THE DANGER OF ONLY HALF-REMEMBERING
Remembrance Day was over a week ago.
Time to reflect and ponder on that event; the people, words and
actions that symbolize such an important part of us as a people.
Should I worry if only a small piece
of reality was presented? Is it my problem only? Or is there a real
danger of partial truths leading to more harm and being even counter
to the hopes we wish for?
The names of the dead were shared,
along with the names of the wars in which they died. Good. But why
did they die? It was clearly said that they died because they were
brave, and because our freedom was threatened. They were all heroes,
by definition. All who die in uniform, in our popular opinion, are
heroes. No other view is allowed.
But our main assumptions just aren't
true. Only in one of 'our' wars, WWII, were we attacked, at least our
allies were attacked. (This is apart from the many times we were
attacked by the United States. In their point of view, they were
trying to liberate us, to bring us true freedom. But that's another
story.)
In the two Boor Wars we were on the
side of the British Empire, fighting against freedom, the freedom of
the Dutch settlers of South Africa who only wanted to be left alone,
cursed as they were, by occupying space that was coveted for it's
wealth. So gleefully went off, for God, King and country, ready and
eager to kill, because the very idea of any who didn't want to be
like us, was threatening.
WWI had no cause other than the
empires of Europe all wanted to become even richer. So we fought, of
course, on the side of the British Empire. Brave? The boys were told
they'd be home by Christmas. Those Huns didn't have a chance! It
would have been a stalemate if the US hadn't joined in the fun. And
the terrible terms of the 'peace' only assured the necessity of WWII.
And the wars since? Have our invasions
since brought about peace? How's Afghanistan doing? When will we
learn that very rarely do people want to be invaded, no matter their
motives. (Remember those Yanks?)
I'm not against our gatherings at the
cenotaph. But let's try to do the whole thing. When do school
children learn of the big picture? When do we get a chance to truly
weep about how, time and time again, we believe lies told to us by
the rich and powerful, so that we'll give our lives for their
'national good'? There have been many times when the truly brave were
those who stayed at home, choosing to live with the insults and
stigma of peace. When do we hear of this? Why are the only things
remembered are the dead, and not what killed them, nor what will
bring new life? Why is the only poem remembered is one that urges us
to keep on killing, especially from a war that was wrong and stupid?
I'll keep going to gatherings that
remember. But also, I'll continue to urge us all to remember
everything. 'The whole truth' is better for us all, I assume.
Anthony
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