The Sydney Morning Herald Letters to the editor (extract) Is the spirit of Anzac built on a myth? Your front-page article today suggests that rather than facing the truth of the massacre suffered by the Anzacs of Gallipoli, which at best is described by a professor of history as "an impressive draw because it was played on the enemy's home ground", we have remembered "our first time" in battle and continue to glory in it. As a nation we are still struggling with what reconciliation means for us. Some seek to deny historical truth and claim absolution from the past as they personally were not responsible for the actions of their forebears. What is the truth of Gallipoli? Have we as a nation interpreted for ourselves something horrible and awful and built nationalism and pride on a rewriting of history? As a nation, can we define what the truth of our history is? On one hand we have a Prime Minister unable to utter the "s" word because that is past history and should be forgotten. At the same time he exploits the Anzac tradition, visiting Gallipoli and glorifying in a past which, if we were truthful about it, would show a naive nation exploited by a colonial power. Ross Cameron further challenges the Anzac myth by suggesting that it had become "obsessive in Australia". No doubt he will be called "un-Australian" for daring to challenge the Anzac myth. As a nation we need to look at our history with two eyes, acknowledging the good and bad. No point living on past glories we were not there for when we deny past shame that we do not want to acknowledge, let alone repair. Eddie Ozols, Alstonville. How splendid it would be if our Prime Minister, in his newfound sensitive relationship with the Turkish leadership and his respectful journey into Anzac history with all its grief and glory, could learn something about such a journey into our shared history with Aboriginal people. If he finds parts of Gallipoli sacred space, perhaps he will see that there might be sacred land, stained with the blood of suffering, here. Maybe he will at least admit that history does have an importance for our present and recognise that to grieve for some of it could actually enhance the bits we choose to celebrate. Dorothy McRae-McMahon, Rozelle. -- _________________________________ Truth is a pathless land. --- Krishnamurti ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------ RecOzNet2 has a page @ http://www.green.net.au/recoznet2 and is archived at http://www.mail-archive.com/ To unsubscribe from this list, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED], and in the body of the message, include the words: unsubscribe announce or click here mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20announce This posting is provided to the individual members of this group without permission from the copyright owner for purposes of criticism, comment, scholarship and research under the "fair use" provisions of the Federal copyright laws and it may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner, except for "fair use." RecOzNet2 is archived for members @ http://www.mail-archive.com/recoznet2%40paradigm4.com.au/
