Is the rise in ANZAC Day popularity a cause for concern?

It is interesting to note the recent meteoric rise of ANZAC Day popularity. In the local newspaper it was reported that only three years ago less than three hundred people would attend the Dawn Service at Gosford, but this year they expected well over one thousand. These numbers should invoke pride that Australia’s youth are taking to ANZAC Day in record numbers, but perhaps there is something a little bit disquieting behind individual motivations…

Personally, I am yet to feel a significant connection to the ANZAC spirit. I know what our service men and women did for Australia is highly significant (my Grandfather was in the RAAF) and is worthy of great praise, if only for their self-sacrifice. But in the context of the universal experience of war, I wonder where the Australian experience fits in and whether it demands the hyperbole that is often delivered from lecterns and newspapers across the nation. After all, Australia does have a tendency to over-value our contribution to all realms, particularly in sport and world-affairs. We love to take the long-view and forget context. Of course these reservations should not tarnish the reputations of veterans and their achievements. For me though I feel I need to better understand Australia's contribution to the wars of the 20th Century before I can throw myself into the ANZAC spirit unreservedly (probably a little silly).

These reservations are completely about some of things said during ANZAC Day rather than the day itself. Often the sentiment will arise that Australia’s service personnel helped save Australia from invasion, but in truth Australia was never threatened directly in all the wars of the 20th Century. Regardless of what the first-hand accounts and the old-timers might speak, Japan never had the capability to put Australia out of the war. At its peak in 1942, the Japanese army was so over-stretched that it could only spare roughly two divisions for offensive operations in South East Asia. Our government and military leadership found the threat so insignificant that they never withdrew the only notable Australian division (the 9th) from the Middle East when Australia was most at threat. Australian troops did an awful lot for the Allied cause in all wars, but we cannot over-evaluate their achievements.

Aside from historical revisionism ANZAC Day has become a highlight for a newly emerging sense of “dangerous” and close-minded nationalism among Australia’s youth. As the Cronulla Riots demonstrated, some Australians can prove to be extremely nationalistic. ANZAC Day for these nationalistic individuals is not just a celebration of Anzac achievement, but a demonstration of vulgar nationalism that clouds accurate assessment of our nation and its deeds. History has proven time and time again that nationalism can be dangerous when unchecked and as the world begins to grow smaller, borders collapse and people lose their livelihoods, nationalism becomes all the more appealing to the masses. In this sense, ANZAC Day becomes an official justification for dangerous nationalist sentiment.

Perhaps the cynic in me also believes that Australians tend to forget the contribution of our servicemen and women until 25th April rolls around. This is forgivable considering the nature of fast-paced modern lifestyles where so many issues entertain every moment of our lives, but to praise the Anzacs while playing two-up and downing a schooner is a bit self-serving. One could argue that the Anzacs fought for our right to have a good time, but in order to do so I feel one needs to understand the sacrifices made by Australian soldiers and celebrating their achievements only one day a year isn’t going to allow that connection to happen. I suppose I am arguing for to immersion in learning and understanding of Australia’s role in war*. If more people do this then balanced views will come into the equation rather than historical-revisionism. Nationalism will also be stripped away and people will begin to realize that this is a day about honouring the achievements of the living and fallen Anzacs and their achievements alone.

Perhaps I am too cynical. Maybe the rise in ANZAC Day attendance is due to recent casualties in Afghanistan and Iraq. Perhaps people are beginning to realise that our WWII veterans are reaching the final days of being able to march in numbers. And hopefully the amazing outpouring of WWII historical texts (motivated by one last desperate grab for first-hand accounts from a dying generation) has had a big impact. Hopefully my cynicism is unwarranted.

*NOTE: I am not questioning that many (if not most) people feel a genuine connection to ANZAC Day and that they are knowledgeable about the Anzacs, but I feel a minority might be mistaking mourning and genuine recognition for nationalism.