Regardless of all the bullshit you see surrounding Veterans commanded to leave their medals and uniforms at home, to expand the day to include migrants and LGBT and others in the celebration, and two Sikh police officers having sword fights in the street to celebrate our Indian and Khalistan tradition of blood feuds in the streets, I want to wish every Canadian a happy Remembrance day.
The 11th hour
Of the 11th day
Of the 11th month
To remember those who gave their lives for Canada in world war I, and since, in service of the Nation of Canada. Probably that last time one could say a — United — Kingdom.
For my 13 year military career, regardless of what was going on, I would spend every 11th of November parading to a Cenotaph, standing at attention for the minute of silence, then going to the Royal Canadian Legion to have a beer with the vets and listen. I was in San Diego in 35 degree heat. We were dressed in full polyester double breasted parade dress. We had a makeshift Cenotaph. People were dropping like flies from the heat. Yet we still took the day to remember and venerate those who came before us.
I wrote an essay when I first started here about meeting vets from the Korean war whose service dwarfed mine. It was the humility I value today. So when I get sour, know that it’s from the same place that I, or anyone, would talk about their home after losing their dad, which I also had at the age of 17. I’m young, but I’m old where it counts. So old.
I say this blankly. I have no strong emotions left. Those days are gone and I don't think they are ever coming back. The government of Canada does more than ignore out cultural and national symbols, but actively despises them; sprinkling mass unskilled immigration and 3rd world in-fighting onto all of them. They only venerate our national symbols insofar as they can pilfer the taxpayer. Donate now for the graves of all the First Nations people we promise are there in Kamloops. Trust us. Money now.
The Royal Canadian Legion, which has done through many decades of choices that are beyond the scope of this essay, don’t have veterans in or running the organization. They actively hate the military they are built by veterans to house veterans. They’ve gone so far as to invent their own stolen valor set of medals for those who loved the idea of the military but weren’t so keen on actually serving. The only Legion story I’ve seen this year is where they kicked out a highly decorated veteran because he had the audacity to wear his 7 deployment medals with his work clothes in their hallowed halls. Please donate to them now to Remember all the trans soldiers and sailors who fought against the evil Nazis in the Vietnam war alongside our brave Khalistan veterans.
And the only voice I’ve seen in years who actually loves and respects the country that gave him his fame and fortune, Don Cherry, removed from the public sphere and denied his livelihood because he dared to suggest that Canadians™ that come to Canada actually give a shit about Canada and embrace our traditions. All done while his 30 year friends and co workers, who he helped bring up from nothing, cower behind their desks and say nothing.
This sounds bitter, but it isn’t. I’ve been a vet now since 2015. I’ve stopped feeling the strong emotions that come from the celebrations of Canada. I’m just tired of being what feels like the only person to give a shit. I know I’m not alone, and I know some out there have some fight left in them. I won’t stand in your way, and if I can I’ll support your efforts.
This is a rambling and meandering mess so I’ll end here on my one navel gaze: I wonder if this is what Rhodesians felt like in the late 70s. I can’t even stomach making the equivalence without feeling embarrassed; as they had real struggle, a last fight before the end. We didn’t get even that much. It was just a pink slip and an ice cream cake for lunch. We tried some of the other services, but I think with the wide selection and not so many repeats it’s a really great service. Donate Now.
FWIW - Despite my time in further back than yours, I recommend NOT to take that route to those who ask.
That said: 1916 by Motorhead (originally wrote Meatlof, sorry) (or the Sabaton cover) are worth a listen to today.