Green Party Statement on Remembrance Day

On Friday, November 9th, 2012 in Press Releases, Videos

November 11th is a day to remember that soldiers die believing they were sent for a reason, a noble cause, to defend, to liberate.

Women and men of the military are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice and we owe them our respect and gratitude. November 11th is a time for national reflection.

We remember those who gave their lives willingly.

We remember the shattered lives of soldiers who return wounded not only physically, but psychologically.

We remember that the sacrifice is not just that of a single soldier but their entire family and often an entire community.

We remember the overwhelming, countless loss of civilians who didn’t choose to die.

We remember how easy it is to begin a war but not to end it. There is no such thing as a short war–the effects of violence remain long after the last shot is fired.

We remember the sacrifice of those who work for peace and to end violence.

We remember that violence does not happen just between nations but contaminates our entire society and our way of thinking.

On November 11th we remember, with gratitude.

On November 11th, we remember and pray that war will be no more.

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Malcolm McCallum
I like that there is no nationalism in this message. When Rememberance Day is turned into a day to glorify and celebrate victory of one nation over another, it is a mark that we have forgotten.
http://twitter.com/changethetopic Change The Topic
We can only hope to be so lucky. Lest we forget.
CalgaryMark
I was born during WWII in England. When I came to Canada I met former servicemen who had protected me from the ravages of war. I remember also on one occasion when two former soldiers met and realized they had been on the opposite sides of the same battlefield at the same time and were now living in peace together. Let us indeed remember those who were not so fortunate.
Lison
des êtres aux corps et à l’âme saccagés…des familles brisées
Norbert.delaire
Bonsoir,
Il n’y a pas plus grand sacrifice que ces jeunes hommes,dans la fleur de la vie, qui ont donné celle-ci pour que nous soyons libres.Il n’y a pas plus grande peine que la blessure inconsolables des Mères ayant perdu leurs enfants et la blessure ouverte de l’Amour est toujours là dans nos souvenirs.Nous prions pour que ces vies n’aient pas été données sans signification ,mais pour que s’étoffe et se répande la Paix et son esprit sur le Monde.
Jan Slakov
As someone who chooses not to invest in militarism and violence, and to develop my/our capacity to struggle nonviolently for the values we hold most dear, I really appreciate this statement. And I wear a white poppy along with a red one, to remember more about war than just those who fought or fight in “our” uniform.
bigmil
Instead of praying that there will be no more war why don’t you actually try and do something about it? The Green Party said nothing when the government decided to cut all diplomatic ties with Iran. Where was the Green Party when The Canadian Peace Alliance, Canada’s largest umbrella peace organization, condemned this decision and organized a day of protest action on October 6, demanding a peaceful solution and opposing any NATO military intervention in Syria and an end to the ongoing war in Afghanistan? I guess you were just praying in silence. I will not take this statement seriously until you back it up with your actions.
Shelley Friesen
Thanks for mentioning that the effects of war and loss of life or ability is not limited to the men and women who serve while honouring those who were and are on the front line. Thanks for saying that you pray for more than we have now. Thank you for not politicizing or postulating in this simple message laden with truths for many Canadians.
charaleeg
Thank you for your message and comments. My father served in WWII and was fortunate to be one of those who survived. On November 11th we remember.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1475284920 Darren Gregory
Thank You! :0)
Nancy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLtYeBFhjN8
Jim Poushinsky
My father was a bombardier with the RCAF flying in Lancaster bombers. He was the only survivor of his original 7 man crew, and was awarded the DFC for bravery. He was haunted for the rest of his life by his participation in the bombing of Dresden, in which the city was set afire and 100,000 civilians died. He said the bomber crews were told the lie that it was a military target. He would have nothing to do with the Legion, nor with Remembrance Day. He said the war sacrificed the lives of ordinary people and didn’t change anything, because the vested interests who caused and benefited from war on both sides remained in power, and care nothing for the lives of ordinary people to this day.
Suzanne Palen
Nicely done Elizabeth…very poignant, relevant and non-judgmental.
Camille Miller
Beautifully said.
Derek Kaill
“We remember the overwhelming, countless loss of civilians who didn’t choose to die.”
“We remember how easy it is to begin a war but not to end it. There is
no such thing as a short war–the effects of violence remain long after
the last shot is fired.”
“We remember the sacrifice of those who work for peace and to end violence.”
“We remember that violence does not happen just between nations but contaminates our entire society and our way of thinking.”
“On November 11th, we remember and pray that war will be no more.”
I agree with these ones. The others distract from them. Respecting the killers of the above-mentioned civilians is no less than revolting; monstrous.
karen
Thank you for your beautiful words.
A Manz
Thank you, for your work and efforts as an MP and as Leader of the Green Party. Thank you for your broad perspective. We need to pray and work for an end to conflict, war, prejudice, hatred, discrimination, greed, and selfishness! If we did not have these, we probably would not need soldiers and military, and prayers for them.
http://www.facebook.com/margaret.burgess.378 Margaret Burgess
I believe in a nation being Peaceful Hawkes. Always prepared and watchful. I think our government should look after our military and make sure they are all well trained and well equipped. They should be paid well and health and rehabilitation should be utmost as well. Ey