Celebrating Difference through Trust.

The 80^th commemoration of VE (Victory in Europe) Day on May 8^th and events surrounding it was bound to be a time of emotion for many and of quiet reflection. At a time when there are increasing conflicts around the world it is hard not to feel a sense of futility. Can we talk meaningfully about the Victory of Peace over War when humanity is seemingly locked in battles and struggles with each other. The futility is even greater when we note that a few  leaders of nations are mainly responsible for what is happening. Just about a dozen men are holding the world to ransom. The real tragedy is that 8.2 billion of us are letting them. A proportion are even physically involved in fighting at the whim of those leaders. Not surprisingly there is increasing talk of a Third World War, this time with the probability of using nuclear weaponry and all the horror that brings with it.

Conflicts are being witnessed in other places where there is a battle of a differing kind. The fear of difference; racial, sexual, gender issues, poverty, malnutrition, injustice are all part of a mix in which might swamps right and bullies impose their views. Sadly, some of that fear can be laid at the feet of religion and an insistence that ‘truth’ can only exist if it is ‘my’ truth.  In his book, The Dignity of Difference, the Late Chief Rabbi, Jonathan Sacks said that “Truth on earth is not, nor can it aspire to be, the whole truth. It is limited, not comprehensive; particular, not universal. When propositions conflict it is not necessarily because one is true, the other false. He suggests that the difference is because we are coming at something from a different angle but both are only part of the truth because, he says, only in heaven there is truth; on earth there are truths.“
Something I try to remember when I think I am right!

This week of remembrance has therefore a deeper meaning than gratitude and thanksgiving. It is also a time of going forward with new resolve and with a seeking of a new attitude and deeper sense of care for each other. This means that we must seek the well-being of others, with compassion, a sense of justice and kindness. Celebrating, not fearing, difference.

This came home to me when a lady called Ruth Klauber was interviewed on the BBC programme on Bank Holiday Monday. 

Ruth is 101 years old and in 1933 her father brought his family to England from a Germany which was just becoming ruled by the Nazi party. He had read Hitler’s book ‘Mein Kampf’ and realized what was happening, not least to Jewish families such as his.

His daughter Ruth settled in England and when War broke out, she decided to join up to share in the fight against Hitler and his dictatorship which was already destroying those in German society who were different and considered ‘impure’. Amongst them of course were Jewish people but also gay people and Romanies.

Ruth joined the Royal Air Force where it was suggested that she might be a cook, or a batwoman, someone who looks after officers’ uniforms! She said ‘no’ to these suggestions so they said, “well, you can be a flight mechanic”. Which she thought might be interesting so that is what she did.

In 1942, she joined an RAF crew fixing the bombers that helped the Allies to turn the tide of the war. These included Lancaster Bombers and she, with a handful of women worked alongside male mechanics. She spoke of working with people from different backgrounds but everyone got on with each other. They grew to trust each other’. This became a key to how we might live and work together on common tasks.

Ruth said,“We all got on together and I just wish we could learn to trust each other. People couldn’t waste time emphasizing differences. We had to learn to work together and just get things done.”

Ruth then had something to say to us today:

“I do think that difference is what people fear and that’s something we have to think about, how we can make it possible (to get on with each other) when there isn’t a common enemy – we need to trust each other more.”

She has lived a long time and has a deep insight and wisdom of the human condition. She is a voice with that common-sense authority which is born out of a life which has been forged in times of persecution, and making the most of things.  When she tells us that we must learn to get along with each other and TRUST one another, she speaks to us from the heart. We should listen to her.

A Ponder Quote :

“Even with the most deeply held differences, treating the other person with respect and as a fellow human being, is always a good first step towards a greater understanding.”

-Queen Elizabeth II – Christmas message 2018

Amen to that.

[Mr G]

{}{}{} for more information about Ruth Klauber, there are many articles about including from the Jewish Chronicle.