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https://theconversation.com/a-law-change-will-expand-who-we-remember-on-anzac-day-the-new-zealand-wars-should-be-included-too-256682>
"Anzac Day has come and gone again. But – lest we forget – war and its
consequences are not confined to single days in the calendar. Nor do we only
remember those who fought at Gallipoli more than a century ago.
This gradual expansion of the scope and meaning of April 25 is now about to
grow further, with the Anzac Day Amendment Bill currently before parliament.
Its goal is to make the commemoration “broader and more inclusive than it
currently is”.
Remembrance will soon include “other conflicts and persons who have served New
Zealand in time of war or in warlike conflicts in the past and in the future
that are not currently covered”.
New Zealand personnel who served in United Nations missions, and who fought or
died in training, will be recognised, as will civilians who served in war or
warlike conflicts. Without doubt, it is an excellent initiative.
The question is, does it go far enough? The obvious omission, if the new law is
intended to be “broader” and include past wars, is the conflict that helped
shape (and still shapes) the country we are today: the New Zealand Wars.
Of course, including this pivotal period from 1843 to 1872 plays into the
politics of today, given the land confiscations and other injustices the New
Zealand Wars also represent. The question is whether their inclusion can avoid
becoming a culture war in the process."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
