Are young Australians up to the spirit of Anzac?

Most nations celebrate stirring military victories as their national day or another important celebration. Australia is rare amongst the nations for celebrating a military defeat as its de facto national day.

On 25 April 1915, a toehold was made on the Gallipoli peninsula, due to the bravery, fortitude, and enthusiasm shown by raw ANZAC soldiers, many mere boys. After eight months, our troops withdrew, but the ANZAC legend had been born. The Aussie Digger had left an indelible impression on the world stage. Over the course of the next three years of war in France and Palestine, our troops came to be known, loved, respected, and feared by the enemy, for their fighting ability, competence, courage, fortitude, sense of humour, and basic decency. They beat the best the German army and the Turks could throw at them, and contributed significantly to victory on the Western Front and in the Middle East.

The Digger legend and high level of military skill continued in World War II, and later in Korea, Vietnam, and the other conflicts Australia has been involved in since then. Our soldiers have beaten the best the Nazis, Imperial Japanese, Chinese Communists, and others have thrown at us. Our army, though small, has been regarded, from about 1916 to the present day, as being individually better than those of our larger British and American allies. The French, Italian, Greek, and Vietnamese people, all of whom have had significant experience with our soldiers, regarded them with respect and often affection for their easy-going nature, bravery, and basic decency.

That’s some legend for future generations to live up to!

A lot of people I speak to doubt if the current generation of young Australians is up to it.

After all, Australians under 35 have never experienced a recession, let alone a depression, and virtually none of them have been affected by war. They have more likely than not been indoctrinated in schools and universities to loathe rather than love this great country