ANZAC Day Hoo-Ha yet again . . .

[panama hat]

Will it ever stop?

Should children, grandchildren, great-grand-children etc etc etc walk in the marches wearing their ancestor's medals and being applauded as they do so?


Differing views on involvement

What role should relatives of veterans play in Sydney's Anzac Day parades? Here, the two sides of the debate are put forward.



The case for less involvement
John Walsh, President, Ashfield RSL Sub-Branch

"First and foremost, the Anzac march is for veterans. There is a place for descendants but they need to march at the back of the Australian veterans.

"Up to the '70s, nobody but a veteran would have marched. However, because the Anzac Day march committee said about 11 or 12 years ago that a descendant could march in the place of a veteran, it has got out of hand. I seconded the motion at the time but now a lot of these descendants just won't listen. They feel they should be up the front.

"Last year there were 1000 WWII veterans marching and 7000 descendants. Now that tells you something is wrong.


The case for more involvement


Harry Whiteside, Secretary, Australian Special Air Service Association (NSW Branch)



"We've got widows, we've got children and grandchildren whose fathers have served and who are no longer with us and we basically feel that Anzac Day is about all these people.

"It's all very well to turn around and say, 'Well Anzac Day is all about the blokes who died'. But what did they die for? For all of our rights and privileges back here.

"From our point of view it's simple. Anzac Day is for everyone.

''The RSL takes the view there are too many descendants marching and all this sort of crap but at the end of the day one of the reasons there are more descendants marching than serving people is because the World War II people are dying off - like we all will eventually.


Anzac Day parade | Who should march?

[baldrick]

ANZAC day has been taken over - it is now owned by sales and marketing.

I used to go to the dawn services , but now not a chance.

I now just toddle off somewhere to watch the sun rise and have my own little remembrance service .

[Nawty]

Bout time lest we forgot....

[panama hat]

ANZAC day has been taken over - it is now owned by sales and marketing.

Like everything else, I agree.

Bout time lest we forgot....

Right . . .



I guess I'm of the opinion that we should really just let the RSL clubs take care of this and have one wreath-laying ceremony on the 11th of the 11th

The rest actually shows us how little we have learned as we wade into war after war, glorifying it time and again.

Private thoughts

[Belepheron]

Tough one this, I can appreciate both sides of the arguement.

But where does it stop? Say all conflict in the world comes to an end, yes an impossible dream but let's go with it for a moment. There will come a time when there are no surviving vets, should the marches continue with the widows, the children, the grandchildren (who most likely never knew the vet), the great grandchildren?

When do we let go? Or should we still be holding marches to commemorate those, for example, who died in the Napoleonic wars?

Why hold these marches when, certainly in the UK, history is barely taught any more in school?

[AntRobertson]

ANZAC day for me is more about remembering my grandfather than anything else, purely a personal thing. Frankly I could give a toss about who/what/where anyone else does.

[panama hat]

When do we let go?

My thoughts exactly . . . but try making something like that public, as in try to bring the end of marches

ANZAC day for me is more about remembering my grandfather than anything else, purely a personal thing

Yes, indeed.


I lost fairly well both sets of grandparents and theirs in I and II . . . (except one fantastic gran) but I don't need a special day to remember them . . . Nor do I need to march anywhere or have people applauding me(????) or have special events.

If anything I find it quite sad that we 'celebrate' something that we didn't learn a thing from

[barbaro]

Having a descendent March in place of a veteran is not only fake, but foolish.

No offense to ANZAC day, but the rememberance has seem to have lost it orginal meaning and intent.

[Mid]

I support the idea of no public holiday when Anzac Day falls on a weekend .

[panama hat]

That's the spirit, Mid!

[Nawty]

What is the use of remembering the dead ? they don't remember you .... its pretty much a one way relationship and so bloody selfish it should be forgotten quick smart.

[Mid]

What is the use of remembering the dead ?

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

George Santayana

[panama hat]

What is the use of remembering the dead ?

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

George Santayana

Oye Como Va

Carlos Santana

[kingwilly]

bladdy well NOT the spirit at all, long weekends are supposed to be to Aussies !

That's the spirit, Mid!

I support the idea of no public holiday when Anzac Day falls on a weekend .

[Mid]

'tis a day for remembrance , not an excuse for a party .

[Don Ho]

I like Anzac biscuits. Any excuse to eat a few is okay with me.

[nedwalk]

FUCK THE LOT OF YA.'S, i got into a bewt punch up when i was a young fella with a bunch of hippy dickheads protesting at an ANZAC march many years ago..they were going on about the celebration of the glory of war, fucking idiots!
ANZAC day is all about remembering those poor bloody soles lost to the folly of somebody elses wants, mates gone forever, and there but for the grace of someones bloody god it could have been me..
yes we need to have the youngsters remember, haveing them march, i,m not so sure, but never let them forget where we came from as a nation and always stand proud..if and when that bugle plays the last post and a shiver does'nt go up yer spine and a tear to your eye.. go back and learn what it is all about

LEST WE FORGET!

[panama hat]

Lobe 'ya Ned!

[Loy Toy]

^^ I'm right with you on this one Ned 100%.

Going to work is one thing but leaving your family, friends and good life knowing there is a high possibility you will never come back must of been hard for those that had to do it and for their country.

They are all heros and deserve to be respected and remembered thoughout generations.

[panama hat]

Lobe 'ya Ned!

That should read: Love ya Ned

Going to work is one thing but leaving your family, friends and good life knowing there is a high possibility you will never come back must of been hard for those that had to do it and for their country.

Umm, ok. Yes, undoubtedly

They are all heros and deserve to be respected and remembered thoughout generations.

Indeed . . . not sure about the word hero for every single person ever involved in any sort of fight . . . but also ok.


Umm, do you have an opinion to the OP?

[Nawty]

Sure...but don't force it on the rest of the population.

There must come a time to forget....but just remember quietly yoursefl....no public carry on every freakin year.

Personally....I cannot wait to celebrate 9/11 in the year 2063....I will be 100 also and having remembered it every year since it happened....I will thank the lord I will be dead soon and never have to see that crap again.....get over it.

[kingwilly]

I don't agree, it's also a chance to celebrate Australian identity, and I think the parades and ceremonies help that.

[Loy Toy]

do you have an opinion to the OP

That should read: Love ya Ned

Yup...........

[panama hat]

do you have an opinion to the OP

That should read: Love ya Ned

Yup...........

In a very matey way! . . . ya bastard

I don't agree, it's also a chance to celebrate Australian identity, and I think the parades and ceremonies help that.

Guess what . . . January 26th Australia Day


And before you know it it is Nov 11th, Remembrance Day and we go through it all again . . .