"Lest We Forget"

"Remembrance Day is observed on 11 November to recall the end of hostilities of World War I on that date in 1918. Hostilities formally ended "at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month," in accordance with the Armistice, signed by representatives of Germany and the Entente between 5:12 and 5:20 that morning. ("At the 11th hour" refers to the passing of the 11th hour, or 11:00 am.) World War I officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on 28 June 1919.The day was specifically dedicated by King George V on 7 November 1919 as a day of remembrance for members of the armed forces who were killed during World War I... The first official Armistice Day was subsequently held on the grounds of Buckingham Palace on the morning of 11 November 1919. This would set the trend for a day of Remembrance for decades to come."(Wikipedia)

And so at the 11th hour, on the 11th day, of the 11th month, for the 95th time, in 2014, people will gather to observe Remembrance Day. Originally Remembrance Day was to remember those who died in World War 1, which was commonly cited as "the war to end all wars". And we will gather: the young, the old, the school children and those not working, in churches, in synagogues, by war memorials in the parks. A minute of silence may be observed in the workplace for those not able to attend. But what are we remembering?

There will be talk of the sacrifice made by many men & women, not just in World War 1 but in the many wars and conflicts since that time: all those who gave their lives in service to their country, whatever country that might be.

But do we remember the 'whys'? The reasons that these conflicts occurred? The political, territorial, and economic conflicts between peoples and nations? While the specifics have been different in each conflict since "the war to end all wars", these three have been at the root of each one. We have been trying to achieve 'peace through victory' and it hasn't worked yet! However achieving a lasting peace has become more and more important as the weapons of war have gotten more deadly, until we now have the capacity to end all human life on this globe.

Perhaps it is time this year to really remember. To remember not only all those who fought and lost their lives, but also why they were fighting in the first place, what led to this loss of human life and potential. Perhaps it is time to try what John Dominic Crossan calls, 'Peace through Justice'. Perhaps only when the peoples of this world truly try to live by what is known as the 'Golden Rule': to treat others as they themselves would like to be treated, will we really show that we have remembered those who died in the wars and have taken their lesson into our hearts.

‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways, and that we may walk in his paths.’For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.' (NRSV Isaiah 2:3-4)

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