There's no glory in all the war misery of long ago

Am I being naive by presuming that in our schools, children should be taught that peace is the preferable option to war, and, moreover, what is the point of teaching that subject when some of the very people who are quite literally setting the agenda within our education system and within the British 'establishment' are the ones who stand to profit financially from the sale of weapons? Observation of the names of some of the sponsors of the Millennium Dome fiasco, and of events such as air shows, military tattoos etc, is sufficient to assess the ethical priorities of both Conservative and Labour governments in respect of 'that' question. One such recent event was advertised in a right-wing daily, in glorious colour, like some macabre circus, as 'A Thousand Years of Defending the Realm' (a title which is, incidentally, historically incorrect, and probably contravenes the Trade Descriptions Act!)

Military life and weaponry are touted in TV series and in recruitment campaigns as a glamorous turn-on, an alternative to unemployment or prison. Discipline, democracy, and respect for authority are shown as stemming ultimately from the barrel of a gun, or, if one is protesting against the wining and dining of a foreign dictator in London, from the point of a bayonet. A picture appeared in the paper some years ago of a little girl posing admiringly beside a cannon on display in the town centre. She had a look of delight on her face, as if to say "look, here's one daddy fired earlier". What an ugly sight, and how reminiscent of scenes from the war-torn 'third world'. The sight of weekend child-warriors, fag in mouth, swaggering around Bolton in military uniform, is equally ugly.

I have just travelled through the Somme Valley where a lady, in tears, pointed out to me the area where her father was killed. Less recently, I saw a gentleman overcome by the vivid memories evoked by an article he was reciting, which he had written on the subject of 'War'. In an attempt to comfort him, the words -- "we shall remember them" were spoken. Those poignant words are also used on public occasions by the establishment which, with the blessings, indeed the connivance of the Church, sheds crocodile tears while, in reality, acting as apologist for the warmongers and the arms dealers.

But 'Remembrance' is a pointless waste of mental capacity if we, more importantly, our children, subsequently never learn, or are prevented from doing so. Those women -- and men -- in our town halls who claim to champion the causes of peace and feminism, of equality and freedom of speech, should ask themselves why the work of women writers, and especially of war-poets such as Pauline Barrington, was suppressed. They will find the answer in the 'big lie', (still echoing around Cathedral and Parish-Church, classroom and town hall) in the 'white feather' campaign of World War One, and in the resultant rows of white crosses all over Europe.

Parents wishing their boys and girls to gain in self confidence, or perhaps benefit from the influence of extra discipline, (without all that military macho nonsense) would do well to enquire about the cadet schemes at their local fire station, run voluntarily by dedicated, well-qualified firefighters and members of the public, or about excellent organisations such as the Lads' and Girls' Club. There are few outdoor skills -- apart from learning to kill -- that, between them, those organisations cannot teach. Your readers may wish to ponder on the last verse of Pauline Barrington's poem called 'Education', which is directed at women waiting for their menfolk to return home from the trenches --

War is slipping, dripping death on earth.

If the child is father of the man,

Is the toy gun father of the Krupps?

For Christ's sake, think!

While you sew

Row after row.

William Kelly

(not the politician)

Darley Street

Farnworth