Remembrance?

Sitting at my desk today I received an "all staff" e-mail reminding us about the two minutes' silence. Now I know that this was only a reminder and an invitation to take part should we wish to but there is always an implication of participation in such e-mails. I was very tempted to reply to the e-mail saying that it is not silence that is needed but for people to speak out against war. I was persuaded not to. A round-robin e-mail that could offend or be misconstrued is perhaps not the right way to re-educate people but I felt angry for some time afterwards.

I have been wearing my white poppy to work over the last week and have explained my views and why I wear it to anyone who has asked but unfortunately only a few people showed an interest.

Nearly everyone observed the two minutes' silence then immediately afterwards the sales floor began laughing and joking again. I cyncially wonder whether they actually gave a damn or whether for many it was just an act of conformance.

A phrase sticks in my mind, "those who forget history are doomed to repeat it". We may remember the "glorious" dead every year but do we remember with honesty and candour the reason for those deaths. War is never as simple as good-us, evil-them. Until we accept that we are part of a global community that has to work together to find peaceful resolutions, we are doomed to repeat our violent past.

This is taken from a BBC article:
'Stuart Gendall, from the Royal British Legion, said: "The two-minute silence is the single biggest annual demonstration of public support for any cause in the country. This small yet significant individual and collective act is a rare moment when the nation can stand together and reflect upon the price of freedom."'

Yes we should all reflect upon the price of freedom. It is precisely because of the high price that was paid that I refuse to be associated with something that for me glorifies war. Have we moved on? Have we learnt, developed and grown? If so, why do our young men and women - and men, women & children from countries all over the world - continue to pay such a very high price.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.