Drop a small stone
Dorothy Carson writes about VJ Day and a dialogue with Tudor Griffiths, rector and area dean of Cheltenham
In mid-July we were notified through ‘Churches in Cheltenham’ of a civic service to be held on 15 August at the St Mary’s Minster marking ‘Victory over Japan’, which would begin with a celebratory peal rung from the Minster bells. I struggled with this, and how to respond, for some time. I raised my concern at our worship sharing the following fourth Sunday, and, receiving much encouragement, wrote to Tudor Griffiths, the rector and area dean of Cheltenham:
We were dismayed to read your email 16 July in which you talk about “celebrating” VJ day. We appreciate that many soldiers had suffered cruelly at the hands of the Japanese during the war, and that the end of world war two was at the time a cause of celebration for many. However, with hindsight, should we not also consider the cost to the Japanese people of dropping two atomic bombs? Is it really appropriate to “celebrate” such loss of life and destruction by a peal of bells? Surely, instead, we should be praying for peace and nuclear disarmament? I hope you may reconsider your plans for commemorating VJ Day.
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