90 years after the wars were supposed to be over
Down here, Veterans Day doesn't seem to be such a big deal. The banks are closed, but I think most people just go to work (or in my case school) like it's any other day. I had a class this morning that went til noon, so I asked my teacher if we could have a break around 11:11 so I could take a moment with the rest of eastern Canada. She instead offered that we all take a moment together as a class, which made me happy.
The moment of silence meant something different to me this year. I usually think about my grandparents who all took part in WWII, and how though I don't agree with war for any reason no matter how justified I can still respect those who have given their lives to what they think is helping the world. This year it struck me that right then, at that very moment, Canadians, Americans, people all over the world were killing each other and trying not to be killed. I wondered whether right at that moment if someone in one of the myriad of conflicts was being shot or was dying. This year, the moment of silence said something to me: We have to stop this madness and get our troops out of where they don't belong.
I've long been proud of Canada's history as a nation of peacekeepers. This time round, in Afghanistan, we started out that way but have now joined the US troops in being an occupying force and not peacekeepers at all. We are now without a doubt complicit in the bombing of innocent civilians, and I think that needs to stop now.
It had been lingering in the back of my head that once we had the election we'd be able to get the troops back, because the Liberals and the NDP would be in power and the Conservatives would be out on their ears. With this stronger Conservative government in power it distresses me greatly to see that such an idea isn't going to happen any time soon.
I'm not sure how to wrap this up. Maybe just: Never forget, and (please) never again.
The moment of silence meant something different to me this year. I usually think about my grandparents who all took part in WWII, and how though I don't agree with war for any reason no matter how justified I can still respect those who have given their lives to what they think is helping the world. This year it struck me that right then, at that very moment, Canadians, Americans, people all over the world were killing each other and trying not to be killed. I wondered whether right at that moment if someone in one of the myriad of conflicts was being shot or was dying. This year, the moment of silence said something to me: We have to stop this madness and get our troops out of where they don't belong.
I've long been proud of Canada's history as a nation of peacekeepers. This time round, in Afghanistan, we started out that way but have now joined the US troops in being an occupying force and not peacekeepers at all. We are now without a doubt complicit in the bombing of innocent civilians, and I think that needs to stop now.
It had been lingering in the back of my head that once we had the election we'd be able to get the troops back, because the Liberals and the NDP would be in power and the Conservatives would be out on their ears. With this stronger Conservative government in power it distresses me greatly to see that such an idea isn't going to happen any time soon.
I'm not sure how to wrap this up. Maybe just: Never forget, and (please) never again.
posted by Mike at 10:23 PM
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