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From the first week of November, one of the moving things the world witnesses are the groups of retired military veterans selling the famous Poppy Flowers. Today we celebrate their altruism, courage, sacrifice and unwavering dedication to protecting our freedoms. Remembrance Day serves as a powerful reminder of the many sacrifices made by those in the Armed Forces. Military life and service has its special challenges. It’s a chance for us to express our gratitude to brave veterans who have fought for our rights and liberties. Each one of them has a story: stories of courage, resilience and the struggle to uphold the values we cherish. The soldier’s blood and death, must never be wasted by unwanted wars.
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Today media narratives impact every sphere of human life. There will be TV documentaries that talk about past wars, showing different versions of victory and defeat. Across the world, as shown on news media, we can observe world leaders wearing the red poppy flower and looking very solemn during military parades. Many use these moments to show they are true patriots of their countries. Majority of these world leaders don’t have military service experience. Some don’t even have the wisdom to understand complex military strategies and the regional impact of war. Yet weeks later from the Remembrance Day parades-these same leaders who cheered for disabled veterans, would try to begin new wars. They will use their “executive power” to mobilize troops. Some will use war to boost their failing political status.
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Apparently their excuse is that diplomacy failed and they are fighting to protect National Security. It is terribly strange that these powerful and selfish leaders don’t ever realize the human cost of war. Let us also realize that “arms suppliers” wait earnestly like vulture for new wars, to engage in their business- sometimes selling to both sides! Have we ever heard of large scale arms companies supporting any peace initiatives around the world? World leaders can boast they won wars and stopped wars. After the guns fall silent, it does not mean peace blossoms at once. The emotional and psychological trauma of war, will last for decades. It continues to impact soldiers and civilians. Many veterans grapple with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which can significantly impact their mental health, relationships, and ability to maintain employment. They need care and support. Their minds need healing. Globally government agencies must increase efforts to reach out to military veterans- providing them with resources, counseling, and access to healthcare. Around our world communities remain fragmented. Globally the road to reconciliation and restoration is a difficult road, filled with challenges.
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The small red paper flower is extremely popular in Europe, USA and the United Kingdom. The poppy flower symbolizes the blood and sacrifice of the millions of soldiers who were killed in direct combat. These deadly wars include World War 1, World War 2, Korean War, Vietnam War and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Sri Lanka has faced its own armed conflict that lasted for three decades, which claimed thousands of lives. Today we have wars in the global theatre again. These include the war between Palestine and Israel, Ukraine and Russia and the war that has been fought by Israel and America against Iran and its proxy militant groups. This war has destabilized the entire Middle-East region. In defence studies at the command and staff level, sometimes war is justified as an extension of diplomacy!
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Even as I write this I am reminded of the wise words of British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill. At the conclusion of the Second World War, there were millions of dead soldiers and civilians. The Allied Forces and the Nazi Army suffered terrible losses. Having being involved in most of the Allied Forces war decisions from Dunkirk to Pearl Harbour, Winston Churchill prudently said” We are all losers in war”. We may not fully comprehend the total context of his statement. However we can assume he was saying that war does not always yield the desired outcomes. One of these outcomes is peace. The world has needed peace for many centuries. Indeed terrorism in any form must be defeated by the military. Today the institution mandated to secure and sustain world peace- the United Nations, has failed in its obligations to sustain peace.
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