by Mary Wakefield Buxton –
NAPLES, Fla. — Bad things happen all the time and even when you are out of town. People you love pass away, are diagnosed with serious diseases, injured in serious accidents and … are invaded by neighboring countries.
When a nation is invaded, all the world watches in horror. As Rudyard Kipling wrote in “Tommy Atkins” — “The guns begin to shoot.” Society breaks down fast, the law of the jungle replaces civilization and man reverts to his bestial self. It’s surprising how quickly this transformation takes place. And when you are away from home, somehow, almost inexplicably, maybe it’s because you are away from your dear old dog — bad news is worse when you are away from home.
Russia invading Ukraine this last week was exactly that kind of bad news. May the Ukrainians prevail.
It was a flashback for many to 1939 when the Germans overran Poland, people all over the world woke up in fear that year to the threat of Nazism. Soon after that, when Germany attacked France and Nazis were goose-stepping down the Champs-Elysees with the Arc de Triomphe in the background, the entire free world wept. There was something especially heartbreaking about seeing the fall of dear France.
Pearl Harbor, or the “Day of Infamy” as President Roosevelt called it, when Japan attacked Hawaii and brought America into World War II, was another heinous moment in history. There are so many of such times from the past…when “the guns begin to shoot.”
How one wishes that warfare would end, that tyrants that deny people the freedom they cry out for would magically disappear from the face of this earth and leave their poor neighbors in peace. But, in the 80 years of my life span that has not happened. Who knows when and if man can ever learn to live in peace with his neighbor?
TV coverage of Russian tanks moving into Ukraine last week reminds us once again how important it is to learn and remember history. It could be that Europe is on the brink of yet another war, as if her war-faring past was not quite enough, that we must now be treated to yet another desperate fight to the death for freedom from tyrannical government.
History, once suffered, must never be forgotten. For knowledge of the past is the only way we can hope to change behavior that leads to tragedy. The poet T.S. Eliot called certain events in his poetry “flashing fragments,” which when once experienced were never fully erased from one’s brain.
A new flashing fragment has now been added to our growing repertoire. Russian tanks moving into Ukraine. An order was given — every male in Ukraine between 16 and 60 must take up arms and defend the nation. Imagine that ever happening in America — that we could be called to take up arms and not only fight to defend the country but fight to save the lives of friends, neighbors and family.
T.S. Eliot wrote many flashing fragments during his lifetime, but nothing as dire as, “Every male between 16 and 60 must take up arms and defend the country.”
One good that may come out of this is the sorry event gives Americans an opportunity to reflect on these words and consider the true meaning of what fighting for life, liberty and country really mean. Some call us spoiled for the secure lives we lead. But one day we, too, may be thus called.
Needing a break from the TV war coverage, we drove to the “bird tower” at Ten Thousand Islands Marsh Trail 10 miles into the Everglades to view the birds arrive for their morning meal. The sight of flocks of so many different tropical birds coming in for their breakfast reenergized me, cheered me and gave me hope that all things will turn out well in the end.
All those feathers fluttering through the air, the amazing birdsong and that lovely splash when they landed in the lake were such treats to behold. They came by the hundreds: snowy and large white egrets, tri-colored and great blue herons, anhinga, teals, spoonbills, cormorants, coots, pelicans, ibises, wood storks…such a feast for the eye and just what I needed to get through the remains of the day.
Nature is refuge from the stress and misery of life. A simple walk in the great outdoors will help soften the sadness of sad world news.
(This the third in Mary Wakefield Buxton’s special “Florida Bound” series.)
© 2022.
