Okay, so, don't tell anybody, but I TOTALLY plagiarized my blog title.
These are the Veterans for Peace.
They stand out on Highway One on holidays, rain or shine, to make sure that none of us forget that war comes with great sacrifice - that no soldier returns from war uninjured.
Heroes in war.
Heroes in peace.
I love these guys.
Happy Veterans Day.
This is Shefali (can't remember by google sign in). Love this. Reminds me of that great line from Howard's End, something to the effect that 'she disliked war, but liked soldiers.' Am going to see if I can share on my FB, if you don't mind. Hugs!
ReplyDeleteNice. I love these guys too, and I don't even know them. "Peace" doesn't get enough air-time, life-time, dedication-time.
ReplyDeleteGive peace a chance: some guy once said.
In the UK, the Remembrance Day service is most commonly associated with the fallen from the two world wars of the previous century and, as such, it is a pretty uncontentious annual event. This year. however, there have been complaints that the poppy appeal (we wear paper poppies symbolising the poppy fields of continental Europe where so many died so wastefully in WW1)has become over-commercialised and is being used to stir up support for ongoing military campaigns.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame. Despite being a dyed-in-the-wool peacenik, I've always felt a huge debt of gratitude to those who fought, especially in the second world war, to preserve my freedom to be typing this now.
The organisations in question no doubt do a great deal of good work for those who are bravely fighting - whether we want them to be or not - on our behalf now. I have no problem with this, but I do feel it's wrong to sully what is traditionally a sombre and moving day of communal remembrance with the unseemly pizzazz of the market place. I've always felt that I could wear my poppy with pride despite my own pacifist feelings, but any moves to politicise the event would give me serious pause for thought. It's a shame that any need is felt to modernise what is one of the few unifying events in the UK calendar and risk alienating people who would otherwise find great common-feeling in mourning the loss of all casualties of war.
xxx
Bob
xxx
Bob
Thanks, all. Bob, I share your sentiments. Sometimes these veterans are accused of being "unpatriotic" because they advocate for peace. But I truly feel that if we should listen to anyone considering matters of war and peace, it should be the people we send into harm's way. And I also feel that advocating for peace IS patriotic and supportive of our soldiers and veterans. That's why I love these guys.
ReplyDeleteWas that event local to the Mendo Coast?
ReplyDeleteEric, they're there most holidays, out on Highway One, between Fort Bragg and Mendocino. If memory serves, I believe this photo was taken at a spot right across from Caspar.
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