Lest We Forget

A Canadian soldier presently serving in Afghanistan has communicated to a relative the huge struggle he's facing because of the death of six of his fellows in the past week. The crazy politics of this past three months has unfortunately assisted in leading many of us to forget the cost that is actually being felt by those who are battling in ways that matter so much more than the way we have been behaving as politicians lately.  I opted to put my response in this blog, in hopes that we'll remember just how much we owe to these fine Canadians.  I've altered his name for obvious reasons.Hi Lloyd:

What a terrible immersion for you into the realities of Afghanistan.  I recall talking to you before you left, and though you were eager to serve you also knew it could get tough.

And now that's happened in a very sad way.  The loss of six of our guys just in this last week is devastating to all of us, especially to those serving in Parliament who took on the responsibility of sending all of you into harm's way.  It would be just so much easier to just call you all home and leave the Afghans to fend for themselves, but both you and I know that's not how our soldiers react to terrible loss.  I feel so much respect for that kind of commitment right now.  I recall speaking to a number of women leaders from Afghanistan who pleaded that our soldiers wouldn't depart because they knew they wouldn't make it through the warm weather months without being targeted for killing.  I've been in enough conflict situations to know just exactly what they were talking about and it struck me today that those women are still alive because you and your colleagues are there.  If only those women knew right now the cost of your answering their plea for safety.  It reminds me that the purpose of all war is peace and you have given them that at terrible cost.

It's one of saddest ironies of life that in time of peace, sons and daughters bury their fathers but in times of war, fathers and mothers bury their sons and daughters.  

I don't know what you're going through right now, Lloyd, but I wouldn't be surprised that you have a sense of anger - rightfully so. But you represent me and every other Canadian that believes in peace and its expansion.  I will continue to believe that "Canada" is firmly planted in you and that when the temptation comes to hate your enemies that you will pull back from that emotion.  During times like now, hatred can become respectable and often will mask itself under the guise of patriotism. Don't permit that kind of patriotism to overcome your spirit or else the conflict will drag you down.  Let your love for Canada be like Lester Pearson's was - willing to fight for peace internationally but being a firm believer of peace as the key component that makes the Canadian character so great.

I have no right to tell you anything because it's you, not me, that's facing the horrors of all this.  You have lost six good men in a short period of time and I only wish I could be of some consolation to you.  But it doesn't change the fact that Canadians like me think of you every single day and realize you are lucky.  You get to take the Canadian belief in peace and actually get to fight for it.  In that sense, I think you are remarkable.  Mourn the loss, Lloyd, but keep the peace in your heart and continue making us as proud of you as we are today.

And by the way, every time we communicate you call me "sir".  I am only a member of Parliament but you are a soldier for peace and it should be me calling you "sir". Let's make a deal.  You call me Glen and I'll call you Lloyd.  We'll never be fully equal because you actually risk your life in fighting for peace, but at least we'll be friends in the pursuit of peaceful outcomes.  I'll mourn with you today but I will rejoice at your presence there "for us" every day you are gone.

Respectfully,

Glen