I started thinking about what I’d write for this year, and realized that its come to the point where the veterans from WWII are as old as the veterans from WWI were when I was very little.
In another 20 years, there will be very few if any WWII veterans at any Remembrance Day ceremonies. That will be a very sad time, and I wonder if the next generation will argue to change the holiday to something else. Possibly the very meaning of it will be lost, or worse — corrupted into a pro-war holiday.
Here are some photos that fit with the day:
-Canada’s War Museum in Ottawa
-Peace Tower out the spire
-Bishop (WWI)
-Saltcoats, SK
- Lest we forget the horror of war
I hope that if those who died were alive to see our country today, that they would be as proud of Canada now, as they were when they went over seas to defend the people they never knew.
@hotmail.com
![[EFC Blue Ribbon - Free Speech Online]](http://www.efc.ca/images/efcfreet.gif)
Abdul-Rahim | 11-Nov-07 at 7:44 am | Permalink
Perhaps rather than being sad that in a few years there will be no more veterans alive we can rejoice that there exist no veterans from a 3rd World War and thank them for their part in preventing that (if they did I don’t know it’s not for me to decide).
leftdog | 11-Nov-07 at 9:32 am | Permalink
Imagine a world where war has become so outdated, so pointless that there were no veterans …. no veterans because we have achieved a world without war …. no veterans because we have reached a point in our history where we can resolve our conflicts without bullets having to savage the flesh and bones of young persons in the name of some nation … or some religion … or some corporation … or some ideology.
A world where if enemies TALK about their differences rather than sending young people to die …. they are not condemned by those who lack tolerance … and reason …..
Fred Bracken | 11-Nov-07 at 10:04 am | Permalink
Imagine one day when we will have no leftists like Jack Layton and Stephane Dion who play politics with our troops lives.
Imagine one day we will not have pro-Hamas, pro-Hizbollah and pro-Iranian rallies where people like Layton show up.
Imagine one day when muslims, hindus,sihks,asians and all of the other canadian imports will wear a poppy in rememberance of those who fought so they could leave their country and move to canada for free health care and welfare.
Imagine one day when people will stand up for canada and not for the terrorists
Imagine one day…….
Saskboy | 11-Nov-07 at 10:10 am | Permalink
Fred, your comment is not appropriate.
leftdog | 11-Nov-07 at 10:11 am | Permalink
There you go Saskboy! As long as the war mongering attitudes of the ‘Fred Bracken’s’ of the world have their way ….. there will be no shortage of veterans on November 11th.
Hey Fred …. how was church today?
Fred Bracken | 11-Nov-07 at 10:32 am | Permalink
Why is my comment not appropiate?
Everything I said in it was true.
How did you feel about your Toronto Star publishing a cartoon that was insulting to the military a day before rememberance day?
Did you send the Star a letter saying that it wasn’t appropriate.
I watched the t.v eremonies today and have not seen any Canadian imports there, only white men and women.
Toronto is a garbage city full of leftists who hate the military and try to embarrass it at all times.
Stephane Dion and Jack Layton should be ashamed of themselves for playing politics with the troops.
The leftists have nothing to be proud of today.
Saskboy | 11-Nov-07 at 10:36 am | Permalink
Just as Kate’s modified poem was inappropriate as a political message on a sacred day, so too is yours Fred. The racism and hatred you bring with it is especially insulting, just so you know.
Fred Bracken | 11-Nov-07 at 10:39 am | Permalink
Nothing I said was racist.
All I pointed out were the facts.
Why didn’t you comment about the Toronto Star publishing an anti military cartoon a day before rememberance?
You must agree with the Star.
The immigrants that live in Canada today do not show the gratitude that they should. They live in their little ghettos and still think they are in their native country.
Toronto is a perfect example of that.
You might think that is racist but I think its the truth.
How many muslims are wearing a poppy today. My guess is NONE.
If you can find a picture of a muslims or any other immigrant wearing a poppy I would be surprised.
Saskboy | 11-Nov-07 at 10:43 am | Permalink
Through the simple fact that you can’t tell if someone is Muslim by looking at them, anyone can see that you’re being racist.
Now please stop fighting about this, it really isn’t a positive way to spend Remembrance Day, arguing about how we need rid of a political party leader with different views, a major newspaper who published a tacky cartoon, and “immigrants in ghettos”.
leftdog | 11-Nov-07 at 11:29 am | Permalink
Saskboy … demonstrated here is an example of the extreme emotional illness that plagues many of our fellow citizens. They are so full of rage and hatred … it boggles the mind.
When I studied how the Nazi government put people on boxcars and sent them to be executed - I wondered, how could that have happened? How could the German people allow such hatred to have its way.
Encapsulated in what Fred Bracken has said here is the seed of the same kind of hatred … the same kind of intolerance that puts people on boxcars because of who they are…
God help us all.
huffb1 | 11-Nov-07 at 12:30 pm | Permalink
Today is a day of Remembrance. To remember those who fought for are freedom and honor them.
I am personally connected to this day. My grandfather and uncle served in the R.C.A.F during World War 2.
This is not a day to play politics with the issue of war.
Saskboy | 11-Nov-07 at 12:34 pm | Permalink
Exactly Huffb1.
Both of my grandfathers served in WWII, and several of my great uncles too. It’s harder to reflect if our gums are flapping.
Fred Bracken | 11-Nov-07 at 2:49 pm | Permalink
My point is this.
In 100 years there will be no remembrance day.
Why you might ask?
Because the leftists in this country have zero respect for the military and play politics with the troops.
Even though it was the Liberals who sent the troops to Afghanistan and then to Kandahar we know see Dion playing politics by demanding the mission end.
This is irresponsible behaviour from Dion. Its funny watching Layton wear the poppy considering he doesn’t think Canada needs a military.
On the issue of immigrants in Canada, all I can say is that if the rest of the country was the same as Toronto is, there would be no military in Canada, no remembrance day, no nothing to celebrate our country’s history in armed conflict.
The left pretends they support our troops but looking at the Toronto Star and the cartoons they publish, its no surprise that many Canadians including myself think they are treasonous.
If you support the troops then you do 100 percent.
Not 5%,10% or 56%, but 100%.
The troops are the real heroes in Canada, not the leftists who use every possible opportunity to embarrass them.
A perfect example of this is trying to portray that Canadian soldiers are involved in torturing the Afghan people. We all know this would never happen yet the mainstream media (CTV,CBC,Toronto Star, Globe and Mail) uses unnamed sources to try to push their anti military agenda.
Face it SASKBOY, the Liberal Party of Canada does not support the troops.
Chretien and Martin never went o Afghanistan once.
Why did they gut the military?
These are all obvious facts that the Liberals don’t care one bit about our bravest men and women.
sassy | 11-Nov-07 at 4:09 pm | Permalink
Saskboy,
Thank you for this post. Your thoughts and … the comment section have served to remind me of how fragile peace can be and, that for some, even the ultimate sacrifice is not enough to give them pause for reflection.
….. The torch, be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields
Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Frank Straka | 11-Nov-07 at 5:28 pm | Permalink
Interesting post. Just want to add my 2 cents worth here.
I am an immigrant to Canada. English is not my mother tongue and my father fought on the wrong side in WWII. Yet, this land and it’s people opened it’s doors to us and thousands of other Hungarians in 1956 so that we could escape a communist dictatorship and live in a democratic society. I attended this years Remeberance Day ceremonies along with my two son’s, both Army Cadets (2296 RCACC) . The ceremonies really hit home today because I know that this time next year, my oldest will be at the Royal Military College in Kingston. He will be one of the one’s who the torch will be passed on to. And I am so proud and so afraid.
leftdog | 11-Nov-07 at 8:37 pm | Permalink
And Frank should be afraid as long as Canada is filled with the type of intolerance and racism we are seeing from Bracken and Kate’s unforgivable nonsense on SDA!
Saskboy | 11-Nov-07 at 8:38 pm | Permalink
Thank you Sassy and Frank for adding your thoughts.
Fred, I think you need to read this:
“Chretien and Martin never went o Afghanistan once.”
http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2003/10/18/pm_afghan031018.html
Stop spreading lies, you’re embarrassing yourself.
Tim Ebl | 11-Nov-07 at 8:46 pm | Permalink
I’m an immigrant. I’m pretty sure everyone in Canada is an immigrant. Didn’t the aboriginal people travel the landbridge to get to this continent during the ice age? The rest of us, or our parents or grandparents or whatever, just got here relatively lately.
Veterans definitely deserve our respect. Families were torn apart and soldiers never returned to see their loved ones, all because we needed their protection.
One thing is for certain. It is serious business to be in harm’s way in any war for your beliefs or country. I know several who are right now overseas in the Canadian Forces and they believe it is the right thing to do, for all of us. They went regardless of whether or not every person in Canada supports them. The least we can do is show some respect for their willingness to defend us. Even if we don’t support what is going on, we should recognize their bravery and support their families back here.
Louise | 11-Nov-07 at 8:59 pm | Permalink
I want to respond to Abdul-Rahim’s point and some of the other points raised here. Remembrance Day is not just about remembering the sacrifices of those who fought in the two world wars of the 20th century. Canadians fought and died in Korea. They were involved in the first Gulf War, the war in former Yugoslavia and currently in the war in Afghanistan. They have also sacrificed in many of the peacekeeping missions Canada has been involved with. We need to remember all of them and honour all of them . But even more to the point, in my opinion, since some of you are talking as though the last war we fought was WWII, we need to respect the men and women who serve in our military today. They were not drafted into the service. They have voluntarily joined the armed forces, demonstrating a willingness to participate in future wars, should that be necessary, putting themselves in harms way, in order to protect us.
Saskboy | 11-Nov-07 at 9:03 pm | Permalink
Yes Louise, that’s a good point to make.
mushroom | 12-Nov-07 at 12:28 am | Permalink
All I can say to Fred is this.
If there are immigrants living in ghettos all over Toronto, can you clean them out using a Karcher?
If you can find one, please forward your request to the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. I look forward to Stockwell Day’s response.
Jourdelune | 12-Nov-07 at 9:55 am | Permalink
I will remember the forced enlist of the future less father of french Canadian nation’s (approved by M. Harper).
Every french canadian know someone in the seventy and more to have some amputation self made to evade the fascist law. Half a thumb anyone?
But what I will remembered the most (Je me Souviens), is the thousands upon thousands of french canadian that have been used in cannon fodder on the Normandy’s landing.
Canada takes merit to make sure french canadian would have a population declined. The Forced enlist was really much more prevalent in Quebec province than any other province in Canada.
That day, is a Souvenir, is a Symbol that a lot of us will never forget.
Jourdelune