Pom in Oz with Derek Goforth: Pausing to reflect what Remembrance Day means to today’s youth

November 11 will mark the 104th anniversary of armistice that marked the end of World War I. “At 11 am on November 11, 1918, the guns on the Western Front fell silent after more than four years of continuous warfare. The allied armies had driven the German invaders back, having inflicted heavy defeats upon them over the preceding four months,” army.gov.au states. “In November, the Germans called for an armistice — suspension of fighting — in order to secure a peace settlement. They accepted the allied terms of unconditional surrender. The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month attained a special significance in the post-war years and became universally associated with the remembrance of those who had died in the war.” Remembrance Day holds special significance for many Australians, and it is also seen as a day to remember all fallen soldiers across all conflicts. I was curious about whether our younger generations had any understanding or appreciation of the day and the meaning it holds. The pessimist in me said “probably not much”. Sadly this pessimism is shared by many in my generation and the ones above me. We can often dismiss our “youth” as self-absorbed and callous, but I have always been enlightened when speaking at length to our young people, so I was hoping this would not be an exception. So I asked several of my students and my own children about what their understanding of the day was, and their answers took me by surprise. I am simply going to relay some of their responses and leave you as the reader to judge. “The day helps us remember what our ancestors and their ancestors did for us.” “I think its good to stop and take time to reflect and consider how different our lives might be if the men didn’t go to war, if they didn’t fight.” “I don’t know exactly why we do it on the same day, but I don’t think that matters, it’s a good way to pay our respects, otherwise we might just forget them?” “We should remember them, but we should also remember who we fought against, they were just people too, they had people they loved and loved them.” “I don’t sit quietly very much, so I like the silence. I think about what I would have done.” “I think when I remember, I just ask myself why, which is really confusing because I can’t see the sense in the wars. But I think I am just grateful that these ordinary men went out and fought for us because they saw it as the right thing to do. I don’t know if I could do it, I wouldn’t die for my country , but I would do it for my friends and for my mum and dad.” I think its easy to be dismissive and pessimistic about our social media generation, but I am so grateful I work in an environment that shows me that our young people do care, do respect and do love. Remembrance Day means so much to so many, and age certainly is no barrier to its significance. Derek Goforth is a teacher at Geraldton Christian College