When we first came to Canada, almost 30 years ago, we lived just north of Toronto. Remembrance Day was marked on the calendar but it was a regular work day. You wore your poppy and watched the ceremonies held in Ottawa on the news when you got home from work - but that was it.
Moving out to Vancouver, Remembrance Day was actually a thing. Most offices closed for the day, and most people I know, went to a Remembrance Day ceremony. I loved watching the old veterans marching with their chests proudly pushed out. Others were pushed along in wheelchairs, not really taking in the crowds lining the parade route. We stand there to show our respect as the brave war heroes passed by.
The invasion of Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf wars created a conflict for me. I was so vehemently opposed to the wars; horrified by stories of schools and hospitals being blown apart. Now we were seeing war in a different light. Now we saw the collateral damage - the innocent civilians who's lives were being torn apart by decisions made in an office by a bunch of people sitting around in suits. We heard the stories from the military men and women and their tragic PTSD. Where was the "good guys kill the bad guys and everyone goes home happy" part? There was not happy part - it's war after all. There wasn't 50 years in between to dull the horrors of war now. I was torn between my respect for old veterans and my distaste for what was going on in the name of freedom.
Now it seems I'm further confused. Can we really just stand by and watch as the Syrian people continue to get caught up in the conflict in their country. There are the rebel factions and the government all fighting each other, and the refugee numbers keep climbing. What about the people in Yemen? What about ISIS? We can just do nothing?!?! So now I want war?
No no no - there has to be a better solution.
I saw this video last night. It's American and part of a series called Letter to my future president. He says "You never served in the military, nor have your children. You haven't seen war from the perspective of a combatant or as a civilian whose country has been invaded. Yet you will have the authority to send young men and women to fight and commit atrocities ...". He's kinda got a point.
The Globe and Mail has just released a report about 70 Canadian soldiers who have taken their own lives following their service in Afghanistan. This is so terribly sad. How many other soldiers are still battling their own demons? How are those families coping?
So this year, I will go to Remembrance Day to honor the old veterans, who's numbers thin each each year. I will also go to remember these 70 soldiers and so many others still battling their demons everyday. These war heroes it seems, are victims too.
Moving out to Vancouver, Remembrance Day was actually a thing. Most offices closed for the day, and most people I know, went to a Remembrance Day ceremony. I loved watching the old veterans marching with their chests proudly pushed out. Others were pushed along in wheelchairs, not really taking in the crowds lining the parade route. We stand there to show our respect as the brave war heroes passed by.
The invasion of Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf wars created a conflict for me. I was so vehemently opposed to the wars; horrified by stories of schools and hospitals being blown apart. Now we were seeing war in a different light. Now we saw the collateral damage - the innocent civilians who's lives were being torn apart by decisions made in an office by a bunch of people sitting around in suits. We heard the stories from the military men and women and their tragic PTSD. Where was the "good guys kill the bad guys and everyone goes home happy" part? There was not happy part - it's war after all. There wasn't 50 years in between to dull the horrors of war now. I was torn between my respect for old veterans and my distaste for what was going on in the name of freedom.
Now it seems I'm further confused. Can we really just stand by and watch as the Syrian people continue to get caught up in the conflict in their country. There are the rebel factions and the government all fighting each other, and the refugee numbers keep climbing. What about the people in Yemen? What about ISIS? We can just do nothing?!?! So now I want war?
No no no - there has to be a better solution.
I saw this video last night. It's American and part of a series called Letter to my future president. He says "You never served in the military, nor have your children. You haven't seen war from the perspective of a combatant or as a civilian whose country has been invaded. Yet you will have the authority to send young men and women to fight and commit atrocities ...". He's kinda got a point.
The Globe and Mail has just released a report about 70 Canadian soldiers who have taken their own lives following their service in Afghanistan. This is so terribly sad. How many other soldiers are still battling their own demons? How are those families coping?
So this year, I will go to Remembrance Day to honor the old veterans, who's numbers thin each each year. I will also go to remember these 70 soldiers and so many others still battling their demons everyday. These war heroes it seems, are victims too.
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