Able to find offense in seemingly innocuous conversation, political event, TV programme or other entertainment written or performed and especially in interpretation of history recent or past, I am regrettably equally adept in offending others.
Not normally my aim, sometimes it is unavoidable, words once spoken prove impossible to retract. At other times, blundering ahead while squashing to near oblivion the inner voice recommending silence.
You've been forewarned.
400 Women is an exhibition honouring the hundreds of women murdered, more or less brutally in Cuidad Juarez, Mexico, since 1993. Despite women locally and internationally, protesting to the Mexican government about this atrocious example of gynocide, the Mexican government concluded its investigation claiming no federal laws had been broken, although the killers 'continue to enjoy impunity in that region'.
Women and girls are abducted, raped, murdered, missing, beheaded, unidentified, subjected to sexual violence tourism, exchanged between drug cartels, used as human sacrifices, mutilated, disappeared; aged 3 years to over 60 years. And it continues.
Tamsyn Challenger created this project which oversaw the gathering of over 100 images, descriptions of the women and girls, even forensic reports of their murder or just her name, by local and international agencies working in the area. Artists chosen for their sensitivity, were assigned a woman or a girl and the given criteria for producing an artwork commemorating her life. Each piece had to be a similar size in practially any media and 'echoing an altarpiece'.
On a comfortably sunny Edinburgh day moving from space to space in a shambolic old school, I wept my way round this most moving, heartbreaking memorial to the women and girls from so far away.
I was not alone. Numerous other middle aged women were sobbing or quietly sniffing into sodden tissues as we silently and reverently exchanged shy glances, half ashamed to be seen publicly mourning.
The comments book was too painful for me to read more than a few entries, enough to know that the writers had also been deeply affected. Exiting back into the High Street in festival time, was too jarring and I retreated home taking many hours to find some emotional balance.
If this exhibition arrives in your town, go. Not to go is an act of dishonour to the women and their families who will never find justice. Not to go is an act of encouragement to the patriarchy that glories in the spilt blood of women and girls. Witnessing and believing is an act of defiance that helps chip away at the established order that otherwise denies men's violence against women and girls.
So far, so inoffensive.
All week and especially today, oceans of emotion, acres of words, hot air incalculable even by Avogadro have been expended on the tenth anniversary of terrorist attacks on America.
Nothing can take away from the experience of shock, loss of life and injury on that day. Individual suffering, bravery and long term impact on many lives is noted and respected.
However, I'm not the only person to have spent a decade disgusted at the prolonged outcomes, by criminally stupid leaders and those whose excuse for torture and humiliation on other nationals, is that of following orders.
So much for the behaviour of some individuals from the avenging armies, it is the never-ending impact on the lives and deaths of women in Afghanistan, Iraq, Packistan and so many other countries subjected to bullying from imperialistic powers whether for oil, geopolitical influence or gratuitous display of militaristic power. It's not like they needed more patriarchy to oppress them, they had enough home grown violence. Surely, hearing that nowadays one in eight women die in childbirth in Afghanistan will provoke reflection on the efficacy of the 'peace and security' constructed by the liberating armies.
Sharing of 'where were you when you heard?' stories are everywhere. Insignificant, and exposing of my all round ignorance, though it be, I'll share mine. I had just left a pub lunch with the only person I then knew from Washington, USA, and returned to my office. Colleagues wondered why the phones were so quiet. Then we found out. I was so grateful to know that my friend was safe in an Edinburgh pub and not in his flat close to the Pentagon.
But the whole twin towers aspect, meant little to me. I'd simply never heard of them. I refuse to believe I'm the only one. And I think that unawareness has coloured my whole response to the attacks. I saw a plane flying into a tall skyscraper, not a cultural, economic icon of power. Then it happened again.
I comprehend the loss of life, as much as it is possible to do so. But I equally comprehend loss of life in other atrocities, such as that described in Mexico. I very forcefully try to comprehend why some lives are valued so much that countless more are massacred in revenge, while others, such as those above are denied, dismissed and discounted. It remains incomprehensible.
You may find that offensive. I find it rational.
Showing posts with label war. Show all posts
Showing posts with label war. Show all posts
Brief reviews
At the half way mark in the festival I begin to long for a normal life again and just start to run out of steam. This is especially true when certain conditions are prevalent, like the depressing rain or if too many shows/exhibitions/events are bad. Fortunately, or simply through experience I've been to few disappointing shows this year, and have avoided the gloomy venues which bring my enthusiasm to a halt. I'm just getting tired of hopping on and off buses, braving the crowds and running around between the other parts of my life. They need some attention after all, and when coming home to neglected housework and a foodless fridge is due to fringing, it's time to calm down a bit. So I went to very few shows at this fringely midpoint.
I've not had time or inclination to update the blog on what I have seen and this is reflected in what is a miserly piece on three really good shows that should have more said about them.
Mary Mary Quite Contrary stand up from Mary Bourke, at the free fringe.
Please just take it as read that I have raved on about her. I will spare the repeat from last year where I labour the point that there are some very good women doing stand up in Edinburgh, but the big venues fail to promote them. And I despair of seeing the likes of Mary Bourke on my TV on a Saturday night anytime soon. Rather, it will be the usual continuation of shouty, marchy up and downy blokes all winter when we should be seeing comedy that appeals to a much more intelligent demographic, like feminists!!
Didn't quite avoid repetition of my point about more funny women who do not offend easily offended feminists.
Bosom Buddies with Jack Klaff
A complete change of mood from the above, but enthralling theatre. Thankfully, the audience is given a handout of the characters played in this one hander as there were one or two historical people I'd never heard of. I came home to google Ottoline Morrell, Margarete Buber-Nueman and Sabina Spielrein. I'd heard of all the male characters, as history is meticulous about recording them and making us search for the women portrayed by Jack Klaff.
I'd need to see it at least twice more before I could really convey how this piece of conversations between the characters, spanning major events in the 20th Century ebbed and flowed around and about the Cuban Missile Crisis, psychoanalysis, relativity, African, Indian, Russian history and probably more that eluded me.
Next time this is performed I'll get another ticket.
Booking Dance Festival: Split Bill
This American company brings dance troupes to the Fringe to showcase excerpts from their shows and assists those in the industry to book the acts. They also have tickets for the public.
I'm afraid I have to rave again, this time about three utterly distinct dance performances in one afternoon, starting with Rhythmic Circus. Described as 'Live Music and Rapid Fire Hard Hitting Tap' this was energy squared backed up by a very good seven piece live band. The ultimate in pretty people entertained a moderate sized crowd in Edinburgh's International Conference Centre. I just clapped my little hands off while they tap danced through hip-hop, funk, blues, and soul music.
Next Damagedance performed their world premier of Glimpses. This powerful performance explored psychological disorders, demonstrating that everyone suffers from something to some extent. We try to hide it.
I was initially cautious about this, but after a few minutes I was completely won over by this amazing group of young dancers.
Finally, Labyrinth Dance Theatre performed Noor. I liked this, and the complete change of pace contrasted with the previous two dances. However, it did not move me as much as I expected for a story of the tragic heroism of Noor-un-nisa Inayat Khan. But I was very happy to be reminded of one of the women who played an important part in WW2 and who was awarded the George Cross.
I've not had time or inclination to update the blog on what I have seen and this is reflected in what is a miserly piece on three really good shows that should have more said about them.
Mary Mary Quite Contrary stand up from Mary Bourke, at the free fringe.
Please just take it as read that I have raved on about her. I will spare the repeat from last year where I labour the point that there are some very good women doing stand up in Edinburgh, but the big venues fail to promote them. And I despair of seeing the likes of Mary Bourke on my TV on a Saturday night anytime soon. Rather, it will be the usual continuation of shouty, marchy up and downy blokes all winter when we should be seeing comedy that appeals to a much more intelligent demographic, like feminists!!
Didn't quite avoid repetition of my point about more funny women who do not offend easily offended feminists.
Bosom Buddies with Jack Klaff
A complete change of mood from the above, but enthralling theatre. Thankfully, the audience is given a handout of the characters played in this one hander as there were one or two historical people I'd never heard of. I came home to google Ottoline Morrell, Margarete Buber-Nueman and Sabina Spielrein. I'd heard of all the male characters, as history is meticulous about recording them and making us search for the women portrayed by Jack Klaff.
I'd need to see it at least twice more before I could really convey how this piece of conversations between the characters, spanning major events in the 20th Century ebbed and flowed around and about the Cuban Missile Crisis, psychoanalysis, relativity, African, Indian, Russian history and probably more that eluded me.
Next time this is performed I'll get another ticket.
Booking Dance Festival: Split Bill
This American company brings dance troupes to the Fringe to showcase excerpts from their shows and assists those in the industry to book the acts. They also have tickets for the public.
I'm afraid I have to rave again, this time about three utterly distinct dance performances in one afternoon, starting with Rhythmic Circus. Described as 'Live Music and Rapid Fire Hard Hitting Tap' this was energy squared backed up by a very good seven piece live band. The ultimate in pretty people entertained a moderate sized crowd in Edinburgh's International Conference Centre. I just clapped my little hands off while they tap danced through hip-hop, funk, blues, and soul music.
Next Damagedance performed their world premier of Glimpses. This powerful performance explored psychological disorders, demonstrating that everyone suffers from something to some extent. We try to hide it.
I was initially cautious about this, but after a few minutes I was completely won over by this amazing group of young dancers.
Finally, Labyrinth Dance Theatre performed Noor. I liked this, and the complete change of pace contrasted with the previous two dances. However, it did not move me as much as I expected for a story of the tragic heroism of Noor-un-nisa Inayat Khan. But I was very happy to be reminded of one of the women who played an important part in WW2 and who was awarded the George Cross.
Peace Poppies
When poppies were originally introduced prior to the Second World War, it was a time of increasing anxiety with remembrance being re-militarised. Remembrance had previously been something associated with grieving widows, but was being taken over by men and the military.http://www.thenews.coop/features/Wider%20Co-op%20Movement/1676
I have a card from the Peace Pledge Union which came with the first white poppy I ever bought. It sits on my notice board. Here's part of what it says:
White poppies for peace were first made by the Women’s Co-operative Guild in 1933. Members of the Guild – many of whom were mothers and widows of men killed in WW1- feared that the ‘war to end all wars’, in which their men had died, would be followed by an even worse conflict. The white poppy was a reminder of the horrors of war. People who wore it did so as a way of insisting that those in power should resist war; that conflicts should be resolved without violence and with justice.In the years since that was written, the 100 million people killed because of military conflicts, will have gone up considerably.
300 wars later, and after the slaughter of over 100 million people, the white poppy continues to be a reminder of the world’s failure to prevent war. It is a symbol of grief for everyone who has been harmed by war, but more importantly it is a symbol of our determination to work together to abolish war for good.
http://www.ppu.org.uk/
Today and on 11th Nov I will think of those who lost their lives during the 20th century genocides large and small, as well as those who have been killed so far in this century. But I will also think of how unnecessary armed conflict is. If humans are intelligent enough to co-operate to the extent it takes to actually fight a war, then surely an equal effort can be made to resolve conflict.
I’m not a pacifist but …
Eirene, goddess of peace.Two events collided today. Firstly, the troops are ending combat operations in Iraq and secondly the Tories mumbled something about not replacing Trident.
Those of a traditionally militaristic nature, or who subscribe to fears about rogue nuclear states launching stuff at us, look away now.
I find the idea of having an aggressive military presence a piece of nonsense in a modern democracy. I think having folk in uniform is useful for some ceremonial outings once or twice a year and in case of natural catastrophes. Other than that, we can all read up on guerrilla tactics if we are invaded and concentrate on building a world-class diplomatic presence to help avoid testosterone-driven bloodshed.
There is a huge range of personality types in every society and I can understand and even sympathise with those who need firm boundaries, strict routines, lots of physical action, and an aversion to having to decide what to wear of a morning. But they don’t need to be given guns and other expensive penis-substitutes, instead they can be kept busy keeping the peace.
A subset of this group will be efficient killers and I can see that in some extreme situations that is a handy evolutionary adaptation, but my faith in human nature is such that I refuse to countenance the idea that there are sufficient numbers in that category that we need finance an army just to keep them out of jail. Those types can be encouraged to join foreign mercenary forces and be trained at the expense of the shareholders in those companies. Not that I in any way approve of mercenaries, but they might, again in extreme circumstances, serve a purpose, as long as they are strictly regulated.
Of course, other military organisations such as the navy could be retained because we are an island, so that makes some sense (not entirely sure what). These vessels need not be equipped with leaky nukes. The airforce; um, I’ve not thought through what their role can be. But you’re getting the picture.
Equally, we don’t need plans to invade other countries just because some of our citizens delude themselves that they still live in an empire, and contemplate the red parts of the map while twirling their mustachios. Would it not be more honourable to be an active force for peace within the UN sending the adventurous types off to assist in this, rather than engage in illegal wars that bring destruction to women and children and allow warlords to control the female populations in the name of their gods?
I’m aware that much of any population has at least a sneaking regard for their warrior class, and speaking out against them makes one unpopular. However, more and more people see the fairly obvious links between lack of respect for other nations, cultures and the health of the planet as well as the way women are disrespected and animals kept in conditions that allow their viruses to mutate to affect humans. Those who do not, are generally subjects who source their information about the world from heavily censored publications and broadcast media, and may never have heard the term critical thinking.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_thinking
As for Trident, well, at least on that topic I can be confident that most of the population in my country are against it, want it removed and are adamant that it not be renewed. Parliament voted against it in 2007.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/6752089.stm
Here’s a discussion we’d never get in the UK.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10569222
This is what we get…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/apr/28/david-miliband-private-military
At the Flicks
I took my mother and daughter to see a programme entitled Britain at Bay, Peace & War 1937-1949 this afternoon.http://www.independentcinemaoffice.org.uk/mediatheque_britainatbay.html
This is archive material from the British Film Institute, which is touring the UK courtesy of the Independent Cinema Office. The site above has a link to the dates and venues as well as information about the eight films in this programme.
All eight films had something to recommend them and I can’t think of a better birthday treat for my mother and an education for my daughter (and me!).
Around the Village Green Directed by Evelyn Spice & Marion Grierson had the best line; an old codger was resisting change in the manner of old codgers everywhere and of all era’s:"I haven't got a bath but I've got a river down the bottom of the garden so I can have a good bath when I want one."
There is more info on these directors at the link below.http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/594220/index.html
The best film was Spare Time, which looked at the range of activities that families, and workers in some heavy industries got up to in their spare time. Absolutely wonderful footage of a Kazoo Jazz Band with some happy children swinging to well-known tunes.
After the final film, the old chap behind us began to tell us he remembered this period as he had enlisted in the navy in 1940. He talked about the earliest air raids which came as the German planes swept up the river Forth trying to bomb the Forth Bridge. Of course this all led to an outpouring of reminiscences by my mother about the war years which as a small child she lived through.
Entirely predictably, daughter and I had opposite reactions to some aspects. She stated how she felt that everyone in the films looked so smart in their flowered dresses and coats and little hats. While my thoughts had been about the impracticality of factory and farm work in flowered dresses, to say nothing of the young women enthusiastically filling sand bags dressed in their Sunday best the week WW2 was declared. I count all my blessings that I can wear practical clothes without comment, which it took a war and women drafted into all kinds of work to establish as sensible.
Sig Other would have appreciated Sam Goes Shopping as it was narrated by one of his hero’s – Stanley Holloway*. This is an amusing film, which was really an advert for the Co-op.
The 8 short films take the viewer on an emotional roller-coaster from the build up to war and into the first days and weeks of what must have been devastating to people barely recovered from the war to end all wars. If you get a chance to see this touring programme take it.
* Stanley Holloway the comic narrator, and if I have had to listen to Sig Other spout, er declaim this over breakfast, then you can at least have a quick look over it. Imagine a thick Yorkshire, or possibly Lancashire accent (is there a difference?) http://homepage.ntlworld.com/michaelanthony.keating/Stanley_Holloway/The_Lion_and_Albert/the_lion_and_albert.html
Women and War
The 22nd January is the 65th anniversary of Operation Shingle. Just as in all grand muck ups by the axis of eejits, more commonly known as the Allies in the conflagration lasting between 1939-45, (and ever since) this was badly executed with deadly results. However, for my purposes here I am not about to provide scholarly scrutiny of this battle or analysis of another Churchillian decision, mostly because that is beyond my competence and my interest. Rather I want to focus on an aspect of that Operation which lead to the Ballad below written in defiance of Nancy Astor’s alleged remarks comparing the troops in Anzio with those preparing for D-Day.
BALLAD OF THE D-DAY DODGERS
(A rumour started in Italy that Lady Astor had referred to the boys of the C.M.F. as D-Day dodgers).
To the tune of Lili Marleen
Once we heard a rumour that we were going home,Back to dear old Blighty—never more to roam.Then someone said: "In France you'll fight!”We said: "No fear—we'll just sit tight!”(The windy D-Day dodgers, way out in Italy).
Dear Lady Astor, you think you know a lot,Standing on a platform and talking tommy-rot.You, England's sweetheart and its pride,We think your mouth's too bleeding wideThat's from your D-Day Dodgers—in far off Italy.
(Extract)
SEUMAS MOR MACEANRUIG
http://www.drinkingsongs.net/html/books-and-manuscripts/1940s/1947ca-ballads-of-world-war-ii-(PB)/1947ca-ballads-of-world-war-ii-by-henderson.htm
Astor’s career is peppered with ill-advised remarks, many of which would not get her selected for parliament (even by the Tories) nowadays. Hers is a story of class, privilege and inegalitarian attitudes, although she managed to fairly equally offend a wide range of people. Her best lines remain quotable, but that does not let her off the hook, even if the following makes me smirk:
“I would like to say that the first time Adam had a chance he laid the blame on a woman.”
I cannot help but empathise with the distress felt by troops in Italy hearing reports of her comments about them “dodging the real war in France”. This got me thinking about women and politics and war.
Some time back, Ms Thatcher engaged in conflict. Whatever the rights, wrongs or otherwise of that South Atlantic yomp, and without accurate recollection of her many proclamations, I remember she made much of ‘the boys’ fighting out there, or even ‘her boys’. Did these individuals give up their lives or suffer ghastly injury to make her the Iron Lady? It takes no guessing to know what many thought of Ms Thatcher: as her portrayal in Spitting Image immortalised her, as the only man in the Cabinet.
And now there is the Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni desperately trying to out-hard-line her competitors in the forthcoming election, by her constant justifications for the unspeakable war in Gaza. How horrible!
The question I am circuitously, even tortuously inching towards is whether women politicians are judged differently when they send troops into conflicts, or declare war on other democratically elected countries. And I have no easy answer, because my relatively pacifistic feminism can only analyse from a comparatively simplistic baseline of THERE SHOULD BE NO WAR.
Trying to take it further, it is clear that war for oil or other scarce resources is theft and immoral. Invasion and occupation, which is a hallmark of empires old and new is also inexcusable. And there is enough history around that no one can make any credible argument in favour of that. We now get to hear the stories of indigenous people, even if no one gives them proper apologies for land theft in previous centuries, or seriously tries to alleviate their continued discrimination.
The above goes for whatever gender of politician declares/supports war, so what is different about women leaders and how they are judged? Do women have to prove they are harder than the males when they are in power? Is it this which promotes the received wisdom that ‘women are worse than men in …….’ (add your own example). Is this really just another case of women having to be twice as good/hard/bad/strong as men to be taken seriously? If so, then that is more than enough reason for women in politics to examine the dynamics of the patriarchy and to search their conscience about committing to acts of war.
But what about when it is one’s own country that is invaded and occupied? How then are women who resist to be judged? Are they freedom fighters or terrorists? How do we compare Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in her Noble Laureate resistance with the women freedom fighters in the PKK, or the ‘dictatorship of the proletariat’ of Rosa Luxemburg during the Russian revolution?
Each case is vastly different in time, geography and historical events, but these are women acting for change in their land and for their countrypersons.
I reluctantly conclude that there is no conclusion so leave this for discussion another day, or for anyone who wants to comment, and I meander back to Nancy Astor for a final quote:
“Women have got to make the world safe for men since men have made it so darned unsafe for women.”
http://womenshistory.about.com/od/quotes/a/nancy_astor.htm
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
http://www.dassk.com/index.php
Kurdish women
http://www.feministing.com/archives/007965.html
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/10/06/iraq.pkk/index.html
BALLAD OF THE D-DAY DODGERS
(A rumour started in Italy that Lady Astor had referred to the boys of the C.M.F. as D-Day dodgers).
To the tune of Lili Marleen
Once we heard a rumour that we were going home,Back to dear old Blighty—never more to roam.Then someone said: "In France you'll fight!”We said: "No fear—we'll just sit tight!”(The windy D-Day dodgers, way out in Italy).
Dear Lady Astor, you think you know a lot,Standing on a platform and talking tommy-rot.You, England's sweetheart and its pride,We think your mouth's too bleeding wideThat's from your D-Day Dodgers—in far off Italy.
(Extract)
SEUMAS MOR MACEANRUIG
http://www.drinkingsongs.net/html/books-and-manuscripts/1940s/1947ca-ballads-of-world-war-ii-(PB)/1947ca-ballads-of-world-war-ii-by-henderson.htm
Astor’s career is peppered with ill-advised remarks, many of which would not get her selected for parliament (even by the Tories) nowadays. Hers is a story of class, privilege and inegalitarian attitudes, although she managed to fairly equally offend a wide range of people. Her best lines remain quotable, but that does not let her off the hook, even if the following makes me smirk:
“I would like to say that the first time Adam had a chance he laid the blame on a woman.”
I cannot help but empathise with the distress felt by troops in Italy hearing reports of her comments about them “dodging the real war in France”. This got me thinking about women and politics and war.
Some time back, Ms Thatcher engaged in conflict. Whatever the rights, wrongs or otherwise of that South Atlantic yomp, and without accurate recollection of her many proclamations, I remember she made much of ‘the boys’ fighting out there, or even ‘her boys’. Did these individuals give up their lives or suffer ghastly injury to make her the Iron Lady? It takes no guessing to know what many thought of Ms Thatcher: as her portrayal in Spitting Image immortalised her, as the only man in the Cabinet.
And now there is the Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni desperately trying to out-hard-line her competitors in the forthcoming election, by her constant justifications for the unspeakable war in Gaza. How horrible!
The question I am circuitously, even tortuously inching towards is whether women politicians are judged differently when they send troops into conflicts, or declare war on other democratically elected countries. And I have no easy answer, because my relatively pacifistic feminism can only analyse from a comparatively simplistic baseline of THERE SHOULD BE NO WAR.
Trying to take it further, it is clear that war for oil or other scarce resources is theft and immoral. Invasion and occupation, which is a hallmark of empires old and new is also inexcusable. And there is enough history around that no one can make any credible argument in favour of that. We now get to hear the stories of indigenous people, even if no one gives them proper apologies for land theft in previous centuries, or seriously tries to alleviate their continued discrimination.
The above goes for whatever gender of politician declares/supports war, so what is different about women leaders and how they are judged? Do women have to prove they are harder than the males when they are in power? Is it this which promotes the received wisdom that ‘women are worse than men in …….’ (add your own example). Is this really just another case of women having to be twice as good/hard/bad/strong as men to be taken seriously? If so, then that is more than enough reason for women in politics to examine the dynamics of the patriarchy and to search their conscience about committing to acts of war.
But what about when it is one’s own country that is invaded and occupied? How then are women who resist to be judged? Are they freedom fighters or terrorists? How do we compare Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in her Noble Laureate resistance with the women freedom fighters in the PKK, or the ‘dictatorship of the proletariat’ of Rosa Luxemburg during the Russian revolution?
Each case is vastly different in time, geography and historical events, but these are women acting for change in their land and for their countrypersons.
I reluctantly conclude that there is no conclusion so leave this for discussion another day, or for anyone who wants to comment, and I meander back to Nancy Astor for a final quote:
“Women have got to make the world safe for men since men have made it so darned unsafe for women.”
http://womenshistory.about.com/od/quotes/a/nancy_astor.htm
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
http://www.dassk.com/index.php
Kurdish women
http://www.feministing.com/archives/007965.html
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/10/06/iraq.pkk/index.html
Keep right on to the end of the road …
Today is Armistice Day and poppies are in evidence in the media, but not much in real life. I have a white poppy, but have never worn it as I’d prefer not to get into heated discussions or to terribly offend anyone who misunderstood what the white poppy symbolises.
http://www.ppu.org.uk/poppy/
It is now 90 years since the end of the ‘Great’ War. Much is being made of this anniversary, not least because only the last few people to have lived through or even fought in it are still lingering on, and chroniclers are seizing this limited time to record first hand memories.
I grew up hearing stories of that war and even in the 1960’s it did not seem like ancient history to me. My grandfather and his contemporaries were drafted into the services to fight in the war to end wars. I’m reasonably certain that I only exist because my father’s father survived the trenches.
He was born in the fading years of the nineteenth century and would not have been old enough to volunteer at the outbreak in 1914, but would have joined the army in his late teens. He and his relatives probably survived because they were not in the trenches all the time. My grandfather was a dispatch rider; as the family story goes, he was Hitler’s opposite number.
On the other hand this could be somewhat incorrect, although it is recorded that Hitler was a messenger and was at Ypres amongst other places.
http://www.ppu.org.uk/poppy/
It is now 90 years since the end of the ‘Great’ War. Much is being made of this anniversary, not least because only the last few people to have lived through or even fought in it are still lingering on, and chroniclers are seizing this limited time to record first hand memories.
I grew up hearing stories of that war and even in the 1960’s it did not seem like ancient history to me. My grandfather and his contemporaries were drafted into the services to fight in the war to end wars. I’m reasonably certain that I only exist because my father’s father survived the trenches.
He was born in the fading years of the nineteenth century and would not have been old enough to volunteer at the outbreak in 1914, but would have joined the army in his late teens. He and his relatives probably survived because they were not in the trenches all the time. My grandfather was a dispatch rider; as the family story goes, he was Hitler’s opposite number.
On the other hand this could be somewhat incorrect, although it is recorded that Hitler was a messenger and was at Ypres amongst other places.
My great uncles were stretcher bearers, and although they too survived, it was not without seeing unspeakable sights and facing great danger as unarmed, they went into No Man’s land to recover bodies, both dead and alive.
When I was ten, we went on holiday to Belgium and France and visited Ypres and a small museum where trenches had been preserved and artefacts from the surrounding area collected and displayed. I could not bring myself to go into a trench, with that awareness of the tragedy symbolised in those few yards of mud. The vision of the grisly displays in glass cases, including skulls from unidentified soldiers, remains vivid.
http://www.ypres-1917.com/hill_62.htm
Nowadays, I can appreciate far more the horror of those years and the waste of human life on all sides. But even at 10 years old, I could understand that there was no nobility, no glory, no damn point to it.
Then, as now, proportionately more Scots fought and died for ‘their’ empire/monarch/ ‘country’. Then, as now, what they come back to is not adequate to their needs for recovery of physical and mental health. Then, as now, we hear that their equipment is not good enough. What is the point of getting involved in warfare and setting up your own troops to struggle, maybe even fail, for lack of money. Is it not simpler to take a pacifist view and avoid conflict?
On Sunday, Radio Scotland profiled a CD of poetry, songs popular during the first war both at the front and in the music halls, as well as music written by contemporary artists whose brief was to create music reflecting what WW1 means to them. Of the traditional music, I found the Piobaireachd MacCrimmon's Sweetheart most moving, as was Dick Gaughan’s Why Old Men Cry for the more modern selection. The website describes the CD thus: “The album has a more Scottish perspective than any of its predecessors, but when one considers that Scotland suffered the most soldiers killed (per head of population) of any nation that fought in the conflict, such an album is greatly overdue.”
http://www.musicscotland.com/acatalog/Far_Far_From_Ypres_.html
I’ll end by saying that I am appreciative of the stories my family shared about my grandfather’s war experiences and that he returned and was the gentle man I remember until his death at 73. However, I am grateful also, that I have access to information about the conditions he and other’s on all sides existed in for these lost years fighting a useless "war to end wars". And the opportunity that I have to believe in peace and to speak out against the war criminals in our government who have embroiled so many of today’s young people in theatres of conflict in other people’s countries to the detriment of local women children and men.
Sadly, I have not managed to uphold what I promised myself when I set out to write this post – to not have a rant, but I feel passionately about this, so maybe I needed to go ahead and rant.
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