Wednesday 11 November 2009

11th hour, 11th day, 11th month




It's no wonder Australian soldiers were dancing in the streets of London.
The 11th November 1918 marked the end of the bloodiest war the world had seen, 'the war to end all wars'. Of the Australian population of 5 million, 300,000 young men went to the Great War. More than two thirds of soldiers were casualties of the war: 60,000 Australian soldiers died and 156,000 were wounded or taken prisoner.

What have we learnt from this 'war to end all wars'?

Not enough to bring peace among nations.

Wars and conflicts continue to create new graves with the same echoes of unrealized hope.

There is a Chris de Burgh song called "The Getaway" and these words which are part of the lyrics are so pertinent to my beliefs.

"We're sick and tired of hearing,
That the world is gonna blow,
So there's something we'll
do to the leaders
Before we go;

Let's stick'em in a room
together - Yeah!! -
And make them fight it out,
Until they see nothing from nothing
Will leave nothing at all"


I feel we will not end conflict until we have learned to cultivate peace in our own minds.

"I dream of giving birth to a child who will ask, "Mother, what was war?"
~ Eve Merriam



This is a photo from NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day 11th November 2009



"Today, in celebration of Galileo's telescopic achievements and as part of the International Year of Astronomy, NASA has used its entire fleet of Great Observatories, and the Internet, to bring the center of our Galaxy to you. Pictured above, in greater detail and in more colors than ever seen before, are the combined images of the Hubble Space Telescope in optical light, the Spitzer Space Telescope in infrared light, and the Chandra X-ray Observatory in X-ray light. A menagerie of vast stars fields are visible, along with dense star clusters, long filaments of gas and dust, expanding supernova remnants, and the energetic surroundings of what likely is our Galaxy's central black hole".

What an absolutely AWESOME picture!!!

34 comments:

Frequent Traveler said...

Ah Peggy - you are so wise. It is very true, a fact more meaningful than any other, that the cultivation and practice of peace and loving - both inside ourselves and then towards others, is what would lead to a world where all would be safe and full of radiant possibilities, a world we would know as heaven on earth.
It is within each of us to gradually cultivate and emphasize it.
If only everyone knew how much of a difference it would make compared to dissention, destruction and war...

McMGrad89 said...

11:11 I'll be thinking of you on 11/11. My students are fascinated by the this date. They are looking forward to this date in the year 2011. They understand the impact of war more than I will ever really know.

TheChicGeek said...

Beautiful words and video and quotes, Peggy. I love how you titled this. War is such a tragedy and I, too, wish that we could just stop the madness.
Thank you for this heartwarming and thoughtful tribute. Our soldiers deserve our love and respect and thanks for their great sacrifice.
Love to You, Peggy!
Kelly
xxO :)))

TheChicGeek said...

PS: I love the colors and new look of your page too :) So pretty!
Hugs :)

Caroline said...

Wow...didn't even think that tomorrow is 11/11. This will be a day of gratitude for me. I know you also see 11:11 often. A perfect day to be mindful.

Blessings to you my friend!

miruspeg said...

Annie - I am so grateful that age has granted me a little wisdom as it has you. I now believe one person can make a difference.

I began to think, how can I make a difference in my lifetime? When I look within my heart, I always come up with the same answer. Help others. Get outside of myself and my problems and help others. Each day I ask how can I make someone's life a little easier?
I visit my 97 year old Aunty, walk the neighbour's dog, give someone a ride, hold doors open for strangers, donate to charity, massage the cat, or leave inspirational cards in the park across the road.
Visiting a lonely person or listening without interruption and judgment goes a long way, too, and it's free.

Thankyou for your thoughtful comment....I know we are walking the same path. :)

miruspeg said...

Annemarie - Yes I know you know how important the 11:11 phenomenon is for me. :)
And how wonderful that your students are fascinated by this date as well.
I can only image what 11/11/11 will be like. I read somewhere that it will be a shift of I-llness to We-llness :)

miruspeg said...

Kelly - Oh the madness of all wars.
The citizens of the world should unite and say this is not my war.
I refuse this war, any war.
I refuse to be at war, anywhere, anytime.
I refuse the wreckage, the anguish, the waiting.
I refuse the hate, the language of hate, the mindless chirping.
I refuse our leaders who lead us astray.
I refuse to be quiet. I refuse to go back inside.
I refuse to look away.
I refuse to let this be someone else's problem.
I refuse the arguments, persuasions, taped conversations, grainy photographs, speeches.
I refuse to be part of the madness, the rush, the massacre.
I refuse!!!!

On a brigher note thankyou for your generous remarks about my blog. :D

Love and light is always wished for you Kelly. :)

miruspeg said...

Caroline - Yes a day of gratitude and mindfulness as I wish everyday was.
I think it is really all about PAYING ATTENTION to the "small stuff", and seeing the beauty, wonder and goodness available to us in each moment.

Also mindfulness and gratitude help us to ensure that we are saying things that will elevate us to higher planes of existence and fill our hearts with the boundless bliss that is our True Nature.

And double blessings back to you Caroline. :)

John Atkinson said...

The picture makes me humble. Well said. Thank you.

miruspeg said...

Thanks John, I feel the same way.
Humble is definitely the word to describe this picture. :)

Christine said...

we paused for 2 minutes at 11am at the gym today in the middle of exercise class...it was a moving moment.

I love those galaxy images, I have one pinned up in my kitchen right now.

miruspeg said...

Christine - Anniversaries cause us to instinctively pause and reflect, just as our leg jolts forward after a well-positioned tap on the knee. In honour of our veterans — to whom we owe a debt we can never repay — the least we can do on this Remembrance's Day is look back at the decisions made that sent our troops into battle, and the roles we played in those decisions. Perhaps upon reflection, our reaction may change.

And what a great idea to have a galaxy picture in your kitchen! I may just nab your idea!

Take care always.
Hugs
Peggy xxx

Mary said...

Hi Peggy,
You write a very uplifting blog. I'm a near neighbour of yours (relatively speaking). At eleven am yesterday I was swimming at Warringah pool. I was aware that a couple of announcements had been made prior, but was oblivious as to what they were about. The upshot was a couple of minutes treading water as the last post sounded.

Best wishes to you.
Mary

miruspeg said...

Hello Mary
Do we know each other or did you just happen to be passing by?
Thanks for your generous comment about my blog....much appreciated.
I am pleased to hear Warringah pool management paused for 2 minutes and played the last post.
I was looking after a 3 year old at 11:11 and talked to him about the brave soldiers that protect our freedom and to remember them in our prayers.
:)
Peggy

Debra said...

Peggy, you are such an amazing soul. And the world is definitely a better place because you are in it.

Thank you for always reminding us about what is important. You are a very unique soul and I am so grateful for you.

Hugs and love,
Debbie

miruspeg said...

Debbie, my lovely Debbie, such beautiful words you bestow upon me.
I feel so blessed to have a wonderful connection with so many bloggers and I hold a very special place for YOU in my heart. :)

We are all unique! We all have gifts to share with the world.

We have so much to celebrate!! There is a permanent party rocking the Universe! We are all standing on one giant revolving dance floor and we should get out there and do our thing and do it well!

Dance the dance of life, and let our own unique and beautiful rhythm flow.

Big, big hugs back to you my friend. :)

Life Potentials Network said...

This is such a profound post I have nothing to add. But I take you hand and raise our hands together in peace.
Bless you.

miruspeg said...

My dear Diantha I would happily join hands and walk together for peace.
We can raise our hands to the sky, close our eyes and let our imaginations fly.....no war, no violence, just peace and silence.
Bless you too dear friend.
Love and hugs and light be with you always. :)

Mike Smith said...

Lest we forget.

Roban said...

I think you bring light and love to so many people, Peggy. Your posts are thought-provoking and make us open our eyes a little wider.... Yes, if only that could have been the war to end all wars. Sadly, too many humans fail to learn lessons from the past and insist on repeating those things that bring doom and destruction to others. I think so much of it boils down to tolerance and greed.

Here, on November 11, we celebrate Veterans Day. Our school hosted a beautiful program where students sang, the band played patriotic selections, and three students read essays in tribute to our veterans. I sat there trying to keep the tears at bay. (Actually had to picture some of Maggie's silliness to keep from becoming a spectacle myself!)

Love to you and the light you shine!

Roban

miruspeg said...

Mike - I always think what would Australia be like if these bloody brave men had not defended it with so much passion. LEST WE FORGET!

The Ode:
"They shall grow not old,
As we that are left grow old,
Age shall not weary them,
Nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun,
And in the morning
We will remember them".

The Ode came from 'For the Fallen', a poem by the English poet and writer Laurence Binyon.

miruspeg said...

Hello my buddy Roban
I feel this day should bring tears to our eyes. Their joy, sorrow, their loves, fears and dreams are unique and will never arise again in this world.

The leaders put us into these wars. What enemy are we fighting....men and women who want to lead a life and raise their children just like we do. War today is not for honour to the leaders its for the riches war brings.
Both sides brings the same death to the best of the young people, and other men, women and babies are suffering and dying too. We have to learn to say NO. We have no enemies with the people only the leaders.

Take care my friend.
Love you.
Peggy xxxx

Mary said...

Hi Peggy,
No, you don't know me. I just happened upon this blog.I'm a fairly recent arrival to Sydney.Although we lived here twenty years ago we have been living in Cambridge, UK, for the last ten years. It's good to see the sun again.

Unknown said...

war sucks

miruspeg said...

Hello again Mary
Will you be starting a blog soon?
If you do please let me know.
Love to read some stories about your 10 years in Cambridge, UK. :)

miruspeg said...

Hi Shannon
Very succinctly put!

Thing is I believe, ‘war sucks’ isn’t directly a pacifist statement. Root canal operations suck, but most people dutifully submit to their dentist’s not-so-tender mercies regardless.
Something else needs to be added to the mix to turn ‘war sucks’ into an argument against war’s very existence: the belief that things that suck should be avoided at all costs, perhaps (in which case, no root canal operation), or the belief that there is a line of suckiness which must not be crossed — and that war crosses it.

Nina said...

When we can look into our neighbors eyes and see ourselves, we will find Peace.
When we can open our hearts to our brothers and sisters of the earth, we will find Peace.
When we can celebrate our differences and see the similarities, we will find Peace.
When we can comfort the stranger within ourselves, we will find Peace.
When we can chase away irrational fears, we will find Peace.
When we can see the beauty in all things, we will find Peace.
When we can focus on that which is greater than us, we will find Peace.
When we can see the beauty of the universe, we will find Peace
When we can see we are the home of the Devine, we will find Peace.
When we can be Compassion and Love, we will find Peace.
May we each be an instrument in Finding Peace. One heart, one voice, in the wilderness can be heard across a nation, across a world..... Act, Listen and be the Peace... You, my friend are a wonderful catalyst of Peace and Understanding. Your voice is heard and will be joined by many... Let there be Peace and let it begin with me. (a song we used to sing in church camp... maybe we need to sing it again, loud and clear for all to hear.) Love and Light. Nina P

Anonymous said...

I thought you might post on the 11.11

I am not sexist but I do sometimes wonder if war is a male idea. But then, why do mothers allow their sons to go to war?

I like Nerina Pallot's lyrics:

Everybody's going to war,
But we don't know what we're fighting for,
Don't tell me it's a worthy cause,
No cause could be so worthy.

If love is a drug, I guess we're all sober,
If hope is a song, I guess it's all over,
How to have faith, when faith is a crime?
I don't want to die...

miruspeg said...

Nina - A perfect peom for this post...."Act, listen and be the peace".
There is a song we sing in Australia with these words:
"We are one, but we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come
We share a dream and sing with one voice".

I want to shout these words below you wrote from the highest mountain:
"When we can celebrate our differences and see the similarities, we will find Peace".

I am always hopeful that peace will come to every place on earth one day....it is not an impossible dream!

Keep smiling...keep shining dear Nina. :)

miruspeg said...

Stoneweaver - I wonder what gave you the idea I would post on 11:11...LOL.

Good question, 'why do mothers allow their sons to go to war".
All Mothers will have to start teaching their children from an early age to refuse to go to war, then the leaders would have to fight it out amongst themselves and I bet they would not enjoy that!!

I haven't heard of Nerina Pallot's or that song but the lyrics are very poiyant to this post.

Hope your word 'Calm' for November is still with you.
Big hugs, love and light beaming your way. :)

Mary said...

I don't have a blog and have no plans to start one. With no false modesty, I have to say that my life is too boring...and I don't really have any burning issues that could warrant regular blogging. I responded to your blog because you seem so kind and positive, and also, it seems rude to lurk and never introduce myself. I saw your photographs of Cambridge and knew exactly where you were..it really is a small world. Cheers.

miruspeg said...

Mary - That's a shame that you think your life is too boring for blogging.
Blogging is not writing about burning issues. It is a community where people interact with each other, support each other, laugh and cry with each other.
Please reconsider starting a blog, you will be surprised how much you learn from the comments people write on each others blogs.

In the meantime take care.
Cheers
Peggy xxxx

Mary said...

Okay, I'll think about it...and thanks.