tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17759756.post114592474304212342..comments2023-10-30T02:03:56.081+13:00Comments on Capitalism Bad; Tree Pretty: ANZAC DayMaiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17212711843307060731noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17759756.post-1146222713805109232006-04-28T23:11:00.000+12:002006-04-28T23:11:00.000+12:00Belatedly: I commemorate Anzac Day because Gallipo...Belatedly: I commemorate Anzac Day because Gallipoli was tragic, horrible, pointless, and because it shaped New Zealand's cultural identity in countless ways. You know what I think about during Anzac Day? Those poor pricks dying in the trenches, in the mud, with gangrene. So save the condescending crap. This hectoring bullshit about how we poppy-wearers don't really *understand*, maaaan, and we're just glorifying war and colonialism... it couldn't be more tiresome. Yeah, there may be a few 'war-glorifiers' among those at the dawn services around the country, but how about giving most of us some credit for complex feelings like empathy? Horror? Grief? Respect for the dead? The desire to prevent war in future? <BR/><BR/>Incidentally, why do you think that most historians point to Gallipoli as one of the seminal moments in the development of a distinct New Zealand identity? Because, as you say in your post, *those soldiers were lied to*, and the country knew it. We still know it. Why do you think we began to culturally distance ourselves from Britain after WWI? Do you think we're the first generation to notice that we were cannon fodder? Give your forebears some credit.Daniellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03896817139131485525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17759756.post-1146090496817914482006-04-27T10:28:00.000+12:002006-04-27T10:28:00.000+12:00Virtue and respectability in our wartime thoughts ...Virtue and respectability in our wartime thoughts and deeds?<BR/>If, as you said g, we recognise the folly of war why do we ignore the passifists who protested against the war?<BR/>War is about the slaughter of millions, and there is nothing honourable about that. Remembering the past should ensure that we never go to war again - remembering the pointlessness of war, the innocent people that died, and the fact that there must always be a better way.<BR/><BR/>"Lest we forget"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17759756.post-1146051653323259352006-04-26T23:40:00.000+12:002006-04-26T23:40:00.000+12:00Some of the things you say are right. But how abou...Some of the things you say are right. But how about you save them for the other 364 days of the year? There is enough virtue and respectability in our past wartime thoughts and deeds to fill in one day in April. I thank you for thinking, I don't thank you for offending me. Your understanding is incomplete, Maia.Rickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06315796390662297759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17759756.post-1146038805656191742006-04-26T20:06:00.000+12:002006-04-26T20:06:00.000+12:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Psycho Milthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00779500926576047736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17759756.post-1146034377707731902006-04-26T18:52:00.000+12:002006-04-26T18:52:00.000+12:00What I find hard to put together is that these rem...What I find hard to put together is that these rememberance ceremonies (here and abroad)are attended/presided over by the very people that make the decisions to send the cannon fodder off to fight.<BR/>The hypocracy is almost equal to Bush presense at the Rosa Parks' Funeral.Garthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15637097897454660933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17759756.post-1146024349441727262006-04-26T16:05:00.000+12:002006-04-26T16:05:00.000+12:00Do you have any examples of NZ business interests ...Do you have any examples of NZ business interests in the Solomons that the intervention is protecting? I thought all the business people there were from China, or Taiwan. Or is there some secret conspiracy between NZ and China (or Taiwan) for us to send troops there as a proxy?Richhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17092996828683002246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17759756.post-1145975701872993202006-04-26T02:35:00.000+12:002006-04-26T02:35:00.000+12:00ANZAC Day is about glorifying militarism, in short...ANZAC Day is about glorifying militarism, in short, and we are indoctrinated from a very young age (witness the many children at dawn parades).<BR/><BR/>This year, I tried (in my own way) to celebrate Conchie Day, in memory and solidarity with all those jailed (and worse) as conscientous objectors. I liked doing that, I think it's a tradition I'll continue.Asherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01782227406470450089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17759756.post-1145941341183949532006-04-25T17:02:00.000+12:002006-04-25T17:02:00.000+12:00Your views are misguided but I doubt they will cha...Your views are misguided but I doubt they will change.<BR/><BR/>It not about honouring or commemorating war, its about honouring and commemorating those who gave their lives for the folly of war.<BR/><BR/>Good luck on the radical anti-imperialist crusade, etc.Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15014733310650478024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17759756.post-1145932417595764712006-04-25T14:33:00.000+12:002006-04-25T14:33:00.000+12:00For once I don't have disagreements to offer. If ...For once I don't have disagreements to offer. If you can bring yourself to watch the news on ANZAC Day, you're presented with a seemingly unending stream of pompous cant. <BR/><BR/>If we were to set up ANZAC Day ceremonies on the basis of "Let's just keep in mind how all these poor sods were conscripted into the armed forces and sent off to be shot or worse for no good reason, and make sure we don't get fooled again", well then I could be a proud participant in ANZAC Day like (it seems) damn near everyone else. But we don't - we have participating in a failed invasion of Turkey presented as some kind of sacrifice that we might live in freedom. It's wishful thinking on a colossal scale, and depressing to see our kids sucked in by it year after year.Psycho Milthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00779500926576047736noreply@blogger.com