Anzac Day can mean many things to many people. According to the Australian War Memorial website, “…Anzac Day is a time at which Australians reflect on the many different meanings of war.” On one hand, this reflects the many complex facets of human conflict and the terrible cost that it comes with. On the other hand, this ambiguity can be dangerous. When a symbol can mean anything, it can also end up meaning nothing at all.
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Most Australians consider this day an important day to remember. “Lest we forget” will be quoted often on Anzac Day. This is why many wear rosemary both on the 25th of April as well as Remembrance Day. The herb is, “…an emblem of both fidelity and remembrance in literature and folklore.” Even the Ode contains the line, “We will remember them.”
But remember what? For some, the day will be an occasion to reflect on the sacrifices made by many for their country. Or what it means to make the ultimate sacrifice. It could be thinking of what it means to honour commitments even though the price will be high. It could be about the terrible cost of war on families and communities.
Those who fail to learn from history, we are told (quite often by history teachers at school), are doomed to repeat it. Reflecting on what happened in the past should impact our present. Hopefully, Anzac Day will make us more grateful for the freedoms we enjoy today. There is much debate these days on Australian values. What do we think these values are? Even more importantly, would we be prepared to die for them?
Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24 NIV) As followers of Jesus, this is a great reminder that if we truly believe in something, it should cost us something. If it costs us nothing, then what is it really that we believe? As an apocryphal oriental saying goes, “Good thing no cheap. Cheap thing no good.”