Meeting for Sufferings: National Memorial Arboretum proposal
A proposed 'memorial to the innocent victims of war'
Friends from Southern Marches Area Meeting have proposed, in an Area Meeting minute brought to Meeting for Sufferings, that a ‘memorial to the innocent victims of war’ be created at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.
Julian Rutherford spoke to Sufferings about the proposal and stressed that Friends in Southern Marches were seeking national approval to move the project forward. He acknowledged that the term ‘innocent victims of war’ was ‘not perfect’ but explained that it did have a broad resonance with the public and, for the moment, would be used as a working title. He said: ‘Possibly as never before are people aware of how people can be engulfed by the atrocity of war.’
He explained that it was ‘clearly not just a matter for Quakers’ and believed that a ‘broader constituency’ should be sought for the project, including other churches, faith groups and organisations. ‘We would hope,’ he said, ‘not to be in competition with other peace projects.’
Friends made a number of contributions relating to the phrase ‘innocent victims’ and some alternatives, such as ‘victims of war’ and ‘civilians’, were suggested for consideration. A Friend hoped that the memorial would acknowledge that ‘victims of war’ continue to suffer long after a conflict ends. He cited the damage done to innocent people by unexploded land mines.
Friends were supportive of the idea, despite the reservations made about the word ‘innocent’, and Southern Marches Area Meeting were encouraged to take the project forward.
