Thursday, April 26, 2012

Anzac Day

The choice of Anzac day as a memorial day was odd.

  1. On this day in 1915, troops from New Zealand landed on the beach at Gallipoli in Turkey. The Gallipoli campaign was a terrible disaster, with horrific casualties for very little territorial gain. The New Zealand troops were stuck on the hill above the beach for months. All attempts to break out failed. Several months later, the Australian and New Zealand troops withdrew having achieved nothing, but paying a terrible price. What does it say about a nation when it chooses a massive defeat, as its memorial day?

  2. Another serious question is never asked. What were young men from New Zealand doing trying to invade Turkey? The Turks were justified in defending their country from the invaders and they did. This invasion was just another misguided colonial adventure. Using the start of an immoral war for a memorial day is a little embarrassing.

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