tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post555608740533310687..comments2024-03-26T11:42:04.114+00:00Comments on Positive Letters ... inspirational stories ...: White Feathers – First World War …Hilary Melton-Butcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-78972377456601473292015-11-17T13:37:34.107+00:002015-11-17T13:37:34.107+00:00@ Rosey - yes I was interested to read about the s...@ Rosey - yes I was interested to read about the symbolism of white feathers. Also you're right about being judgemental so easily ... exactly it is so sad.<br /><br />@ Nila - we sadly so often just criticise or form an opinion without knowing all the details.<br /><br />I agree we do all feel a little broken after Friday's events ... let us live with hope and positivity ... <br /><br />Thanks so much - good to see you .. cheers HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-16067302669630394472015-11-17T11:39:41.383+00:002015-11-17T11:39:41.383+00:00"How often do we criticise or form an opinion..."How often do we criticise or form an opinion about something … that we’ve no idea about, or cannot see the full picture with all its ramifications."<br /><br />So true.<br /><br /><br />We all feel a little broken after last week's events...for Paris, and for ordinary people killed in other places by extremists. All we can do is live with hope and positivity. Nilanjana Bosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08656370320322301943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-47068880285512007002015-11-17T09:46:34.173+00:002015-11-17T09:46:34.173+00:00I didn't realize feathers meant anything at al...I didn't realize feathers meant anything at all symbolically. Looks like they have for a long, long time.<br /><br />Judgments are quick to come by, and rarely well-founded. There's always another side to consider.<br /><br />Paris hurt my heart. Unjust always pierces.mail4roseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17850985344834209198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-78988766165360647582015-11-17T08:28:06.576+00:002015-11-17T08:28:06.576+00:00@ Holly - many thanks.
@ Elise - I appreciate tha...@ Holly - many thanks.<br /><br />@ Elise - I appreciate that.<br /><br />@ Christine - yes to object must have been exceedingly difficult ... <br /><br />@ Karen - yes we do fight battles we know little or nothing about. I, including myself, wish we'd think before we speak ... or just keep quiet.<br /><br />@ Joylene - it is difficult to comprehend .. how some people can hate with a real hate. I hadn't known about the Herero and Namaqua genocide, though I certainly should have known having lived out there, and then you mention other genocides ... we're not a kind peoples are we.<br /><br />You're right .. I haven't paid that much attention - but because it's over the Channel - it is considerably nearer and so I've been watching some of the time.<br /><br />@ Theresa - thank you .. and yes I'm glad I was able to write about it, as I too knew little. As you say remembering there are always other sides to each 'argument' ... finding out those is important.<br /><br />@ Chrys - it was and is a terrible tragedy. I'm glad I was able to put up some information about the 'white feather'. Your comment about 'being under-informed and close-minded' ... should be discouraged - we need to learn as much as we can before forming an opinion.<br /><br />@ Susan - it has been so sad and so difficult to comprehend and how we control such controlled violence and get them to change their way of thinking is very challenging. Thank you re the post's thoughts.<br /><br />@ Roland - interesting to read about Karl Marlantes and then the lady's apparent outrage ... for what. That's a very good example of a mis-guided action and certainly a completely mis-informed opinion.<br /><br />We are way too quick to judge and not appreciate all the aspects of the ideas in front of us.<br /><br />I too sincerely hope we find a reasoned way to combat what is going on in the world.<br /><br />@ Manzanita - things are different in different countries ... and there is so much else to get to grips with in these major wars ... things get omitted in the scheme of what's being taught.<br /><br />We all react against certain points of view, and war can polarise these. 4-F I'd no idea about ... I see it's the Selective Service System used for those applicants not suitable for American military duty.<br /><br />@ Theresa - it's a sombre aspect of WW1.<br /><br />@ Jess - I'm glad you learn when you come over here or at least appreciate other subjects. Paris has been a terrible tragedy ... a cruel one. As you mention we need to be kinder and spread peace.<br /><br />Thanks everyone - it's been good having you here and adding to the post - giving us other details to consider ... with thoughts to us all at this time - Hilary<br /><br /> Hilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-21252678075805980772015-11-17T01:34:38.998+00:002015-11-17T01:34:38.998+00:00I have never heard of the white feathers being pre...I have never heard of the white feathers being presented to people. I always learn a lot here. :) I don't have many words after what has been taking place in Paris- but I do agree that we need to be kinder to each other. Spreading peace and kindness is very important right now. <br /><br />Wishing you all the best! <br />~JessDMShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04202502753961748992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-67972479554646881902015-11-16T22:03:44.910+00:002015-11-16T22:03:44.910+00:00i've never heard of presenting white feathers....i've never heard of presenting white feathers.TexWisGirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13641962051044162710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-25665219746905548062015-11-16T18:57:23.192+00:002015-11-16T18:57:23.192+00:00This is so interesting. Why didn't I ever know...This is so interesting. Why didn't I ever know about the white<br />feather? <br />So she gave him a white feather and he smacked her in the<br />face. mmmm I bet that was a surprise reaction. I'd be mighty<br />careful who received my feathers after that. <br /><br />I just saw an old movie with Gary Cooper of Quakers during<br />the Civil War. They were definitely pacfists and were certainly <br />ridiculed.<br /><br />4-F during WW2 brought ridicule too.Manzanitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06467261212623663365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-2962428696809947182015-11-16T17:42:01.397+00:002015-11-16T17:42:01.397+00:00Sometimes you just can't win as with those ret...Sometimes you just can't win as with those returning from the Vietnam War who were spit on by people upset with the war. In WHAT IT IS LIKE TO GO TO WAR, <br /><br />( http://www.amazon.com/dp/0802145922/ )<br /><br />Karl Marlantes wrote of wearing his uniform to be able to get the discount and to afford being able to visit his parents.<br /><br />An attractive lady in a business suit walked up to him and spit in his face and spun on her high heels in smug self-righteousness. <br /><br />This was told at the end of the book, and you had already seen the Hell he had gone through. Marlantes was a Rhodes Scholar, an intelligent man who thought through his reasons to accept the draft call and not run to Canada.<br /><br />The war left mental wounds which took decades to heal.<br /><br />You are right: we humans are too quick to judge.<br /><br />Let us pray the nations find some reasoned way to combat the hate of Isis.Roland D. Yeomanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00338410857990551352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-13749115882168069222015-11-16T16:42:06.306+00:002015-11-16T16:42:06.306+00:00The Paris events are so sad and distressing and I&...The Paris events are so sad and distressing and I'm afraid the first of more pain to come. And I see no way to end the violence and all the suffering it has caused. Your post is very thoughtful and thought provoking as usual.Susan Gourley/Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02669793865290876168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-42688353645399787662015-11-16T16:16:06.834+00:002015-11-16T16:16:06.834+00:00What's going on in France is horrible. I had n...What's going on in France is horrible. I had no idea what a white feather meant. And you're right that everyone (at one time or another) develops an opinion on something they really don't understand or know about. Being under-informed and close-minded should be a crime.Chrys Feyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11955009490266358041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-31433996553235105662015-11-16T15:56:36.799+00:002015-11-16T15:56:36.799+00:00I had no idea about the white feather, and its con...I had no idea about the white feather, and its controversy. I'm glad you explained it. Being well informed is so important before forming an opinion. Theresa Milsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03477761307315565259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-17166875247351751822015-11-16T15:31:31.459+00:002015-11-16T15:31:31.459+00:00It is unthinkable how much we hate. People equate ...It is unthinkable how much we hate. People equate it to today, but this hatred and rage is nothing new. We hated during the Crusades. During the Namaqua Genocide, Holocaust Genocide, Armenian Genocide. And that's only a faction. I purposely haven't watch the news since Friday. I took a moment to hold the dead in my heart. The shame, hopeless, and horror I feel only gives strength to the terrorist. That's what they want, to terrorize us. <br />Joylene Nowell Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04497637513532136615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-17390688603223094582015-11-16T14:30:50.488+00:002015-11-16T14:30:50.488+00:00I agree, so many of us form opinions without knowi...I agree, so many of us form opinions without knowing the story behind the story. Many of us fight battles others know nothing about. Thanks for the info, and for sharing your heart. Sending love and hugs your way. :) Karen Langehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18177923284595298347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-20110127424103068312015-11-16T14:08:57.720+00:002015-11-16T14:08:57.720+00:00A beautiful post. I think the conscientious object...A beautiful post. I think the conscientious objectors were just as brave as the soldiers.Christine Rainshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08263694662585963900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-14965826958631879242015-11-16T13:32:27.654+00:002015-11-16T13:32:27.654+00:00Very well said, Hillary. Thank you.Very well said, Hillary. Thank you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-76182255513631240752015-11-16T12:23:58.948+00:002015-11-16T12:23:58.948+00:00Beautifully said.Beautifully said.H. R. Sinclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06715450637785127208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-69909376958692532702015-11-16T07:25:44.502+00:002015-11-16T07:25:44.502+00:00@ Rosaria - usually I don't write about these ...@ Rosaria - usually I don't write about these things. But the White Feathers could be written about and bring in Paris .. I'm glad you appreciated the thought.<br /><br />@ Guilie - I hadn't realised about Beirut til late Saturday ... I've been away. Syria is just terrible and all the things you say are so true. It is us that needs to change and particularly rulers, those in power .. we need everyone to work together - and bring us peace ... which we can and will emulate.<br /><br />@ Diane - sadly some of the terrorists came from France and lived in Belgium ... one or two appear to have come in via boats. It is exceedingly difficult.<br /><br />@ Sherry - I sincerely hope it will stop ... we can't be intimidated by these people like this. The White Feather symbolism is interesting to know about.<br /><br />@ Betsy - we all do mourn with them ... so many talented people. Thank you re the White Feathers and then your thoughts re my tone of the post ... <br /><br />@ Lynn - thank you ... Paris really is suffering ... as too Europe.<br /><br />@ Denise - it was not the post I was going to write. Because it was Remembrance Day for the First World War and the 2nd WW and other wars last week ... I realised I could keep the same mood, but add in some information re the White Feathers, as to the words "The Glorious Dead" that Mike had commented on ... <br /><br />Normally I wouldn't write up or post something after this sort of horror - the tone would be difficult.<br /><br />Thank you everyone ... we all feel so for the Parisians and particularly those who have lost loved ones, or whose loved ones are injured or traumatised by these events ... with thoughts - Hilary<br />Hilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-69557542964862244342015-11-16T06:24:31.668+00:002015-11-16T06:24:31.668+00:00Hi Hilary. I found it dreadfully hard to write a b...Hi Hilary. I found it dreadfully hard to write a blog post, but I made the focus the Paris Attacks so felt not so trivial. It is so hard to come to terms with, but I guess we ain't seen nothing yet from a group determined to convert the world to its way of thinking. <br /><br />I didn't know that about the white feather. Thank you.<br /><br />Denise :-)Denise Covey https://www.blogger.com/profile/07106490051555233439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-16445440744538081132015-11-16T00:50:44.587+00:002015-11-16T00:50:44.587+00:00Wise words, my friend. My heart is heavy for the ...Wise words, my friend. My heart is heavy for the people of Paris.Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13984802196897920610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-84371382748684528012015-11-16T00:00:57.720+00:002015-11-16T00:00:57.720+00:00Yes, such sad happenings in Paris. The whole worl...Yes, such sad happenings in Paris. The whole world mourns with them!<br /><br />I never knew about the white feathers, so that was very interesting. Such a thoughtful post, Hilary...thank you.Betsy Brockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06807795605763246015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-2715647752620753292015-11-15T22:14:42.763+00:002015-11-15T22:14:42.763+00:00What happened in Paris was terrible! Will it ever ...What happened in Paris was terrible! Will it ever stop?<br /><br />I didn't know about the symbolism of the white feather. Thanks for your post!Sherry Ellishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07844837212122243321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-24315485096177761352015-11-15T20:49:31.970+00:002015-11-15T20:49:31.970+00:00And those ISIS terrorists came in disguised as ref...And those ISIS terrorists came in disguised as refugees, both shameful and complicating things further.L. Diane Wolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06425864276166334896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-79504990015989480482015-11-15T19:15:27.328+00:002015-11-15T19:15:27.328+00:00Timely reflections, Hilary. Friday's events in...Timely reflections, Hilary. Friday's events in Paris were horrific (the consequences will be triply so), but so was Thursday's bombing in Beirut. And so are the events in Syria, ongoing for months and months. I'm sad for Paris, but I'm heartbroken at the world—a world whose compassion comes with a bias of color and race, or gender and sexual preference. A world that blames a refugee crisis for a terrorist attack. The most horrific consequence of terrorism, for me, is how we all pull back into our shells, like turtles, and draw the lines dividing "Us" and "Them" not in sand but in cement. It's the world we need to mourn for... And it's us we need to change, in order to change the world.<br />Guilie @ <a href="http://guilie-castillo-oriard.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"> Quiet Laughter </a>Guilie Castillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09006999087139126972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-16202830830395323592015-11-15T17:22:14.118+00:002015-11-15T17:22:14.118+00:00Hard to write about these things. Thanks for this ...Hard to write about these things. Thanks for this thoughtful perspective. Rosaria Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03133147851332084180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-57182730541426923582015-11-15T16:47:31.616+00:002015-11-15T16:47:31.616+00:00@ Val - terrorism has, as you say, 'come to Eu...@ Val - terrorism has, as you say, 'come to Europe'. It is interesting to see what will develop ... I quite enjoy reading and listening to the commenters -- it stimulates my brain ... and I keep learning. Thanks for adding to the post.<br /><br />@ Susan - I think the links are very relevant. Yes conscientious objectors, people who were mentally out of it through shell-shock .. just so difficult to understand that their feelings and illness were not taken into account in some way.<br /><br />I hadn't realised your visit included the battlefields at Gallipoli - that must have been very moving ... as you say "such sadness, in a place of such beauty".<br /><br />I know we must not forget other parts of the world where horrors happen ... and exactly I agree with your final sentence: " All we can offer is our love of humanity and the ideals for which we stand, and prayers for peace around the world".<br /><br />@ Patsy - exactly we need to understand each person's reasons ... <br /><br />@ ACIL - pleasure. Thank you and I'm glad you appreciate my sentiments here ... France is just so so sad ... I just hope we don't over-react .. but stop and think ... <br /><br />@ Gattina - it stems from the First World War - though had been used for a couple of hundred of years before that. <br /><br />Now we are allowed to choose if we join up or not .. but in 1914 - the expectation was there ... <br /><br />With thoughts to everyone - HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.com