Just like I adore the passionate ranting and raving of Rex Murphy, I often enjoy watching Rick Mercer at work. He’s a hilarious comedian who can be forgiven his occasional lapses in judgment (One Tonne Challenge anyone?). Rick Mercer spent his Christmas with the troops in Afghanistan (here). Aside from Don Cherry, I can’t think of another Canadian “celebrity” so supportive of our men and women in the Canadian Forces. They prove that you don’t need to agree with the political decisions behind the actions to appreciate the dedication and determination of our military members.

Technorati Tags: Rex Murphy, Rick Mercer, Don Cherry, CBC, support the troops

The Dominion Institute petition was successful. Canoe is reporting that the “House of Commons unanimously approved a motion Tuesday asking the government to offer a formal state funeral for the last Canadian veteran of the First World War.”

You can read the press release here.

This isn’t to say that the last surviving WWI veteran will have a state funeral, only that the offer of a state funeral will be made to the family members upon his death.

Technorati Tags: veteran, WWI, state funeral, dominion institute

For those who have served and fallen – both during their service or after retirement – take a moment to remember their sacrifice.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.– excerpt from For The Fallen, Laurence Binyon

In recent years there have been some discussions surrounding whether or not war is ever justified and if Canada should be shifting it’s focus away from combat missions and moving towards revamping our military to solely support peacekeeping and humanitarian aid roles.

Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica: Whether it is always sinful to wage war? says:

Those who wage war justly aim at peace, and so they are not opposed to peace, except to the evil peace…We do not seek peace in order to be at war, but we go to war that we may have peace.

I don’t believe in war for the sake of war, dominance or economics. I do believe that true evil exists and must be fought when encountered. I’d like to think I judge each mission the Canadian Forces are involved in on their own merit.

Many wars have been fought during the course of human history. Many have faded to memory. A few, such as the first and second world wars will likely do the same as the few remaining survivors of war’s horror slowly fade to dust. If we are to learn from history and move forward, we must never forget our past. I worry many days that we are heading in that direction – forgetting the sacrifices of those who fought for freedom from tyranny.

Each year, fewer and fewer of those who fought during WWI and WWII remain alive. Fewer people attend Remembrance Day ceremonies and sport poppies.

Tomorrow, please take a moment to attend Remembrance Day ceremonies in your local area. Visit a local Legion and spend time with our veterans. If you’re unable to attend ceremonies at a local cenotaph please observe two minutes silence at 11:00am.

You can also spend some time visiting the following sites:

• Canoe.ca – Remembrance Day: Why The Poppy?
• Terry Kelly – Pittance of Time
• Shawn Hlookoff – Soldier
• Dr. Sam – Before you go
• Judy Small – Mothers, Daughters, Wives
• Eric Bogle – Green Fields of France
• John McCrae – In Flander’s Fields
• Army.ca – Dealing with being home from Afghanistan

Update: Modified posting time stamp to keep this post in the forefront.

Technorati Tags: Remembrance Day, lest we forget, poppy, Legion, war, poetry

Take a moment to pause and reflect:

Your alarm goes off, you hit the snooze and sleep for another 10 minutes. He (or she) stays up for days on end.You take a shower to wake up. He goes weeks without running water.

You call in sick with a headache. He could be splattered with bullets or shrapnel, but keeps moving forward.

You put on your anti-Afghanistan shirt, go meet your friends. He fights for your right to wear that shirt.

You talk “trash” with your buddies that aren’t with you. He may not see some of his buddies ever again.

You walk the street, staring at the pretty girls. He walks the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists.

You complain about 30C in summer. He wears his heavy gear in 40C heat, not daring to take off his helmet to wipe his brow.

You change your clothes every day. He’ll wear the same army issue for months, but makes sure his weapons are clean.

You’re angry because your class ran five minutes late. He gets told he’s staying in Afghanistan another two months.

You hug your girlfriend every day. He holds the letter close and tries to think of his love’s perfume.

You criticize the government – war never solves anything.

He sees the innocent, tortured and killed by their own, and remembers why he’s fighting.

You see only what the media thinks you can handle seeing. He sees the bodies and blood, lying around him.

You sit and judge him, saying the world is a worse place because of men (and women) like them.

If only there were more like them.

– Author Unknown

h/t to Graham Hicks of the Edmonton Sun.