Sorry I've not been around much lately otherwise I most certainly have started this thread much sooner.
The war to end all wars ended 100 years ago today after a pointless four years of men killing each other for nothing much really, other than their country's politicians saying they must do.
Something like 15 million people lost their lives and for what - as another World War broke out just 21 years later!
Although I've not seen his speech I believe Macron, the French President talked about how we should reject nationalism - and he's right - WW1 was all about Germany wanting to be top dog of the world instead of Great Britton as we were back then - and 100 years later we still have the likes of us wanting to stand alone with Brexit rather than stay with 27 other country's, Trump/America banging on about 'make America great again' and starting trade wars with country's around the world and Putin/Russia medalling in and destabilising other country's to further their own agenda.
You could even go much further than that and throw in places like Saudi Arabia and Iran stirring things up in the middle east (Turkey as well) although that is more about religious 'nationalism' rather than country's boarders.
We all knows it goes on - out 'tribe'/country is better than yours - but someone, somewhere has to make a start to say, we have moved on from that, we know better now, we tried that a 100 years ago and it didn't work then and it certainly won't work now.
Anyway let us remember and respect all the fallen of all the wars on the centenary of the ending of WW1.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
By John McCrae
The war to end all wars ended 100 years ago today after a pointless four years of men killing each other for nothing much really, other than their country's politicians saying they must do.
Something like 15 million people lost their lives and for what - as another World War broke out just 21 years later!
Although I've not seen his speech I believe Macron, the French President talked about how we should reject nationalism - and he's right - WW1 was all about Germany wanting to be top dog of the world instead of Great Britton as we were back then - and 100 years later we still have the likes of us wanting to stand alone with Brexit rather than stay with 27 other country's, Trump/America banging on about 'make America great again' and starting trade wars with country's around the world and Putin/Russia medalling in and destabilising other country's to further their own agenda.
You could even go much further than that and throw in places like Saudi Arabia and Iran stirring things up in the middle east (Turkey as well) although that is more about religious 'nationalism' rather than country's boarders.
We all knows it goes on - out 'tribe'/country is better than yours - but someone, somewhere has to make a start to say, we have moved on from that, we know better now, we tried that a 100 years ago and it didn't work then and it certainly won't work now.
Anyway let us remember and respect all the fallen of all the wars on the centenary of the ending of WW1.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
By John McCrae