Lest We Forget

[Fresh8]

To all the Aussies and New Zealanders on the forums, the message rings true for us. We need to remember those who have died and fought to protect our freedom in our countries. I want to pay tribute to those who were brave enough to go to war in times of uncertainty. And also to thank those who are now serving in places like Iraq. The sacrafice they make to go and do what they do and protect others and to try and create what people call peace is admirable.

And the most important date, when the ANZAC's landed at Gallipoli. April 25th, 1915. So many young lives lost... but the ANZAC spirit still lives on and as the future generation, we need to keep the spirit going far into the future!

Lest We Forget.

- So in relation to this, who's been to a dawn service or who is going to an ANZAC day parade?
- And what does ANZAC Day mean to you?

[Matthew]

The ANZAC spirit lives on? What a load of bullshit. Look at the way people view the war in Iraq: its labelled an invasion led by the big and evil America. You compare that to how Gallipolli is viewed, and its a glaring contrast between two very similar situations.

Anzac day to me means a public holiday, no more significant than the queens birthday. I respect the shit out of the wwIIveterans becuase they actually were defending australia, but the world war one ones, although they were courageous, I cant see how what they did in turkey really "protected our freedom" by fighting in turkey. World war I was confined to europe almost exclusively, and its not like Iraq and Afganistan where australia has been a target for terrorism since 1998.

I just think its a huge media build up, and once again its a glaring contradiction and shows how stupid the aussie media is.

[Fresh8]

ANZAC spirit. As an Aussie, I learnt to never give up and give it my all and to be proud of my country. We are spirited and what I believe is that we need to be proud of being Australian. Not just of what Australia is now but how brave Australians were before - in the past.

Different people have different views and opinions. People say that the notion os the true ANZAC spirit has been lost due to the huge generation gap... that is true. But I for one won't foget.

It may be a public holiday to some but to others, it's a day of rememberence.

So maybe I should say the ANZAC lives on for some?

[Jackal]

Make up your mind as to what you are. Aussie, Chinese, American Gangsta or Kobe.

[Matthew]

ANZAC spirit seems to just be a media build up for whatever reason. Sure those kids were brave as hell, but its a glaring contradiction how they cover the ANZACS then compared to our troops now over in Iraq and Afganistan.

You can have pride in being an aussie, but don't do it simply becuase the media tells you. I'm proud becuase I can drive to the beach if I want to, or go play basketball, or go play videogames, or goto a mosque if i was muslim (:crazy:). We have a freedom to do these things, but I don't attribute that to Gallipoli or the Anzacs.

[Fresh8]

Yeah. The media plays a huge role in the lives of everyone. And I see how you're saying what you're saying. What I don't like is how they use it to commercialise, like with Channel 7, the reason why they must have done a Live broadcast from Kokoda was only to grab more viewers. Exploiting the true meaning of rememberance?

With freedom, the whole notion of war to me is fighting for freedom and that's what the Aussies fought for in the war. That's what they believed in. So in my point of view, they are behind this freedom that we have today. I see what you're saying and I got to say that I can't disagree with your point of view.

[Jugs]

A 14 year old soldier died in the world war 1, youngest one. He lied about his age because he was gigantic and wanted to fight.

That's the only thing inspirational about ANZAC day to me, other than that, I treat it as a day off.

[The X]

the stories of the ANZACs are courageous....regardless of whether they should have been there (I don't think they should have....the Allies just wanted to control a supply route....Turkey was just defending it's homeland, any country would've done the same in their situations)....the time signifies an age where the ANZACs slowly starting to build national identities & move away from British rule....I gotta go see that Kokoda movie some time soon, should be good....my favourite part of ANZAC day, apart from getting a day off, is the bugle....I love the 'Last Post'

[Andrew]

I think the ANZAC spirit does live on in so much as despite our changed attitude to war we still honour our veterans and rightfully so as whether you support warfare or are staunchly against it, I believe you have to acknowledge and appreciate the sacrifices made by the ANZACs. I don't think that's ever going to change.

But the notion that war is glamarous, noble and unquestionably right is a point of view people are more willing to challenge nowadays so in that sense we may have lost the ANZAC spirit. That's not necessarily a bad thing as it's our right to question these matters, speak our minds and make our decisions as we are all entitled to do...but we should never turn our backs on those who have served our country in war.

[Riot]

Props to you Sit, have faith!

Sit, aren't you in the armed forces or is that someone else?

[benji]

but we should never turn our backs on those who have served our country in war.

It's perfectly acceptable in the United States. Infact, strongly supported and suggested. It's why we haven't won a hot war since WWII.

The Ottoman Empire entered World War I on the side of the Central Powers. This directly threatened the path through the Suez as well as the Russian supply routes. That's why the British attacked. With the Western Front deadlocked, they needed to open a new one elsewhere.

Let's not forget where they went after Gallipoli. The Pozières and Mouquet Farm engagement of the Battle of the Somme. There the Aussies lost more men in six weeks than they did in all eight months of Gallipoli. Though they captured Pozières in the end.

[Riot]

Yeah, the support of American troops (especially Vietnam) has been a joke over the decades.

[Nick]

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I just had a minute silence.

[Scotty]

it was good @ the footy, no one shouted out in the middle of the service and the drummer wasn't really playing it was pre-recorded, i'm not sure why though

[Andrew]

but we should never turn our backs on those who have served our country in war.

It's perfectly acceptable in the United States. Infact, strongly supported and suggested.

Oh, I know it happens, especially with Vietnam veterans. I'm just not into doing it myself. I don't consider myself pro-war by any means but I do recognise the risk and sacrifice.

[Laxation]

Anzac day - thousands sacrificed their lives so we could sit on our asses and watch the footy