~
In the atria of some of our clandestine services, stands a
wall with the names of those who died in harness, while serving their
countries: but who cannot be
publically acknowledged, out of concern for the larger covert mission. (For a
similar instance, see here: http://worldofdrjustice.blogspot.com/2012/11/discretion.html) The epitaph reads: “They Served in Silence”.
Today, Veteran’s Day, marks remembrance of those who served
in uniform. Their masses are too
vast to comprehend: and so instead
we adress a numinous symbol of this very vastness, and of the unriddlable
mystery of history: the Tomb of
the Unknown Soldier. He
stands as a mute metonymy for all
who have served or will serve.
There is, in addition, a depth-psychological dimension to
this which, for that very reason, is difficult to put into words. (Lacan may be pleased to pretend that
“the unconscious is structured like a language”, but it certaintly does not
speak English or French).
This numen poked his head up in antiquity, in the Temple to the Unknown God.
Footnote:
As it happens, France today is likewise commemorating fallen
warriors, on the anniversary of the armistice of the Great War:
No comments:
Post a Comment