ANZAC Day, know it's over but...

**Laxi** · 29th April 2009, 16:06

Originally Posted by Slyer

Christ sakes you lot.
You don't have to get all up in arms about a fucking wreath.

Secondly, ANZAC day IS pro-war, if it were anti-war we would be saying "Those poor souls, we should have never gone to war in the first place. Such a waste."
instead of
"We honour the people that fought and died for the freedoms we enjoy today."
War isn't a GOOD thing, but it is very necessary.

I don't need a day of remembrance to thank our soldiers for what they have sacrificed for us, I can thank them any day I like.

it's not about a bunch of shrubery, its the simple fact that these people see anzac day as condoning war, the phrase "least we forget" says it all, 1 set of grandparents lived through ww2 under the nazis in holland, the other grandfather fought in nth africa, ask my dutch grandparents whether it was necissary! considering the b.s and fighting that goes on on waitangi day, personaly I'd like them change our national day to anzac day

**short-circuit** · 29th April 2009, 16:19

Originally Posted by Lias

We're talking about trendy rebel against the man psuedo intellectual student types here. Even if they had enough braincells to comprehend the point, they'd refuse to do so on general principal.

in this case the word you are looking for is: "principle"

**short-circuit** · 29th April 2009, 16:25

Originally Posted by Laxi

considering the b.s and fighting that goes on on waitangi day, personaly I'd like them change our national day to anzac day

How could a day set aside to remembering New Zealand's contribution to an INTERNATIONAL conflict be deemed a national day?

Remember also the small matter of conscription - many people who disagreed with war were forced to participate.

Worth remembering for sure but hardly cause to celebrate

**Badjelly** · 29th April 2009, 16:30

Originally Posted by MSTRS

Still, ANZAC Day has never been about glorifying war. though. It is the official day for remembering the sacrifices and bravery of those who went against an aggressor.

I agree, have been to a few Anzac Day ceremonies myself, and don't think the VUW Students Association was right to snub it. BUT, back in the 70s the RSA was very much for NZ involvement in the Vietnam War and you might have been forgiven for thinking that glorifying wars, any war, was exactly what they thought Anzac Day was about. I remember that a group of young anti-war people tried to lay a wreath at an Anzac Day ceremony with the words "To the dead and dying on both sides in Vietnam". This was considered very offensive by the old soldiers, wrongly in my opinion. (In hindsight, I think the only thing that's offensive about that wreath is that it fails to acknowledge that many of the dead and dying in that conflict weren't on any side.)

**PrincessBandit** · 29th April 2009, 16:33

Just because committee members of the student association refused to lay a wreath was there any reason that another group of students could not have accepted the invitation?

The article reads as if the committee (who are meant to represent the student body) were determined to refuse for their own peculiar reasons, rather than listening to what those they represent wanted. Yep - future policiticans alright!

I hope the students who wanted to be involved gave their committee members the big finger and organised their own participation (or sought advice on whether they could do so).

After reading my granddad's diary (he fought in Italy in '45-'46) it brought home to me the sacrifice these men and women made, which many of us in our comfortable little security bubbles have no concept of. Particularly touching was even to read of the terrible homesickness they suffered, the desperation for getting news from home, the brutal route marches etc. all in addition to the combat.

What a pathetic representation of Wellington's "finest"(???) Hope they are proud of the attention they've brought to themselves.

**Laxi** · 29th April 2009, 16:37

Originally Posted by short-circuit

How could a day set aside to remembering New Zealand's contribution to an INTERNATIONAL conflict be deemed a national day?

Remember also the small matter of conscription - many people who disagreed with war were forced to participate.

Worth remembering for sure but hardly cause to celebrate

wether you like it or not, new zealand (& australia) gained a lot of their identity in the wars, ww1 was when we stoped being a collony and became a nation

**short-circuit** · 29th April 2009, 16:53

Originally Posted by Laxi

wether you like it or not, new zealand (& australia) gained a lot of their identity in the wars

This may be your opinion - I fully disagree.

If it were true it would be a pretty sad state of affairs and not something to be proud of

**short-circuit** · 29th April 2009, 16:53

Originally Posted by Laxi

ww1 was when we stoped being a collony and became a nation

This is patently untrue - and has nothing to do with NZ's involvement in either war

http://www.teara.govt.nz/NewZealandI...AndNation/2/en

**MSTRS:Me** · 29th April 2009, 17:04

Originally Posted by Laxi

wether you like it or not, new zealand (& australia) gained a lot of their identity in the wars, ww1 was when we stoped being a collony and became a nation

Originally Posted by short-circuit

This is patently untrue - and has nothing to do with NZ's involvement in either war

Did you miss this bit?

New Zealand took an individual stance in world affairs only slowly. One small but significant step came in 1919 when the prime minister, William Massey, signed the Treaty of Versailles, which ended the First World War. Previously British prime ministers had signed such major international treaties for New Zealand. The pen Massey used is on display in Parliament Buildings in Wellington.

It is generally accepted that WW1 was a watershed for NZ in terms of 'nationhood'. Previously, Britain still 'pulled the strings'. The disaster that was Gallipoli was most definitely a spur to continue to support Britain but on OUR terms.

**ynot slow** · 29th April 2009, 17:37

Possibly one reasonable good thing out of Gallipolli was Churchill didn't quite stuff it up 2nd time round with battle of Britain.

**Mom** · 29th April 2009, 17:47

Go to any small town in NZ and find the War Memorial and have a read of the names on it. Some families lost many members. That fact alone needs remembering, the families left behind to cope without fathers and brothers.

I attend and play at ANZAC comemorations because I respect and acknowledge the sacrifices that were made by so many so that I can live the way I do today. I go to honour those men that died and to say the time honoured words, "we will remember them".

I play Last Post at RSA members funerals, to honour them. I love making old men cry.

How anyone can think that ANZAC Day is pro war is beyond me. They have no respect. Ignorance is what it is.

Hope I never come across one of these idiots. I am not even a Kiwi (go figure that).

**MSTRS:Me** · 29th April 2009, 17:50

Originally Posted by Mom

How anyone can think that ANZAC Day is pro war is beyond me. They have no respect. Ignorance is what it is.

Conshies is what they is. And back in '14 we knew just how to deal with that sort.
They really have no idea, eh??

**Mom** · 29th April 2009, 17:55

Originally Posted by MSTRS

Conshies is what they is. And back in '14 we knew just how to deal with that sort.
They really have no idea, eh??

None!

Imagine thinking this (I am not going to dignify the poster by quoting him)

"Secondly, ANZAC day IS pro-war, if it were anti-war we would be saying "Those poor souls, we should have never gone to war in the first place. Such a waste."
instead of
"We honour the people that fought and died for the freedoms we enjoy today.""

We should never have gone to war in the first place?

Ignorance! Pure, simple ignorance!

Worst it seems some that are spouting this particular brand of stupidity are our future leaders. WANKERS!