Comments (2)

• I'll read the book. Prof. Lake's review is helpful in giving a glimpse of the content. In reference to the ANZAC story it's important to acknowledge the politicisation of Gallipoli by the Howard government. My view is that ANZAC/Gallipoli was actively transformed by recent elites, Liberals, the Bureaucracy and finally the people into a story of sacrificial national birth. It's been crafted into a spiritual sacrifice that is a fabric woven tightly with 19th century notions of manhood, twentieth century conceptions of nation, with a touch of authoritarianism to counter any lingering critique.
  Posted by Harry Spratt

  20 March 2019
• Australians followed Britain into its Empire wars both before and after the supposed nationhood of Federation, and has followed the US into wars since WW2 [has Australia ever gone to war without following either? Perhaps supporting the emerging Indonesia from its colonial power, Holland was the first and last time?]. The British Empire has widened to the 'Anglo-sphere' led by America, and Australia remains on the side of the British-European heritage rather than growing closer [in all but trade] to the rest of the world. Though 'white Australia' is thankfully long dead, the history and the allegiances remain.
  Posted by Bob James

  08 October 2018