Remembrance as healing not provocation

REMEMBRANCE of war dead has never been a simple matter.

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Around the world, the memories of conflicts linger long after the last gunshot fades, and the act of remembering becomes intertwined with power, grief, politics, and unresolved trauma.

Victors often write history, shaping narratives that justify their triumphs and obscure the suffering of others. This dynamic can make remembrance a battlefield of its own, one that can remain active not merely for decades, but for centuries.

The United States still grapples with the legacy of its Civil War, which ended in 1865. The arguments over how to remember Confederate soldiers, whether their statues should stand, and how the war should be taught continue to divide communities to this day.

In Asia, the visit of a Japanese prime minister to the Yasukuni Shrine, where the remains of more than 1.6 million war dead, including 20 convicted war criminals, are enshrined, regularly provokes outrage from China and South Korea. Even though the Second World War ended 80 years ago, the memories remain raw.