Honour, sacrifice
In recent days, lapels have been adorned with red poppies, in an act of remembrance for those who fell in battle.
This leads up to services that will take place at cenotaphs throughout Canada. On the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour, a moment of silence is held to reflect on the sacrifice of fallen soldiers. Wellington County has its own rich history of cenotaphs and Legions that honour the war dead. Although some customs and approaches vary, the acts of remembrance are pure and sincere.
The debt owed to the men and women who served Canada across numerous armed conflicts is enormous. And sadly, the ties to those service members are lessening each year, as veterans pass away and stories fade into darkness.
We have a special feature again this year to commemorate the occasion. Backing up that effort are local businesses and personalities who support the ideals of remembrance.
The moment of silence, held at cenotaphs, schools and workplaces, means different things to different people. For those with family members that served, the moment can be quite personal, imagining for instance an old cousin’s trek from Italy to Holland where people were liberated. For others it may provide a moment to remember stories of their ancestors being freed from the grip of war.
Wellington County put up its fair share of soldiers and as conflicts subsided, it welcomed Germans and Dutch alike, more specifically after the Second World War. For generations, these newcomers from Europe have thrived and been successful additions to communities here. It never ceases to amaze us the numbers of those who very publicly give thanks to Canada and its war effort. Their pride in Canada is so gratifying.
With waning memories and affluent lifestyles, we sense the mood to remember is softening. While that is understandable as the distance grows from conflict to the present day, it begs the question whether complacency is taking root. Is apathy and indifference finally defeating values that previous generations genuinely fought to preserve at every turn?
We see it in the approach to democracy and the chance to vote. Terrible battles and gruesome scenes were endured so that generations could be free from authoritarian rule. Democracy takes work and participation by citizens. It is a job that never fully ends.
Contrarians will argue that non-participants are merely exercising their freedom to not participate – an option also made available by veterans. But that is a cop out.
Sitting back is not an option in our books. Proof of that surrounds the world as democracies whither and hybrid forms of democracy emerge. Too much power in the hands of too few can only lead to authoritarian rule. The sad part to that is once the wheels start to slip and democracy stumbles, the rest happens so quickly it is hard to stop.
Next Wednesday, attend a service, or stop where you are at 11am and observe how blessed we are that veterans sacrificed as they did. We are still free, generations later.
Waste
Dissatisfaction with governments and policies seems to be bubbling over in the European Union.
Protests in France have led to issues in Germany, where people have taken to the streets on a host of issues.
Tied somehow to those events was a hacking spree that disabled coolers and freezers at grocery stores in those countries. Dumpster bins were full of perishable meat and dairy products that had been stored at unsafe temperatures for too long. Arguably, the working class and poor are the most affected by this egregious waste.
Why are those who can least accept it hurt in these situations? It is maddening to witness.