tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-385641437239622429.post8361397791296017000..comments2023-10-29T03:26:21.762+13:00Comments on Mad Young Thing: ANZAC Day thoughtsSimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09657138758289333314noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-385641437239622429.post-68089001367116689522009-04-29T19:43:00.000+12:002009-04-29T19:43:00.000+12:00"ANZAC Day is not about glorifying war, but it is ..."ANZAC Day is not about glorifying war, but it is about celebrating soldiers. Might be a difficult distinction to make. I think what unites us is the sheer emotion"<br /><br />I definitely don’t think it’s about glorifying war. As someone who has attended dawn services with my grandfather for as long as I can remember, I believe it's a chance for us to actually take a step back from war in it's fighting form, and recognise the sacrifice made by those men and women who did as their country asked of them and, as a result, paid the ultimate sacrifice. <br /><br />It's also a chance for us civilians to get as close as we can to the devastation that war creates and leaves in its wake, without actually having to experience it first hand.<br /><br />For the soldiers of the past it's an opportunity for them to see that the service that they gave wasn't completely in vain. To feel somewhat vindicated. <br /><br />With regard to war memorials, I think they are formal because we are giving them the respect that they probably deserve. <br /><br />Finally, I think that the resurgence in unity we are seeing around ANZAC Day services might be attractive to so many Kiwis because it's one of the only chances as a nation that we actually can unite together. Maori, Pakeha, Asian or whatever, they all fought together which gives us that opportunity to grieve/celebrate together.Paul Matthewshttp://www.bulletpoints.co.nznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-385641437239622429.post-57551164418805041442009-04-29T19:11:00.000+12:002009-04-29T19:11:00.000+12:00I think that because we are now exposed to much mo...I think that because we are now exposed to much more information via the internet, historical documents, movies, documentaries, as weel as being able to share and communicate efficiently with our global peers, we have realised the true cost of a war, the true demorilisation of humanity it brings. <br /><br />Imagine what the path of world war two would have been if a jew was able to get out a last tweet of "Going into the chamber now. Why wont anyone help us". Imagine if we could jump on youtube and watch up to date and un-censored versions of the events as they unfolded. The decisions of the public, im sure would have been different.<br /><br />I think that is why the young now take so much interest. We understand the cost, we would never want to experience it, so we use the day to give thanks to those who went before us, for everything that they gave, and hope that we do not pass the same burden down onto our children.Jason Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16232243040074986082noreply@blogger.com