Remembering the innocent

Rajinder had just been pushed to the ground, falling sideways, he grazed his arm and leg. His skin stung from the scratches incurred against the sharp gravel he was thrust against. He staggered forward and with difficulty managed to pick himself up. On arising he looked up, he turned gazing first to his left and then to the right. All he could see around him was the shells of burning houses. As the flames angrily stretched into the air, they took with them dark swirling clouds of soot with random imbedded sparks. The person who pushed him was his neighbour, someone Rajinder had grown-up with and had considered a good friend. His neighbour was not alone, a group had formed surrounding him, independently, each took it in terms to declare accusingly, ‘They say you’ve killed our leader’, ’You’re responsible’. ‘We’ll kill another’. ‘It’s going to be you’. Rajinder clearly startled by the fall was now confused. Panicked by the accusers he yelled back, ‘What are you talking about’? With vengeance in the eyes, they collectively screamed back, ‘She’s dead and you lot are all going to pay for her death with your lives’…

Someone recently asked me what difference would it make to attend a liberty march or a protest against inhumane acts for example, whether it is to mark the anniversary of fighting for freedom or demand justice for those that have been ‘bound’, respectively. Both have a common thread. They remind us of the value of human life and the need to ensure that never again should anyone suffer at the hands of another. Unfortunately, since World War 2 wars haven’t stopped, many are still active and raging. Violence against the Sikhs has also continued and many known instigators of violence are free and without trial. Compensation to the victim’s families is missing. Nothing can bring back their lost souls but cases exist where souls are intentionally hidden, lost or unaccounted.

Oppressive regimes are still favoured, often for the purposes of developing trading relationships. Episodes, for example Tinemen Square in Beijing 15 years ago are often over looked and events in Tibet since the 1950s are sidelined.

Activities during 5th and 6th June 2004 - the D-Day anniversary in France parade and Never forget ‘84’ March in London teaches us many things. 60 years ago an allied force (Bayeux is home to France’s largest Commonwealth WW2 cemetery with 4,219 graves) of 156,000 united against tyranny and working together for the common good. Today in the year 2004 during an age when we should be talking about peace, instead we see the distorted advertisements from the British National Party. Incidentally, last weeks BNP European election London broadcast featured a person in a turban and no beard sympathising with the BNP!? Is there value in remembering any of the events of the past, apart from the cliché that ‘history teaches us not to repeat the mistakes of the past’? The answer must be a categoric and resounding ‘YES’. We can all make a difference to renounce evil – we need to do this on mass. We can work together to demand justice. We can all talk about peace but as long as we suggest ways of making it happen, for example, we can all demand more from our politicians to consider shared wealth over materialism. For everyone to understand the truth, we need clear, concise messages from a common unified central point – multilingual and penetrative in its communication and effective in the positive and ethical actions it suggests. From each other, we can all learn more about each other, so that we’re not open to being manipulated.

A march or remembrance day serves as a method to ensure that those that do believe evil way will not prevail.