Life at Findhorn
A weekly insight into life inside one of Britain's best known eco-villages – Findhorn – by resident Jonathan Dawson.
Apologies to our friends across the way
- Posted by Jonathan Dawson
- 02 July 2007
In response to those who felt offended at my last blog, I send unreserved apologies. No disrespect was intended to any living or working at the RAF Kinloss airbase.
When we heard of the death of the Nimrod crew in the Middle-East, we were devastated. There was an outpouring of grief and sympathy here in the community. Insofar as we can, we share the grief and feel for those – together with their families – who are asked to put their lives on the line. Thank you for the work that you do.
I would describe relations between our community and that of the RAF airbase as affectionate and mutually respectful. I treasure this relationship and sincerely hope that last week’s blog has not served to erode that feeling. (For the record, I do not and have never worked for the Findhorn Foundation, so any negativity lands squarely with me.)
In fact, the heart of last week’s blog was an expression of fear and apprehension about the arrival of the Tornadoes. My comments about the Nimrods were intended to be above all affectionate: I described them as ‘ponderous and amiable honeybees’, described their noise level as ‘barely whispering’ and said that people here in the community sometimes even refer to them as ‘our Nimrods’. Indeed, I have come to see them as almost part of the landscape that I love so much.
However, I can see that some of the other comments about the Nimrods were somewhat flip and insensitive and for that, I apologise. In view of the offence caused, I have asked the New Statesman to pull this piece from their website.
I do believe that it is possible to simultaneously feel deep empathy and friendship with service personnel and to question the appropriateness of tools developed to fight the Cold War in a post-Cold War world. However, that is for another day.
For the moment, I send only unreserved apologies for any offence given.
Several of those commenting critically on my blog said I should come to the airbase to see for myself. Thank you - if that invitation still stands, I would like to accept after I get back to the UK in mid-July. I would love to learn more.
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