Remembering Peace

When was the last time Canada truly enjoyed peace or, better yet, pursued peace?

Was it during the 70s when Trudeau bucked the demands of the US to enter Vietnam?

We’ve been in Afghanistan for more than a decade and before that, we helped bombed Kosovo and were active with the forces in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina.  I’m sure our military has been active in all kinds of other locations around the planet.

On this day, I told my son that a lot of people died so that we could enjoy peace.  More importantly, I told him that his role is to remember ways to find peaceful solutions to the world’s problems.

But why is it that we tell our kids that fighting is not the answer, but as adults, we kick the crap out of anyone at any opportunity?

Libya certainly experienced this recently and Iran is right around the corner.

When are we going to abolish warfare in honour of those that fought against tyranny?  When are we going to stop projecting this new-found sense of tyranny?

On this Remembrance Day and any other day, consider supporting any of these organizations:

• COATS
• Canadian Peace Alliance
• Canadian School of Peacebuilding
• Amnesty International
• White Poppy Alliance
• Artists Against War
• War Resisters’ Campaign
• Ceasefire
• Department of Peace

What’s your favourite organization committed to peace?  Please list it below for everyone to share.