In defence of all that Anzac Day represents

I FOUND Yassmin’s text to the editor ( 24/ 4) about Anzac Day somewhat naive, but accept she has the right to express herself.

It’s nevertheless ironic how she chose to demean and disrespect those who have provided her with that right.

It’s fine to oppose war, but there needs to be recognition that war is often a necessary evil to defeat those who seek power by the use of deadly force.

To believe such disputes can be dealt with by diplomacy alone, is just wishful thinking.

However, I acknowledge war should always be the last resort, but unfortunately that is not the reality of the world we live in.

What would be the “right and just” way of dealing with Hitler’s invasion of Europe, Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait, the ethnic cleansing of BosniaHerzegovina or the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands?

Should such nations have just let those despots orchestrate their invasions and overrun the lands they sought to control? Thankfully there are some of us, past and present, who stepped up to the plate to oppose them.

As for the commercialisation of Anzac Day, I tend to agree the agendas of some organisations fall into the self- interest category, with an apparent disregard for the true meaning of the day.

I believe Anzac Day is about commemoration, remembrance, tribute – not the glorification of war, as Yassmin suggests. Lest we forget.

CHRIS WHITWORTH,

Idalia.