To Our Glorious Dead

On the same ground as the cenotaph, in the middle of the city of Sydney, the powers to be erect the city Christmas tree every year. Now with all the recent attacks on Christmas I find myself looking at two monuments that seem to conflict, or do they? Just meters away from each other, you are looking at a monument to those who have died in conflict while the other, supposedly, to remind us to live in hope of peace on earth and good will to men.




Then the thought hits me that these are two monuments to traditions that are under attack. On the 25th of April, Australia celebrates ANZAC day. Minority groups and pacifists attack this day as a tribute to war. They think it an irony that we celebrate a military disaster and the senseless loss of life. Not that to all serviceman that this is a day to remember those who are no longer with us, men and women they may have served with in action or not. That this day, this ground and monument, is most probably the most sacred testament to their devotion to each other and to their country, regardless of the religious affiliations, they come to honor each other and to the hope that never again will we engage in such hatred again.



Minority groups again attack Christmas. In recent years, shopping malls have been under attack for playing Christmas carols in shopping centers, Santa is under attack for his traditional “Ho, Ho, Ho” and recently not allowed to Christmas parties as he may offend some religious groups. So the placing of the Cities Christmas tree on the same ground now holds the same significance as an Australian tradition under attack now seems so relevant. When you take into significance the real-estate that they occupy in Martin Place tradition and history were made here. This is the place that all distances from Sydney were once measured, it was the place that our countries first Prime Minister, Edmund Barton, was sworn in and being such a young country, traditions are something that we have too few of.

It has to be remembered that this country was first settled by Christians, and with them they brought the tradition of Christmas. If you take the religious significance out of the event, to hold one day a year where we bestow good will to all men, then the name of the day is insignificant to the bigger picture. It is that wish that will avoid such monuments such as more cenotaphs and war memorials. It is such a little ask to hold the spirit of something and to celebrate it with the significance that you want to bestow it.