They gave their lives in the cause of peace.
A Peacekeeper photographs a piece of Israeli ordinance, left over from the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 2006; an invasion in which Canadian Peacekeeper, Major Paeta Hess von Kreudener lost his life during the bombardment of his observation post by the Israeli Defence Forces. May he rest in peace.
The words of our politicians ring hollow, as they praise our dwindling number of peacekeepers, while they- the politicians – go on making war.
"One of the main reasons that it is so easy to march men off to war," says Ernest Becker, "is that each of them feels sorry for the man next to him who will die."
As David Friedman said, "The direct use of force is such a poor solution to any problem, it is generally employed only by small children and large nations.
Canada seems to have lost its way.
Our country needs to find its peace-making and peacekeeping role once again.
Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. This is not a way of life at all in any true sense. Under the clouds of war, it is humanity hanging on a cross of iron.
-General/President Dwight David Eisnhower, April 16, 1953
And finally…this quote from Nazi official Hermann Goering…words that should ring loudly in the ears of each one of us -
Naturally the common people don’t want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country
Fine post, Jim. The quotations speak volumes.
I have very little to add… except to wonder how many lives Canadian peace keeping forces might have saved in, say, Africa. Maybe those new helicopters will lend a hand to that task in the years to come.
In this presumed age of free speech I suppose I have as much right as Ernest Becker to express an opinion, which is at odds with his.
I think men (and women) march off to war primarily because of their chosen career-path. The power of testosterone should not be ignored either, all these deaths are youngsters.
Self-interest and self-promotion are not of themselves bad, we all do it.
Gen. Rick Hillier is a good example except his hormones have probably been overshadowed by his massive ego for a few years now.
They also march off to war because they are wilfully uninformed about the conflict and ignorant of its history.
Otherwise they wouldn’t go.
I’m not sure where feeling sorry for their military mates comes in as a motivator for armed aggression against civilians.
Thankyou again Jim, for another fine post.
All we have is our vote Jim, and perhaps a little influence and desire to make others aware.
You made a comment recently that really hit home to me and after thinking it was a strong comment I totally agree. You said “let’s get real – there is no freedom and there is no democracy”. It doesn’t seem to matter what style of government is in power. It’s become a farce and to quote our fine Canadian artist L. Cohen,,,,”everybody knows”.
This is a bad time for Canada. I know everyone has a different opinion but I feel that cutting off particular programs that allow well respected writers like Gwynne Dyer to go to Cuba and talk about Canada and democracy when King Harper himself can’t even go to the Olympics to support either China’s hospitality or Canadian athletes is the lowest of low. Shamefull and hypocritical to say the least.
my favorite uncle went to war in 1940. he had no idea what it was all about. he answered the propaganda call…hoping for adventure in foreign parts. he was killed in 1945 by a German sniper in holland
as for the Olympics…they too have been an exercise in propaganda ever since they were hosted by Hitler. now we have the world…including the shrub…paying homage to the thing. gross.