What an amazing week it has been for remembering the Great War! Britain does this kind of thing really well doesn’t it? From the cascade of ceramic poppies at the Tower to the creative BBC dramas and documentaries, the visits of the royals and the dignified lighting of candles across the nation.
And what a truly ghastly week it has been for Gaza and Iraq, Syria and the Ukraine. Men, women and children indiscriminately butchered, terrorised and displaced on the sole pretext of others not sharing their views and values. One hundred years on from a World War that was anything but ‘great’, have we learned a single lesson about peace?
Last week’s Gazette told well the moving stories of yesteryear when local boys “joined up” to fight for their country and the announcement of conflict with the Kaiser brought loud hurrahs. Everyone thought it would be over in months if not weeks but four long years told another miserable tale.
This Sunday (17th) we shall be rededicating the war memorial on The Green in Stanford le Hope some 94 years after my predecessor, Revd. James Russell, first dedicated it before a crowd of some 2000 Thurrock residents. This service will be held, like that one, at 3.30 pm and all are invited to come and pay their respects.
There’s nothing at all that is great about war – not remotely. It is sickeningly, dreadfully barbaric. It depersonalises humanity and blasphemes God. But there is something great about warriors. Not the cowardly monsters that maim and kill children or send masses to a lonely death. No – the real heroes are the ones who strive for wholesome gain beyond all reckoning; who give and give again so that others may live and be free. Some have their names engraved on stones like that on The Green; others still live today working and praying for lasting reconciliation.
These are the great warriors – the warriors of peace. And we should honour them.
Very well written John.
ReplyDelete"Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn."