I was in London two weeks ago for a joyous rendezvous with family I hadn’t seen in over a year. It was a delight to connect and share the music, food, theater, museums and overall vibrancy of this ancient and modern city.
While we were there, Britain celebrated Remembrance Day. This is the day that is designated to honor those fallen in the defense of the country, especially the millions who died in World War I and II. Many people wear red poppies in reference to the poem, “In Flanders Field” by John McCrea. It was written during the First World War which took the better part of a generation of Britain’s and the Commonwealth’s male population.
I had been in Britain in previous years on Remembrance Day. It always had a somber feeling, a sense of respect and sadness for the horrific loss of life the country experienced in the past. One of the most moving ceremonies I have ever experienced was at Ely Cathedral. After clergy and military personnel spoke eloquently about the sacrifice and courage of those who had died in their wars, there was a veritable shower of red paper poppies released from the walkways above the central altar. These feather-weight flowers floated down as if from heaven itself to remind us of the vast number of lives that were lost in war.
It was impossible to not be moved to tears as this cascade of red drifted down ever so slowly. Each red flower appeared to linger as long as the forces of nature would allow before they covered the altar and the dais in a blood-red carpet. It was as if each one was saying, “Don’t forget what war does and don’t forget me.”
This memory at Ely Cathedral contrasted sharply with what I saw in the streets of Central London during my recent visit. In the place of solemn remembrance, there were thousands of people shouting support for “their side” of the conflict taking place in Israel and Palestine. In place of remembering the terrible cost of war, there were calls for war and the vanquishing of enemies. The only “remembrance” seemed to be of the current and past transgressions of the “other side”. Remembrance Day was transformed into “Vengeance Day”. Memory was weaponized for justification of acts of death and destruction. It is more than ironic, its tragic that on a day to mourn the loss of life that war brings, memory serves to justify death. Injury upon injury are piled up like corpses until both sides are drowning in theirs and their foes blood.
What is needed to end this conflict are answers nor accusations. This has been elusive for many reasons that go to the cause of this and all wars. It would involve asking what is the root of all wars? I have come to believe that wars are planted in the soil of greed. Greed grows from wanting what others have or from wanting what is not ours to take. War is easy to justify because it always puts the blame for this “wanting” on the other side. Greed can always find reasons to wage war. Greed is our Achilles Heel. It is our weak spot that unscrupulous leaders exploit to get us to kill each other.
When the death and destruction in Israel and Palestine ends, will anyone be able to say, “It was worth the loss of loved ones”? I do wish everyone would say it was “too much”. Only then, on a particular day, can the congregants of mosques and synagogues experience thousands of red papers floating down from the domes of their houses of worship and weep for their loss of loved ones and realize that nothing is solved through killing each other.
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I hesitated several days before sending this out. The conflict in Israel and Palestine is so filled with powerful emotions. I mourn for the loss of life in Israel and Palestine. We cannot kill our way to peace. We have to want peace. It was my experience in London on Remembrance Day that stirred me to write this.
Be safe. Be well. Life is short and precious.
Thank you, Bruce, as always, for sharing your perspective, Cindy
What a powerful visual. The situation is tragic for everyone and the loss of life over decades of war is overwhelming.