That wouldn’t be the people who rule us, would it?
STOP THE WAR COALITION NEEDS US
These images are presently being projected onto the tower of Much Wenlock’s parish church.
Tish Farrell
Writer on the Edge
That wouldn’t be the people who rule us, would it?
STOP THE WAR COALITION NEEDS US
These images are presently being projected onto the tower of Much Wenlock’s parish church.
Tish Farrell 
♥
Well said Tish.
In these days of drone technology and remote combat it is easy for these politicians to forget that what they are destroying is not just the ‘enemy’ but also people. And whilst there are greedy/fanatical/intolerant people there will always be enemies.
And a lot of the ‘enemies’ we drop bombs on, aren’t enemies at all. We’re just told they are. E.g. Libya is now a non-functioning nightmare thanks to our intervention. And didn’t we do well in Iraq.
Yes. Interesting which conflicts we decide to get involved in and which we turn a blind eye to. Still too many wars in the world for my liking.
Definitely too many.
Sadly Tish, I don’t think it’s those who ‘forget’ but rather those who simply don’t care … those who perceive it has nothing to do with them 😕
As far as politicians go … and war now seems to be used more as a weapon of protecting financial interests rather than protecting human rights.
Yes. It always is about financial interests.
Bless you, Tish.
Thank you, Thom.
As new students aren’t being taught history, real history, how can they remember and not follow
At least in the UK children do learn about WW1. It’s part of the national curriculum. That said, history seems to be taught in a very piecemeal fashion – which doesn’t help young people to understand historical process. I also gather history is not well taught in US public schools. A shameful lack if you want to raise responsible citizens.
Well said!
a wonderful and powerful post, tish
Thanks, Beth.
I agree that history needs to be taught more and better. One problem is that history is often hijacked by points of view. For instance, many in the Middle East and elsewhere are taught history that the Holocaust didn’t happen. Of course, there will always be a POV, but students need to be able to realize and recognize that and look at both sides. Teaching history today has become a lot like news, where the opinion page has now taken over the entire paper but without the revealing title. 😦
Good for Much Wenlock and lovely photos.
janet
I think the way the media operates (and it is such an immediate and forceful tool) has shaped the way many people think about any issue. All topics are presented in a ‘for or against’ manner (apparently in the interest of ‘balance’). The media thrives on polarity just as it feeds our worst inclinations. It is a horrible irony: never in human history have individuals had access to so much ‘information’ and in a never ending stream. Yet it does little to improve our powers of discretion or inspire well reasoned and researched responses. Journalists no longer need to investigate issues with any thoroughness. They simply construct narratives.
And students aren’t taught logic and reasoning.
That’s so dispiriting to hear, Janet.
Considering that many professors are using classes as indoctrination more than learning, it isn’t surprising. And when I look at the classes offered at many large, well-thought-of colleges and universities, I can’t believe what absolute trips they are!!
😦
What a very lovely place Much Wenlock is, Tish. 🙂 🙂 The politicians turn up at all the events, irrespective of the part they may play in instigating, don’t they? 😦
Oh yes, Matter of ‘principle’ to be SEEN at such events.
I think this is exactly the reason I have trouble with the whole idea of Remembrance Day 😦 nothing changes. It’s always the young people given guns and sent to fight and sacrifice their lives while the military/industrial machine forges ahead regardless. 😦
Alison
I agree. This morning the BBC blandly reported on the appalling bombardment in Yemen that was going on even as our great and good were showing up at remembrance services yesterday. Britain supplies the arms to Saudi Arabia. The UN workers on the ground there have been reporting the devastating humanitarian crisis for month after month.
😦
Financial interests wrapped in the flags of nationalism and rhetoric for the masses. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
The problem is we do not know half the things our governments do in our name (in the name of ‘security’). Most people don’t think to even think about looking beyond the mass media narratives.
I’m sure that is true. I confess there are days I feel that I just “don’t want to know” because it all seems too big and too complex to understand and challenge. And I at least have an education that encouraged me to question and challenge — I despair of a world in which that sort of liberal arts education is a thing of the past 😦
Maybe you give us too much credit, Tish. We remember from time to time. But we have too much to remember. Of course it’s also true that some of us are redesigning history, according to the proper (they think) agenda. But altogether, for whom are we remembering if not for ourselves? And if for ourselves, can we really remember the context in which they fought and died? Do you still believe Tish, after all this time, that we can change human nature?
Follow the money. 😦
As ever! In the UK we also have an elite that hasn’t got over not having an empire – so between the jingoism and the greed, and they want to take us there again – with Russia our former ally.