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Remembering;
re-entering into the memory; remembrance
You could
perhaps say that its acknowledging the past, of reliving it, sometimes very
painfully:
A Battle of War;
A tragedy at Hillsborough;
A sporting event attacked;
A controversial politician
All cultures tell and retell stories
of former days, of peoples gone away.
Christians
remember that Christ will come again in Holy Communion. Jews relive the events
of their peoples history, even secular Jews who dont speak a word of Hebrew.
Muslims, Hindus, Atheists
it seems to be an innate human feature to remember
the past and in some way or shape celebrate it.
It is also a very human thing to
just as quickly to forget (even if we dont forgive)! So then whats the use of
remembrance? What's the point?
Remembrance has a very peculiar way
of linking past and present; but only if we let it be a two-way street! Else
remembrance can become just another way of stirring up emotions very often of
resentment, of bitterness, of regret.
As I mentioned just now, for
Christians the ceremony and liturgy that is Holy Communion is a very tangible
way and example of linking past-present-future. So if we could remember, hold
remembrance in thàt sense, that active triple link, it becomes not a thing
only of historical dates, taptoos or pageants, but also of future
possibilities. That way remembering even of past conflicts can then start to
mean reconciliation, and remembrance is no longer just a thing from the past,
its an action in the present.
In that way,
perhaps, slowly, carefully, even grudginly
wounds can start to heal, conflicts resolved:
The enemy of 70 years ago might no
longer be on the frontline;
The loss of so many lives in
unnameable and useless tragedy can start to heal;
The fear of terror might be replaced
by the comfort, joy and peace of life again;
And that controversial politician
might just be laid to rest
17-04-2013, 20:07 geschreven door jojanv 
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