A military parade in the city center featuring marching soldiers, tanks and a priest has gone viral online, with some comparing the display of force to North Korea and others calling it “terrifying.”
Soldiers of the 1st Armored Regiment, accompanied by two Abrams main battle tanks, marched from the Torrens Parade Ground to St Peters Cathedral in Adelaide on Saturday.
The ceremony marked the transfer of command and the relocation of the regiment’s holy flag from the Lone Pine Chapel at Robertson Barracks in Darwin.
The 1st Armored Regiment transferred last year from the 1st Brigade in the Northern Territory to the 9th Brigade in South Australia.
a 7News item on the parade has been viewed more than 1.3 million times, but some commentators were deeply offended by the showing.
Soldiers of the 1st Armored Regiment, accompanied by two Abrams main battle tanks (pictured), marched from the Torrens Parade Ground to St Peters Cathedral in Adelaide
A military parade in the city center (pictured) featuring marching soldiers, tanks and a priest has gone viral online, with some comparing the show of force to North Korea
“Wonderful piece of casually experienced weekend trauma for anyone who has ever been mistreated by authorities. Nice,” wrote author Maxine Beneba Clarke on Twitter.
Investigator and journalist Claire Connelly was so amazed by the military parade that she asked, “Am I the only one who finds this terrifying?”
Army chaplains who marched alongside the soldiers were reprimanded for this in some neighborhoods.
“Beyond disgusting,” wrote Reverend and author Reverend Dr. Stephanie Dorwick.
‘And that priest marching past the tanks?!! Doesn’t he know that Jesus came to teach inclusion and peace? Military displays have no place in Australia.’
There was also backlash on the backlash, with one commenter writing, “I guarantee you will speak differently when a Chinese soldier knocks on your door.
“You only have the privilege of making those comments because people have sacrificed their lives for your freedom.”
Some commentators (like the one in the photo) were very offended by the military display
Others (including the tweet pictured) likened the march to casually experiencing trauma
A cleric (pictured) was offended by the presence of other clerics in the Adelaide parade
Another wrote: “Personally, I find it reassuring and I hope they haven’t stripped the boys of all their manliness, for God help us if war ever comes back to our shores.”
A third said they preferred “the time of the Crusades.” In those days you couldn’t fool Christians and get away with it.
Now it’s the only religion you can insult in a comedy skit and vilify at any time. So any priest with A1M1 Abrams tanks has my (support).”
The 1st Armored Regiment transferred last year from the 1st Brigade in the Northern Territory to the 9th Brigade in South Australia
In addition to tanks and soldiers, there was also a marching band (pictured) in the parade
But the naysayers didn’t give up, with one saying: ‘A priest leads troops and tanks down an Australian street.
‘This is horrible. How dare you promote such nationalism and aggressive behavior. Shameful.’
Another wrote: ‘A ceremony to move a regiment’s “sacred flags” to Adelaide, in which a religious figure in robes leads an army parade, complete with tanks rolling down the high street.
“Are we in some sort of creeping military theocracy phase of our history? This is just bizarre.’
The ceremony marked the transfer of command and the relocation of the regiment’s holy flag (pictured) from Lone Pine Chapel at Robertson Barracks in Darwin.
The religious aspect of the Adelaide military parade (pictured) has been criticized by many
However, the defenders of the parade did not give up either, insisting that the parade should be celebrated, not mocked.
“This must be more, martial pride makes a nation great in the eyes of its citizens and the world,” one wrote.
Another praised the city where the march was being held and wished similar events could be held on the East Coast.
‘Well done Adelaide here…we need this in the Sydney CBD…a tank squadron will take on a sense of urgency in the very slow light rail running down George Street’, someone said.