Pacifists can still honour veterans

Year 13 student Anna Hogg, of Mt Aspiring College, argues that we needn't choose between objecting to war on moral grounds and celebrating our veterans. New Zealanders at war.

I struggled with this topic.

I struggled for many reasons, but mostly I struggled because I lean towards pacifism.

While I do think there is such a thing as a just war, I also think that most wars fought are not just.

Is it contradictory to have moral objections to war yet still admire those involved in it? Just why do we respect war veterans?I started with a cliche: because we owe our lives to them.

It's a nice sentiment, but I think many people agree for New Zealand this probably isn't the case.

We are small, and our soldiers were never to change the outcome of any wars and, even if they did, New Zealand being so isolated was probably never under threat to begin with.

If war can be immoral, and if our contribution makes little difference, why respect our veterans so much?And I realised it doesn't matter whether I think war is right or moral.

It doesn't matter how much of a difference we make.

Our soldiers are honourable because of their beliefs and ideals.

I don't support many wars that have been, and are being, fought.

I do, however, think that our soldiers fight for a better future, one for which they are prepared to give up their lives.

Being willing to give your life for what you see as the greater good is brave.

It is selfless.

It is honourable.

And these are things that I respect.

After establishing in my mind why we honour our military, I started thinking about how we honour them, and whether it's the best way.

Each year on April 25, we commemorate our soldiers.

We congregate, have our two minutes' silence and acknowledge the great sacrifice.

I do think Anzac Day is important, but not so much to honour the veterans - more to remind us of how costly war can be.

We think of the soldiers, look at the memorials, see all the names and wonder if it was worth it.

It reminds us that war is something we must try to avoid at all costs.

It must be a last resort.

Perhaps it's because my generation has been removed from any major wars, but I think it's fair to say that most of us take a lot for granted.

We've never been in a position where everything we know, everything we believe in, everything we love, could be taken away from us.

So I think the best thing we can do to honour our war veterans is to appreciate what we have.

Appreciate the right to be able to think, say and do what we want.

Appreciate everything available to us - from food and water to education.

Appreciate New Zealand's beauty - not just environmentally, but the people, the atmosphere, the whole package.

This is how I will endeavour to respect war veterans.

Because people like me, having all that I have, is something that our soldiers thought was worth fighting for.

Worth dying for.