Remembrance Sunday is a time to think about the sacrifice of those who lost their lives fighting to retain the independence that we value so much.
This gives us the opportunity to run our country democratically and maintain personal freedoms in the face of a challenging world.
In contrast with another place, instead of the "right to bear arms" we have "the right not to be shot at", with law courts and police not controlled by politicians or national autocrats.
News reports are nevertheless full of deaths, damage and destruction which are collateral damage from other wars or failures.
Lives lost in southern Spain are the result of climate change, plus inadequate warnings of the impending disaster.
We learn that the Mediterranean Sea is warmer than ever before, fuelling huge storms in the same way as in the Caribbean.
Reading an epic novel covering the 1916 Russian Revolution, characters were revolting against Russia's war with Germany because they just felt like pawns in a struggle between aristocrats.
In Ukraine right now, Ukrainians know they are fighting for their own freedom.
However, Russian casualties are just collateral damage in the pursuit of Kremlin politics.
To my simple mind, one Tsar can seem much like another.
The refugee crisis around Myanmar and the Cox's Bazar refugee camp is barely reported.
Deaths of migrants in the English Channel are promptly reported, but even more occur in the Mediterranean as people try to reach Italy and Greece from North Africa.
We seem to be helpless bystanders, just as we are when mourning losses from previous wars.
But the whole world needs to be prayed for, not just our lost heroes, because every death is a loss to the family and friends of that person, whatever their background, religion or situation.
My personal contribution is lazy: "Dear Lord, you know better than I do whom I should be praying for, please look after them".
Closer to home, we have people hurt by the COVID crisis, the Infected Blood tragedy and the Post Office scandal, all of which need current politicians to redress the historical wrongs.
More urgently, we now have collateral damage to Social Care and Children's Services from the recent budget.
Lots of vital social support groups are established as small businesses, employing people at minimum wage augmented by volunteers.
Many, such as care homes and support for special educational needs, are in trouble, relying on local council funding which also has a "financial black hole".
Gunter, when I worked in America, was the name given to fictional managers who were "going-to do this" or "gunter do that".
These social problems from the budget are well reported, while solutions are being left to Gunter.
David Reed, our MP, was elected in a near-equal three-way split.
These issues would seem a good subject to find common ground, hoping that the losing Labour and Lib-Dem candidates could rally support in their own parties and that an East Devon working party could achieve some traction!
The new shadow Chancellor, Mel Stride, is a Devon MP too!
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