Remembrance

Yesterday I travelled downtown to observe one of our countries most solemn ceremonies: Remembrance Day. In years past I have either sat through an assembly in school or simply watched on TV - but this year, I thought I would put my social studies teacher hat on and take a look at how the official parliament hill version shaped up.

As I was walking up to the parliament buildings, I followed a young family headed to the ceremony.  By this time, they had started firing off the big guns, and the morning was punctuated by periodic blasts. I noticed that the children in front of me were getting more and more excited, as we walked up the street and the source of the blasts grew nearer. They weren’t alone. Many small children were riled up by the noise, and many parents had to remind them of the solemn nature of the event.

A question that rose to my mind was: who or what are these blasts for? Are they to remind us of the storm and clash of battle? Are they to let those who haven’t experienced combat get a little taste? Are they designed to bring tears to the eyes of elderly veterans?

At any rate, the ceremony proceeded, interrupted by the occasional blast: “And now from Victoria city council, Mrs *BOOM* will present a wreath,” or “and now a few words from our *BOOM* Dean Fortin.”

One more thing. I respect the military, and the role that it has historically played. World Wars One and Two, though senseless, were both pivotal turning points in history, and Canadians should be proud of the role they played.  However, the general feeling I have always felt at Remembrance Day is ‘never again.’ I am glad that our forebears had the courage to sacrifice what they did, but I hope that no future generation has to suffer as they did.

So when I hear the media, and announcers at the event itself, try to link the Remembrance Day tradition to our ‘modern heroes’ I have a bit of trouble.  Aside from the fact that our national security is not threatened by tribal militias in Afghanistan, besides the fact that many believe it is an unjust war likely to spark more conflict… our modern military is made up of volunteers, not conscripts. Yesterday I remembered the casualties of war. Not the innumerable civilian casualties of the great wars, but those who suffer to this day as a result of military intervention.

Never again, right?