On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, lest we forget

Both my parents served in the Air force. I suppose my overt patriotism could have stemmed from that; however neither was particularly patriotic or instilled the strong sense of country that I have held dear and tried to instill in my children. it could have been the sight of  several of my older (and ridiculously handsome) cousins in there various dress uniforms over the years. perhaps it was being a child of the sixties where social unrest and upheaval were the order of the day. Mostly, I think it was the knowledge that my grandmother had been robbed of her childhood when her father was killed in WW1. that thought, that someone who shared my DNA had died fighting for the freedom that we take for granted so much, imprinted on me at an early age. My Nana had worshipped her father and spoke of him often. I have memories of her mother "Nana Martin" who passed when I was almost 5 years old. She was my fathers favourite relative and to the day he died he missed her in his life.
I considered serving myself in the forces; i must admit that part of the appeal was that, as a nurse, I would have automatic officer status thereby, outranking both my parents! it was not too be. this would be a case of the things Max and I should have talked about in more detail before marrying: we both had considered joining and both had been talked out of it by our misguided fathers! so it was not too be.
I have tried to do my best with what I have. I participate in the services and support the poppy campaign for veterans. I try to support veteran rights and be informed about the goings on of our government; although I must admit that Connor is systematically out pacing me in this arena. (be careful what you wish for!)
This year was different. out of a think tank--and I use that term loosely--a government funded organisation called the "Rideau Institute" started a white poppy campaign to coincide with the red poppy campaign of Remembrance day. the public has been outraged. they say that they wanted to start a dialogue about peace not war and felt that the red poppy "glorified" war. I was one of the outraged ones. and although I have frequently been accused of making a "big" deal out of everything, this incident screamed out to me.
so many of my colleagues and patients, over the years, have been refugees or immigrants from war torn, brutal lands. they recount stories that we cannot imagine and have never seen before. Perhaps that is the Rideau Institutes problem: the have never experienced the pain, terror and fear that war brings to a land. and why is that? because in 100years the borders of our nation have not been threatened by war. and why is that? because the veterans and soldiers of our combined armed forces, fought and fight to protect our freedoms and rights that, apparently, so many of us now are taking for granted.
I am sure that the members of this institute have much more education than I do, know more about foreign affairs and the workings of our government. However, I believe that what they did not know more about is the heart of our country. Canadians may not be as loud and boisterous as our American neighbours but we are no less patriotic. I was refreshed to see how much backlash was caused by this silly campaign. for every one positive statement about it there was 100 negative. they got their conversation all right. but I am not sure it was the one they were expecting. I however was once again proud to call this land my home and grateful that for ever man and woman that put their lives on the line so that my children could sleep safely in their beds at night. Below is a letter I left on the institutes website. I have yet to receive a response, nor do I expect one. my hope is that perhaps by my speaking out, it will make at least one person reconsider have a "conversation" next year.

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Hello,
I recently learned of your so called “White Poppy” campaign. I am sure that you “wanted to start a conversation” but I am not sure the conversation that was started was the one you intended. First and foremost, I feel you do not truly grasp the purpose of the Poppy Campaign. Living as we do in Canada, with no actual war within our borders for over 100 years, we have become complacent. The actual purpose of the wearing the poppy is that the person believes in their heart of hearts that peace is the only answer: that never again should a man or woman have to fight for freedom and peace. I raised my children to vote in every election, stand tall and sing loud when our anthem plays and keep the silence on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. that you would usurp the sacred sacrifice that the veterans and their families have made all in the name of “starting a conversation” is abhorrent and shameful. the very freedom and funding that your received in order to achieve this goal of conversation was paid for with blood, in the hope that their children, our children and children to come, would not have to die for the cause of peace. Apparently, we do need more conversation about war, because without it, the peace that you tout to have a conversation about is meaningless, since obviously it breeds contempt, self importance and ungrateful behaviour. you not only owe an apology to every person touched by war, every veteran that fought for your freedom to draw breath, every citizen who was foolish enough to fund your misguided cause–including, apparently our tax funded government–but you owe an apology to the country that surrounds you in a freedom that others can only dream about. in future, please leave the “conversation” to the people who are actually capable of having it, because truly, you seem to have lost touched with the real society in which we live, in which we behave with honor and charity and in which taking a moment to pin a RED poppy on you lapel, honors those who’s only goal was the peace and freedom of our land. For shame!
Linda Steele

-a pittance of time Terry Kelly Video   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kX_3y3u5Uo