Today is November 5th, the day when we remember the Gunpowder Plot; in 1605 Guy Fawkes, on behalf of English Catholics tried to blow up the House of Lords and assassinate James I, the protestant king of England. Many will ‘remember, remember, the 5th of November’ tonight with bonfires and fireworks.
Last week was Halloween and All Saints Day when we remember departed souls; many families had fun, people of faith remembered their religious heritage. Next week we shall celebrate Remembrance Day with poppies, memorial services and the British Legion’s Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall.
Three dates – 31st October, 5th November, 11th November where each year we remember life and death, politics and religion, war and peace, and causes that people have died for.
Four musings…
Remembering: It is good to remember our history, where we’ve come from. Stories from our past give us lessons to learn, examples to follow and mistakes to avoid. We remember those who pursue power and violence for their own ends; we remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the good of mankind.
Rejoicing: In each of these there is an element of celebration. Violence, war and death have always been sources of entertainment – from Roman gladiators and jousting knights, through to war films, fireworks, Halloween costumes and WrestleMania… The boundary between violence and celebration isn’t always clear.
Retaining: Halloween, Guy Fawkes and Remembrance Day each remind us that we should not take peace, security and stability for granted. Those of us in such a privileged position should work to maintain and retain the freedom and peace that we enjoy in our nations, communities and churches.
Reflecting: It’s always easy to blame politicians, religious leaders, those in positions of power when things are wrong, when there’s intolerance, violence, war, avoidable death… It’s a message for me; I must do my bit remembering my past, rejoicing and celebrating good things, retaining peace in my world… ‘Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me…’
malcolmsmusings.org 
I know the Corbyns are known as the Barmy Brothers. But Jeremy’s insistence about wearing a white poppy instead of a red one made me want to investigate.
Over six times more English servicemen and women died as compared to civilian deaths.
And, does the fact that the servicemen and women had to leave their homes and the people they loved make their case more deserving? But then, I suppose, they weren’t always willingly or happily.
I have to say that the recent films we have seen that have shown a much more realistic picture of war, Atonement, 1917, Dunkirk and many more, has made me perhaps a wee bit red poppy biased. And my own father’s experience of being a POW for nearly two years, escaping and then living as an Italian for a further eighteen months also has a similar effect.
However, I wish there had been both on sale on Friday when we bought our Red Poppy badges. If I do see someone selling white poppies I will happily buy one now.
Without wishing to be contentious in any way I do sometimes smile (if that’s the right word) at how many references to the Old Testament are of a God of Love and Peace”. You don’t get many mentions of God’s encouragement for genocide “Now go and smite Amalek, and spare them not but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling ox and sheep”.
But withal, in the words of John Lennon “Love and Peace”, eventually, but not in our time.
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You’re right Alan, that it’s a longer argument than I’ve written. I’ve just raised it as a point for thinking on. Thanks for your contribution to the discussion.
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