(en) Australia, Melbourne Anarchist Communist Group (MACG) antimilitarist leaflet handed out this morning in Melbourne.

A myth is born -- The ANZAC Myth ---- Australian, British and other imperialist troops 
land on the beach at Gallipoli. It is 25 April, 1915. It is a side-show during World War 
I, a vain attempt to score a knock-out blow against the Ottoman Empire and deprive Germany 
of an ally. The war is a clash of two great imperial alliances, attempting to re-divide 
the world in a struggle for markets, colonies and resources. Gallipoli is a huge waste of 
human life, within the gargantuan waste of life that was WWI. Official and unofficial 
reports to home, however, seek to glorify the ANZACs so as to promote recruitment. Events 
are embroidered and sometimes outright invented, with Simpson and his donkey projected as 
displaying a supposed heroism and nobility unique to the Australian character.

The myth continues

In subsequent wars, the myth of the nobility of the ANZACs has been used and, if
possible, developed. WWII gave us the Rats of Tobruk, while even the Vietnam War is
being rehabilitated through stories of the Battle of Long Tan. There, as well as in wars
from Korea to Afghanistan, Australian soldiers are portrayed as heroic, benevolent,
egalitarian, chivalrous and whatever other adjectives the military command think will
impress public opinion. Supporting facts, while desirable, are optional, while contrary
facts are suppressed whenever possible.

The uses of myth

The idolisation of the Australian soldier is promoted for two reasons. Firstly, it serves 
the cause of recruitment. Young men and, increasingly, women won?t volunteer to be put in
harm?s way for a grubby cause like oil or an ignoble one like suppressing a national
liberation movement. So attention is focused instead on the nobility of courage and the
esteem of society. Secondly, the idolisation undercuts peace sentiment once a war starts.
On the eve of the Iraq War, hundreds of thousands marched the streets of cities and towns
across Australia, but once the troops landed, it was a different matter. It is easy to 
oppose a lying politician, but to continue when one will be accused of betraying ?our 
troops? requires political courage of a higher order altogether.

Facing the truth

In war, soldiers do ugly things. They kill ? and civilians are often the victims. 
Australian soldiers are no higher breed than those of other nations and if crimes like My 
Lai and Abu Ghraib are not attached to them, it is only because of the lesser scale of 
Australian imperialism and the reluctance of the capitalist media to penetrate the 
propaganda and expose the myth. Ugly things need to be done and lies need to be told 
because the Australian military are enforcers for imperialism, maintaining an unjust world 
order where the United States dominates and Australian capitalism has the South Pacific 
franchise.

In reality, the working class has no country. In whatever country we are, our enemies are
our own capitalists. We can unite together and make a revolution, one which will abolish
capitalism and end war forever.

END AUSTRALIAN IMPERIALISM

Melbourne Anarchist Communist Group

25 April 2013

macg1984@yahoo.com.au
PO Box 2120 Lygon St North
East Brunswick 3057
http://melbacg.wordpress.com/2013/04/25/149/