lest we forget

90 years since armistice day, 70 years since kristallnacht - and we're still fighting people who 'aren't like us'. one thing i am hoping to get from the 44th president of the united states is a realisation that bombing people into the stone age doesn't make them compliant, it makes them want revenge, but talking to them might help. even thatcher realised that to deal with the ira you had to talk and negotiate.

i don't agree with the wars we're fighting, but i support our troops out there - i don't think they should be putting their lives on the line because a few politicians got over-excited, but while they are i will remember and respect what they do.

i suppose i am lucky in that i have no-one in my family directly affected by war - one grandfather was in the hussars for a time, then recalled as he was a miner and it was a reserved occupation; the other a farmer, also reserved, though he was in the home guard. i have no siblings, and no cousins have joined up; though i knew plenty of raf brats growing up (we live a stone's throw from a raf base) only one that i know of, who i lost touch with when they were reposted, joined up. no medals for me to take care of, no names to trace, no heroes to be proud of.

just lots of people who died almost a century ago so that i could be here; lots of people i have never met and will never meet fighting and peacekeeping and dying thousands of miles away in an effort to ensure i never have to fight here. thanks doesn't seem enough.

They shall not grow old as we who are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

EDIT: back in action after going awol from blip, and far more deserving of views and comments today than i am: airborne skygod