War! What is it good for?….
Political commentary is not what I do (on these pages anyway), but sometimes you need to take note of what is happening in the wider world
There is currently an ongoing, on-the-ground conflict, involving two large european countries and thousands, if indeed, not tens of thousands, of soldiers on both sides..
This is not some “far away” South American Junta, or Asian despotate – although the idea that – even if it were (far away) -it would somehow matter less, is sadly misguided.
However Ukraine is a democratic European country, with cafes and shops and universities, homes and schools, police and newspapers and internet, with streets and cars and people that might easily be your town or my town. While none of that makes it more important than some distant struggle, such similarities, should at least make it easier to relate to.
They could be us.
If I lived in Ukraine, both I (58), and my eldest son(19), would be required as serving soldiers; a truly terrifying thought. And while I, as an oldie, might be relegated to some backwater guard duty – to release a better man for active service, it seems likely that Nathan would be off to the front in a shooting war. It is truly hard to comprehend that this is indeed a reality in this day for people who are our near neighbours.
I am not speaking against the conscription of citizens, that is another argument, after all it requires only one side to bring war. Terrified or not, I would serve to defend my home, and serve twice if it would spare my son(s).
Such appalled reflection leads (me) inevitably to consider not only those in this conflict who must live such a dreadful reality, but also to consider all those who have gone before and had to find the courage, willing or no, to face these issues.
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A short distance from my house, a bridge crosses the river Irvine, where on the fenced bank, beside a junction box at the start of an industrial estate, there are a few square feet of unclaimed, overgrown wasteland.
I do not walk past it every day, but certainly it lies (unmarked) on one of my regular walking routes (the movement is the medicine, I like to say).
On Sunday, last Sunday I passed it again;
Really, we don’t give enough thanks for our good fortune.
Next week on IaDL – At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we shall remember them.
Dalmallyfest the Asylum 