War, Remembrance and ‘Modern’ Times
Mutterings And Murmurs . Poly Tics . Social Studies
To All Elected and Unelected Canadians,
Some of you may be old enough to remember your first of many assemblies for a Remembrance Day memorial that you attended in the gymnasium at your elementary school. You will have made poppies and pictures out of craft paper, glue and crayons to be displayed prior to the event. You will have recited The Lord’s Prayer and sang the original Canadian National Anthem for the second time that day. You will have heard an address from your principal or some public official, or if you were lucky, an actual surviving, uniformed veteran from either world war. One of your classmates may have recited ‘In Flanders Field’. You may have watched some grainy film projections of The Somme or the Normandy landings or a related National Film Board of Canada film short documentary. You will have brought some scarce coins from home to buy a felt poppy and pin made in Canada. You may have felt the eerie sadness or pride during the two minutes of silence on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day, or the solemn notes of The Last Post.
As you progressed through your traditional, academic schooling you may have gradually learned of the true horrors of war from all sides and how faith and spiritual beliefs helped our military and those caught up in war, get through the really tough times and helped them pass on when they died in battle or lived on with horrific injury after the war was over. You will have learned about the atrocities of ‘The Holocaust’ and been required to read ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’. The words, ‘Never Again’ resonated. You may have learned the importance of honoring and respecting the truly defining events in our collective national identity.
Later in life you will have noticed, if you weren’t too busy, that what was meant to be an honorable and unifying tradition was being replaced with indifference or a redefinition of what Canadian nationhood means. ‘Modern’ concepts of Political Correctness and Inclusion that were sold as progress were actually edging us towards a post national, Godless, exclusionary, authoritarian state – of the kind that Canada once helped to defeat. This departure from one of so many things that were good about being Canadian is made so much more profound when seen through the indifference or token gestures from recent governments that have a greater devotion to other international, post Canadian interests. .
But here we are.
How will you remember this year?
Lest we forget.
Sincerely,
Al Neitsch, with Others,
Windsong, Airdrie, Alberta, Canada
From an article by Lorne Gunter, published in the Toronto Sun – Oct.17,2023
“Why do our armed forces need chaplains at all if this is the case? Why not just hire a bunch of life coaches or companion animals? Without faith, a chaplain is a just nice person with a keen outfit and a pleasant demeanour.
What I’m wondering, though, is why sensitivity and inclusivity work just one way? How about some sensitivity for those Canadians, especially veterans, whose spiritual lives include a little prayer?
Why are only the feelings of those who aren’t prayerful important?
I accept that we have probably fought our last war for God and country. And it’s probably not wrong to no longer view our armed forces as defenders of a faith as well as a nation.”
Some additional perspectives for your discernment :
A Woke Move From the Military on Remembrance Day
Minister Blair Says Tories Spreading ‘Misinformation’ on New Military Chaplain Directive on Prayer
Girl Guides Excluded From Santa Parade
https://tnc.news/2023/10/24/girl-guides-wont-join-santa-parade/
Large turnout for Mayor’s Leadership Prayer Breakfast (But What Did They Pray for?)
https://discoverairdrie.com/articles/large-turnout-for-mayors-leadership-prayer-breakfast