ANZAC Day 2009

Lyrics here and here

It's our day for commemorating the loss of lives of those who've fought in the name of our country in wars throughout our history. A problematic day brooking no argument with those who've felt led to volunteer or have served as soldiers in conflicts we've been part of... but an opportunity for reflection on the futility of war and the need in 2009 for 'another way'.
Indeed, whatever it means to be Australian [and it is unique], nationality is essentially a false construct. The oral history recorded in Scripture makes the argument that different languages and different religious paths are genuinely the result of our fallibility as humna beings... arising out of disobedience or at least selfishness!!
Whether to fight or not is never a decision I've had to literally make... my version is personal relationships, communitcation and how I respond or not to a whole different kind of provocation, power or dispute!!
The rugby field, the working world and family or friends is no comparison to whether or not it's a viable solution to terrorism to invade a training ground country and attempt to 'put things right.'
Specifically, what if someone broke the cycle of violence... hang on, someone did? We celebrate any number of individuals and groups who've 'tried some other way' including: Aung San Su Kyi; Martin Luther King Jnr; and Oscar Romero!! This is surely the example of Jesus of Nazareth whose death occured amidst a non voilent response [again and again] to politics, military rule, religious piety, temptation to power and selfishness...
Sobering then that it cost him and others their lives... so we're not talking about the soft option... would I... could I... just about every week most of us have the opportunity to do so even on a personal level!! The put down, judging people by first impressions, guarded responses, playing games, choosing self interest ahead of serving... choosing differently to these begins the approach by 'a different way...