Every year on this date, we ask each other to remember those who gave their lives so that we can, presumably, continue living in peace. My Grandfather served in WWII, never seeing combat, but just his service alone made me want to serve when I was a teenager. I had absolutely no frame of reference for what war meant beyond the movies I watched and the plastic toy guns that I was so compelled to play with. And, boy... did I ever love playing with my plastic M16. I had a toy AK47 and a few fun pistols as well. War was one of my favorite games. (Dont feel bad, Mom. I begged you for them mercilessly. You did your due diligence by trying to deter me from playing those games... but the A-Team was far too inspiring) Today, alongside my dearly departed Grandfather, Im remembering my old friend John Post, who is still very much alive. At the ripe age of 18, I was determined to sign up with the Canadian Forces and go serve my country. John, the cool tough older brother of my high school sweetheart, had recently returned from the Serbian/Kosovo conflict and I knew that he could tell me exactly what I needed to do in order to serve. Over coffee, John looked me straight in the eye and said: I cant let you do it. Dont sign up. Just stop thinking about it. I was stunned. Totally deflated. Why?, I asked. Youre too nice. It will change a guy like you. Youre not cut out for that world. Ive seen what it does to guys like you. I never questioned him after that and Im beyond thankful to him for talking some sense into me. Now, at this point in my life, Ive met many others who have served. I have several friends who have spouses, partners, parents of their children, who are serving or who have served. A good number of these friends want out. Not all, but enough to make you scratch your head and think twice. Those who serve, those people who choose to sign up for the possibility of armed conflict on behalf of us, the taxpayers, are more often than not, fine upstanding citizens who naturally have a level of integrity within them that is beyond admirable... its enviable. Ive also met some families who have sons and daughters serving in our fighting forces for the simple reason that they need the job. They need the money because its the best, most lucrative option. Thats right. Here in Canada we have people signing up out of financial necessity. Not all, to be sure, but that we have any Canadian doing it for money is a symptom of a larger disease. As a peacenik, I find soldier suicide to be the most heinous outcome of our twisted foreign policies. Our leaders can always find money and reasons for war... but we cant save those good people who went out under false pretenses when they return home, broken and irreparably changed. If you remember those who gave their lives for something that you find meaningful: please remember those who are still alive, who are still struggling with their memories of their service when they get back home. We owe it to them. We owe it to them to remember, out loud, before its too late. Lest we forget.
Posted on: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 14:52:35 +0000
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