It’s important to recognise military veterans. But they should not be pitted against Indigenous reconciliation in some symbolic proxy culture war.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison risks undermining the task of reconciliation by giving a nod to veterans and defence workers after acknowledgements of country.He has been doing so his entire term. It was either Brendan Nelson or Andrew Hastie who first begun the practice four or five years ago. There are only a handful of other conservative MPs who have also taken it up.Veteran affairs departments have been directed this month not to include “Thank you for your service” in communications.
“Wrapping himself in the ANZAC symbolism is a safe space for the Prime Minister to exert patriotism without risking accusations of racism and exclusion,” Curran says. But the practice has also given a new political charge to speech introductions, what Kowal calls “potent commentaries on belonging”.Within arts or not-for-profit circles, the welcome to country can take a lengthy, performative focus, an explicit anti-racist ritual. It can be a signal for educated whites to take a high moral ground, making it clear that the real racists are somewhere else.
We should absolutely celebrate those who have or are serving with the defence forces. And the Prime Minister is also entitled to take a muscular approach in the culture wars. Conservatives have for too long taken a back seat in failing to understand the power of historic cultural currents, especially around race and gender.
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