Remembrance Day always gives me a food for thought.
This year I was already asked some questions especially from my Canadian friends how I think about Remembrance Day and Canadian veterans, as an immigrant. Well, this one "dead" boring day three years ago, I went straight to the local library after school was finished. After a couple of rounds in library for book-hunting what I brought home was a DVD about Canadian Veterans in Korean War.
Watching this documentary the first I thought about were the brave Canadian soldiers; the second, cruelty of war; the last, "who are to be blamed and who are to be honoured?"
I still vividly remember this documentary and the inception of controversy I have had.
I still vividly remember this documentary and the inception of controversy I have had.
(Although I do not remember the title of the original documentary, here I introduce another good Remembrance Day documentary worth taking a look: 28 Heroes)
That's the base of thought I came up with today. On last Remembrance Day, I thought if a day to remember only favoured an exclusive group of heroes such as Canadian, American, British or any other fallen soldiers of WWI, the point for the day of remembering those heroes is merely to fortify national patriotism; patriotism ubiquitously exists in any nation or country, but I felt a need to expand this narrow-minded thought.
Therefore I thought sharing what I wrote on last Remembrance Day would make the best Remembrance Day posting of this year.
Any comments of constructive criticism are welcome.
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Being thoughtful on Remembrance Day,
I reflect on Life; it may be too early
To think about such grave issue - but it is
What this day is about, and what it must be.
We tear our hearts thinking of lost Canadians in war,
Government and teachers teach you to lament;
The youth recites In Flanders Fields
While the adults sob in harmony of bagpipe tunes;
Together we stand, lest we forget -
On your guard our beautiful country is in peace.
However until this day, no one gives respect
To lives lost in history of war, in the sense
We must credit our soldiers for national identity
And solidify the patriotism on this day in unison;
While in the world, hundreds and thousands of
Soldiers with different skin, hair, eye colours
Sacrifice their lives every day - for something;
For what they strongly believe in,
For which their creed strengthens in blood.
Oh, for their love, family, maybe country,
And only God knows, for their own life's sake.
If Remembrance Day was meant only for Canadians
Shall beautiful poppies stink in patriotism
But within this wonderful nation of such diversity
I shall borrow This Day to remember you:
Unnamed soldiers from unknown countries
Suffered and died in hope for peace someday,
And our Canadian soldiers sacrificed for
Their life, family’s safety, and their creed.
Until one day in history, not one poppy and a jasmine
Will weigh equally, anywhere in the world,
And until no life is disgraced in the name of
Ideology, identity, hegemony or any subsidiary
of Life, instilled by those greedy and selfish,
Beauty in all fallen flowers shall never be the same.
Before any idea, all Life is equal and beautiful,
Hence I wear this poppy to remember all of you.
To think about such grave issue - but it is
What this day is about, and what it must be.
We tear our hearts thinking of lost Canadians in war,
Government and teachers teach you to lament;
The youth recites In Flanders Fields
While the adults sob in harmony of bagpipe tunes;
Together we stand, lest we forget -
On your guard our beautiful country is in peace.
However until this day, no one gives respect
To lives lost in history of war, in the sense
We must credit our soldiers for national identity
And solidify the patriotism on this day in unison;
While in the world, hundreds and thousands of
Soldiers with different skin, hair, eye colours
Sacrifice their lives every day - for something;
For what they strongly believe in,
For which their creed strengthens in blood.
Oh, for their love, family, maybe country,
And only God knows, for their own life's sake.
If Remembrance Day was meant only for Canadians
Shall beautiful poppies stink in patriotism
But within this wonderful nation of such diversity
I shall borrow This Day to remember you:
Unnamed soldiers from unknown countries
Suffered and died in hope for peace someday,
And our Canadian soldiers sacrificed for
Their life, family’s safety, and their creed.
Until one day in history, not one poppy and a jasmine
Will weigh equally, anywhere in the world,
And until no life is disgraced in the name of
Ideology, identity, hegemony or any subsidiary
of Life, instilled by those greedy and selfish,
Beauty in all fallen flowers shall never be the same.
Before any idea, all Life is equal and beautiful,
Hence I wear this poppy to remember all of you.
Eiland Sair
Written on November 11, 2012
Edited on November 11, 2013
Written on November 11, 2012
Edited on November 11, 2013
Lest We Forget
You phrased it beautifully...we shall not forget those who fought for their countries and lifes, those who have fallen on the battlefield defending the future of their own people...
ReplyDeleteTheir family, and future of their own people.. Against ill-intentioned sovereignties and states, and even men on the other side who fought for them plagued by malicious propaganda. Any soldier who fought for a day when their nation and family will live in peace must be remembered, I think. Thanks for your comment. :)
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