Today is a Serious Day
I thought I’d write an actual serious post today before my work sends me off to sensitivity training.
Yes, imagine that. I need sensitivity training. Never thought I’d see the day. If I never offend anyone again after today, I apologize to those who enjoy seeing me do it. Until of course I pick the one topic that offends you and then you hate my guts.
Boy, isn’t humanity an interesting and hypocritical species, huh 
Regardless of my own personal issues, today is Remembrance Day. This is probably the most important day all year in my opinion. Why is that? I’ll tell you. This is the day we pay homage to those who fought, and fight, bravely to make and keep this free western world of ours free.
Today, myself, and most of the people reading my drivel are living one one of the two BEST countries on earth, bar none. We are the among the privileged few who can make any of our wants, hopes and dreams come true. We have the unique ability to create our own opportunities and make them come true with nothing more than smarts, planning and hard work.
The majority of the other countries on this planet will not give you anywhere close to that opportunity.
That doens’t come free, it doesn’t even come cheap. Like it or not, our comrades fight and die to make it that way and keep it that way. As much as no one likes war, it is an inevitability among our species. It has been that way all through history and it will continue to be that way.
My good job, my running water and heat, the food in my belly and the opportunity even to be writing this are due to somebody who I don’t know, and will never meet, fighting for it on my behalf.
I don’t care what your beliefs are. I don’t care if you blatantly picket our governments to stop the fighting with no knowledge or care of the reasons or necessities of it (along with no knowledge of deodorant either, you stupid hippies). Everyone, EVERYONE take this day to reflect what you have and respect those who make it possible.
Respect if you have change in your pocket and a roof over your head, you are doing better than 90% of anyone else on this planet.
Respect our respective welfare systems; as dysfunctional as they may be, your society will keep you fed. Most other places will let you starve.
Respect the relative freedom of speech that you have.
Most of all, respect that the war that has been the price we’ve paid has been kept off of our soil, keeping our families safe.
Today, I wear my poppy with pride. To all who keep my freedom at such a great cost, I thank you with all my heart.
Well done.
This is my favorite line:
My good job, my running water and heat, the food in my belly and the opportunity even to be writing this are due to somebody who I don’t know, and will never meet, fighting for it on my behalf.
hugs…
Ironically, all the people out there protesting the war and whatnot can do so because of the very thing they protest.
I remember with all my heart. And I thank every one of these selfless human beings.
OK, I’m going to assume America one of the world’s two greatest countries. What’s the other one? Canada? Have fun in sensitivity training. That’d probably be fun if you worked at an adult bookstore. Any other place, probably not so much.
Well said, Spaz. Enjoy your sensitivity training.
How ironic it is, then, that we commemorate on November 11 the war that they said at the time was the war to end all wars. Instead, the terms of the armistice only served as a set-up to an even more destructive war only one generation later, which led to the Cold War, which led to dozens of proxy wars around the world.
And now we have quite possibly the set-up to either the greatest clash of civilisations ever – between Christian and Moslem, between China and America – name your flashpoint and you’ve got your potential for eternal catastrophe.
War will never go away! Not when we’re still armed to the teeth and not when there’s still so much lovely money to be made, be it the old way via making and selling arms or the latest à la Haliburton and Co. who make billions reconstructing what their friends in government smashed to pieces.
That’s why I’m pretty cynical about Remembrance Day and this new hoopla over the September 11th anniversary. They honour the institution of war.
@jenjen
Thank you.
@KrisAKAJaney
Exactly!
@MikeWJ at TooManyMornings
Yea I loved it. We have to tell people with an IQ of 7 that they are just like everyone else while helping them do things that normal people do not need help with.
@Knucklehead!
Thanks Chris. I just LOVED it.
@ian in hamburg
Hamburg, Germany huh. Well, if the war ended a different way you might have been around to speak this but I sure as hell wouldn’t.
If you’re ready to disarm hoping everyone else will, please man. You just signed your death warrant. Humanity will never stop fighting, it’s hardwired, it’s inevitable, it’s territory and resource struggle. If you’re feeling extra ambitions, look up a term called the “Psycological Immune System”.
Muslims against Christians? HA! Muslims against EVERYBODY.
Frankly, I’m thankful we can defend ourselves, and If the war comes to my soil, especially if it’s the muslim ‘no front’ war, I will defend my friends and family with whatever means possible.
Peace would be nice, but let’s be realistic here. We’re human.
Beautiful post Mike, I think we’re more fortunate to live in Canada and enjoy our freedoms than most people realize, or give thanks to on Nov 11th.