When will we ever learn
November 11 reflection
On last Sunday, in my home congregation, we commemorated Remembrance Day ( Canadian equivalent to Veterans Day). It was a lovely service- singing the National Anthem (see my earlier post for my opinion on that), processing flags and wreaths, the traditional Last Post/silence/Reveille and a reading of part of the poem ‘For the Fallen’ by Laurence Binyon. The sermon was particularly relevant.
I started thinking about all of the Remembrance Day commemorations that I have attended over the years. Each year, we acknowledge the untold loss and suffering war brings; we remember the fallen in the hopes that the loss and suffering of war will cease.
But I read the news filled with reports of war and devastation- has all that remembering done any good??
After the sermon, there was a duet. They sang ‘Where have all the flowers gone?’
Here is a link to Vera Lynn’s rendition:
If you don’t care for Lynn, this song has been recorded by a great many artists in over a dozen languages.
Here are the lyrics by Seeger:
Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time ago.
Where have all the flowers gone?
The girls have picked them every one.
Oh, When will you ever learn?
Oh, When will you ever learn?
Young girls
They've taken husbands every one.
Young men
They're all in uniform.
Soldiers
They've gone to graveyards every one.
Graveyards
They're covered with flowers every one.
Flowers
Young girls have picked them every one
Three things struck me:
First, it end where it starts; it is a cycle that cannot seem to be broken.
Secondly, the flowers are all gone; they are picked for our purposes without thought to the damage to the environment. When will we ever learn?
Thirdly, when we heard it in church this past Sunday, they sang ‘when will WE ever learn?’
Notice the movement from Lynn’s ‘when will THEY ever learn?’ to the original lyrics ‘when will YOU ever learn?’ to last Sunday’s rendition ‘when will WE ever learn?’ Interestingly, all of the recorded versions that I found had ‘when will THEY ever learn?’
THEY- the military and government leaders have not learned. YOU- folks out there have not learned. WE - all of us communally have not learned. Maybe it is time for ME to learn; maybe it’s time for ME to learn that there are things I can do, things that I must do; in addition to remembering and acknowledging, I can raise my voice, be a model of the way of listening, dialogue and compassion. BUT… when will I ever learn?
But that’s just what I think. What do you think?
Growing up in the 60s I loved folk music. This particular song “Where have all the flowers gone?” Was a favourite of mine. It was the time of draft dodgers crossing the American border into Canada. Our country became a somewhat safe haven for young American men in preventing their death in a war many of my generation were totally against. Now in my latter years of life I find I continue to be so disheartened by the never ending wars in our world. I used to feel such an honour to be part of Remembrance Day services, laying a wreath at the cenotaph on behalf of IODE, the women’s group I belonged to. Today I question more & more why we do this. Yes, it is important to remember those who have given their lives for the good of humankind, to honour their memory. But I thought Remembrance Day was supposed to be all about remembering so it doesn’t happen again. But so far that has happened, has it? I am beginning to realize that all this pomp & ceremony on such days is NOT preventing war at all; rather it seems to me it “glorifies “ war! When will “we” ever learn? For it takes many like minds to change the world. That’s what I think.
I wish I could write something different, but I don't think we will ever learn. I did a quick google search and while there are many answers, none good, and the first one says, "Historians might quibble over the exact details, but by most accounts, there are no periods in history that have been free from war."
I can do my very best to be kind, to foster peace, to listen to others, to not "other" people and cultures, to help where I can and when I am able, but unfortunately that's not going to stop war and conflict. Most humans are kind and good and just want peace (I believe/my experience). But so many are angry, sad, emotionally unwell, greedy, full of vengeance, etc., etc., and leaders of countries need to look and act powerful. Those are the people who fight, want war, think war will work, think war will bring peace, think retribution will stop the "other" from ever messing with them again, think building war machines and ammo will keep us safe (completely missing that others are also building war machines and ammo). Stupid, stupid, stupid. The lyrics to that song are haunting and poignant. Yes, when will we ever learn? However, that won't stop me (and others) from continuing to hope and live lives that foster peace. This now is imperative.