My dear dear friend, Anise has this noble thought when she sent me and others the following thoughts in email. i am sharing with you all who chance to visit here. i have added my thoughts after the end of the poem.Dear Ones,
One thing I believe Canada has got on the United States (among others things including Thanksgiving in October), is a thoughtful and respectful observance of what Canadians call "Remembrance Day." It takes place every year on the 11th day of 11th month. It is the day I miss home the most.
On that day most people wear poppies as a sign of remembering those who have been victims of war. I recall very often having Remembrance Day poetry, art, and research projects assigned weeks in advance in school. I remember every year the entire school walking down to the town Cenotaph (an empty grave at the center of town) where we witness the laying of wreaths, among other ceremonial activities, reading of letters, creeds, scripture, and music.
What I remember most nostalgically is the period of silence taken. At 11am everyone, in schools, business, government, would stop and be silent for 2 minutes to remember those lost in war. Very young I remember being quite struck by the power of knowing that across the country, we were silent together at the 11th hour, on the 11th day of the 11th month.
The silence was always broken by the poem written by a Canadian doctor during WW1. (included below)
As I attempt to integrate my spiritual practice in all parts of my life, tomorrow at 11am I will say a prayer, keep silence, and read the poem. I am encouraging you all to do so in whatever manner you find most expressive of your unique self. Set your watches, your cell phones, pdas, computer, your internal clock for 11am, to remember. Remember those died, and especially those who continue to die in the name of war. In your remembrance you will honor them. In your remembrance you yourself will be changed, and then in your remembrance, peace is made just a little more possible. Peace be with you all
love,On that day most people wear poppies as a sign of remembering those who have been victims of war. I recall very often having Remembrance Day poetry, art, and research projects assigned weeks in advance in school. I remember every year the entire school walking down to the town Cenotaph (an empty grave at the center of town) where we witness the laying of wreaths, among other ceremonial activities, reading of letters, creeds, scripture, and music.
What I remember most nostalgically is the period of silence taken. At 11am everyone, in schools, business, government, would stop and be silent for 2 minutes to remember those lost in war. Very young I remember being quite struck by the power of knowing that across the country, we were silent together at the 11th hour, on the 11th day of the 11th month.
The silence was always broken by the poem written by a Canadian doctor during WW1. (included below)
As I attempt to integrate my spiritual practice in all parts of my life, tomorrow at 11am I will say a prayer, keep silence, and read the poem. I am encouraging you all to do so in whatever manner you find most expressive of your unique self. Set your watches, your cell phones, pdas, computer, your internal clock for 11am, to remember. Remember those died, and especially those who continue to die in the name of war. In your remembrance you will honor them. In your remembrance you yourself will be changed, and then in your remembrance, peace is made just a little more possible. Peace be with you all
Anise
Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps who in May 1915 when after watching the death of a close friend in Belgium wrote the following poem:
In Flanders Field
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep,
though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep,
though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
--------------------------------------------------
Let the wars stop. Let all wars from Latin America, to Africa to Asia to all lands stop. Let us remember the fact that we dont own this earth and this is NOT an object of material pleasure so that we may rape it as much as we like. Remember the great Native American saying,"We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children."
Let us remember that this is a sacred place in the entire Cosmos and let us reflect and remember the sacredness of EVERY HUMAN LIFE that descend on this planet from realm of Unknown.
May our remembrance for all the people who lost their lives in war bring more of this sacred consciousness so that we and our next generations can live in harmony and peace. Know that human thoughts are extremely powerful and from collective thoughts and consciousness, greater changes can be made possible.
Let us remember that this is a sacred place in the entire Cosmos and let us reflect and remember the sacredness of EVERY HUMAN LIFE that descend on this planet from realm of Unknown.
May our remembrance for all the people who lost their lives in war bring more of this sacred consciousness so that we and our next generations can live in harmony and peace. Know that human thoughts are extremely powerful and from collective thoughts and consciousness, greater changes can be made possible.
RemebranceDay Remembrance Canada War Veteran Flanders Field AntiWar
COMMENTS