Comment on It’s a good thing they died at Gallipoli
Zagorath@aussie.zone 6 months ago
The article is, for the most part, actually quite good. But it makes a few key mistakes, and the inflammatory title is exemplary of this.
The Ode is not meant to glorify the actions of the soldiers who died. It’s supposed to remember their lives and the fact that they died.
A certain very vocal section of Australian society uses ANZAC Day as a glorification of war and of our soldiers, but that is not the day’s intent. It is supposed to be a sombre reminder of why we shouldn’t throw away our soldiers’ lives. It comes at it from a different angle, but ultimately supports the same conclusion this author wants to reach.
Haven’t read the article and generally not a fan of ANZAC day …
But something I appreciate and like to point out is that the Melbourne war memorial is very much a tomb, literally based on the original mausoleum. It is in many ways an undeniably sad and somber place. I’m sure many find heroism there, perhaps through Australia’s culture war of the ANZACS, but it’s fairly hard to unsee the tomb once you see it IMO.
Ok, read the article, and liked it. I personally don’t know what interactions transpired between the allies and post-war Türkiye, which seems to be a glaring hole given the focus on post war reparations policy in Germany, but still the point is well made that lionising those of the past without any appreciation of their cultural context gets pretty dumb. Moreover when any discourse on what is to be learnt about war is excluded.
The mention of Pankhurst was on point too. Back on the Melbourne war memorial, I was pleased to see an exhibit on her in their new-ish museum.
The moment that we allow the present day armed forces to participate in the ANZAC day parade, what intent you claim was once there is lost. You cannot say that war is bad, and that we should not have soldiers sailing to foreign lands to kill people, and at the same time permit the minions of Dictator Charles to parade around in their dress uniforms. Many of those soldiers marching today participated in the forever war in the middle east. They did not learn their lesson from Gallipoli. All those ANZAC day parades, year after year, and they did not learn. They will never learn so long as the present day military is permitted at ANZAC day, glorifying the violent institution that they inherently are. That very vocal section who glorifies death and violence are the same people organising, participating in, and attending the parades. Anyone who learned their lesson either stayed home today, or protested.
That very vocal section who glorifies death and violence are the same people organising, participating in, and attending the parades.
-Source, my feelings.
Countless people participate to acknowledge the efforts and sacrifices of those who died serving their country. Even when we were taught about it in schools the focal points were sacrifice and mateship of those that served and still serve. Present day service members also attend to acknowledge those that came before them. Plenty of it is nationalistic nuthugging but your willingness to just make up generalisation and whatever claims to suit your point is frankly just gross.
Mate, you’re being inflammatory for inflammatory’s sake now, and downvoting everyone who doesn’t agree with every word of your precious article is just childish. If you want people to think about the matter, then scolding them for wrong think is counterproductive.
downvoting everyone who doesn’t agree with every word of your precious article
What are you talking about?
And you downvoted every comment even slightly critical of you as well. Disingenuousness is not a good look if you want your views to be taken seriously.
lodion@aussie.zone 6 months ago
I disagree. Its a deliberately inflammatory and offensive. I only leave the post here as responses such as this one have value.