Remembrance Day
I have a lovely friend, who has just started a lovely blog, although she has asked me not to point everyone to it just yet as what she writes feels very personal. Still, she has made me think, and wonder some about what I want my blog to do. Clearly it’s primarily a knitting blog, and it’s primarily other knitting blogs that I find most interesting to read. But… but there are other things I want to explore too, so I’m going to meander for a bit…
I always have huge difficulties with Remembrance Day. (Yes, I know it was a month ago, but I think I’ve found a coherent if still confused position, so I want to write about it now.) I was brought up as a Quaker, the child of pacifist parents who met because they were secretaries of neighbouring branches of CND. I now attend the local parish church, which is middle-of-the-road Anglican, with some high bits. It’s not a happy church for very many reasons I’m not going to go into now. So, Remembrance Day and wearing red poppies – I don’t. I have the utmost respect for the huge sacrifice made by the men and women whose lives were torn to pieces – whether on the battlefield or by the destruction of their home lives. I think ex-service pensions should be sufficient for a genuinely comfortable old age, and in that respect I value the work of the British Legion. However, and this is why I can’t wear a poppy – I cannot stomach the continued pride, the continued assumption that “our side” is always 100% right, and “they” are always 100% wrong. To die or be brutally injured at the hands of someone else is appalling – whoever, wherever. The sermon we had this year was excellent – it focussed on remembering in humility. Of course we must remember wars – without remembering we cannot learn. But remembering should not be an excuse to fire up old hatreds. But then at the end of the portion of the service in church the (first verse of the) National Anthem was sung – I’m afraid I couldn’t – most of it I can go along with “God save our gracious queen” – yup – it’d be nice to see her in Heaven – “Long live our noble queen” – well, maybe it’d be good to let have Charlie have a chance sometime soon, but I certainly don’t want her to not live – “God save the queen. da-da-da-da Send her victorious…” – er, no – that’s not remembering in humility, that’s exactly the triumphalism I can’t stomach.
I guess I could wear a white poppy, but because I genuinely do respect the sacrifices that were made, I have no wish to cause offence (which it would in our church, despite the fact that no such offence is intended). So, for now, I shall continue poppyless.
one comment:
I have trouble with the white/red poppy thing too. lol. Its complicated. I support the people who have fought and the cause… and the rememberance. But the pride. I know I am wearing the poppy as a sign of rememberance and nothing else, but very few others do.On the other hand the white poppy does not make any acknowledgement of the past (as far as I can see – being for peace and compassion – both excellent causes) but rememberance is cruicial and honour to ALL the people who died. For so many “theres was but to do or die”.
I don’t know. It’s difficult. Nice to know someone else has the same confudleness. (no offence)
:)
ruth () (link) - 10 December '05 - 21:04
