Today is the 25th April 2008. On the 25th April 1915, the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey during the “Great War”. The plan was to capture Constantinople and knock Turkey out of the war. The outcome was somewhat different with lots of casualties on both sides. One year later, this day became known as Anzac Day.
This picture is from our Canadian friends and I’d like to share it with you in the spirit of Anzac Day. Spare a thought for those soldiers that either volunteered or were forced into wars and conflicts throughout the world. Some had to fight to defend their countries. Others were sent off to invade countries they didn’t even want to be in. Spare a minute for their families, friends and close ones who suffered along with them.
Every Soul Matters
Take motivation from their sacrifice, regardless of what side they were on. Australia, Germany, England, Turkey, Japan, USA, Iraq, it matters not. Every soul that passed on during any conflict, was a soul belonging to a father, mother, son or daughter. Lives, sacrificed for causes of politicians that ensured their own sons stayed at home. The common man, like a soldier ant, carries the courage of a nation on his shoulders.
I honor those who made the sacrifice, those who carry the memories and likewise, those from both sides. To be forced to kill another person, made legal by a stroke of a politicians pen, is a horrible burdon to lay on any man or woman’s conscience.
Remember the suffering that went on back then and remember the suffering that we are causing right now around the world. 50 Million people were killed during the Second World War. Bombs were (and are) dropped in civilian areas and the souls count as collateral damage to another country that doesn’t really care. War is a horrible concept and the profit makers of this enterprise should hang their heads in shame.
Lest We Forget
Today is about remembering the common people that did what they were told to do. Far too many made the ultimate sacrifice. Bless their souls.
Lest we forget
Sean Rasmussen
Success Communicator
SeanRasmussen.com © 2004 – 2008
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Hi Sean,
Thanks for the reminder. Gallipoli is a very spiritual place. To stand on the landing beach and look up through Shrapnel Valley, makes you wonder how they ever made it up the ridge. With the strategic vantage point that the Turks held it’s no wonder the valley earnt it’s name. There is a road there with trenches on either side. Turks on one side and ANZAC’s on the other and during times of ceasefire like over Christmas, the Turks would throw us over some cigarettes and we would throw back blocks of chocolate. The location of the final scene in the movie ‘Gallipoli’ is still there too. Scaling the wall of a 10-15ft trench and running out over a patch of land the size of 2 tennis courts with 2 Turkish machine guns ripping everyone too shreds was absolute caos. It’s one of those places in the world that I will never forget.
Thanks again for the reminder.
‘Lest we forget’
Hi Stuart.
Your description makes the “senselessness” of war even more profound. Thanks for your comment. It really goes to show that the soldiers don’t want to be there. To be sharing cigarettes and chocolate is amazing. It reminds me of the Christmas eve football game between German and Allied soldiers during a cease fire. One of the absolute highlights or the Great War and a true showing of the human ability to care.
Thank you Sean for those comments, so many soldiers gave their lives so that we could enjoy the world we have today, the real sad part is the ones they died for barely even know what anzac day is about and kids have been heard to ask …what are they marching for…??
they shall grow not old , nor the years condemn, at the gowing down of the sun……
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM
“LEST WE FORGET”
Hi Allen. It’s a time to remember. My thoughts are with them today and many others too.
Thanks for your thoughtful and heartfelt post Sean. Your comment “War is a horrible concept and the profit makers of this enterprise should hang their heads in shame.” So many hundreds of thousands of Iraqi’s have died in the current war to gain power over oil reserves. What is needed are more people standing up on Anzac day and saying NO MORE to war. Anzac day can then become something that present generations can relate to. This madness has to stop. We are killing our brothers and sisters. For OIL.
Hi Russell
There is a saying, I believe by Albert Einstein. It goes something like this:
“Peace is only possible through a generation of military service refusal”
I messed that up a bit. Basically what he said was this: If everyone refuses to fight, there will be no unnecessary wars. I’d imagine getting a lot of resistance on that one
Hi Sean, It is great to see sharp and open ideas about ugliness of wars and respecting all side soldiers who laid down, no matter who. Well for short I was in war between Iran and Iraq which has been made legal by a stroke of a politicians pen or either just verbal point!.
My nephew (student of Mechanical Eng at his university) as a result of a Saddam bomb (Iranian called US bombs!) was influenced by bomb waves, event though he finished his degree but he could never have mental health on and off, he studied privately medicine (when he was OK) to discovered if there is remedy for himself he was sure there are none, as a result he suicided.
I have met some Iraqian who were in war by force and scaped to here or anywhere else, they also say it was so ugly. and both sides are sorry now.
As a first generation migrant I salute all soldiers who fell as a result of that war and other recent wars.
Bless all their good spirits
Hi Alan
To many wars (actually, possibly “all” wars) are fought for monetary or power “ego” reasons. Politics, religion, different opinions… One I particularly cringe at is the ownership of the central bank. Generally that changes as soon as the “Roque State” is controlled. I believe Iraq has (had?) 24 million citizens and 40% are (were) children. I fail to see the threat.
War is indeed very evil and senseless.
Bless ALL of their souls.
The “Great war” “the war to end all wars” was fought over many areas of the world as was WWII. My Grandfather was one Australian that served with the 53rd Battallion in Belgium. He like so many others was affected by war in a way that he nor those that were close to him ever recovered from. He died in 1940 at the age of 41 as a result of what happened to him in that war. My father was an orphan and his life was in turn effected deeply by what happened to his father.
My father then served with the Merchant Navy in WWII and survived sea battles in Australian waters and a few of the ships that he served on were sunk after he moved on to another ship.
So in turn war has effected my life.
Not to the extent however of children of Vietnam survivors that were woken throughout their childhood and young adulthood in the middle of the night by their heavily effected and shellshocked and self medicating fathers that would burst into their rooms screaming and smashing things on a fairly regular basis.
War is not something to be glorified, but to remember those that went and served and died, and to have empathy for those that returned, and to realise the full effect of war on their lives and the lives of the generations that follow is something that should never be forgotten.
“LEST WE FORGET”
Thank you Mark
Your story is far to familiar to me. I didn’t have family that fought “directly” in the big wars. I did however have family that was involved in the resistance movement in Denmark (I only learned this a few years ago when medals of an great uncle were auctioned at Sothebys in London). My parents lived in occupied Denmark during WWII. My grandfather was in the submarines. They sank the entire fleet before the occupiers could get hold of it. The Danish king refused to display the “Star Of David” on Danish Jews. So the Germans agreed and decided to make an exception for Denmark. Swedish buses went into Germany with Red Cross marks on them and collected hundreds and hundred of people to save them and the German troops let them. Brittish bombers bombed some Danish Schools just incase they were bomb factories… To hear the stories and to hear both sides of the story; it amazes me to see just how polluted the history books are with doctored events, heavily influenced by the victors.
I feel for the people that have to carry the memories and I’ll effects of these event.
Anzac day will be around again soon. My father is gone now. He died in 1977. He was only 57 years old when he dies. He was on the front line in the WW2 and he went overseas 3 times. He went to New Guinea, Borneo and he was a paratrooper into enemy lines in Germany. He could not join into any celebrations on Anzac day and could not discuss the war at all. It had effected him so much. I am told by relatives that he should have also received the Victoria Cross. Due to him being a major player in the same expedition that Frank Partridge received the Victoria Cross.
Also my grandfather’s two older brothers (on my mother’s side of the family), both died in the WW1. Their names are the last two on the WW1 War Memorial in Canberra. Surnames is, Wylie.
These days I am quite regularly asked by new arrivals to Australia. “Ah, but which country are you really from?”
Hi Sean,
This is a very moving post. No-one can fully comprehend the horrors of war until they have been in one. I am so grateful to these men and women for their courage and sacrifice. It is because of them that I have the chance to live my life, my way.
These men and women saw and endured things that no person was ever meant to see or do. These kinds of experiences leave scars on people’s souls forever. We’ve had so many wars and we haven’t learned anything, except more efficient ways to kill people. And, it’s not just the soldiers who suffer but innocent civilians as well. So much needless death.
Sometimes I despair that we will ever stop finding reasons to kill each other. Maybe the next generation will do better.
That’s a beautiful photo. Congratulations to the photographer. With ANZAC Day 2010 just around the corner, may we always remember.
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My father and all my uncles fought in WW2 and I have total respect and gratitude for all who fought to defend Australia so that we who are living here today can enjoy this fabulous country. The ANZACS at Gallipoli were fighting for the King, an outmoded value nowadays and one that helps us to wonder about the value of war and the value of our present day concepts.
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Great post Sean – a very poignant reminder. It is hard to conceive what it must have been like to be involved in a conflict like this, which not only resulted in such a huge loss of life, but also reshaped the world order.
Tom McEwin´s last blog ..Using Affiliate Networks to Give the People What they Want
Ahh Sean,
This is a subject close to my heart. The strength, courage, fortitude, loyalty, and sheer spirit of humankind is just awesome. My own conflict comes with reconciling, as you discuss above, the manipulation of these traits for nothing more than greed, ill-will and worst of all, a ‘just-because-we-can’ attitude. And so we see the best and worst of mankind, and the impacts.
May good prevail.
LEST WE FORGET
Jo Carey-Bradshaw´s last blog ..Empowering Mindset – Mindfulness
Thanks Sean for that post.
It’s important to honor those who give their life to secure our freedom. I am very lucky that in my time and in the countries I lived in there was no war or armed conflict happening and I am eternally grateful for that. It is sad that humans are still fighting in wars but I hope that we will learn and refrain from doing that to ourselves soon. Until that time I am grateful for the men and women who fight for our freedom.
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