War and Conflict... Politics in Britain

This afternoon I sat in the Imperial War Museum in London, after spending almost 2 hours making my way through the incredible Holocaust Exhibit they hold on two of their floors. While I've read of events, seen small images, and learned a little of the second World War, the amount of video footage, text, and images supplied in the Holocaust Exhibit at the Museum was shocking. After spending the entire day exploring the Winston Churchill Museum and the Imperial War Museum, I can truthfully say that there is so much that I don't know about the wars and conflict in the last century. There's so much that I don't know about the issues that contribute to the conflicts of today. So much terror, sadness, insecurity and destruction that I'm unaware of.
Also in the Imperial War Museum I saw a film on Genocide in the 20th century called 'Crimes of Humanity', with images that no human being can watch without feeling disturbed, uncomfortable, sorrowful and not being able to understand how such violence can occur. The film went into the questions of how genocide comes about and what are the patterns that have occurred in the last century to create so much violence and suffering. It's sickening and frustrating that I am happily traveling, supplied with food, shelter, comfort and security. It's also difficult to understand where God is in those places. Of course, that's the question everyone asks... where is God in all of this? It's a question that I imagine those who are under the threat of genocide ask as well. So much death, so many people who were mesmerized into thinking that violence was essential, and so many stories. The Holocaust Exhibit was full of stories... ones that were incredibly hard to believe, but true. I am amazed at how blessed I am with my family, friends, freedom to worship, freedom to live.

So after spending some nauseous minutes in the Imperial War Museum restroom following the Holocaust Exhibit (they had to give a warning at the entrance that children under 14 were not allowed because of the film and photographs), I was able to go have dinner and debrief with several friends about what we experienced in the museum. When we go over to Ireland on Saturday with the group we will be diving in the Northern Ireland Conflict, which should definitely open our eyes to more of the recent events in history that us Americans know so little of.

On a positive note, I did write a poem last night... so here it is:

Irish Mist.

None rise as early as the mist.
a blanket that embraces
the green hills.
Filling the twists and curves of each road
leading into one another.
A silent town enclosed in a cloud.
Its floating water enhancing
the color of the fields.
None rise as early as the mist
but the mist does rise,
and the town does wake.
Leaving the the air crisp,
the mist retreats,
allowing a new day to begin.