Lest We Forget The Glorification of War

On the 25th of April 1915, under the rising sun the units of the 3rd Australian Brigade stormed the beaches of Gallipoli, Turkey. In an effort to take the Plugge’s Plateau the troops pushed up the cliffs that loomed only metres from the landing beaches. It was here the ANZAC’s (Australian New Zealand Army Corps) were pelted with gunfire from soldiers of the Ottoman Empire, and it was here on the harsh, unforgiving sands of Anzac Cove, as we are so often told, we became a nation. 13 years after our Federation, we had a reason to hold our heads high as Australians.

After a horrific 8-month campaign, our troops were withdrawn despite having failed our military objective. However, despite the military failure the Australian and New Zealand actions during the campaign left a powerful legacy- the Anzac Legend. Every year on the 25th of April, we will remember them. Not just the troops of Gallipoli, but all the men and women that have served Australia’s military. Lest we forget the services they have provided to us as a nation.

That’s what we’re supposed to say anyway.

Anzac Day, once revered as a day for mourning the horrors of war and discouraging future wars for political gain, is now more often synonomous with a ‘theme-park holiday event’. With multiple millions of dollars spent on Anzac promotions and events yearly, how could Aussies not love the day? We love a good excuse for a beer and a game of Two-Up, therefore adding the unspoken second half to the Anzac motto, “Lest we forget”… to celebrate.

Anzac Day is deemed, “our most important national occasion”, but it is beginning to resemble more a celebration and glorification of war - but if you harbour this view it’s probably better not to express it. The populous view is the one that subscribes to the Anzac legend- it’s the image we all like to see when we look in the mirror. If however you have come to question the Anzac legend, to question the celebration, the glorification and the facts surrounding the Anzac invasion of another country, then you will find our society intolerable of your thoughts. In our society where freedom of speech is a given, you will find underrepresented, unpopular opinions and beliefs ignored or dismissed. Australia, a country of proud patriots is more often one where it is expected that you will conform to the majority opinion. There are however individuals that are prepared to challenge the legends and express the often unstated and less popular opinions, such as political commentator and cartoonist for The Guardian, First Dog On The Moon (Andrew Marlton). There are also others that have expressed their views- and lost their jobs for doing so.

The above comic exposes what is considered the most illegal action in Australia today, being un-Australian. In a related ABC radio skit, First Dog On The Moon defines this ‘crime’ as, “Holding disagreeable opinions to the majority prescribed view.” The most recent and most public Australian to be convicted in the court of public opinion for being un-Australian, is SBS reporter Scott McIntyre found guilty after posting several opinionated tweets on the meaning of Anzac Day.

After the posting of the above ‘patriotically deficient’ tweets referencing the realities of Anzac Day, the reporter was subsequently fired, with the SBS CEO, Michael Ebeid publicly admonishing McIntyre.

In his latest statement, Michael Ebeid wrote, “Late on Anzac Day, sports presenter Scott McIntyre made highly inappropriate and disrespectful comments via his twitter account which have caused his on-air position at SBS to become untenable. Mr McIntyre’s actions have breached the SBS Code of Conduct and social media policy and as a result, SBS has taken decisive action to terminate Mr McIntyre’s position at SBS, with immediate effect.”

Additional support rallied against the opinions of Scott McIntyre from politicians to fellow reporters.

After releasing his latest statement and sacking reporter Scott McIntyre, Michael Ebeid received an aggressive reception on Twitter.

However there were members of the public that rallied against Scott McIntyre.

However the ongoing, trivial debate was silenced by well researched author Geoff Lemon both on Twitter and his article in the Guardian.

What does this reaction say about our right to freedom of speech? That someone should be fired for expressing an opinion outside that of the norm?

A developing hash-tag on Twitter is #istandwithScottMcIntyre, and a growing group of people supporting his opinions and ideas are voicing them through mediums such as blogs. Nick Ilic, Australian author and blogger wrote the following article posing various questions surrounding the freedom of speech on prescribed opinions: https://thenickilic.wordpress.com/2015/04/26/are-we-even-able-to-debate-the-ideas-behind-anzac-day/.

The vast majority of Australians love Anzac Day, none more than generations X and Y who have been educated in strong nationalist principles built off the work of Bob Hawke, Paul Keating and John Howard. In the post Vietnam War period social spending was at an all time low and the vast majority of the population was heavily anti-war. In this post war period the government of the day was successful in entrenching Anzac Day as a greater symbol of our nation’s identity, more so than our Federation or Australia Day. Building on this, Paul Keating reinforced the fact that the most honourable way for an Australian to die was fighting for his country. This manufactured idea that war promoted nationalism and gave Australia an identity began the process of glorification of war.

Yet how can we say anything? Bound by patriotism and a majority prescribed view the underrepresented populous is speaking without a voice on the issue.

How truthful is it that Australia’s identity was formed on the sands of Gallipoli? Invading another country and representing another power, bound by the treaties of the Commonwealth are not acts of patriotism, but acts of service. Leading the nation to believe that it’s very identity is founded in war is to militarise the very idea of what it means to be Australian. What makes us more Australian- the trenches of Gallipoli, with its associated human death toll resulting from the invasion of another country, or the many things we are globally known for –the camaraderie, the freedom of speech and beliefs, the willingness to accept everyone, the lack of civil war on our own soils- the peace.

So when we all stand proud and tall at the dawn service, reciting the words “Lest We Forget”, what are we really forgetting? In amongst our Anzac Day parades, BBQ’s, balloons, concerts, and day long televised events and endless reruns of Gallipoli the movie, have we actually not remembered the horrors of war, the turmoil, depression, sadness and loss of a generation. So rarely are these questions asked, for fear of being un-Australian. In a country where patriotism rules, tattoos of our flag are the norm and where “if you don’t love it, leave it” seems like a viable request, how can freedom of speech be demonstrated against a majority prescribed view?

How much does Anzac Day define who we really are as Australians? To what extent are these minority opinions voiced and not suppressed in our modern society?

Maybe these questions are best pondered over a beer after the dawn service.

Where do you stand on the modern celebrations of Anzac Day? Commenting is free! Use the hashtag #UnderrepresentedAus to discuss this issue and others on Twitter.

Matt Madden