Grateful Friday is having a bit of a rest at the moment, but it is ANZAC Day today and while I fall very much on the side of ‘peace-loving anti-war hippy’ I feel compelled to post a little something anyway.
I don’t really know anyone who has been to war… or at least not anyone who talks about it. I have relatives who were/are in the defence forces and who were involved in various different ‘wars’ etc and I grew up with children who’s father’s were in Vietnam, but it was not something I ‘knew’ as a child, and not even now as an adult can I really say I am personally touched by war.
On ANZAC day, when our nation stops to remember all of those who have fought for our country, I find myself not drawn to any glorification of war, not supporting war, but being drawn to the human stories, to the people and their families who experienced things that I find so terribly frightening and horrific. To me ANZAC Day is about remembering, because if we forget then we will have learnt nothing and made no progress towards peace.
I find myself thinking about the time I spent attending CISV camps, with people from all over the world. One of CISV’s premises is that if children and young people get to know others from different countries and cultures and backgrounds, spend time with them, live with them, eat with them, sleep with them, play with them, call them friends… that when they go home, and grow up and become the future of this world they will have a little connection with that country so far away and perhaps find it that much harder to react with violence and war towards friends. I hope that is true.
Today I find myself feeling incredibly thankful. Thankful that I don’t personally know what it is like to be affected by war, and that my children don’t know what it is like…. and I hope that they never will.
Couldn’t agree more
my father was in vietnam, but he dosent talk about it :(
Traditional Anzac Biscuits
Chef: Sue Dyson and Roger McShane
Anzac biscuits received their name during the First World War. Up until that time people had been baking “Soldier’s biscuits” for the troops, based on a recipe derived from the Scottish oat cake. The main feature was that no eggs were used otherwise the biscuits would spoil on the long journey to the front.
These were renamed as Anzac biscuits after the campaign at Gallipoli.
Serves thousands
Degree of difficulty: Low
You need:
There are literally thousands of variations of this recipe used throughout the country. We present two that are quite different. In both, however, we have listed the ‘dry ingredients’ which can be mixed together first and then the two processes involving heat and wet ingredients.
First, choose which version you want to make: Roger’s mother’s recipe or our New recipe
The first version is very close to the traditional ‘CWA’ recipe that was popularized by the enormously strong-selling CWA Cookbook. However, as we don’t like the use of coconut in these biscuits we have omitted this ingredient from our New recipe.
Traditional biscuits
‘Wet ingredients’ – 1
125 grams butter
2 tablespoons golden syrup
‘Wet ingredients’ – 2
1 tablespoon boiling water
1 teaspoon baking soda
Dry ingredients
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup coconut
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
Method:
Mix all the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. In a saucepan gently melt the butter then add the golden syrup and heat, stirring until thoroughly combined. Put the baking soda in a cup or small bowl then pour in the boiling tablespoon of water.
Pour this foaming mixture into the warm butter/golden syrup mixture and stir to incorporate – it will foam up. Now gradually add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients, stirring well to incorporate.
Place walnut size pieces of the dough on a buttered oven tray and then press down with the back of a fork to flatten.
Bake at 175 degrees C for approx 17 mins.
We are in much the same position as you. Our family hasn’t been directly impacted by wars or losses in any war and we are very thankful also.
We’ve learned wars and the affects of wars in school. How come we, humans, never learn from our mistakes especially when it comes to war?
WWI
WWII
Korean War
Vietnam War
Afghan War
War in Grenada
Panama War
Iraq War
War in the Balkans
Iraq War the Sequel…
Now this list is only for the US, what about the other wars from other countries like,
The Sixth Day War
Iran Iraq War
When will we stop!
It is definitely a day for reflection. Also I forgot to say earlier that I did not have a recipe for ANZAC slice, but we would be keen to see it if you come across one that works!
I have a trued and true recipe for Anzac Slice. I will get Kate to put it on her blog.
We will never stop warring because there will always be evil to defeat. The innocent must be protected from evil tyrants and the only way to do this is defending freedom. Our warriors deserve all of our love and thanks. They do the job to make sure you don’t know war.
Wonderful post Kate. I don’t believe in war. I hope that all of humanity will decide war and killing is never a way to resolve conflicts. An organization called The Elders gives me hope. You can learn about them by visiting this site: http://theelders.org/welcome/
I did think when I decided to post a little something about ANZAC day that could be a tad controversial. My intent was not at all to belittle or put down the efforts of those currently serving in the defences forces and I hope that was not the impression anyone got. I do believe they do their job and do it well on behalf of our country. I just can’t help holding out hope though that one day we will learn to resolve our differences via some other method rather than violence and that one day no one has to loose a life in ‘war’. Call me a stinking hippy if you like, I don’t mind one bit.