Saturday, November 11, 2006

More than remembering




Can you hear the lonely echo of the solitary bugle?
Can you hear the shivering anguish in the silence between the notes?
stark
suppressed
sorrow
Today we stand together in silent tears
Listening to the heart pain of past and present wars.
The spirit echo

More than remembering
More than remembering
More than remembering


4 comments:

Arlen said...

War is such a waste of human intelligence, work, patriotism and life. I appreciate those who fought that I may live, but my heart will always wonder how people can have disagreement to the point of bearing arms against each other.

I rarely agree with others on EVERYTHING, yet I also recognize the fact that I'm wrong on issues. I think that if others portrayed an attitude of "what if," war could be avoided.

Bless the families of those who have lost loved ones in armed conflict. Their great loss will never diminish the how great their lives were.

awareness said...

Hi Arlen.

Personally, I am full of complicated mixed feelings about war and how people do allow their beliefs reach a boiling point where violence and killing is the end result. There are so many wars that muddy the waters in my thinking.......the present war in Iraq for example. I understand the need to oust Hussein, but the consequences.......thousands and thousands of deaths.....so many that we will never know the exact amount.......and the fact that Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld mishandled and lied so prolifically we are now facing and increased terrorism threat. The Taliban have increased their forces. It perpetuated more hate which will perpetuate more evil violence. I'm at a point in my thinking where I believe Donald Rumsfeld should be tried for war crimes.

Afghanistan takes me down another road of thinking..... I wholeheartedly support the Canadian troops(and other countries they work alongside with) and their reason for engaging in conflict.

WWII? How could we not fight the evil of Hitler and Nazism? 6 Million Jewish people perished before we could collectively stop the evil from spreading.

I wish we could live a life that Ghandi aspired to....... I want to continue to strive for that ideal. But, there are times when I believe we need to up the ante to support and protect others who need our support and protection.

As much as love and peace are in our hearts..........so is hatred......we are complicated beings, arent we?

Anonymous said...

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After reading this lovely poem, I thought that you might be even more interested in my main blog: JAIBHAKTI.

:)

Anonymous said...

I am shocked and shamed to read, on Remembrance Day, two typical comments that demonstrate that some people read too much trash.

War is NOT a waste of human intelligence. War mobilizes great minds to act against threats, the very threats that some view as simple disagreements.

War acts to create work for those that are willing to carry a heavier burden when so many are only too willing to shunt a light load.

War increases patriotism, leaving the feeble-minded and cowardly to wonder why they have no passion.

War is NOT a waste of human life. War guarantees the brave a place of higher honor. It's a place many could not attain in a society devoted to idol worship.

Western societies are the greatest gifts from the men that knew war, lived war and died in war.

I spent this grand day with men and women from all walks of life who understood how much greatness we have achieved because some knew the difference between a disagreement and a threat.

I really would like to know what lies George W. Bush told to the American people? After all, didn't the NY Times just admit that Saddam had nuclear plans? But then again, it doesn't matter. Bill Clinton raped women and lied directly into the camera about his sexual relationship with a female employee, but he's different. He is a liberal.

As for the suggestion that Donald Rumsfeld should be tried for war crimes, I hope you are willing to pay the cost yourself?

"In Flanders Fields

IN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields."

Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD 1872-1918)
Canadian Army