Director's Wave | Volume 5 Edition 11

Dear CIS Community,

 Something to Ponder
“An eye for an eye only ends up making the world blind.” - Mahatma Gandhi

Monday, November 11, is Remembrance Day. It is a public holiday in the Cayman Islands, and schools are closed.

Remembrance Day—Depending on your country of origin, you may also know the day as Veteran’s Day, Armistice Day, 11 November, or perhaps by another name. Regardless of the name, this is a time to pause in memory of those who lost their lives in military service while serving their country. Red Poppies are a symbol of this homage.

According to the most recent Global Peace Index (GPI), as of June 2024, we have the highest number of countries engaged in conflicts since World War II. Data from the GPI include,

• 97 countries deteriorated in peacefulness, more than any year since the inception of the Global Peace Index in 2008. Additionally, 92 countries are currently involved in conflicts beyond their respective borders, more than at any time since the inception of the GPI.
• Conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine were the primary drivers of the global fall in peacefulness, as battle deaths reached 162,000 in 2023.
• The global economic impact of violence increased to an estimated 19.1 trillion USD in 2023, representing 13.5% of global GDP. Additionally, exposure to conflict poses a significant supply chain risk for governments and businesses.
• 108 countries have become more militarized since the inception of the GPI.
• First of its kind military scoring system suggests that USA military capabilities are up to three times higher than China.
• 110 million people are either refugees or internally displaced due to violent conflict, with 16 countries now hosting more than half a million refugees.

Over time, Remembrance Day has also become a day to remind us of the importance of peace as well as service. Each year around Remembrance Day, forlornly, rarely does a day go by that we are not reminded that the world needs more peace and, for that matter, kindness. For those of us fortunate enough to live in relatively peaceful places, Remembrance Day may also remind us of the many wonderful things in our lives and the opportunities available to our children. Our children here in the CIS community, are growing up without the immediate presence of conflict or war, have limited exposure to food instability, and have basically no barriers to education. Remembrance Day is a day to appreciate the wonders of our world and lives - to pay homage to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in hopes of making the world a better place for future generations – to think and act on what we may do as individuals or groups in service, to make the world a better place.

Each year to support remembering those who have fallen, CIS participates in the annual Poppy Appeal, led by our grade five students. You may have noticed the signs related to this at school and around the island - perhaps you have provided a small donation in order to get a poppy of your own. The poppies distributed throughout the island are donated by the Royal British Legion and the Royal Canadian Legion. Money collected in the Cayman Islands during the Poppy Appeal remains in the Islands to assist the members of the Cayman Islands Veterans Association. Red Poppies are a symbol of this homage and support. The poppy often accompanies the phrase “lest we forget.” Remembrance Day ceremonies around the world often include the poem In Flanders Fields (shared below).

In Flanders Fields 
By Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, physician, soldier, poet, author, artist

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields. 

Please be reminded that there is no school for students on Monday, 11 November as the Cayman Islands observes Remembrance Day.

Sincerely,

Jim Urquhart
Director - Cayman International School