As both
a Christian and a Socialist, I always have problems with the celebration of
militarism otherwise known as Poppy Day. Whether or not I would have had
sufficient strength of character to stand by my pacifist principles in extreme
circumstances is something that used to cause me considerable concern but,
there are also other issues involved.
Much
soul searching was involved, even when I had attempted to renounce my Xtian
faith and, subsequently joined a revolutionary socialist organization. Don't get
me wrong, I was already a socialist when I became a Christian, and failed to see
the apparent necessity of taking on the petty bourgeois pretensions &
morality that seemed to be the norm for evangelicals those days and saw
communism, in an idealistic sense, as being far more compatible with
Christianity than capitalism.
I moved
freely between and amongst various groupings of the left, dismayed by much of
the ideological bickering; I did manage however to retain friendships, in spite
of (doctrinal) difficulties with members of factional groupings other than the
one for which I settled.Too many of my comrades seemed to revel in the prospect
of a good rumble, one could almost sense them salivating at the prospect of a
bloody uprising. I consoled myself with the thought that bloodshed, like class
warfare, is generally instigated by the capitalist ruling class and therefore
resistance to their unjust power structures, which could only be maintained by
the use of force, became a moral imperative.
But
what of turning the other cheek; to be honest that may be the only option when
confronted with the combined might of military and police, should the true
wealth creators, the working class, attempt to fight for a truly just and
democratic society where real equality of opportunity for everyone in a society
focussed on care for one's neighbour. Bear in mind that I use neighbour in the
broadest sense, that of the parable of the good Samaritan not the cynicism of
"charity begins at home". To turn the other cheek is an expression of disdain
for the values of those who rule by force. I did decide,however, that if I was
able to shake off the shackles of my religious faith I would be happy to take up
arms in the cause of a workers revolution. At the same time I recognized that
there was no way I could take up arms for Queen and country, the capitalist
cause. A complex dilemma indeed; the message and life of Jesus had so firmly
grasped me that I still felt guilty at my readiness. albeit hypothetical, to
take up arms for a revolutionary cause.
I fully
appreciate the preparedness of young people, often from socially deprived areas
of the nation, to join the armed forces in order to learn a trade and earn a
living. Since the politically wilful destruction of our industrial base other
job opportunities are greatly restricted. Nor do I doubt that many military
personnel are serving in support of deeply held principles, whether
understandably honourable or misguided is here irrelevant. For me a major
scandal of the Poppy Appeal is that the welfare of those who have served their
nation, and it's capitalist cause, should be dependent in any way upon
charitable donations. It is the responsibility of the state that recruits,
employs and puts the lives of these young men at risk,for whatever ideological
motivation, to look after them.
I
regret the loss of life of civilians and military personnel equally; I abhor the
slaughter of innocents on the imperialist whim of any ruling elite. Should there
come a Remembrance Day with no uniformed military personnel or insignia on
display, at Cenotaphs and commemorative church services, I would no longer see
the commemorations as show of support for militarism but, rather an
acknowledgement of the futility of war.
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This post originally appeared on 10 November 2010
