November 11, 2013 Today I not only remember - I weep for the men and women who died, who are left crippled or who are left psychologically and mentally damaged. They fought for peace. They protected our freedom. Today we have parades and make speeches honouring the fallen all in the guise of a peace loving, peace seeking world. My words here today are in no way meant to dishonor or to diminish my love and respect for our veterans and the current members of the Canadian armed forces. I simply express my feelings and frustrations over mans most useless and horrific device and that is war. On this day Im reminded of an Eric Bogle song, For Willie McBride, it all happened again, and again, and again, and again, and again. And the world is hell bent on making it happen again and again and again. In a former life I played guitar for a childrens choir and the kids sang a song that started out, Lord make me an instrument of your peace... This week the news story was the christening of the 13 billion dollar Ford class aircraft carrier. The plan is to build 10 of them. China has its first aircraft carrier. Russia is developing and building technological wonders for destroying and killing people. Right here in Nova Scotia a contract has been awarded to spend 25 billion dollars building new war ships. And dont forget the order still stands for Canadas multi billion dollar order for the F-35 fighter jets. If you read the news at all then you know I could write for hours about the massive build up of modern killing machines. I somehow doubt the most gifted wordsmiths could twist these things into instruments of peace the children were singing about. Remembering yesterday will achieve nothing if we keep doing the things today that we will have to remember tomorrow. A powerful politician with a deadly arsenal of military might is like a little boy with a water pistol - he eventually squirts somebody. Russell Daigle
Posted on: Mon, 11 Nov 2013 12:44:07 +0000