THERE are some of your readers, for whom the continuing 100 year anniversary of that vile and unnecessary conflict of the First World War, is reason enough for a civilized people to think seriously about the futility of armed conflict and the murder of strangers as a legitimate behaviour to solve political ambitions and generate corporate profit.

It might also have been an opportunity for the political, social and religious institutions of our 21st century civilisation, to put peace building and conflict resolution at the forefront of our national policies.

However, the political parties and entrenched establishment institutions which dominate our national and local governance continue to fail to uphold the morality and beliefs they notionally espouse.

The UK has undergone a seismic shift in political direction.

It has voted to withdraw from an international organisation whose foundations were set on the elimination of conflict between countries and peoples that, on or off, had warred amongst themselves for over two thousand years.

We have set ourselves on a path of increasing confrontation and intolerance against our neighbours and those fleeing from death and destitution.

Shortly, the nation will absorb itself into its annual remembrance season with its often militaristic manner of celebration around the war memorials that feature in all our villages, towns and cities.

Though they were originally erected to celebrate ‘The Peace’, that is the one word that is consistently absent from remembrance ceremonies as is the universal cry that came with the ending of the conflict, of ‘No More War’.

If any of your readers wish to help in a small way towards a creating a culture of Peace, they could wear a White Poppy along with their red one and help generate a greater desire for the end of all wars.

White Poppies are available from the Peace Pledge Union (ppu.org.uk).

Readers are also invited and would be very welcome to join the White Poppy ceremony to lay a wreath in King Square, Bridgwater, at 6.30pm on Saturday, November 11.

CHARLES GRAHAM
Bridgwater