In World War I, World War II, and the Korean
War more than 1.7 million young Canadian soldiers were sent off by
Canadian governments to fight to defend freedom and democracy. Many died and
many returned physically and mentally wounded with trauma that they lived with
for the rest of their lives.
Canadian soldiers have also (literally) stood between warring parties as part of United Nations peacekeeping operations since their first engagement in 1956 following the Suez Crisis.[1] And in the past decade, Canadian governments sent soldiers to fight in Afghanistan to help the citizens of that nation try and build a fledgling democracy.
Remembrance Day is not a day to commemorate war as some would believe. It is a day to remember those who have been willing to put their lives in harms way to defend the rights and freedoms that Canadians enjoy today and many take for granted. The vast majority of those who join the military don't do so because they want to go to war. They do it because they want to serve this nation in an honourable way. At times that means following the orders of civilian leaders that puts them in harms way.
So on November 11th, as the country gathers to commemorate Remembrance Day, give a thought to the soldiers of the past century who have done what they have been told by their political masters, who have stood in harms way, who have represented the ideals of Canadian society to the best of their ability, and those who died on the battlefield. Remember them for the society that their effort and sacrifice allowed to be built. And remember them in the future by being prepared to become an involved and active citizen if anyone (politicians, corporations or individuals) undertake efforts that could jeopardize or take away the rights, freedoms and liberties that many have sacrificed their blood to give us. We owe that to them.
– Fareed Khan
Canadian soldiers have also (literally) stood between warring parties as part of United Nations peacekeeping operations since their first engagement in 1956 following the Suez Crisis.[1] And in the past decade, Canadian governments sent soldiers to fight in Afghanistan to help the citizens of that nation try and build a fledgling democracy.
Remembrance Day is not a day to commemorate war as some would believe. It is a day to remember those who have been willing to put their lives in harms way to defend the rights and freedoms that Canadians enjoy today and many take for granted. The vast majority of those who join the military don't do so because they want to go to war. They do it because they want to serve this nation in an honourable way. At times that means following the orders of civilian leaders that puts them in harms way.
So on November 11th, as the country gathers to commemorate Remembrance Day, give a thought to the soldiers of the past century who have done what they have been told by their political masters, who have stood in harms way, who have represented the ideals of Canadian society to the best of their ability, and those who died on the battlefield. Remember them for the society that their effort and sacrifice allowed to be built. And remember them in the future by being prepared to become an involved and active citizen if anyone (politicians, corporations or individuals) undertake efforts that could jeopardize or take away the rights, freedoms and liberties that many have sacrificed their blood to give us. We owe that to them.
– Fareed Khan
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* Canadians believe Edward Snowden is a hero, not a villain
* Millions long for rights we squander
* Most Canadians don’t want civil liberties taken away to combat terrorism: poll
* Canadians believe Edward Snowden is a hero, not a villain
* Millions long for rights we squander
© F. Khan. All rights reserved.
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