VE Day: a poignant reminder of what our ancestors gave their life to oppose

As a Brit it is hard not to reflect this weekend as we celebrate VE Day and reflect on those principles that led many to give their lives.

Theirs was not a perfect world and the brutality of what one generation’s done to the past is not lost on any of us, but today’s society must take an urgent step back to reflect on the sacrifices of those who gave so much to oppose some of the menace to society (e.g. intolerance) that have now slowly and comfortably made their way back into our social and political discourse. We appear to be heading swiftly and steadily back to 1939

There are no easy solutions to dealing with illegal migration, poverty, inequality, illiteracy, religious intolerance etc. all were problematic hundreds of years ago and still are today. Is it not now time for the world to try a different approach?

Einstein’s definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over but expecting a different outcome!

Yes, it is totally counterintuitive but until we all let go of our feeling of entitlement and accept that the world belongs to none of us (we’re all only here for a period of time and do not choose where we are born and neither do we choose where we go when we die), we will continue in this endless, vicious cycle.

As we show our gratitude to those who gave so much to preserve our way of life, a quick look around the world today and the picture is scary. It feels like 1939 instead of 75 years after 1945. The language, the hate, the intolerance, the selfishness, the lack of empathy and the desperation for power. Hope those who gave their lives (1939 – 1945) haven’t done so in vain. We must chart a different course to ensure their sacrifices wasn’t for nothing. Happy VE Day.