Last year I wrote about how war is just as devastating forthe other countries that fight, not just our own (particularly during the world
wars) which was my reaction to the Padre at the Remembrance Sunday Parade
Service. This year, my thoughts are once again a reaction to his sermon.
Mostly he talked about how we should honour and appreciate
soldiers – those who’ve fought and those who are fighting right now. It seemed
very important for him to tell us how noble they are, how they have chosen the
right profession, how we should give ourselves to the service of peace in the
same way.
I agree with the last part to a degree – I believe everyone
should be aiming for peace in the world, though not through becoming soldiers
(though if that’s what you believe is right for you then that’s up to you). For
me that is little things like sharing love and hope and smiles (mainly through
snail mail), but also things like signing petitions I believe in and, when I
have something I feel is important to say, sharing it online.
I also agree we should honour those who have fought for our
peace, despite the fact peace has never fully been realised (we can all live in
hope). But there is a fine line between
honouring those who have died and suffered through war, and glorifying them and
the act of war itself. That is why I am
a big believer in Remembrance Day – I think it’s important to remember how
millions of lives were lost in the first and second world wars, as well as the
losses people still suffer due to war. It’s important to remember and teach
young people because it should never have happened but, maybe if we learn from
it, nothing as bad as that will ever happen again (got to be honest, I don’t
believe we as a species will manage that though). But I don’t think it should
ever be held up to be a good thing. Pointless suffering and death, especially
in those numbers, can never be seen as a good thing; it is actually one of the
few times I will say the end does not justify the means (okay, if war had ever
created worldwide peace and acceptance I might feel differently, but the truth
is it hasn’t).
So I wear my poppy to remember, and to remind others of, the
atrocities of our past; and not to uphold war as something to be impressed by,
or even supported. I am no longer naive enough to believe we will ever not have
war, but I live in hope we might find other ways of creating peace.
How do you try and share peace in your daily life?
