For some time now I have been of the opinion that we need to be very careful of Anzac Day. I am all for honouring the sacrifices made by all kinds of people in all theatres of war, in peacekeeping missions and those who kept the home fires burning.
I am not for nationalistic jingoism. I am not for the propaganda machine glorifying "service" in the hope of influencing coming generations to serve. I am not for honouring one type of trauma over others. I am not for hypocritical displays of reverence for people who we don't support very well when they arrive home broken.
And now I can add that I most certainly am not in favour of small minded people having a platform they can use to harass and belittle our first nations people.
Aboriginal people fought for Australia at a time when they were not even given the dignity of citizenship. They came home not as second class citizens because they were not citizens. They offered their lives and their health just as others did.
At this year's Anzac ceremonies around Australia, the Acknowledgement of Country was boo-ed.
I find this behaviour repugnant at any time. Acknowledging traditional owners costs us nothing and actually gives them nothing but acknowledgement. Just words. Acknowledgement of Country does not and can not impoverish anyone and still the haters must boo and jeer.
If a remembrance of our servicemen and women (and others) is going to become an opportunity to grind people down, we have lost the plot.
It is, for sure, an unpopular opinion but I think Anzac Day has almost had it's day.
I do not understand why people boo'd during Welcome to Country in each ANZAC Day commemoration. If a person doesn't like shrines and remembering the sacrifices... don't turn up. That would be fair. But don't turn up and THEN be disrespectful.
ReplyDeleteI think they turned up to be disrespectful.
DeleteI think that white Australians could learn a lot from New Zealanders about respecting and recognising "First nation" peoples. I know that it has not always been the case but nowadays Maori heritage is widely celebrated, not scorned. I remember talking with two Australian exchange teachers in my old school - specifically about your aboriginal people. These educated whities appeared to look down upon aborigines as though they were not fully human. The memory of what they said has stayed with me. It was disturbing.
ReplyDeleteI think the fierce Maori resistance to colonisation and then the Treaty of Waitangi possibly set up a different dynamic than what we have here. And New Zealand seems generally more progressive.
DeleteAustralia has treated our first nations people as sub-human for so long that in many ways it is impossible for them to be human.
Booing at remembrance services is pointless, childish, disrespectful and generally stupid but here we are.
The man who led the booing in Melbourne is a proud out there neo nazi. Sadly that group is gaining some traction with young men.
ReplyDeleteYes, that group is rising. I dont know why but I'm sure the cost of living makes people angry and some people can't channel it appropriately
DeleteI agree entirely with your post, Kylie. Every single word. Helen
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I'm not alone
DeleteI wouldn't say Anzac Day has had its day, but how can the few scum be prevented from disrupting, short of camera identifying everyone? One idea that I thought that might work is to have serving soldiers on the stage with the 'uncle' who gives the welcome to country. I also think people would have less of an issue if the welcomes could be a bit briefer, or tighter in some way. Attendances at Anzac Day ceremonies have waxed and waned over the years and I think we may be in a waning period now.
ReplyDeletePutting some serving soldiers up with the uncle would be good.
DeleteIf it would meet cultural expectations we could even ask indigenous soldiers to perform the ceremony.
I think we should focus on Remembrance Day. It has the same function without the nationalism
I am not a fan of Anzac Day, (my Dad was German and fought on the German side) but I do agree with everything you have said here.
ReplyDeleteThanks, River
DeleteI'm not a nationalist, I find nationalism a destructive and parochial outlook that only divides people and generates hatred and suspicion. The idea that your country is better than anyone else's is absurd.
ReplyDeleteNationalism is dangerous and it's not the only part of Anzac Day that can become twisted
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