Anzac Day

25 April 2012

Today is Anzac Day.

It is a significant national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand to serve as a reminder of the first military action by troops from both countries during the First World War in 1915.

The plan to capture the Gallipoli Peninsula – in particular Constantinople - backfired and became a drawn-out affair of several months in which time we lost over 8,000 men and New Zealand more than 2,000. However, the landing on the beach at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 became the date of commemoration for both countries to honour the troops from the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps with the acronym ANZAC.

There is no glory in War and I do not believe that the commemoration of Anzac Day suggests that there is.  But there is glory in sacrificing your life for your country as so many gallant young men and women did.

The pain and horrors they endured are unimaginable just as it is unimaginable to think that mankind has not learnt its lessons from both World Wars, the Korean War, Vietnam and the wars currently raging in the Middle East and Africa.

Why do we rage?

Basically we rage because somebody has something we want or we think we need or we think is rightfully ours. We rage because someone has insulted our God by saying he does not exist; or we rage because someone has suggested that there is a God who is supporting us in doing whatever killing, raping, pillaging and desecrating we are doing.

We rage because mortal man is stupid and the opposite of what is true about the reality of Man.  The Real Man gives and takes only what is his to give or take; the Real Man allows others to hold their beliefs; the Real Man does not harm others or take their lives or their children.  The Real man shares what he has and is content in the knowledge that the Universe is in perfect balance and will provide for all…if only mortal man…would allow it.

We are thinking today of the families that lost loved ones in these inglorious wars: sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters, brothers, sisters. husbands, wives, uncles, aunts and cousins.

My grandmother lost two brothers in World War 1

My mother lost one of her two brothers in World War 2

  My brother was called up for National Service but thankfully he did not go to War

 There are not too many degrees of separation between being affected or untouched. 

We are thinking of those who were maimed and deprived of a decent life.

We are thinking of those for whom the whole experience unsettled the mind and the soul.

We are thinking on this Anzac Day...but are we truly thinking?

Truly…thinking?