Anzac Day Persuasive Speech

Anzac Day. On the 25th of April, 1915 Australian and New Zealand forces formed part of the allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli Peninsula. Anzac day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that commemorates the Australia New Zealand Army Corps (ANZACs) who served in all wars, battles and conflicts. Anzac day is an important day for many Australians and New Zealanders as it is a day where people take time to appreciate the soldiers who risked or gave their lives to represent and fight for our country in all the wars. Since Anzac day is celebrated so widely, there are many opinions that have developed over time. Some Australians and New Zealanders believe Anzac day shouldn’t be celebrated and others believe

it should be.
The Anzac legend (otherwise known as the Anzac spirit) is a concept created which suggests that Australian and New Zealand soldiers hold shared characteristics, specifically the qualities those soldiers exemplified on the battle fields of the war. These qualities include endurance, courage, larrikinism, ingenuity and good humour. Over years the Anzac legend has developed and spread beyond battle fields and into peoples’ everyday lives, mainly through supporting sports teams and celebrating Australian events and days. The groups represented in the Anzac legend are typically white men. Women, Indigenous Australians and nurses are the groups left out when learning of the war.
How is Anzac day relevant in modern day society and how is it important? The attempt to capture the Gallipoli peninsula and to defeat the Turks failed. Over 8,000 Australian soldiers and 2,721 New Zealand troops and many more were wounded and killed in action. On the 25th of April 1915 thousands of young Australians risked their lives to help Australia become the free country it is to this very day. Anzac day is a day celebrated every year on this day as an appreciation and remembrance of those who fought for their county. Anzac day gives us time to celebrate and appreciate the people who risked their lives to save us all and represent our country in all wars. It also marks the first major military action fought by Anzacs in the first war. Anzac day helps Australians to understand the importance of the day and how it has shaped Australia’s identity. During the wars, qualities have been developed by soldiers, known as the Anzac spirit. Because of the qualities shown on the battle fields they have become part of our national identity and Australians are expected to exemplify these qualities in our everyday lives. The Anzac spirit is an important part of Anzac day and its development in modern day society. The Anzac spirit is an important part of Anzac day and many Australians identity. The Anzac spirit is the reason why we celebrate Anzac day. Although we lost in the war, we came away with these qualities that are now a part of every one of our identities. Without the war these qualities or Australia’s identity would not be what it is today. “The Anzac legend has helped Australians define the idea of who they are” says Prime Minister John Howard. Without the war, Australia would not be sharing or demonstrating such qualities. The war hasn’t only given us an identity, but it has given our country an important reputation to other countries around the world.
Why should we celebrate Anzac day?

Why should we celebrate the day where the war that killed over 8,000 soldiers began. Anzac day is useless, disgraceful and should not be celebrated. In the beginning of the Anzac day celebrations, the day was about commemoration soldiers who fought and died in the wars. Over years the event has turned into a selfish celebration to demonstrate nationalistic spirit, qualities and Australian identity. Because of the loss of understanding in Anzac day it is becoming a meaningless event. Many children from the newer generations of children would not know what Anzac day is or why we have it. World War 1 was brutal and the soldiers were living in terrible living conditions that caused many deaths because of quickly spread disease. We should not be celebrating the death of so many soldiers. ”The cultification of an imperialist invasion of a foreign nation that Australia had no quarrel with is against all deals of modern society” Said Scott McIntyre. This line quoted from Scott McIntyre outlines one of many people’s beliefs that the war goes completely against what us Australians are supposed to demonstrate in our everyday lives. As Australians we should be demonstrating qualities of respect, kindness and respect for one another, not only within Australia but towards people from other parts of the world rather than what we have done, fought in a war with another country for no logical reason and to come out of the war with no winner and carelessly murder thousands of innocent soldiers from all over the world. Anzac day isn’t only pointless but it is embarrassing and unfair. When celebrating Anzac day, we are celebrating the day the beginning of the war Australia lost began. It is not only unfair on the soldiers who have died, it is unfair for the families of these helpless soldiers to have to celebrate the death date of their loved ones every

year.
So is Anzac day relevant in modern day society? Yes, I believe so. As a nation we have celebrated Anzac day for over a hundred years and we should continue to celebrate this day to maintain respect and understanding of the day and the soldiers who fought and died for our own country. Anzac day not only should be celebrated for respect towards the soldiers but also because World War 1 was a very important war to our nation and the development of its identity and reputation. Without that very war many things we have today, we wouldn’t have, without the war we may not even have had freedom or any basic human rights. The war has helped shape Australia and its way of life. Anzac day helps Australians understand the war and why it was fought. If we didn’t celebrate or commemorate Anzac day many of our important identity and history would be lost. Many children of the younger generations don’t know what Anzac day is or why we celebrate it, imagine if we didn’t celebrate Anzac day, in only a matter of years our complete Australian reputation and identity would be gone.