The Day When We Could Not March

Anzac Day 2019

The NZ Police has "instructed" the various Returned Services Associations (RSA) not to march this coming Anzac Day.  The reasons are understandable.  It is just a few weeks since a lone wolf killer murdered, at point blank range, fifty of our citizens--innocent men, women, and children.  The police fear copy cat murders.  Opening fire on a group of marching citizens--out in public, vulnerable, unprotected would be too easy.  And it is not as if the malignant have not had time to plan.  

We feel for the Police, since they are in a "damned if you do, and damned if you don't" situation.

We also feel for the various RSA groups around the country.  Not to march may feel like a form of weakness, of dishonour, even cowardice.  These are the very attributes which our armed forces, particularly our veterans and returned soldiers, despise.  Now they are being indirectly forced to act in what many will see as a dishonourable way towards their forbears and to the fallen.

Lest we forget, we are re-publishing an essay written by a lady whose father served in the Vietnam War.  It is a grim reminder of how post-traumatic stress can afflict families long after the battlefield.  It reminds us that our veterans and their families need particular care.  "She'll be right, mate" just does not cut it.

The background and introduction to the winning essay can be found here.  The actual essay is reproduced below.  In the year and the day when we may not march, republishing this profound essay is an alternative "march" if you will.

Holy Remembrance

Is Anzac Day a Sacred Day?

We have been struck over the past few years by the rise of interest in Anzac Day to the point where it begins to be festooned with quasi-religious reverence amongst many. 

This is probably inevitable.  New Zealand is a thoroughly secular society, acknowledging no deity, leaving all to create their own gods in whatever garb they fancy--including the god called No God.  But Anzac Day is supposed to be a national remembrance, so a plethora of deities sanctifying the day risks undermining its national significance. 

Some have begun calling Anzac Day a sacred day.  It is deemed sacred to veterans, and by extension, sacred to all who march, attend, and revert to the pub afterwards.  On the other hand, the presence of religious representatives identifying their particular religion with Anzac Day and with a memorial of those who fought and died in the defence of our country is confusing to say the least.

We, being Christian, reject the religious sanctifying of Anzac day as a national holy day.  Ironically, we find ourselves standing much closer to the secularists on this matter.  Here is our take:

• The fundamental responsibility of the State is to punish evildoers, maintain justice, and protect the citizens of the State from external and internal attack.
• This, from time to time, necessitates armed conflict, in which people will lose their lives or suffer injury.
• The service of such people is on behalf of us all.  They deserve to be honoured publicly, even as we honour our doctors, our firemen, and police, etc.  
• Those who pay the ultimate price must not be forgotten in our gratitude.
• Those who suffer injuries in their service to us all must be provided for and cared for at our expense.
• Anzac Day should therefore be one of public remembrance and thanks to those who have kept guard upon the walls on our behalf.  

As Christians, we believe all these duties are ordained and commanded by the Living God.  We see them as sacred and holy.  We express these beliefs amongst ourselves, particularly during our public services of worship.  We fear and honour God: therefore, we honour those who help provide the peace and security commanded by God for all men.  We also encourage every citizen to remember those who stood in our place in providing these things. 

But in our memorials and public honouring, we do not deify Man, for we believe that God does not give His glory to another, to His creatures.  That, we believe, is the Christian way to celebrate Anzac Day.

In this pluralistic world, other confessions and professions may celebrate and give honour as they please.  But for us and our houses, we will serve the Living God.