yeah its a very white australian day isnt it. for me its a pretty respectful day although i dont go to the dawn service , i do identify with the day , not having multicultural or religous ties to other days its kinda special. however i am conflicted with the racial overtones that it brings to the climate and again that aspect of choking on our own "mateship" . having current and past family members in the forces is interesting, vs my current perspective as interested in rights for many racial and social groups.
nearly had a fight with my brother on thursday about it .
Yeah, for me it's the one holiday I actually take seriously. The histories and memories evoked by what the day actually commemorates pretty much just reinforce my pacifism, since they are so stunningly illustrative of the futility of war. We fought for eight months in Gallipoli and lost of thousands upon thousands of young Aussies and Kiwis - for what? What an indescribable tragedy.
The way the day is marked, though ... it certainly doesn't touch on those themes, that's for sure. Some of the glorification of combat troubles me. ANZAC Day should repudiate that.