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Poppies on uncommon ground
Kelvin Mason
On 10 November, for the fourth
year running, the Mayor of
Aberystwyth, Lorrae Jones-Southgate, laid a white poppy wreath at
the castle war memorial on behalf
of the Town Council, in the presence of around 40 people.
Leading the ceremony, Pryderi
Llwyd Jones said: "We have gathered here on the eve of Remembrance Sunday to remember, with
those who will be here tomorrow,
those who have lost their lives in
two world wars and the families
and communities that lost their
loved ones. But we must also
remember that we're living in a
world where war and preparation
for war are still creating sorrow
and enmity, suffering and conflict.
"We are here in the belief that
there is an alternative way. The
white poppy is a symbol of that
way of peace."
Other hearts
Following two minutes' silence,
Côr Gobaith sang Lloyd Stone's
lyrics to Sibelius' Finlandia: "But
other hearts in other lands are
beating / With hopes and dreams
as true and high as mine."
White and red
This year, the Cambrian News,
West Wales' "biggest selling
weekly newspaper", printed a letter from local activist Lotte
Reimer, on behalf of Aberystwyth
Peace and Justice Network,
thanking the Council for their
action, and also thanking the
Royal British Legion "for the
respect they accord the white
poppy ceremony".
She also wished the British
Legion all the best with their red
poppy appeal.
She ended: "One day, we hope
a constructive dialogue will mean
red and white poppy wreaths can
be laid side by side in a shared
ceremony of remembrance."
Towards sharing
Although the Legion has not
"retreated" on the question of a
shared ceremony, they have taken
a positive step to the side, recognising a common sentiment
behind the two ceremonies, and
offering their full support for a
white poppy appeal where the
whole town can remember togeth-
er, perhaps on Peace Day, 21
September.
The Town Council and Aberystwyth Peace and Justice Network
have yet to discuss this proposal.
Last year, in the journal
Antipode, activist geographer Paul
Chatterton published a paper on
how we could "Change the world
in unknown ways" by "learning to
walk with others on uncommon
ground".
Will Aberystwyth put its very
best foot forward to put theory
into practice? Hopes and dreams.
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