Time is a bad keeper of human experience. Generations tend to forget the knowledge of what their grandfathers learned and tried to pass to their children and grandchildren. The meaning of the expression "Lessons of History" has been lost somewhere by modern selfish society. It is easy to forget the price of Peace, if you never rendered dues to the War.
There are only so few left of those who fought for peace back in May 1945. Those are the few who hold the only knowledge we’d like not to learn by personal experience. What would they say to us about war, if we'd ask them? I think, they will say nothing...I think, instead they’d shed a tear in response. For all their friends for whom the lesson happened to be the last one in their life. For their own fears and horror of the living hell they've been through. And for the peace that they gained for future generations which has become so fragile.
Today is the Day of Victory in the Second World War. I believe it is important to remember those who made the peace possible for so many years after 1945. Every time I think of them I whisper silent Thank You again and again, though it will never be enough to express my gratitude. Keeping memories of them is the least we can do...
It's not for us to calmly rot in graves.
We'll lie stretched out in our half-open coffins
And hear before the dawn the cannon coughing,
The regimental bugle calling gruffly
From highways which we trod, our land to save.
We know by heart all rules and regulations.
What's death to us? A thing that we despise.
Lined up in graves, our dead detachment lies
Awaiting orders. And let generations
To come, when talking of the dead, be wise;
Dead men have ears and eyes for truth and lies.
[~Nikolai Mayorov, died in action in February 1942. Translated by Dorian Rottenberg ]
Isn't it ironic, that last year when it was 60-th anniversary of the Victory, and the World leaders paid respects, the media coverage was enough to divert ppl's attention to this historical event. at least, to make them think once more about the meaning of peace. I'm searching in vain for any news this year...and ashamed how fast we become forgetful. Makes me feel sad and even somewhat hurt for those who don't deserve to be forgotten...
There are only so few left of those who fought for peace back in May 1945. Those are the few who hold the only knowledge we’d like not to learn by personal experience. What would they say to us about war, if we'd ask them? I think, they will say nothing...I think, instead they’d shed a tear in response. For all their friends for whom the lesson happened to be the last one in their life. For their own fears and horror of the living hell they've been through. And for the peace that they gained for future generations which has become so fragile.
Today is the Day of Victory in the Second World War. I believe it is important to remember those who made the peace possible for so many years after 1945. Every time I think of them I whisper silent Thank You again and again, though it will never be enough to express my gratitude. Keeping memories of them is the least we can do...
It's not for us to calmly rot in graves.
We'll lie stretched out in our half-open coffins
And hear before the dawn the cannon coughing,
The regimental bugle calling gruffly
From highways which we trod, our land to save.
We know by heart all rules and regulations.
What's death to us? A thing that we despise.
Lined up in graves, our dead detachment lies
Awaiting orders. And let generations
To come, when talking of the dead, be wise;
Dead men have ears and eyes for truth and lies.
[~Nikolai Mayorov, died in action in February 1942. Translated by Dorian Rottenberg ]
Isn't it ironic, that last year when it was 60-th anniversary of the Victory, and the World leaders paid respects, the media coverage was enough to divert ppl's attention to this historical event. at least, to make them think once more about the meaning of peace. I'm searching in vain for any news this year...and ashamed how fast we become forgetful. Makes me feel sad and even somewhat hurt for those who don't deserve to be forgotten...