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A Discussion Whose Time Has Come... Firstly, a sincere and well-deserved thanks to Editor Lisa, and Natasha Jmieff for helping to generate the active discussion that's taking place on ISKRA pages. Many would agree that this was long overdue - to look at things from new perspectives, to freely express all opinions and points of view, especially from the vantage point of younger people, so that we could all better understand their reality. Finally, however, it is taking place ("better late than never!"), and the topics being addressed touch on the very core of our Doukhobor essence. Its absolutely vital that all generations participate in the process, and that's why it's so great to see that the participants are thus far mainly from the younger generations, the very ones whose absence we've been lamenting. Clearly, there's much diversity in points of view, and the chasms between them may sometimes seem insurmountable. Many feel, for example, that it's a tragedy when descendants of staunchly pacifist "Spirit Wrestlers" (who were prepared to give their own lives - and many did - rather than take someone else's), now no longer understand the difference between that principled Christian stand and the role of a soldier, who, after all, willingly submits himself to training in how to kill fellow human beings. How could such a lack of understanding come about, we ask? The full answer to that question may not be easy to attain, but possibly part of it is connected to a lack of discussion, about this or any other issue. After all, the young composer of "Soldier" states in his letter (see ISKRA issue #1989) that, "...I went to Sunday School not really knowing why or what I was there for." In regard to the particular topic of his song it can be stated, for instance, that many of these young soldiers are also principled and have been raised to believe that it is their duty to defend their ideals and their "national interests" through violent military means. When they are wounded or killed in battle, their loved ones grieve for them just as anyone would, and we Doukhobors are respectful of the suffering, even if we disagree with the reasoning behind it. We also respect the suffering of the "enemy", who after all, are merely other soldiers who believe that they are justifiably defending their own way of life. And, of course, there are the countless "civilian casualties", inevitable in any modern warfare... Doukhobors, also, believe it is their duty to defend their rights and ideals. They also believe that it is most heroic, if proven to be necessary, to lay down your life for the good of others. They cannot accept, however, any justification for the killing of others. They firmly believe that the wrong means will never bring about the right results; violence will never attain peace; only love and forgiveness will bring about justice and peace for all. This is the idea that Leo Tolstoy said was 500 years ahead of its time. This is the sacred understanding that was given to our people by the destiny of our historical experience. This is the only understanding that we believe will lead to peace on earth. This is the understanding that we are solemnly obliged to nurture and carry on, so that eventually, enough people would understand it, and be able to live it, and a peaceful, brotherly life, a heaven on earth, would be attained. We are not the only people in the world who've been given this understanding, and the numbers are constantly growing. When we look at the evolutionary process of history, it strengthens our faith that eventually a peaceful world will be attained. Even today, we can gain some encouragement from the knowledge that, in spite of the daily multi-media "instantaneous news coverage" bombardment that we receive about the tragic, ongoing process of unnecessary war and suffering around the world, the fact is that there is actually less over-all war and violence in the world today, than at any time in the history of civilization! War and violence are finally going out of style, but we must continue to help that process along, in any way that we can, by living our personal lives in a manner that is consistent with our beliefs, by never ceasing our searching and striving for the truth, and by sharing that process lovingly with others... We can wonder if such a discussion ever took place in the young life of the composer of "Soldier"... There's no doubt, of course, that there is a sense of sadness when we face the reality that the understanding for which our ancestors gave their lives has not been retained by all of their descendants. It's especially difficult for those parents who've tried their best to pass it . on to their children but were unsuccessful. Yet we can all take some solace in realizing that some of these developments are inevitable. Human relations and interactions are not an exact science. Our lives are affected by a complex array of influences, and often, despite our best efforts, things go differently than we would have liked. The reality of our current Doukhobor situation, only a century or so after the Burning of Arms, is that a probable majority of the descendants of those people who made their stand in 1895, no longer have that same understanding. It may even be true that many are no longer even aware that they are descended from those heroes. This is the inevitable result of human nature, with all of its imperfections, as well as the process of assimilation, through intermarriage, geographic dispersal, and all the other powerful effects of our rapidly changing "global village" civilization. We can therefore perhaps accept the idea, that if the process is inevitable, then individual young people are not the only ones responsible, as they are merely the beneficiaries of the cumulative effect through previous generations. Our families, our community - as an organized family of like-believers, could've possibly done more, and we can never stop trying to improve our efforts. At the same time, it should be acknowledged that if we didn't have the family and community efforts that exist, what would we have? Its these efforts that have nurtured the understanding in young people so that we could have such eloquent responses to the "Soldier" song, as those expressed by Tamara Malloff and Teresa Verigin. Yet, if the attrition and dilution of our Doukhobor understanding is inevitable, what is the point, we might ask, and how are we to attain the eventual goal? Well, for one thing, as we can see, not all Doukhobor descendants are losing touch with their heritage. There are still hundreds of families, thousands of individuals, for whom their Doukhobor heritage and ideals are a major reality of their lives. Even with the exceptional challenge of intermarriage, there are some who've been able to continue to nurture their Doukhobor understanding, share it with their partners and pass it on to their children. Also, historical experience has shown that, when the time for a "do or die" commitment actually comes, many individuals, in whom the seed of understanding was planted, but who've been somewhat "dormant" in their consciousness, tend to come "out of the woodwork" and manifest their renewed dedication to the principles of their heritage. Furthermore, for everyone who does lose contact, there are many other people, in all parts of the world, who are independently attaining this type of understanding. That's why, for example, prior to the American invasion of Iraq, over ten million people world-wide protested this tragic action, the largest such outcry in history. Thus, it comes down to individual choice. Those people who value their Doukhobor heritage and understanding, will make every effort they can to nurture it as the basis of their life, and in most cases will attain success in their efforts. For various reasons, others will not be as successful, but, even as we continue to maintain our own Doukhobor understanding, we must always also strive to maintain a brotherly, loving relationship with all people, no matter of what belief (or lack of it), since, after all, that is the only hope we have of coming to a common understanding, that will eventually bring about the goal we seek. No doubt, this is not a simple or easy process, especially in today's rapidly changing world, so it is no wonder that young people feel "confused" and "stressed". Peter Lordly Verigin is said to have explained that attaining a world of peace was as great a challenge as pushing a marble up a steep cliff with your nose. There would be many setbacks and frustrations, but with persistent effort, utilizing the full power of love, a peaceful way of life is attainable. In continuing to strive for this most noble goal, we must make use of all of the assets that we have available. For us, as Doukhobors, our cultural heritage has been one of those valuable assets, which has infused unity and inspiration into our lives. It is encouraging to see young peoples resolve to continue to maintain and evolve that heritage, as it will undoubtedly continue to serve them well throughout their lives. As Bob Dylan says in his song, "Forever Young": "...May your hands always be busy, May your feet always be swift, May you have a strong foundation when the winds of changes shift..." Our Doukhobor cultural heritage provides that strong foundation. It is also encouraging to see the kind of discussion that is now taking place. We trust that many others will join in the examination of our Doukhobor reality in today's world, as this can only serve to improve understanding, and help to bring about a better future for all. JimPopoff Grand Forks, BC PS. Gratifying as it is to finally see young people open up a new level of discussion on ISKRA pages, the harsh reality' is that by far the vast majority of those in the younger generations no longer even see ISKRA. If those of us in their parents' and grandparents' generations are sincerely concerned about their future as Doukhobors, well make every effort to bring the ideas and opinions expressed by their peers to their attention. Let's show them the last several issues of ISKRA, and let them see what other young people have written. This may well get them interested and hopefully involved. Without at least such an effort on our part, our lamentations about the "lost youth" are nothing but "crocodile tears"!
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