Honour, Aspiration, and Inspiration
Anzac Day is not about glorifying war. I suppose one negative of celebrating Anzac Day could be that it reinforces the view that violence is the way to resolve conflicts. As has become evident over recent months with a surge in cases of domestic violence and allegations of sexual abuse amongst prominent people, we have far too much of that already in our society. However, I would suggest that Anzac Day is actually about two quite different things.
First, it is about honour and respect. Anzac Day is a day for us to honour the service and sacrifice of many on our behalf of this nation, and by extension, each of us. The bible says, “Show proper respect to all, love the family of believers, fear God, honour the king” (1 Peter 2:17). As a society, we’re not good at saying thank you or expressing our appreciation. The Australian way is often to cut people down rather than lift them up. On Anzac Day, we have the freedom to buck that trend. Let’s not waste the opportunity.
Second, Anzac Day is both aspirational and inspirational. Aspiration speaks to our desire or ambition to achieve something significant and inspiration is what motivates us to do it. What do we aspire to? The bible says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). More broadly, this day challenges us to think about who we are as a nation and the positive impact we could have on our region of the world. As surrounding small nations are devastated by COVID-19, what can we do to help? And as our Pacific island neighbours face devastation because of the rising sea levels brought about by climate change, how can we, as a nation, act to address the cause and provide relief and assistance in coping with the immediate effects. As the basic rights and freedoms of others are abused, what can we do to support them?
Anzac Day also challenges us to consider what kind of people we want to be, as individuals, and the positive impact we could have on one another and the community in which we live. How can we make each other’s lives better? For example, what action can we take to make the violence and abuse I mentioned earlier a thing of the past? These are all worthy aspirations. And if we think that, as individual’s, we can’t make a difference, then we only need to take to heart the example of Anzac - of striving against the odds, of courage and sacrifice, of not giving up, of sticking by one’s mates – and let that inspire us to make our aspirations a reality, or, as the bible says, “overcome evil with good.”
Neil Percival
First, it is about honour and respect. Anzac Day is a day for us to honour the service and sacrifice of many on our behalf of this nation, and by extension, each of us. The bible says, “Show proper respect to all, love the family of believers, fear God, honour the king” (1 Peter 2:17). As a society, we’re not good at saying thank you or expressing our appreciation. The Australian way is often to cut people down rather than lift them up. On Anzac Day, we have the freedom to buck that trend. Let’s not waste the opportunity.
Second, Anzac Day is both aspirational and inspirational. Aspiration speaks to our desire or ambition to achieve something significant and inspiration is what motivates us to do it. What do we aspire to? The bible says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). More broadly, this day challenges us to think about who we are as a nation and the positive impact we could have on our region of the world. As surrounding small nations are devastated by COVID-19, what can we do to help? And as our Pacific island neighbours face devastation because of the rising sea levels brought about by climate change, how can we, as a nation, act to address the cause and provide relief and assistance in coping with the immediate effects. As the basic rights and freedoms of others are abused, what can we do to support them?
Anzac Day also challenges us to consider what kind of people we want to be, as individuals, and the positive impact we could have on one another and the community in which we live. How can we make each other’s lives better? For example, what action can we take to make the violence and abuse I mentioned earlier a thing of the past? These are all worthy aspirations. And if we think that, as individual’s, we can’t make a difference, then we only need to take to heart the example of Anzac - of striving against the odds, of courage and sacrifice, of not giving up, of sticking by one’s mates – and let that inspire us to make our aspirations a reality, or, as the bible says, “overcome evil with good.”
Neil Percival