Many years ago, long before computers, emails, microwaves and cellphones were in existence, my elementary school teacher brought a list to class.
On it were the names of British and American soldiers who wanted desperately to have pen pals while they were away on assignment. Can you imagine a teacher doing this today? That was the innocence of the time. |
I don’t know whatever happened to John. I do know I used my very best penmanship. Oh, that's another thing that's gone the way of the dodo, isn't it? So skills progress, or are replaced with more advanced skills, and over long and short whiles attitudes change too.
Remember the fallen
They had given their promising young lives in the quest for peace. When you think about it, we could all be living very differently if it wasn’t for the pure heroism of those soldiers who marched with a vision of a positive future, endured and died that we might enjoy our lives free from fear.
Of course part of it was the naive belief that things would change, and wars would never be visited upon us again. During WW1 and WW2 technology was primitive...there were no smart bombs raining down on helpless citizens, and guided by unseen computer geeks continents away. It was man against man stuff, and the women worked at home, building weaponry, keeping homes going, taking over the male family role.
Those who have to, seek change
Today there are many roaming millions with that same unrelenting goal...to find a new and better life where others had apparently built the recipe for success. It's one of the worst feelings...to know you are in danger in your own country, and to reach the point where you have to say goodbye to everything and everyone you've known. The sheer numbers, cultural divides and neediness of refugees makes for the extreme discomfort of every country as they struggle to find ways to accommodate them.
The truth is, wars are everywhere in the world today, on this day of remembrance. As we sadly and gratefully remember our brave young soldiers who were lost, countless millions of others have died all over the world since. ISIS and terrorism touch global lives on a daily basis.We are becoming numbed to the everyday hatred and pain inflicted… It's a changing world. But thankfully not on our doorstep.
Change can be painful
Now it's up to each person, no matter what their belief, to carry on responsibly by showing respect and kindness to those in their immediate circle, Hopefully, like ripples in a pond, the goodness will spread.
Vicki