Sacrifice

At this time of year I confess I find myself doing a fair bit of soul searching. As I blogged last year , I have mixed feelings about Remembrance Day. Being a Quaker, I am philosophically opposed to violence and war. At least that's what the Peace Testimony is about.

But I do wonder sometimes if I'm being hypocritical. While I wouldn't take up arms against another, I have to admit that I do benefit from the fact that others have done it for me. That others have been willing to give up their lives so that I can have mine. So where does that leave me and my beliefs?

I guess it leaves me confused. As the years have gone by, and as I've thought more about it, I understand that Remembrance Day is not about the glorification of war, military and fighting, that it's a public atonement and thanksgiving for the sacrifices that have been made in our name so that we can continue to have the beliefs and freedoms that we do.

I've also grown to understand that war itself, while never a good or desirable thing, is sometimes necessary. Protection of a people against an aggressor is worthy. Fighting to overturn or resist oppression is right. Violence for its own sake, for land grabs or to impose your way of life on others isn't. I've come to understand that it's not the fighting or the war that's wrong, it's the reason behind it that matters.

So, this weekend when I have the great privilege and honour of laying a wreath at our local cenotaph, my heart will be easier than it's been in previous years My mind will be with those around the world who gave, and sadly still give, their all. And with their families too.  We will remember them - all.

When you are standing at your hero’s grave,
Or near some homeless village where he died,
Remember, through your heart’s rekindling pride,
The German soldiers who were loyal and brave.

Men fought like brutes; and hideous things were done;
And you have nourished hatred, harsh and blind.
But in that Golgotha perhaps you’ll find
The mothers of the men who killed your son. 

 

                                                                                Siegfried Sasson 

15 years ago

15 years ago today, a man who lived in a house just round the corner from where I now live, walked into a local primary school and murdered 16 children and their teacher as they got ready to start their gym class. He injured 15 others and scarred the lives of countless more - friends, families, staff, emergency workers. People I know. People I work with. I wasn't working here at the time and for me the incident is something remembered. For many people locally it is something relived - and not just today on the anniversary, but every day, all the time.

And tragically it still happens. Witness Derrick Bird's killing spree in Cumbria in June 2010, where a sad and angry man first killed members of his own family and then conducted a horrendous catalogue of drive by shootings in the otherwise quiet Cumbrian towns around Whitehaven and Seascale. In total he murdered 12 people and injured 11 others.

Sadly these are only 2 of many incidents worldwide where people - usually men - aggrieved by some real or imagined sleight, have taken revenge in this way. Yes, these men used guns to wreak their havoc. And while I'm no fan of guns, legal or otherwise, let's not forget that it wasn't the guns alone that killed these men's victims. It was people: in many ways, people like us - a little strange and often at the edges of society, but all the same, more like us than not like us. And I don't know about you but I find that a really scary thought.

What's perhaps a more encouraging thought, is that there are far more people who don't do these things, that don't resort to violence and who are horrified and repulsed by it. Love and compassion are far stronger, more powerful emotions than hatred and anger. Hope brings light. Here's to a world shining brightly with hope, love and compassion.

Everyone suddenly burst out singing;
And I was filled with such delight
As prisoned birds must find in freedom
Winging wildly across the white
Orchard and dark-green fields; on; on; and out of sight.

Everyone’s voice was suddenly lifted,
And beauty came like the setting sun.
My heart was shaken with tears; and horror
Drifted away … O but every one
Was a bird; and the song was wordless; the singing
will never be done. 

Siegfried Sassoon                    

Dedication

"Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

Being a Quaker, I'm no big fan of military events, churches or pomp and ceremony, but I must admit today I was honoured to be part of our local Remembrance ceremony and lay a wreath on behalf of my work.

"When you go home tell them of us and say for your tomorrow we gave our today."