To any new readers - please note that the following comment was made to an earlier version of George's excellent article and should not be taken as a critique of the current version. I leave it only because several readers found it of value and because it does add some detail to points that George now makes more succinctly and articulately than can I.
.....
George, unfortunately there are problems with what you've written here. Whilst much of it is true, it fails to recognise how the 'Anzac Legend' has been used to glorify and justify war rather than to oppose it, as well as to 'celebrate' rather than commemorate or show respect for those who have fought in it.
Indeed, there is no doubt whatsoever that many of those who turn out for Anzac Day services do so because of conditioning rather than any actual memory for those who fought or any real understanding of why they were fighting and whether or not it was actually in defence of sound values and morality, let alone of our nation.
Your piece also misses the reality of engagement in war or any armed conflict and the poor, sometimes even appalling treatment of service personnel who, as a result of what they saw, felt and experienced, returned from engagement as 'anti-war' or pacifists. For over a hundred years those who served and learned the futility and horror of war and as a consequence spoke out against it and against its glorification in ceremonies such as Anzac Day, have been ostracised, discredited, rejected by the very organisations supposedly established to ensure their welfare and by governments who put geo-political alliances and profit - (yes, the only people who benefit from war are those who provide its materiel and grow rich from it).
John Howard, one of the worst prime-ministers in Australia's short history, was instrumental in shoring up the conditioning of Australians, particularly its youth, to the right-wing, war-mongering worship through revival of the Anzac Day tradition and marches which were losing their attendance and attraction not only because of time and the death through age of those who had participated in WWI but because of a movement in society that was increasingly giving publicity to the true tragedy and tales of war and the manipulation by the powerful and our political leaders to use it perfidiously for various 'gains' when as a nation we were in no way in peril.
However the content of that article certainly resonates with me for I became a pacifist as a result of active service in the Middle East. Although certainly not with that indoctrinated "King and Country" patriotic machoism of the young men who volunteered for WWI, when first involved in the Middle East I, as were most if not all of my compatriots, was offended, even incensed by the fact that the Arabs were shooting at us. It took me some time to realise that we were the invaders in their land and had no right to be there, let alone to dictate and control society and lives. I can understand how such a distorted view was ubiquitous among us, for the reality is that not only are all sides in a conflict almost certainly indoctrinated, i.e. socialised in the 'norms' held and projected by their society but those who fight are inevitably mostly the young, immature and relatively unworldly who tend to be the most gullible and easily conditioned.
So, the experience resulted in my becoming a pacifist and taking a far more disciplined and careful view of our world, society, politics, class and how the mass are manipulated for the benefit of a few.
I also wrote about the problems I saw with the cultural implications and conditioning of Anzac Day and this was published in a regional newspaper. I probably don't need to say how scathing were the responses and how reviled I became because those reading what I wrote were unable to understand the analysis and the point I was making, instead taking the view that I was dishonouring those who had fought in our military. Sadly, that type of reaction continues today when someone speaks out against supposed commemorations which actually have turned into celebrations - in as much they have become events in which to be seen because they confer a 'sense of respectability and patriotism', just as being seen at church each Sunday used to do. I thus understand why so many other ex-service personnel who feel as I do choose to stay silent, just as I also understand only too well why the majority choose not to speak about what they have witnessed.
As you know, I think, I value what you write, George, and I consider that our general views of what constitute ethics and morality are probably quite similar, so I mean no disrespect by this long comment. I simply believe that it is long past time that the culture of this day is given the analysis and discussion it deserves. John Howard encourage children to march and even to wear the medals of their ancestors who fought - that is neither appropriate nor morally sound for it encourages and insidiously implants the view of conflict and war that contributes to the false notion that 'might is right' and the way to resolve difference is with injuring, killing and destruction, rather than humane consideration, discussion and compromise, even if possible, consensus.
Of course, I would almost certainly fight to protect others under attack but the majority of our nation's battles have not been about protecting Australia but rather about sycophantic support of either Britain or the United States. Indeed, the US government did not want us in Vietnam but our government pressured them to allow us to join that ill-fated, gratuitous and regrettable invasion.
We don't need a war memorial - we need a peace memorial. We don't need a glorification of suffering under the command of a foreign general for another nation's purposes, on one day each year - 2 minutes of silent contemplation that does commemorate and honour the sacrifice of those who fought, on the anniversary of the end of conflict would be much more appropriate and inclined to a society which chooses to honour life rather than death.
Nicely put Roger, agree entirely with your position.
Think UK and the poppy fascism that has emerged. Where is the peace? (Can a country that has nuclear weapons and WMD even actually ever know the meaning of the word?)
I’m just guessing, George probably didn’t want to frighten away any heavily indoctrinated readers with an overly moralistic approach with his thoughtful piece here.
No I think it was perfectly pitched. Those Australians brought up to think no further than having the right ANZAC stance and probably haven’t thought it through might struggle though.
I appreciate your courtesy but there is no need for the 'sir'. I am just an anonymous, invisible, citizen as are most of us. I have neither status nor influence, nor wealth. What I do have is my experience and its truth, as well as compassion for all people, regardless of background, ethnicity, colour, race, position, status or belief.
What I do know is that we are all unique yet all connected to universal truths and beliefs. What else I know is that conflict, maiming and killing, even trespass on supposedly owned land, improves nothing for humanity.
My view is that, after 200,000 to 300,000 years of Homo sapiens, we have had more than enough time to realise that it is respect for one another and particularly for 'difference' that provide the opportunity and, indeed, the base for humanity to progress. We, by now, ought to understand that we don't, can't and will never 'own' the land. The planet is ours to share and that sharing ought to be equitable and rational, not primitive, selective and for self-interest.
The notions that apparently still so clearly exist within humanity, yet which are so inhumane, disturb me greatly. Whilst I have ideas about why this is so, I am at a loss to be able to explain it, though I believe there are those of greater intellect and insight than myself who could and can, even some who have or do.
Unfortunately, human beings are gullible and relatively easily controlled by those with Machiavellian instincts that serve their selfish and uncaring for power. Thus we have the populist insanity which supports dictators.
I have no answers. All that I know to do is to be open and honest as to what I feel and think and feel because of my search for knowledge and my experiences. However, as Socrates is reputed to have remarked: "The only thing I know is that I know nothing."
Roger H: How impressed I am by this piece above which you have written - and your passion for peace. I come at the perspective (not very different from your own position I imagine) from having been a teacher - not wishing to be part of the education process and then to have my students sent off to wars by war-happy governments or their military agencies- both here in Australia (one of my nephews was in Afghanistan) and then during my many years in Japan -when the US was forcing the Japanese to send some of their self-defence forces into war zones - Iraq - and one of my students was offered [and accepted] a scholarship to the Self-Defence Forces Airforce. Of course I explained my fears for him - in the time of a PM who was having his arm twisted by the US to send troops abroad. {Years later after his studies and a set term - he went into Outdoor adventurism - camping, white water rafting, mountain climbing - and is still so engaged.} I am always encouraged by the experiences of others and yours is very important.
as you say so eloquently, george hazim, "lest we forget" is a compelling lexical gonfalon. however, it is another feckless trope in the monstrously propagandized promotion of war, zionist-jew holocaust balderdash, and an outré mendacity launched by govts like the US/UK/canada/israel/etc to seduce younger generations of angry, testosterone-saturated males who are either unemployed, under-employed, have substandard educations, have been subsumed into an incarcerate system of governance, as well as those whose dreams of disporting their machismo when made to feel inadequate, or those in a population who deem they have no future... these are the deluded, primary victims of "lest we forget" tropes. the billionaires and trillionaires need these manipulated youngsters to remain thus deluded in order to fight their wars, every one of which expands the elites' affluence into the stratosphere. and why should they object in the 1st place, when these youngsters and their progenitors have long-flourished under the expansionist colonialism of antecedent generations of europeans and their amoral exploitation of australia's indigenous populations?
I recently learned of an explanation of Gallipoli that is even worse: Britain promised Constantinople to Russia as an inducement for them to ally with Britain. But Britain had no intention of giving the Dardanelles to Russia, giving Russia the warm water access to the world’s oceans that British policy had blocked for centuries.
Therefore they didn’t bungle the Gallipoli campaign, they lost it on purpose and sacrificed all those ANZAC men and others for a lie. Once you hear that explanation, none of the others make sense.
Yes, the British and Kitchener, in particular, mounted that campaign as a distraction, with full expectation that it would fail. The ANZACS were sacrificed "for God and Country" - but not ours.
A well articulated and clear description of both the ideals and aims that originated Anzac Day and the unfortunate tenor of its current commemoration.
I greatly admire how your analysis of today's disparate signals: both positive and negative and sincerely will that many will read and note what, at least in my mind, are serious issues that ought to be dispassionately and objectively discussed by the Australian community in order that when holding such ceremonies, we accurately portray their true intention and reflect the feelings of those who participated in the events they commemorate.
You have said this before. It is as untrue now as it has been at other times. Perhaps you could make apposite comments rather than simply pushing your own barrow of delusional or misguided fruit.
Australia will not betray ANZAC.for Israel. Australia has already betrayed ANZAC for the United States, which will order Australia to bend over for Israel.
and will carry on doing so "forever", baz... until we are no more... or genetic engineers find a way to transmute our DNA, likely into replicating helices that are even more destructive, exploitative, and self-annihilating. if so, 'good riddance' i say, eh?
well said Baz.
To any new readers - please note that the following comment was made to an earlier version of George's excellent article and should not be taken as a critique of the current version. I leave it only because several readers found it of value and because it does add some detail to points that George now makes more succinctly and articulately than can I.
.....
George, unfortunately there are problems with what you've written here. Whilst much of it is true, it fails to recognise how the 'Anzac Legend' has been used to glorify and justify war rather than to oppose it, as well as to 'celebrate' rather than commemorate or show respect for those who have fought in it.
Indeed, there is no doubt whatsoever that many of those who turn out for Anzac Day services do so because of conditioning rather than any actual memory for those who fought or any real understanding of why they were fighting and whether or not it was actually in defence of sound values and morality, let alone of our nation.
Your piece also misses the reality of engagement in war or any armed conflict and the poor, sometimes even appalling treatment of service personnel who, as a result of what they saw, felt and experienced, returned from engagement as 'anti-war' or pacifists. For over a hundred years those who served and learned the futility and horror of war and as a consequence spoke out against it and against its glorification in ceremonies such as Anzac Day, have been ostracised, discredited, rejected by the very organisations supposedly established to ensure their welfare and by governments who put geo-political alliances and profit - (yes, the only people who benefit from war are those who provide its materiel and grow rich from it).
John Howard, one of the worst prime-ministers in Australia's short history, was instrumental in shoring up the conditioning of Australians, particularly its youth, to the right-wing, war-mongering worship through revival of the Anzac Day tradition and marches which were losing their attendance and attraction not only because of time and the death through age of those who had participated in WWI but because of a movement in society that was increasingly giving publicity to the true tragedy and tales of war and the manipulation by the powerful and our political leaders to use it perfidiously for various 'gains' when as a nation we were in no way in peril.
The Friday Essay in this weeks: "The Conversation" - https://theconversation.com/friday-essay-war-has-made-me-a-pacifist-why-are-we-so-reluctant-to-acknowledge-australias-anti-war-veterans-253530 - explains this issue far better than can I.
However the content of that article certainly resonates with me for I became a pacifist as a result of active service in the Middle East. Although certainly not with that indoctrinated "King and Country" patriotic machoism of the young men who volunteered for WWI, when first involved in the Middle East I, as were most if not all of my compatriots, was offended, even incensed by the fact that the Arabs were shooting at us. It took me some time to realise that we were the invaders in their land and had no right to be there, let alone to dictate and control society and lives. I can understand how such a distorted view was ubiquitous among us, for the reality is that not only are all sides in a conflict almost certainly indoctrinated, i.e. socialised in the 'norms' held and projected by their society but those who fight are inevitably mostly the young, immature and relatively unworldly who tend to be the most gullible and easily conditioned.
So, the experience resulted in my becoming a pacifist and taking a far more disciplined and careful view of our world, society, politics, class and how the mass are manipulated for the benefit of a few.
I also wrote about the problems I saw with the cultural implications and conditioning of Anzac Day and this was published in a regional newspaper. I probably don't need to say how scathing were the responses and how reviled I became because those reading what I wrote were unable to understand the analysis and the point I was making, instead taking the view that I was dishonouring those who had fought in our military. Sadly, that type of reaction continues today when someone speaks out against supposed commemorations which actually have turned into celebrations - in as much they have become events in which to be seen because they confer a 'sense of respectability and patriotism', just as being seen at church each Sunday used to do. I thus understand why so many other ex-service personnel who feel as I do choose to stay silent, just as I also understand only too well why the majority choose not to speak about what they have witnessed.
As you know, I think, I value what you write, George, and I consider that our general views of what constitute ethics and morality are probably quite similar, so I mean no disrespect by this long comment. I simply believe that it is long past time that the culture of this day is given the analysis and discussion it deserves. John Howard encourage children to march and even to wear the medals of their ancestors who fought - that is neither appropriate nor morally sound for it encourages and insidiously implants the view of conflict and war that contributes to the false notion that 'might is right' and the way to resolve difference is with injuring, killing and destruction, rather than humane consideration, discussion and compromise, even if possible, consensus.
Of course, I would almost certainly fight to protect others under attack but the majority of our nation's battles have not been about protecting Australia but rather about sycophantic support of either Britain or the United States. Indeed, the US government did not want us in Vietnam but our government pressured them to allow us to join that ill-fated, gratuitous and regrettable invasion.
We don't need a war memorial - we need a peace memorial. We don't need a glorification of suffering under the command of a foreign general for another nation's purposes, on one day each year - 2 minutes of silent contemplation that does commemorate and honour the sacrifice of those who fought, on the anniversary of the end of conflict would be much more appropriate and inclined to a society which chooses to honour life rather than death.
Nicely put Roger, agree entirely with your position.
Think UK and the poppy fascism that has emerged. Where is the peace? (Can a country that has nuclear weapons and WMD even actually ever know the meaning of the word?)
I’m just guessing, George probably didn’t want to frighten away any heavily indoctrinated readers with an overly moralistic approach with his thoughtful piece here.
Thank you, Baz. I just hope that my comment was not 'overly moralistic' for I know that my passion can take over. Take care. Stay safe. ☮️
No I think it was perfectly pitched. Those Australians brought up to think no further than having the right ANZAC stance and probably haven’t thought it through might struggle though.
Keep telling your story.
All the best
Baz
Very well said, sir.
I appreciate your courtesy but there is no need for the 'sir'. I am just an anonymous, invisible, citizen as are most of us. I have neither status nor influence, nor wealth. What I do have is my experience and its truth, as well as compassion for all people, regardless of background, ethnicity, colour, race, position, status or belief.
What I do know is that we are all unique yet all connected to universal truths and beliefs. What else I know is that conflict, maiming and killing, even trespass on supposedly owned land, improves nothing for humanity.
My view is that, after 200,000 to 300,000 years of Homo sapiens, we have had more than enough time to realise that it is respect for one another and particularly for 'difference' that provide the opportunity and, indeed, the base for humanity to progress. We, by now, ought to understand that we don't, can't and will never 'own' the land. The planet is ours to share and that sharing ought to be equitable and rational, not primitive, selective and for self-interest.
The notions that apparently still so clearly exist within humanity, yet which are so inhumane, disturb me greatly. Whilst I have ideas about why this is so, I am at a loss to be able to explain it, though I believe there are those of greater intellect and insight than myself who could and can, even some who have or do.
Unfortunately, human beings are gullible and relatively easily controlled by those with Machiavellian instincts that serve their selfish and uncaring for power. Thus we have the populist insanity which supports dictators.
I have no answers. All that I know to do is to be open and honest as to what I feel and think and feel because of my search for knowledge and my experiences. However, as Socrates is reputed to have remarked: "The only thing I know is that I know nothing."
Nonetheless, thank you for your kind remark.
Roger H: How impressed I am by this piece above which you have written - and your passion for peace. I come at the perspective (not very different from your own position I imagine) from having been a teacher - not wishing to be part of the education process and then to have my students sent off to wars by war-happy governments or their military agencies- both here in Australia (one of my nephews was in Afghanistan) and then during my many years in Japan -when the US was forcing the Japanese to send some of their self-defence forces into war zones - Iraq - and one of my students was offered [and accepted] a scholarship to the Self-Defence Forces Airforce. Of course I explained my fears for him - in the time of a PM who was having his arm twisted by the US to send troops abroad. {Years later after his studies and a set term - he went into Outdoor adventurism - camping, white water rafting, mountain climbing - and is still so engaged.} I am always encouraged by the experiences of others and yours is very important.
Thank you. You are very kind.
Great article George. I honestly do not believe most Australians support Israel or genocide and if Dutton loses it will be one reason why.
So well said at every level GH. A betrayal of the essence of the ANZAC spirit to anymore be under the control of the US.
Thank you Jim.
as you say so eloquently, george hazim, "lest we forget" is a compelling lexical gonfalon. however, it is another feckless trope in the monstrously propagandized promotion of war, zionist-jew holocaust balderdash, and an outré mendacity launched by govts like the US/UK/canada/israel/etc to seduce younger generations of angry, testosterone-saturated males who are either unemployed, under-employed, have substandard educations, have been subsumed into an incarcerate system of governance, as well as those whose dreams of disporting their machismo when made to feel inadequate, or those in a population who deem they have no future... these are the deluded, primary victims of "lest we forget" tropes. the billionaires and trillionaires need these manipulated youngsters to remain thus deluded in order to fight their wars, every one of which expands the elites' affluence into the stratosphere. and why should they object in the 1st place, when these youngsters and their progenitors have long-flourished under the expansionist colonialism of antecedent generations of europeans and their amoral exploitation of australia's indigenous populations?
Young men don’t need much of a reason to fight - ruling classes and generals have harnessed this energy since forever.
Excellent article, George! Unfortunately, these occasions are used to glorify war and “sacrifice” rather than to decry war and butchery!
I recently learned of an explanation of Gallipoli that is even worse: Britain promised Constantinople to Russia as an inducement for them to ally with Britain. But Britain had no intention of giving the Dardanelles to Russia, giving Russia the warm water access to the world’s oceans that British policy had blocked for centuries.
Therefore they didn’t bungle the Gallipoli campaign, they lost it on purpose and sacrificed all those ANZAC men and others for a lie. Once you hear that explanation, none of the others make sense.
Yes, the British and Kitchener, in particular, mounted that campaign as a distraction, with full expectation that it would fail. The ANZACS were sacrificed "for God and Country" - but not ours.
Interesting Anzacs were also actually fighting Turks...both proxies of empire 🧐
British, French, (Canadians?) British-Indians, ANZACS...
A well articulated and clear description of both the ideals and aims that originated Anzac Day and the unfortunate tenor of its current commemoration.
I greatly admire how your analysis of today's disparate signals: both positive and negative and sincerely will that many will read and note what, at least in my mind, are serious issues that ought to be dispassionately and objectively discussed by the Australian community in order that when holding such ceremonies, we accurately portray their true intention and reflect the feelings of those who participated in the events they commemorate.
Thank you, George - I commend you for this piece.
Thanks Roger and I never took your critique as a criticism. I appreciated you pointing out something that was so relevantly critical and important. 😊😊
All wars are banksters wars. All Banksters are Khazars.
You have said this before. It is as untrue now as it has been at other times. Perhaps you could make apposite comments rather than simply pushing your own barrow of delusional or misguided fruit.
Australia will not betray ANZAC.for Israel. Australia has already betrayed ANZAC for the United States, which will order Australia to bend over for Israel.
and will carry on doing so "forever", baz... until we are no more... or genetic engineers find a way to transmute our DNA, likely into replicating helices that are even more destructive, exploitative, and self-annihilating. if so, 'good riddance' i say, eh?