Buried and Forgotten

 Greetings,

One way that we try to forget about things is that we collect things together and then bury them so they can be forgotten. This approach is sometimes accompanied with the burning of the objects and then burying of the associated ashes of the objects. In any case, the concept is to remove the thing from thought, to remove it from sight and from thought. This happens with history, and all sides do it.

Burying History

There have been complaints throughout history in society about the ruling elite burying other people's history, especially when this history is inconvenient for them. Most often this is directed by people of colour against those historically in power, in regard to the slave trade, or appropriation of their native lands, or similar issues. There has been a lack of the recording of the history of those who are not in power, a lack of the recording of their histories in the past. There are historians who are trying to correct this, but the pendulum should be centred, not completely swung in the opposite direction.

The almost reverse is occurring now in some situations where people are tearing down monuments to those of the former ruling elite, because they were involved in historically-incorrect activities such as slave trade. What they do not realise that they are doing is that they are also burying the history that goes along with it, and buried history, is forgotten history. Things that cannot be seen are forgotten, the reason that the monuments are being torn down is because they remind people of what happened. Is this not a good enough reason to leave them where they are?

An Example

Tearing down of Saddam's Statue Firdos Square 2003
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firdos_Square_statue_destruction

Here is an example of a statue that was torn down, some almost twenty years ago now. Without clicking on the link, do you remember who did it? Was it the US troops or was it the Iraqi citizens? What was the result of this act? Now, read the article attached to the link, read what was thought by someone who was there during this pivotal scene in world history, then think about what has come after-ward. Have a look at the news in Iraq, news that is not currently reported, and see how settled things still aren't.

A Reminder

When something is destroyed, torn down and nothing is left, or put in its place to remind people what was there before, people forget. Go down town, find a block where a new building has just been built, try and remember what the building which stood in its place previously looked like, it's the same thing. We build monuments to remind us of things. We build war monuments not to remind us about the wars, but the sacrifices made by the people who fought in those wars. We have ANZAC and Remembrance Day in Australia, not to glorify war, but to remind us of those who served, and those who still serve.

For your history to be known it needs to be brought into the light. In the tearing down of a monument, all people remember is the tearing down of the monument, and that memory will fade, and quickly. People remember that a group were offended and they destroyed something. Build something that people can walk by, and remember and people will remember it. Then people will remember that someone built something, and they did it for a reason.

Build Don't Destroy

If you go to most cities you will see statues, in some older cities you will see statues that have stood for centuries. They have stood the test of time because they were built, not because something was destroyed. The memories of people in history last because they are brought into the light, not because some other person who opposed them was buried. We remember Leonidas not because he was buried, but because he stood, we remember Xerxes because he stood against Leonidas. We remember him not for what he fought against, but for what he fought for.

Tell your truth, but remind yourself that it is one truth among many truths. History is replete with truths; each person has their own story and own truths to tell. Individuals perform actions and individuals tell the stories, it is something that is often forgotten. Each truth needs to be told, as there is always multiple sides to each story that is told. Build don't bury, this is the way to be remembered and have the stories which are important remembered.

Cheers,

Henry.

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Another Remembrance, Another Article: Response to: "Comment: The incontrovertible truth about World War I"

Greetings,

Why is it that every time Australians decide to pay respect to their fallen soldiers some journalist has to jump up and down about war and what a waste it is? It happened on ANZAC Day, and big surprise there is an article in the Sydney Morning Herald by Peter FitzSimons doing the same thing, you can find the article here (https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/comment-the-incontrovertible-truth-about-world-war-i/ar-BBPxljn). Like most journalistic articles about the First World War it focuses on the loss of life during the war and the damage to the soldiers which existed long after the war. Well, the same goes for all wars before and after, including the ones which we are fighting right now as I write.

I have a family history which is somewhat connected with wars. My great-uncle fought and died in France in the First World War, and my grandfather fought in the Second World War. I also have a cousin who is currently serving in the Royal Australian Navy, and I could not be more proud to be related to all of them. Further, I have friends who are or were soldiers, and I am proud to call these my friends. Needless to say, when someone like Mr FitzSimons, who mind you makes part of his money selling books about war, goes and "reveals the truth" about the First World War in such a fashion it tends to strike a nerve, especially on this day of all days. It could have been left for tomorrow, but then it would not have caused an impact and that is what he was looking for.

A person does not write a book about the exact war he is calling a waste without knowing the details of it. What also needs to be known is that this Remembrance Day is not just for World War I, though today is special as it is the centenary of the Armistice, but it is for all wars. It is a time to pay respect for what our servicemen and women have done for us, and also for what our servicemen and women are still doing for us to this day and into the future. Any school-child who has studied their history, and who has sat through the lesson on the First World War knows that the tactics were not appropriate for the technology, and that the loss of life, on all sides of the conflict was severe. An entire generation of young men was lost, what more needs to be said?

To be sure there was a catastrophic loss of life between 1914 and 1918, and I am not sure whether we have really learnt the lessons which this war taught. It sure taught us some lessons which were taken in, but it also delivered some others which were to result in another war some 21 years later, that could be clearly laid at the feet of the so-called "victors" of this war. War and civilisation are something which go hand in hand throughout history and cannot be separated. We have the propensity for killing one another for one reason or another.

However, within that horrible story though, there are stories which can be told which were not even mentioned as they might have showed some level of achievement. There is one, toward the beginning. To put into contrast against Mr FitzSimons, there is another article, "Australian Diggers more likely to have fought as heroes for king than Allies, research shows" (https://www.news.com.au/national/australian-diggers-more-likely-to-have-fought-as-heroes-and-for-king-than-allies-research-shows/news-story/e26f51e39e6d9669ec5bb8eb21e2015f). It discusses how knowing that they were limited to 66 characters on their headstones, the families of the fallen Australians wanted them to appear as heroes, as according to a British study of headstones. To be sure the positive stories and the stories of heroes and self-sacrifice for another are the rare ones, but this is the same for all wars.

To put it in perspective, this day of all days, aside from ANZAC Day, is a day where the servicemen and women should be honoured. They should be placed in positions of honour. On these days servicemen and women should be thanked for their service. Thank for what they have done whether they have seen battle or not, because in joining the services they have committed themselves to putting their bodies on the line if called. This is what it means to be in the military and anyone who has not been in the same situation has no right to be saying anything negative about any service personnel on this of all days.

Cheers,

Henry.

Vietnam Veterans: Denied Again

Greetings,

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Vietnam veterans have been denied the right to march through their state capital as was reported on the local news (https://www.msn.com/en-au/video/sport/vietnam-veterans-denied-permission-to-march-in-brisbane/vp-BBM52OZ). So once again, these men who went to fight in a war because their government told them to. To fight in a war which was unpopular almost across the globe. To fight in a war that many of them still suffer from. The acknowledgement of their service by the public in Brisbane is being denied.

While the march may cause some traffic issues for some and thus be an inconvenience. It may also cost some tax-payer money to close the roads and have the extra police involved to close these roads and ensure that the crowds are controlled. Do these men and women who went to war because they were told to and did their jobs, and served their country not deserve it? They have already paid their dues in blood and anguish, in lost friends and family, and this is not to mention those who would march in the place of someone who did not come back. All of their service should be honoured.

The Vietnam War, or the Vietnam Conflict as some would like us to call it, was one of the most divisive wars in our history. It divided nations between those who supported the act of going to war against communism, against those who opposed the war fighting for another country. We see much of this war from the point of view of the United States and we see much of the division which happened within that country. What we do not see much of is what happened in Australia at the same time. We do not often see or hear of what the Australians did in Vietnam. Is this the reason why our veterans are so easily forgotten? Is this the reason why their march is so easily denied? Because they have not made documentaries and movies to rival their American counterparts? All veterans of all wars should be honoured, regardless of which side they fought on. Their service should be honoured.

How can it be so that such a march can be so easily denied? How many other marches have been denied? How many of the people in the marches which have been given permission have been veterans? Yes, it does make a difference if they are veterans or not. They have served their country and their service needs to be honoured. It is not the glorification of war as some might accuse, it is the acknowledgement of the service. It is the honouring of men and women who did a service to their country. These are men and women who we should be standing up and being proud of. These are men and women who we should be making every effort to ensure that their march goes ahead without a hitch rather than denying them permission. This is about showing respect to these veterans.

The Brisbane City Council simply needs to make sure that this march can happen. It needs to happen. It needs to happen to give due honour to these veterans and respect the service that they have done for this country.

Cheers,

Henry.

Respect not Glorification An Answer to: "What Does Glorifying The ANZAC Myth Say About Our Attitudes To Violent Men Today?"

Greetings,

I am getting a real distaste for the modern historian and their revisionist view of the world and how they want to find fault with everything, especially if some group of people want to find good in it. More to the point how they want to do something that I was told never to do and make emotional pleas to the audience. The subject is also one which strikes a little close to my heart, having servicemen and women in my family, and having a long and endearing respect for all of them.

So, the original article which I am arguing against can be found here: http://junkee.com/what-does-glorifying-the-anzac-myth-say-about-our-attitudes-to-violent-men-today/76563, entitled "What Does Glorifying The ANZAC Myth Say About Our Attitudes To Violent Men Today?" It came up on my Facebook feed and I read it and I just could not stay silent about it. I apologise to those of my friends who have different views with regard to this subject but this is something I feel rather strongly about.

Australians at War

During the First World War, the Australian Imperial Forces went and fought in Gallipoli, Palestine and France, among other places, as a part of our "Imperial duty". Our troops did much the same thing in the Second when they went to the Middle East and beyond. This means, in essence, they went to fight and support someone else due to a feeling of familiar bonds. Those who went to Papua New Guinea and fought along the Kakoda Trail were literally fighting to prevent the Japanese invasion of Australia. I am proud to say that members of my family from both sides served in both World Wars, and I will not be beaten back for having this pride.

Wars are Horrible

The soldier in war commits acts of violence which are not normal in society, then again wars are not a normal state of affairs. Soldiers are trained to kill their opponents, trained to survive on the battlefield, and trained to follow orders. This is what a soldier does, this is his job, and there is no other job like it. In normal circumstances the soldier would be locked up for committing the acts that they do during war, but during war it is what they are expected to do.

Horrible things happen in wars, on both sides, and by both sides. To take a revisionist approach to history and to vilify those who took part does not assist anyone. The amount of civilians killed in wars is tragic, as is the amount of lives lost in general. More to the point, often when a soldier, as a part of a unit, commits these acts they are on the orders of someone who never sees them, but expects the job to get done nonetheless. Most of the men who do follow the orders are ordinary men in extra-ordindary situations. To pick and choose incidents which inflame the emotions to one way or another is not using logic but emotional reasoning, and is bad history. 

The author claims, "the violence required of men in war is airbrushed our of the story of ANZAC," a feat I would claim is near impossible considering it is a war and surrounded by violence. I would think that no one would have any delusions that ANZACs performed acts of violence, as has been stated before, they were soldiers and this was their job. To talk about war and not include violence or even consider it would be foolish in the extreme.

Domestic Violence has a Long History

Domestic violence is a horrible thing, but to attempt to try to link it to the commemoration and service of those who served a nation is wrong. Go have a look up "the rule of thumb" and the date on when this was legal to beat your wife. So beating your wife as a part of law had been around since at least the late 1700's. So what we call domestic violence has been around much longer than when the veterans came back from the First World War and to try and blame it on them is to deny all the previous history of it.

The men who came back from the First World War came back changed. The experiences that they had could have done nothing more than change them. For some, it was a change for the better, for some it was not. There are indeed reports of those who came back and who could not deal with living in a civilian situation, and some of these no doubt were involved in domestic violence. To paint all of the veterans with the same brush is a gross generalisation. 

"Glorification" of the ANZAC Myth

The article talks about "glorifying" the ANZAC Myth, it is not about glorification, it is about honouring those who served. Unless you have served in the military forces in a time of war you have no idea what goes on. There is violence in war, this is undoubted, and the men who have seen war bear the scars of war both physically and also mentally. 

The article asks whether or not the glorification of the ANZAC Myth normalizes violence in our society by holding up the perpetrators of violence to glory. In response to such statements it can be said that the world has been at war, in one way or another, almost constantly since the Second World War, and that even now is in an undeclared, in some instances, state of war. Violence can be found when a person turns on their television, looks on the Internet, reads a book or in many other places. It was not the ANZAC Myth which has "normalized violence" at all. Violence is pervasive throughout modern media and it is this which promotes it more. If all that can be seen in the ANZAC Myth is the promotion of violence of any kind, then the true source of inspiration which keeps the services going every year, which honours the veterans, rather than glorifying war, has not been found by the author. 

The ANZAC Myth has less to do with the glorification of violence and more about the honouring of service. There are key elements which are to be found, which are more important than violence and its glorification. Go talk to a veteran, ask them about their experiences, and it doesn't even have to be a WWII or earlier one either. Ask them about their friends they have lost, what they did, and how it changed them, and decide for yourself whether or not it is glorification when you pay your respects on ANZAC Day or Remembrance Day.

Cheers,

Henry,