LETTER

LETTRE

Farewell to arms

 

Didier Périès (March 2 editorial), introduced his interesting discussion about active involvement in fighting tyranny, in naming the American novelist Ernest Hemingway. I was already reflecting on writing something inspired by the title of his novel « Farewell to Arms » (1929). Although I never read it, I listen often to a rock song with the same title from prog-rock group Emerson, Lake and Palmer (ELP), from their LP « Black Moon » (1992). I searched on the web and discovered that a lyrical poem has been written with this title in 1590 for the then Queen Elizabeth.
    Let’s go back to ELP and their song. The chorus lyrics are quite compelling: « Farewell to arms, Rest in Peace » / May the reign of freedom be released / Farewell to arms, we can’t just walk away / We’re all sharing this Earth at the end of the day ».
    These words are echoing the hope, and human longing to see and live someday when peace and harmony will finally reign on this Earth, and this dates from ancient times. Furthermore, Isaiah the prophet, centuries before Christ, spoke of some future time when peace will finally be established on Earth: « And they will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning knives. Nation will not lift up a sword against nation, and never again will they learn war. » (Is 2:4) These prophetic words are also reflected in the African American Spiritual « Down by the Riverside ».
    Now, in order to enjoy this future renewal of our planet through peace, we must first ourselves make peace, individually, inwardly, with our Creator. We must receive the peace he wants to grant us on the basis of his reconciling work accomplished through Jesus-Christ, called by the same Isaiah : « The Prince of Peace » (9.6).
André Pinard
Église réformée Baptiste de l’Outaouais