Remembrance Day

Having read and heard a wide diversity of views on war, peace, peacemaking, and state-sanctioned violence around Remembrance Day, I feel a need to respond so as not to fester.

Let those who hold to positions of pacifism, conscientious objection, etc. remember that the very freedom to hold and express such opinions is won and maintained for them by those who do not refuse to bear arms, and who pay a terrible psychological price for their involvement in conflict even if they escape physical damage. They, too, are victims of war, and it is entirely appropriate to call them “heroes”, as they freely choose to put themselves in harm’s way on behalf of all of us.

For a civilized nation, the impetus for war is not imperialism, but defence of human rights and fundamental freedoms. The quarrel is an ancient one, and the foe an ideologically-fuelled hatred that would impose totalitarian oppression on one people group after another, taking away each individual’s freedom to think and choose for him- or herself. Religious freedom would be among the “collateral damage.” Furthermore, if such oppression is not kept at bay in Afghanistan and elsewhere, it will most assuredly come to our own doorstep. In fact, for those with eyes to see, the war is already all around us, but it is, so far, being fought on a political, rather than military, level. Hatred takes myriad forms, but comes, ultimately, from one source. “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” Nor is it in error that the apostle Paul uses military metaphors: “Put on the full armour of God…for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Instead of engaging in petty denigration, let us boldly hold our government accountable (another hard-won freedom), and ensure that the wars our country fights are not squabbles over territory, resources, or culture, but a reluctant and well-considered defence of the (biblically-based, don’t forget) ideals of a free society.

Human nature being what it is, is anyone really, really a pacifist, through and through? I strongly doubt it. And it’s also clear that peace – the real thing, not some variety of ceasefire - can only take root when everyone gives up the desire for domination, which will happen only with the advent of the Prince of Peace. And even the One who bears that title “will rule them with an iron scepter…dash them to pieces like pottery.” And only then will they “beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.” May that day come soon. In the meantime, may we not fail to stand firm for what we know is right.

An evening off

Went to see La Traviata last night, presented by Vancouver Island Opera, for which I am the rehearsal pianist, on this side of the pond anyway. This company uses young (for the most part), emerging singers in the main roles and amateurs in the chorus. I loved it. Opera is one of few genres where even a lot of small flaws somehow fail to detract from the whole. Evelyn Thatcher, who has been the heroine in every full production we've done, was back as Violetta, and, as usual, blew the crowd away. She does some odd things with her vowels sometimes, but she has a voice like a floodlight and she ACTS. A micro-synopsis: Act I: Alfred, a young twit, falls like a ton of bricks for Violetta, a well-seasoned party girl. She thinks it through, decides he's the one she's been waiting for, and they go off to the country to mess around. Act II: A few months later Alfred's dad catches up with them, corners Violetta and lets her know that her kind is not welcome in a decent family like his and, in fact, his daughter's fiance will ditch her if V. sticks around. V. decides to do the noble thing and split. None of it really matters cuz she's dying of consumption anyway. So she takes off and heads to a party with another guy. Alfred, who doesn't know the whole story, gets some PO'd and follows her. He insults V. in front of everyone and her new BF challenges him to a duel. Act III: Okay, Violetta 's really dying now, but as is usual in these things, she takes an unconscionably long time to do it. After an aria from her deathbed she gets up and sings a couple more, during which she and Alfred are reunited and all is forgiven, following which she continues to totter around and sing at the top of her lungs until the very moment when she collapses, lifeless, into his arms. All most lugubriously satisfying. I may actually have had some damp eyelashes near the end. Amazing where you can go with a whacking dose of suspension-of-disbelief, willingly imbibed.