WW1 Centenary
2 great-uncles killed; a grandfather (teenaged merchant seaman) torpedoed twice and survived; a great-grandfather with PTSD because, as a regimental farrier, his job was to use his axe to put mangled mules and horses out of their misery. Some political friends are talking about protesting against the public commemorations because they see them as 'glorification' of war, imperialism & c & c. Sorry, no. While I won't be attending any services (too much religion), I shall be thinking of the impact on people I have loved (siblings of the dead were very much still alive in my childhood). I don't think commemorations of this kind are appropriate for political/moral grandstanding. Millions of dead people aren't political footballs. Even if some politicians don't see it that way, we shouldn't stoop to their level. One thing I've grown more sure of over the past year: family matters more than ideological purity.