Every year on November eleventh in Canada, we participate in rituals of Remembrance. Every day the viciousness, the cruelty, the destructiveness of war somewhere in the world, stride into our homes and minds on the wings of the news media and technology. We know war exists. We know its cost to people, countries and the earth. Why then do we participate in this Remembrance Day ritual?
Just like “Orange Shirt Day,” our Remembrance Day is essential for our country and our citizens for two reasons. First, the ritual honours our soldiers for their sacrifices, past and present. These men and women still give their lives for peace and freedom in other countries, because we care and to protect our peace and freedom here at home. As the poet John McCrae said:
“…To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Even though there seems always to be another war starting somewhere, we have hope that someday there will be world peace. In the meantime, our ritual reminds us to keep trying, keep caring and keep saying thank you.
And there is a second reason for the necessity of our Remembrance Day ritual. Like “Orange Shirt Day,” we remember the past as part of building for the future. Our ritual repeats to us, over and over again, that the responsibility for peace begins with each one of us as individuals. Our ritual calls our attention to the horror of war so that we will learn the necessity of teaching and living acceptance and love for all people. We hear that hunger and human rights violations breed desperation. We learn that prejudice is based in ignorance and results in injustice and discord. Discord and desperation are fertile fields for sowing seeds of war.
We cannot ignore the needs of others. With no memory, we cannot learn from our mistakes. And so, we carry Captain McCrae’s torch. Each succeeding generation must learn to treasure our freedom, our peace in Canada. We cannot take it for granted. You can make the time to attend your local cenotaph service. We need our Remembrance Day Ritual at least until we have finally achieved world peace.
Today’s Faith By Rev. Janet Stobie