The dead are dead. Except perhaps through our prayers, they are beyond our influence, whether good or bad. Which is why it’s baffling to hear people talk about ‘honouring the dead’. The dead are dead and so free of anything we can do to or for them, be that positive or negative. So when next Sunday there are cenotaph ceremonies ‘honouring the war dead’ of Britain’s armed forces, that claim on the face of it doesn’t make sense.
That’s not to say the ceremonies don’t make any sense. The various wreaths and bowed heads and military salutes and poppy-wearing are a statement that the things which in the past motivated those dead now motivate those who are alive. What is being honoured is not the military dead (an impossible task) but the values the dead once had and which the living now embrace.
Which is fair enough. What is not fair enough is to point the finger at those who don’t wear the poppy (assuming they have a choice, of course) or don’t attend Remembrance Sunday ceremonies, and say they are refusing to honour the dead. What such accusations are really saying is “You are wrong not to share my values - shame on you”. Which is an intolerant sort of thing to say. Would it be an idea to let people hold whatever values they choose, even - maybe especially - if we don’t like those values? Not only allow but respect their right to different values. Isn’t that supposed to be an important ingredient of democracy?
A final thought: since the military dead of Remembrance Sunday by definition are or were men of violence, does that send any message to those who’ve been erecting murals to their military dead in different parts of Belfast? Or is it a case of “My violence good, your violence bad”?
Discuss.
I suggest a read of this by Robert Fisk:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-do-those-who-flaunt-the-poppy-on-their-lapels-know-that-they-mock-the-war-dead-6257416.html
Thanks for that, bangordub. As always with Fisk, he goes to the truth of the matter
DeleteIf you can't discern the distinction between men who served in the lawful armed forces of a democratic state and those who joined illegal terror gangs, then I thin. either you are stupid or an apologist for terrorists.
ReplyDeleteI am perfectly capable of distinguishing between ' lawful armed forces of a democratic state' and those who joined 'illegal terror gangs'. I'd say I'm of average intelligence and I am not an apologist for terrorists. And your point is?
Deletethe above linked with your previous 'Uniquely evil?' article demonstrates bias towards republican terrorists, and you appear to be inhabiting Hotchkiss' magical kingdom.
DeleteYou're entitled to your view, Anon.(I'm frequently struck by the strong opinions of anonymous people. Any thoughts on that?) And I'm entitled to my certainty that it contains no such bias.
Deletestrong opinions are often correct. Anonymity is necessary to protect life and limb from those very strange people, whose previous activities you too often excuse. Your non-bias claims ring very hollow considering your writings. I invite you to google Hotchkiss' seven deadly sins of narcissism, and check how many of these resonate with the out-pourings of our current crop of extremists.
Deletewhy should one honor state forces that operate outside and above the law?
ReplyDeleteBecause the people who honour them don't believe they do; or if they do, it's the proverbial few bad apples.
DeleteWel l in the case of the north, it must be a whole orchard of 'bad apples'
ReplyDelete"What is not fair enough is to point the finger at those who don’t wear the poppy (assuming they have a choice, of course) or don’t attend Remembrance Sunday ceremonies, and say they are refusing to honour the dead. What such accusations are really saying is “You are wrong not to share my values - shame on you”. Which is an intolerant sort of thing to say. Would it be an idea to let people hold whatever values they choose, even - maybe especially - if we don’t like those values? Not only allow but respect their right to different values. Isn’t that supposed to be an important ingredient of democracy?"
ReplyDeleteVery fair point DR C
The matter is not helped by the Protestant Coalition (amongst many others) misappropriating the poppy.