Enrolments and a Dilemma

[smallhobbit]

Last week we did some preparation for our mass enrolment, although I don't remember too much about it.  I know the new Brownies wrote invitations to their parents and Doodles talked to them about about what was involved.

This week we held the enrolment ceremony, which given the number, took nearly half an hour.  That wasn't surprising, since there were eleven girls in all.  Most of them had either one or both parents come to watch (not all are able, and there was one dad who shot off afterwards to go to work), plus one older brother, who seemed genuinely happy to be there.  There was only one girl who didn't have anyone, which is rather sad.  What was interesting was the number of parents who came, watched (and photographed their child) and left without any interaction with us, it does make me wonder how much support there will be with activities which need to be done at home.

I mentioned in my last Brownie post that I was preparing a craft activity for Remembrance.  Last night the leader asked whether it could be amended, because any mention of the German dead will bring aggravation for her from some of the parents, and she's already having various problems.  I understand she really doesn't want to have to deal with anything else, and don't blame her for that.  But then I stood and listened to all the Brownies making their promise to 'be true to my beliefs', so I said afterwards I wouldn't compromise on what I wanted to do.  She offered to lead the session instead, but I said I would find something different, as I don't want to add to what she's already contending with.

It's not as if I'm being particularly controversial, just having the poppy for the British & Commonwealth dead, the cornflower for the French and the forget-me-not for the German.  I've taken the idea from my 'Flowers of Peace' fridge magnet which I bought in Ypres.  But what particularly annoys me is that I am expected to compromise my beliefs to keep others happy in something I volunteer at.  And if this is how things are going to go, I'm not sure I can be bothered.

Comments

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

I think you handled the situation as best it could be handled.

And people wonder why I don't join 'mom's groups.' Other children's parents! Yeee!

[smallhobbit]

Thank you - it's good to know you think that.

Yes, precisely!

[aome]

I'm sorry to hear about the conflict going on with the Brownies. I realize there are loads of British families who will have lingering bitterness over the German role in WWI/II, but not every German who died was a Nazi sympathizer, just like plenty of people who died in the Japanese atomic bombs were innocent of any wrongdoing that the government did. I wish that could be made clear to the parents, so they wouldn't fuss, and you could do the activity you wanted. But I applaud you for standing your ground.

[smallhobbit]

I doubt there's anything personal remaining from WW1. It will be at most great grandfathers who will have been involved. This is simply bigotry of which we are seeing far too much in our countries at the moment.

[scfrankles]

I thought it was rather touching that listening to the Brownies making their promise gave you the added determination to stand up for your beliefs.

I appreciate this must be frustrating for you. I mean, you're right - it isn't particularly controversial. It would have been the perfect opportunity perhaps to talk about reconciliation after war. And there's so much movement of people from one country to another these days - 'British' covers a lot of different races and former nationalities. What would have happened if one of the Brownies had had German ancestry?

[tripleransom]

It seems to me that it's important to set this kind of event in a historical context. Does anyone actually expect to have a Remembrance Day ceremony without mentioning the fact that there were Germans involved? How could that possibly be offensive to anyone? It's y'know, true.

I'm glad you stood up for your beliefs.

[smallhobbit]

Yes - it highlighted my dilemma rather well. Be true to my beliefs so long as they don't disagree with others. We shall see what happens. I've now suggested I do some acting around Edith Cavell.

[smallhobbit]

But that is, apparently, because it was their fault. And sadly there's a lot of that attitude around.

[tripleransom]

Then if people feel that it was "their fault" (and in a larger sense it was, although no one was exactly blameless and it's not all that that simple) it becomes even more important to understand the historical context. Otherwise, it can sound like the Allies just offed a bunch of Germans because we felt like it??

Sadly, there's quite a bit of that attitude here also - largely in a racial context. There are plenty of people who would like to erase slavery as an element of the Civil War and of discrimination today. They prefer to call it "the War of Northern Aggression" as though it just sprang up out of nowhere. It's totally crazy!

What was that bit about "those who do not study history are doomed to repeat it"?

[smallhobbit]

Agreed, the war occured because of the actions of the German High Command, in support of an aged Austrian Emperor, due to a Serb wanting freedom, because the Germans felt threatened by the British and French empires, who assumed they could stop this upstart nation in a few months. But it ignores the German troops who were conscripted.

But this is a country that voted for Brexit and believes every other country should just do what we want.

[moth2fic]

I'm glad you managed to stand up for your beliefs. My mother-in-law was German, so I know all about anti-German sentiment here - and since the Brexit vote it has got worse. So it's up to all of us to try to stem the tide of xenophobia!

[smallhobbit]

I didn't want to cause extra problems for our new leader (she and her wife have a young son, so you can imagine what else might get said). She and I've agreed I'll do some drama based around Nurse Edith Cavell.

[moth2fic]

Just standing firm about not changing your mind was sufficient and I think the Nurse Cavell idea is a good alternative.