Today, no matter who or where you are in the world should be a day of peace and reflection. I am going to be serious in this post, because I want to mirror the effect of war upon society.
It was on this day 93 years ago that the armistice was signed between Britain and Germany for the most part, to cease fighting. Rightfully enough, who would remember it in our lifetime? We young people are regarded as unwise, where the nature of such a great war is concerned. Even someone like me who has studied the First World War to an extent cannot possibly imagine how the soldiers must have felt. They fought for the greater good; peace of nations, freedom, equality and happiness. This patriotic sacrafice leads me to remember in my one-minute silence, their troubles, their lives, their personality, and everything that made them unique.
Seven days ago also marked the death day of one particular soldier; Wilfred Owen. He taught English before the War, and wrote poetry which I enjoy, during his time in the trenches. Notable works include Dulce et Decorum Est; The Sentry and Futility. They are all brilliant poems which opened my eyes to the war genre of writing. As he is one of my inspirations, I have also remembered his death today. He was so close to the end of the War.
And to that, the War itself. Let me just say this, because it’s true. Most things around you today are ramifications of the First World War. No, even the Second World War doesn’t come close to the terrific shock that people got from 1914 – 1918. The way I see it, people in the Second World War had some idea of what such a big war would be like thanks to the First. But there hadn’t been a great war like the First, for at least 100 years prior to it. The British government had expected it to be over by the nearest Christmas. However it was three and a half years.
Thoughts, thoughts, thoughts. Have a think, have remembrance, have respect.
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