values around this is the most fundamental prerequisite for any hope we may be able to save what we have from the brink of collapse we are rapidly approaching. I've developed a deep respect & admiration for you & your work over the last few years, which has further deepened by what you share here.
Much love & gratitude to you John; you're setting a great example for the men of my own (millennial) generation - particularly us Australians - who aspire to, and strive towards, making the greatest contribution we can to our society. Thank you for everything you do.
Being a good husband, proper marriage ties in general, is a prerequisite to fathering.
Powerful words John.... it is lost on so many in today’s society, especially in my home country of America. The greatest tragedy of today’s world in my humble estimation.
This is a wonderful story reminding us of the gift of ‘good’ parents and how their commitment to their family lays a foundation that fosters growth in character and healthy values. Thank you John Anderson
I’m so glad I listened to this. I lost my own father when I was 19. It’s a difficult age to lose a father as the rebel in one is starting to take shape and it leaves many regrets. 40 years on I still have a very real sense of his absence.
I have immense respect for John Anderson. Men like him help to fill in the void.
Same here, mate. I lost mine at 3 and a half.
What a special man you are John, thank you for this as well as your interviews. May we meet in glory one day.
So wise, thank you for sharing. Good fathers are a gift from God
Truly a special episode. Thank you Mr Anderson for sharing such a personal story.
"When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.” - Mark Twain
Thank you John very touching & truthful - Thank God for good Fathers' !
This is a powerful message by a powerful messenger. Thanks for the contribution, John, to the conversation.
Thank you for sharing Mr Anderson - a great story and message.
Very moving rendition of an entire lifetime. I've always loved and admired my father and am thankful for all he has done for me and my siblings, but your appreciation of your own makes mine all the more poignant. Thank you.
Did not know about the tragedies and suffering of your family, Mr Anderson. My admiration for what you do has grown as a result. Best to you, and know that ppl ARE listening. And understanding.
Thanks for your wisdom and support through these worrying times.
Thankyou Mr Anderson for sharing that with us all, my customary eloquence fails me in trying to conjure up the words to describe how deeply I felt what you said. However I assure you that I like you recognise that we play in the shadows of giants and the good men we call Dad.
Thank you for sharing. Makes me wanna call my dad
You should do that. He'd be happy to hear from you.
I am truly moved by your sentiments John as indeed so many others have written before I. My father would be your fathers' generation and he was active in the pacific. So many other uncles were also involved and some in the North African Campaign. As you mentioned, I too grew up in the shadow of the post-war era and topics of conversations amongst the adults always ended up sooner or later with reference to aspects of the war. Indeed the profound effect it had on all was not lost on me as a child. Your words resonated with me and I have made peace with my father a few months ago, to the point that he resides in the shed in the form of a framed photo as his life was characterized by his ceaseless time in his shed, so now I share my ceaseless time in my shed with his portrait upon the galvanized iron wall. Thank you for the efforts you make to bring a well-rounded perspective to the static noisy discourse of CZcams. We certainly need more of it.
Beautiful story John Anderson. I feel it in my bones.
It was only in my 40s that I fully appreciated all my father had done to help me become that man that I am today, and for that I am grateful. Our family had our share of hardships (mom died of cancer when I was 14) but Dad was from a generation that was expected to 'man up'. And he did. What more could you ask?
Forgiveness changes everything. You stop judging and start loving. Thank you, Jesus.
That was both exceptional and personal. Thank you for sharing such a personal and hard , yet poignant part of your life sir.
This was such a lovely remembrance of your Dad! Thanks for this. It's good to contextualize the situation rather than judging solely from our own vantage point. Indeed, I hope our children will have the wisdom and grace to view us in this way.
Thank you John for sharing your personal story so honestly. I too did not appreciate what my father went thru as a young man until it was too late and in my case, after going thru similar heartbreak. Your message is so needed today.
Thank you John. Very moving and thought provoking.
Filled with gratitude... Thank you so much for sharing your story and insights.
Strangely I feel as though I knew your father - though I did not. Perhaps it is because you articulate so well my personal belief's about the men of that generation and their son n daughters. Perhaps because my own son's had no possibility of what you describe. Or perhaps because your humanity comes shining through and you bring your dad along with you. Thank you Mr Anderson and may He continue to bless you n yours as we travel this new road in 2022.
Thank you for sharing this with us.
I thank you for your time and candour. I can't deny I was moved and convinced. I'm still voting Labour, though. All the best, John.
Thank you for sharing this.
If we want a good future, we must commit to and perform the hard work of good parenting, no matter how thankless.
Moving. Thank you for sharing your story.
Similar story for me. I am 2 years older, father was in the 9th Division, spent a lot of his time after the way in Repatriation hospital receiving electric shock therapy. However I was blessed to have a strong mother and no other family tragedy.
You can never live your father's life as time keeps flowing and no moment is the same as the last, so all you can do is live your life as it unfolds as well as he did, in full appreciation of what he faced and accomplished, but without direct comparison with yourself. If you manage to inspire gratitude in future generations, without ever expecting it or asking for it, then you have done very well indeed.
Outstanding.
Thanks from Canada
Thank you.
Touching
Just FYI, Rodney King didn’t die in that event. The riots happened after the acquittal of the officers charged in his beating.
Respect to your father for fighting in the war and raising good kids amidst those challenges you mentioned.
Brilliant...
Thank you for sharing.
Very touching. The level of fatherless families among the bantu in South Africa is around 80% ... this may help to explain such dysfunctional behaviour.
Thank you for sharing
Thankyou
That “Chinese proverb” is actually a Roman, credited time Vegetius.
It is almost impossible to be a good father today because women, our wives, simply won't let us be. The battle just to stay in our own home with our children is what rages everyday even if many men haven't recognised it until it's too late. It is a spiritual battle for our souls, for our children's souls.
If you want peace, prepare for war. Story of jezebel in the Bible Will tell you all you need to know of women.
Amen
I am a bit older than you. My eyes teared up listening to you. It is that people like your father (and mine) and indeed you exist that I still hold out hope for this world. I know that President Donald J. Trump has started a process that he can not complete. Eight years is simply not enough time to fully take back control of Western Society but he can forge a strong beginning and just maybe we will have others that will continue the task.
This really is WWIII it is just not fought the same way.
The Sad thing is if this was about mothers it would have 250k views...
I remember years ago, My son had found a use for his little pecker and when I got home his Mum was livid. She demanded I talk to my filthy boy. I went into his room to see a terrified boy. I immediately assured him he had done no wrong. It was only the way he cleaned himself up that was the problem. I resolved the problem But what could have happened if I as not there.
You forgot about the gift of good mothering whereby about one in three mothers murders their baby in the womb, but could not give a stuff. Lovely people women.
First!
Thank you John. Very moving and thought provoking.