View from the Cheap Seats is kind of an extension of the newsroom. Whenever our three regular reporters, Calvin Daniels, Thom Barker and Randy Brenzen are in the building together, it is frequently a site of heated debate. This week: Why is Remembrance Day important?
In just three years, we will be commemorating the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. That conflict was billed as “the war to end all wars.”
Of course, it wasn’t. Not even close.
On February 4, 2012, Florence Green, the last surviving veteran of that war, passed away at the age of 110.
There are just slightly more than 1,000 veterans of World War II left.
I am not nearly old enough to personally remember the immediate aftermath of either of those wars, but I do remember the lingering effects of the Cold War. Statistically speaking, we now live in an era of relative peace, but we are still prone to basest instincts of our species.
We just went through a federal election that brought out those
I was really annoyed last week when someone sent an email to the newspaper claiming to be from the Royal Canadian Legion that was basically a racist tirade against immigrants.
“Immigrants, not Canadians, must adapt,” the tirade ends. The irony is whoever wrote this tripe, can’t be more than a few generations removed from being an immigrant himself.
It’s bad enough spreading this garbage, but it’s a free country. It is the ultimate in disrespect to our veterans, however, to try to associate it with the Legion.
Our veterans fought for a free country for all citizens regardless of race, gender, language, religion etc. Along the way, we made some mistakes, such as interring Japanese-Canadians.
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” wrote George Santayana in The Life of Reason, 1905.
The current sentiment toward Muslims in this country is a stirring reminder that ugly simmers just below the surface.
That is why we must remember. That is why we must pass the remembrance down from generation to generation.
—Thom Barker
Remembrance Day is upon us, and in my opinion it’s the most important holiday of the year.
Sure, Christmas is great; Easter too.
But Remembrance Day is far and away the most important holiday there is. And that’s because it’s the day we set aside specifically to thank and remember our Canadian military veterans for the sacrifices that they made so that we can live the way we do.
However people must remember that we’re not just thanking and remembering Caucasian or Christian veterans. No. We’re remembering Canadian veterans from all colours and creeds; all races and religions from First Nation, Asian and African races and Sikh, Muslim and Atheistic viewpoints. All have sacrificed many things - some going as far as to sacrifice their life - so that we Canadians that don’t decide to join the military can live our lives to our fullest extent.
But while I find Remembrance Day to be extremely important, there is still one thing that annoys me. Why is it that we have to set aside a day to remember all the brave men and women that have fought so valiantly for the Maple Leaf? I mean, it’s wonderful that we do, but we shouldn’t just do it for one day. We should thank, remember and honour our veterans (from all wars, not just the World Wars and Korea) each and every day.
They deserve it. Lest we forget. Thank you.
—Randy Brenzen
There are few ‘days’ I feel compelled to think of a must recognize.
Christmas is a Christian/slash big retail sales holiday that holds little meaning for a growing non-Christian segment of society.
Ditto Easter.
Thanksgiving is a good excuse to over eat, but not a lot more these days.
New Year’s Day is but a turning of the calendar.
Valentine’s Day is a fake day designed to boost the sale of flowers, candy and cards, and to make those without a significant other feel somehow shorted by life.
Remembrance Day however is different for me.
On most of the aforementioned days I simply bask in the relaxation of a day off, rising at the crack of noon, and doing as little as possible after that.
Nov. 11, whether it is freezing and windy, sunny and warm, whether I am fighting a cold, or truly needing a few more hours sleep, I climb out of bed to attend Remembrance Day services.
Members of the Canadian Armed Forces have done much to help forge the Canada we have today.
They died in wars holding a line against tyranny to protect the freedoms we seem to often to now take for granted, and that should be forever recognized.
But it goes farther too. The Canada I am so proud of is one willing to be part of peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts. They are a role we have long taken on, and that is important in terms of this country’s role in the bigger world, and how others view us.
For this too we should take time every Nov. 11 to pay our respects, it is the least we as civilians can do to mark the efforts of our veterans.
- Calvin Daniels
