Peace Quote by John Connolly
““The hatred for ex-soldiers on the part of those who had not fought was something I could not understand. They wanted us to disappear. There were no more parades now, no more kisses on the cheek. Soldiers were no more than beggars, and nobody likes a beggar. Perhaps we made them feel guilty by our presence. They might have preferred it had we all died in the mud and been buried far from England in places whose names we had not even learned to pronounce properly before we perished.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Great War and Modern Memory, 1995
The speaker laments how civilians who never fought view veterans with disdain, seeing them as burdens rather than heroes.
In simple terms: Veterans feel rejected by those who never fought.
Recognize and honor veterans’ sacrifices.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- public commemorations
- veteran support programs
- media portrayals
- education curricula
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies better integrate veterans?
- What narratives reinforce veteran marginalization?
Civilian perspectives may shift over time, but systemic neglect persists.