We Will Remember Them

I was going to write a post about my weekend on the Tideway, but as this was the first time in about six or seven years that I wasn't parading on Remembrance Sunday, I'd like to take a moment to consider how important it is that we remember all those who have lost their lives in the service of our country as members of the armed forces. Even if you're skeptical of the validity of any war (and it's absolutely right that we should question what conflicts achieve), just stop for a minute to consider the lives of millions of people altered in ways that many of us could never imagine because of something far beyond their control.

The armed forces deserve our respect - again, this isn't to say that they ought to be beyond scrutiny - but the men and women who serve and have served go through extraordinary experiences and conditions for the defence of their country, freedom from totalitarianism and in attempt to better the lives of people all around the world. There's always the danger that support of the armed forces turns into flag-waving nationalism, but this is not, in my opinion what Remembrance Sunday is about. It's not about judgement or condemning unjust conflicts, but neither is it necessarily an unthinking celebration of everything the armed forces do. It's a day of reflection.

It's very easy to focus on one particular conflict, for example, the second world war in protecting democracy, or the first world war for the needless sacrifice of thousands of young men, but on Remembrance Sunday these distinctions ought to be swept aside and the focus should be on remembering all participants in conflicts - the fact is that in the last one hundred years alone hundreds of thousands of people have died fighting for this country.Their lives are worth remembering.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.