Downton Abbey can teach you How to Believe in Something...
We can learn a lot from Downton Abbey about instilling values and understanding in our children. While the show is set in early 1900's England, following a sometimes stuffy, aristocratic, life of leisure. Where footmen and maids do everything from cook and clean to dress their Lord and Lady employers, there is a tremendous amount of perspective to be gained in the amount of time spent doing ... nothing!
Time spent walking, dressing, preparing for dinner (that is getting dressed for dinner) allows for a lot of time think, andcontemplate all that is in our lives. One thing time, extreme amounts of leisure time, gives you is the ability to reflect and consider, ponder, and gain perspective on how you want to shape your life. What are your opinions, values and how will you live those beliefs. You have time to process your reaction ti a story or new idea, and how it relates to your daily life.
When war struck Downton, it was so refreshing to see Lord Grantham and his family and servants appreciation of soldiers. A deep appreciation for their commitment and valor, regardless of the opinions of the war. During the war civilians felt there country was fighting for something they, as a whole society, could believe in. In World War I, young men were very anxious to sign up for the war.
Perhaps it was naïveté. Perhaps we know better today how horrible war is. With the instant ability on the Internet being able to see the brutality and the severity of war. Even tho they - the people of England - didn't see or understand the brutality of war, there was still support in 1917. But what I have come to admire is there sheer support of the soldiers. Regardless of position in society, wealth, stature, and even with little understanding of what it meant to be on the "front lines," there was support for those who were called to duty-- and shame for those who didn't or ran.
How they thought of the boys on the front, how they talked about war, how they supported them, how they understood the troops were sacrificing their lives, their families, and everything that they had in their lives, to go be on the front. I wish we had that type of support for soldiers today. If there's one thing we could hold onto from the early 20th century it would be that (perhaps blind) appreciation.
Believe me when I say I am the first one who is antiwar, but I have to be able to support those who sacrificed their lives to go overseas and do what their country calls them to do. I am not patriotic from that perspective. I think War should be avoided at all costs. We are such an advanced society yet we use such antiquated approaches as boots on the ground war. And if we are at war it should be understood why.
Ironically all my opinions listed above on why not to go to war lack the support for our soldiers. I recognize that. And there it is, the demise of our nation. Of us. Of me. We get so caught up in opinion we forget about those who are LITERALLY caught up in The fight.
But I'm just laymen, not a decision-maker in Washington. So all I can do to support the troops is Not just in my blog, but also into deeds.
How can we support our troops? How can we show - that even if we are against the war - that the troops should get our thank you?
No spoiler alerts here. At the end of Downton Abbey season one, the country is involved in World War I. At the time of course it's just considered a war and not yet the Great War to end all Wars. The beginning of season two, which shows that all the young men are being enlisted or already fighting in the war. The footman from downtown are all gone. And there's the sheer shock of ladies taking over men's work, women learning how to drive and do farm work.
A Lady from the manor becoming a nurse. The maids serving dinner (the horror for Carson the Butler). But for these aristocrats it was doing "their sacrifice" to support the war. And the answer to how we today can support our troops, in comments, actions and deeds just like the people of Downton Abbey.
Everyone pulled together to help. Farms lost all their man power/ hands, someone else would go to drive the tractor for that farmer. Troops who are healing from the war, need a place to convalesce and the manor home is opened up to take them so they can continue to get used to their conditions. And even a soldier suffering from "shell shock" gets the support of a shoulder and kind words from a coworker saying that she "understands" and giving him a story of how she can relate to his state of mind. Encouraging him not to work yet, encouraging him to heal his mind from the war. How does this relate to us today, what can we do?
My son's school had a drive for some soldiers in Afghanistan to fill a shoebox with playing cards, candy, snacks, and things along those lines including pairs of shoe laces for the soldiers. That was my first time participating in something like this drive to have goods sent overseas. Otherwise I really didn't know how else to support the troops.
Then we had a soldier in the family come home from Iraq. He too is suffering from PTSD. All I could do is talk to him when he opens up. And NOT ask about shootings over there, and the gruesomeness over there. Instead be kind and Tell him we are glad to have him home and to be a member of the family again.
Finally when my children were a little bit older we had another cousin who was overseas in Afghanistan. This time his wife had told me that he really enjoyed Polish "kabanos" snack sized sausage. It reminded him of his childhood. You can find for yourself some stories of what it's like to be in a hot desert for 30 days with only your MREs and nothing else but sand around you. You long for something from home. So sending him some Polish Kabanos was something that he could only think or dream about. Such joy for a young man away from the comforts of home, I hoped. And it was so easy for me to send it to him.
Do something, anything, to support our soldiers weather you believe in the war(s) or not! Often magazines list ideas of how you can participate thru organizations, often local churches holding drives, even your schools.
But, if nothing else, extend your hand to a veteran and say thanks. Shaking hands is so simple, so unexpected, and so appreciated!
Commentary on Downton Abbey
Season 2, Episode 1 and 2.
Make Mistakes, breathe, reflect and Laugh.Out.Loud.
