Poppies, peace and honour

I've always been incredibly moved by Remembrance Day, from as long as I can remember. I think it stems from my Grandad and Great Uncles serving in the airforce and navy during WW2 and also taking part in Remembrance Sunday services as a Brownie as a child. I always wear a red poppy because I think its very important to honour the fact that people, willingly or unwillingly at times, lost their lives defending our country.

It seems that in the past, wars were far more about defending our country than they are now - maybe the world was a simpler place then? or maybe the global nature of our lives now has broken down the strong distinctions of nationhood? I guess the two world wars were also about a clash of ideologies, but it seems now that that clash is less about nations and more about cultures, which means wars are now less clearly defined and even messier.

This year, for the second year running, I wore a white poppy as well as a red one, "symbolising the belief that there are better ways to resolve conflicts than killing strangers." I feel quite challenged to get involved in working for peace and the white poppy was one way to begin doing something more active.

Regular readers will know I am opposed to the war in Iraq for philosophical reasons as well as abhoring the practical outworkings of the conflict for the people of Iraq and the soldiers involved. That does not mean however that do not value the work of the service men and women who are sent there - they are doing their job in extremely difficult, dangerous, confusing and hostile circumstances. And once they have chosen to be part of the services they don't get to choose where they are sent and don't get to make a judgement on whether the wars they are fighting are just, self-defeating, whatever.

I was very moved this morning watching the BBC report of the bodies of service personnel returning home today. They were all loved by many people and doing their utmost to do a good job.

The total of British military fatalities in Iraq is now 125. It's important that we honour their memory. (On an aside I don't believe the troops will be any more downhearted if we hold an inquiry into the war than they must be already knowing so many in the public hold grave reservations about it)

I believe there can be no peace without justice, and there can be no justice while war is waged.

"Most of us want a world at peace. But many find it hard to see how armed violence can be prevented, and believe that sometimes it’s an acceptable means of solving problems. If we think in this unquestioning way, we’re prevented from devising and exploring creative alternatives to violent conflict and war. Only those alternatives – non-violent, positive, life-enhancing – will lead to a safer world, in which children can grow up not even knowing how or why to point a gun." Peace Pledge Union

Tags: peace, remembrance day, white poppy, red poppy, Iraq war