Peace

[Eamonn 61]

We are now faced with conflict in Iraq, we are all worried and concerned. The events in the Middle East will have an impact on all of us -including of course young people in our movement both now and for many years to come.

Opinion about the war has been divided about the war in Iraq.This means that there will be different opinions amongst the members of our organization, which will make the response to the situation in Iraq more difficult.

Many people, whilst hoping for peace, have said that there cannot be peace at any price,and sometimes it is right to go to war. Others say that, unlike in history when wars were fought on battlefields, keeping non combatants (especially children) out of it - now,90% of war victims are civilians, with women and children making up the majority. A war makes their position even more desperate.

As adult leaders, in Scouting we will want to think about how we will react to the situation and the concerns that might be expressed by our young people.

Many of these young people will have been exposed to media images that could be deeply upsetting, and the consequences of which are uncertain.

We may have young people in our units that have parents or loved ones involved in the war.

While many people think that this is a just war, there are clear implications for a youth organization.

We must protect our children from danger.

Maintain a balanced perspective.

Looking to the future, help to create a society where the causes of war such as the one in Iraq are eliminated. At the same time we should be loyal to our country and show solidarity with all those who seek justice and freedom.

Back in 1929 our founder Robert Baden-Powell, is quoted as saying:

" We should take care in inculcating patriotism into our boys and girls, that it is a patriotism above the narrow sentiments which usally stops at one's own country, and thus inspires jelousy and enmity in dealing with others. Our patriotism should be of the wider, nobler kind which recognises justice and the reasonableness in the claims of others which leads our country into comradship with... the other nations of the world.

 

The first step to this end is to develop peace and goodwill within our own borders, training our youth of both sexs to its practice as their habit of life; so that the jealousies of town against town, class against class and sect against sect no longer exist and then to extend this good feeling beyond our frontiers towards our neighbours...."

A Scout Prayer For Peace.

(link hands)

O God, we join with Scouts throughout the world to pray for peace.

Grant that through Scouting, we may come to understand each other better and learn to live in harmony.

Please pray for our troops, now in harms way, and let us also pray for the young people and children of Iraq.

(I have just noticed that this is in Uniforms, I don't know how to move it.

Oh Well ??)

(This message has been edited by Eamonn)