Lament - can a pacifist remember?

Today at 11am marks the 90th anniversary since the signing of the Armistice in a railway carriage in Northern France that brought World War I to an end. As such it has become the day when we remember those who have died in war. Over recent years I've struggled about wearing a poppy, about what to do on 'remembrance Sunday' and how to mark Armistice Day. Can a pacifist, should a pacifist remember? Is there not something hypocritical in a pacifist remembering those who fell in war?

I've decided that a pacifist can and should remember and that it's not hypocritical. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, our remembering of those who fell in war is not restricted to soldiers but to all who died. As such our remembering brings into view again the horror of war. This memory can be redemptive in that while it may not turn everyone into pacifist in remembering we say 'never again' and thus resolve to find other means than war to solve our problems. Secondly in remembering the service men and women who died we remember those from both sides. Remembrance is therefore not an act of solidarity (especially for a pacifist) but an act of Christian love for the neighbour (I'll try to post on the difference between solidarity and neighbourliness another day). Thirdly, it is an opportunity to express forgiveness, to reflect not just upon international conflicts but personal conflicts we may be part of. Fourthly, remembering is not a glorification of war but a lament. Lament is a very scriptural practice and one that at times for the health of a nation needs a national expression.

The Flowers of the Forest is a traditional Scottish lament. It was popularised by Mike Oldfield on his album Tubular Bells but is still best sung or played by a lone piper. The actual song refers to the Battle of Flodden Field in 1513 where 10,000 Scot's fell in battle with the English. Here's a YouTube video someone has made using the Flowers of the Forest song and tune.

Comments

[glenn]

Thanks Brodie, a really helpful post. Your ideas of solidarity and lament especially poignant and ones I can heartily agree with. Here's the thing though, it is difficult to get away from the glorification of war, in the national memorials especially and this is just one of my issues with the poppy. It's why my compromise this year was a cash donation and a white poppy, and why my wife saw fit to wear BOTH red and white, which may be even better.

But apart from all this, and perhaps especially in NI where there are all sorts of other complications, I think we need to keep thinking about how and why.

Hope you are very well.

[Susan]

A pacifist must remember, lest they forget the 'old lie: Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori'