YESTERDAY, on the sands of beaches across the UK, the sculpted faces of soldiers who fell in the First World War slowly faded as the gentle but remorseless tides washed each and every one of them away.

Thoughts of that conflict will surely fade too as this century progresses though every November, those who gave their lives will still be brought to mind. Yesterday, at ceremonies up and down the land, contemplation of conflict brought its own conflicting experiences: emotion underlay order, pride co-existed with humbleness, honour strived – while thinking of so many young lives lost for reasons still difficult to understand – with a certain amount of collective shame.

Today, we look back to the First World War with some bewilderment, while feeling unease at characteristics of today’s world that might mitigate against peace. Even without considering countries far away that seem preternaturally unstable, among the West’s own ranks President Trump’s America frequently beats its chest, while Britain itself is said to be an angry place. Across the country, across the world, across the political spectrum, intolerance is not hard to find.

The filmmaker Danny Boyle, who masterminded the faces in the sand commemoration, noted: “We live in a dangerous world of polarisation now …” The causes of that polarisation are doubtless various. One might be that, while the world has opened out technologically, many people appear to be shutting themselves off among their own ideological kind.

General Sir Nick Carter, Chief of the Defence Staff, observed yesterday that times of rapid technological change can cause instability. Technology is making our world smaller yet in the front of our minds we must try to keep the bigger, inclusive picture that so dominated proceedings yesterday. Contemplation of the past thus guides us in the days ahead.

Yesterday, we bowed our heads. Today, we must raise our eyes and all together – with solidarity, compassion and understanding – pledge ourselves to keeping the future peaceful.