No, this isn't a dumping ground for one of the Nazi concentration camps, Soviet Gulags, or Cambodian Re-education camps. This is the number of UK and Commonwealth soldiers still listed as "Missing" in the Ypres Salient from WWI.
This goes along w/ the phenomenon known as the Iron Harvest where shells, cartridges, barbed-wire, tools, firearms, and all sorts of other materials from the "War to End all Wars" are unearthed each year in France and Belgium to this very day.
This quote sums up my feelings on it:
"I honestly believe politicians ought to be brought to places like these to see what happens when wars are fought. We need history. It helps shape the future."
2 comments:
Here in Belgium, it's in the curriculum to visit Ypres in 12th grade (not sure if this is the correct way to say this, I mean the grade for 17 year olds).
The museum, the preserved trenches of hill 62, the "pond of peace", and the graveyards ... the endless graveyards.
A lot of British students come over to see all of that too, to watch a "last post" ceremony ...
I think that's a good thing.
"We need history?"
But, but, but, people familar with history might want to own a firearm!!!
Wouldn't it be better to say "We need to re-write history to fit our political agenda."
Everything else can be sent down the memory hole.
Post a Comment