Politicians who wrap themselves in the flag of a generation of fallen have separated Anzac from the realities of modern Australia and the context of why these wars were fought.
Difficult though it may be to conceive of a time when Anzac did not dominate rituals of Australian nationhood, not long ago Anzac Day itself was on virtual life support.
Its dwindling observance in the 1960s and ’70s, largely on account of the unpopular Vietnam War, but also because of the dubious overtones of empire and Britishness, brought forth widespread predictions of the day’s likely demise.
Loading...
James Curran is professor of modern history at Sydney University.
