Remembrance

People died for me. Not personally, which makes it perhaps bigger. People gave everything for the thought of people like me.
I don’t like the talk of dying for our country. I feel it empties the love from their actions. I suppose some do die for flags, ideas, governments etc., but this doesn’t seem any good unless they serve these out of love for someone. Flags, governments and ideas are no good in themselves, and often do little good to people.
I‘m a pacifist, so don’t agree with killing, but it would be wrong not to remember anyone who gave their life for me. But it’s also important to remember all who died for my sake, including the unwilling.
War is nothing but tragedy from beginning to end. Politicians send others to kill and to die. People are trained to hate. Soldiers, enemies, and innocents die. There are more widows, orphans, and coffins every day. Politicians call the majority of the tragedy “collateral damage“. Soldiers abuse their power. Soldiers return and are worshipped for killing. Soldiers, enemies and innocents are scarred for life. Love for enemies is rejected.
I want no soldiers to die. I want no innocents to die. I don’t want my enemies to die.
Here are some very important Jesus quotes on enemies.

‘Ye heard that it was said: Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth; but I—I say to you, not to resist the evil, but whoever shall slap thee on thy right cheek, turn to him also the other;‘
Matthew 5:38-39

‘Ye heard that it was said: Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and shalt hate thine enemy; but I—I say to you, Love your enemies, bless those cursing you, do good to those hating you, and pray for those accusing you falsely, and persecuting you, that ye may be sons of your Father in the heavens, because His sun He doth cause to rise on evil and good, and He doth send rain on righteous and unrighteous.‘
Matthew 5:43-45

I need to be both thankful and mourning of those who gave their lives for me, often even expecting that people like me wouldn’t appreciate how they gave their lives.

Here’s an important article from Veterans for Peace UK to do with Remembrance Sunday. I recommend it highly.

God bless you.