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Post by jj on Nov 11, 2004 7:42:54 GMT -6
Today we remember the fallen from wars past. Of course, this date marks the end of World War I -- there are virtually no WW I veterans still living, are there?  Time marches on, but we must always remember the sacrifices of those who guaranteed our freedoms over the many decades. On a secondary note...as you must now know, Arafat died today. A charasmatic leader of his people, but ultimately a fatally flawed one, who just couldn'trenounce the terrorist within him...or his movement...when the chisp were down. There were many opportunities for peace with Israel and the founding of a Palestinian state, most notably in the mid-to-late 90s, but Arafat just couldn't bring himself to do what had to be done: destroy the vile Hamas terrorists and renounce terrorist tactics. His people continued to languish. It has been obvious for some time that peace wouldn't be possible with him in the lead. Now, MAYBE, there is. We shall all see. |
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Post by markymark on Nov 11, 2004 9:59:28 GMT -6
Having just returned from my local Remembrance Day ceremony; I too wish to take this opportunity to remember the many men and women who fought and died for the cause of freedom. Let us all work together so that peaceful solutions may be found to resolve our conflicts.
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Post by seahobbit on Nov 11, 2004 10:53:03 GMT -6
In Flanders Fields In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
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.
-- Maj. John McRae Maj. McRae, a Canadian Medical Officer, wrote this in April of 1915 in the aftermath of Ypres. "In Flanders Fields" was first published in England's "Punch" magazine in December, 1915. Within months, this poem came to symbolize the sacrifices of all who were fighting in the First World War. Today, the poem continues to be a part of Remembrance Day ceremonies in Canada and other countries.
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Post by jj on Nov 12, 2004 8:35:15 GMT -6
Beautiful, Mark, thank you!!
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Post by markymark on Nov 13, 2004 9:01:46 GMT -6
Thank you Marc for sharing!
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Post by kri on Nov 16, 2004 17:03:17 GMT -6
Marc, you just had to remind us he was Canadian, didn't you?  >Today we remember the fallen from wars past. Of course, this date marks the end of World War I -- there are virtually no WW I veterans still living, are there? Time marches on, but we must always remember the sacrifices of those who guaranteed our freedoms over the many decades. Is Veterans/Remembrance/Armistice Day an official holiday in Talossa? I don't remember. It certainly ought to be. When a society is attacked, it must defend itself, and no amount of sacrifice is too great if the society wishes to survive. That Veterans/Remebrance/Armistice Day is rooted in World War I is most significant, because this was a war in which every person, civilian and military, played a part or made sacrifices. >On a secondary note...as you must now know, Arafat died today. I have to say I agree 100% with my esteemed colleague. Arafat was first and foremost a Palestinian. And as a Palestinian, he understood the deepest desires of his people--for war. He could not act against terrorists or extremists because he knew his life (at most) and his popularity (at least) were in jeopardy were he to do so. No leader can credibly lead the Palestinian people and be on the side of peace. So I'm not very optimistic about the post-Arafat situation in Israel. Unless the Palestinian people in their hearts accept the right of Israel to exist in secure and recognized borders, there will never be peace. And Arafat himself, in his Arabic-language speeches, never stopped talking about "reconquering" Jerusalem and "driving the Jews into the sea." He was a master politician, and knew that hate, revenge, and bloodlust are an easy sell in the Middle East. Will the new leadership be able to change this? The Europeans point out that Germans and French are now the best of friends when 50 years ago they were each other's "hereditary enemy." But Germans and French have much more in common than Arabs and Israelis. Ben |
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Post by markymark on Nov 16, 2004 18:44:21 GMT -6
I am in agreement, Remembrance Day should be declared a national holiday in Talossa. One question remains, what would we call it?
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Post by kri on Nov 17, 2004 9:09:20 GMT -6
>I am in agreement, Remembrance Day should be declared a national holiday in Talossa. One question remains, what would we call it? Well, since lately I've become something of a WWI buff (following Metáiriâ's lead, no doubt), I would say call it Armistice Day. Does anybody celebrate Armistice Day (per se) any more? I checked my RT history database and can't find anything of significance that happened on 11.11 that would conflict with it, either. Ben |
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Post by markymark on Nov 17, 2004 15:11:34 GMT -6
I always liked the sound of Armistice Day. Should we propose legislation or simply have a Royal decree?
Interestingly enough, the subject of declaring Remembrance Day as a National Holiday is currently being discussed in Canada. Remembrance Day is only a statutory holiday in certain provinces. Her Excellency the Governor-General has made statements recently supporting the establishment of Remembrance Day as a National Holiday, and the Minister for Veterans' Affairs is holding discussions on the matter. Hopefully it will be declared a holiday very soon.
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Post by seahobbit on Nov 21, 2004 10:16:27 GMT -6
Wonderful, we should have this on the next Clark.
How do we say Armistice Day in talossan???
Marc Moisan, C.D.
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Time marches on, but we must always remember the sacrifices of those who guaranteed our freedoms over the many decades.