Every other day over the next few weeks, tears will be shed, heartfelt goodbyes will occur.....intimate separations bringing forth fear, sadness, loneliness and pride all mixed together. Families and friends touching and hugging and kissing..........passing on hope and love. Every other day, the airport in Fredericton will see a hundred or more troops board a plane to head to Afghanistan, until more than 1,500 men and women from our community depart.
Given that this community has a population of only 60,000 it is a large contingent.........it's a lot of people...........brave, patriotic, focused soldiers. Everyone knows someone getting on those planes, some at a distant...............some intimately.
Today, I'm thinking of all of these families. I don't have a loved one boarding a plane to go to war, though I'm surrounded by people who do.
This is not a time to express opinion on the war in Afghanistan. This is a time to ensure that our troops know we support their mission, that we see them as people..........active members of our community.........neighbours, moms, dads, sons and daughters......lovers..........and send them off with our love and empathy.
I wish them well.
Given that this community has a population of only 60,000 it is a large contingent.........it's a lot of people...........brave, patriotic, focused soldiers. Everyone knows someone getting on those planes, some at a distant...............some intimately.
Today, I'm thinking of all of these families. I don't have a loved one boarding a plane to go to war, though I'm surrounded by people who do.
This is not a time to express opinion on the war in Afghanistan. This is a time to ensure that our troops know we support their mission, that we see them as people..........active members of our community.........neighbours, moms, dads, sons and daughters......lovers..........and send them off with our love and empathy.
I wish them well.
10 comments:
I am in total agreement. As of last Friday I started wearing Red. It makes me feel connected in some small way.
That is a beautiful flag. I just shed a tear for my "Canadian Cousins". God bless you all.
You are absolutely right. It is more important that they know that we appreciate what they are doing whether we agree with why they are there or not. Knowing that there are people at home who care for them and their families is the most important message they need to hear at this point.
I wish them well and hope to see them all return safely as soon as possible...their families miss them already!
That is a great flag. I love stuff like that.
Hey Tay! Yes, our streets should be a sea of red on Fridays. Wouldn't that be great? Luckily I own a bright red coat and my lucky red winter boots......I'm set!!
Hey Layla.....isn't it impressive? I would love to have been there, but it was a really snowy day (schools were closed) and the drive was a bit too far to risk. Plus, I had to work. They were hoping for 5000.....still they managed to have over 3000 show up! It was part of a whole day of festivities on the base.....ending in a concert....the Irish Descendants......
Sunny......glad we're on the same page.
Scott.....I love that stuff too!! I think we need to show our patriotism more openly than we do, and not just at international sport events.
So true what a beautiful sentiment and your right thats a huge hunk of community. Prayers and blessings to follow them on their journey with a safe return.
Thankyou for a thoughtful and heartfelt post, Muskie.
I watched over last summer as a few blessed souls in Ottawa put together a "wear red on Friday" campaign to show support to Canadian soldiers who are abroad, in harm's way, working to establish a just and sustainable peace in Afghanistan.
This culminated in a fine, noon-time rally on Parliament Hill with thousands in attendance, showing their support. People cheered and shouted their support to all of our soldiers and the difficult mission which they are carrying out with typical Canadian bravery, discipline and care.
Unlike the pathetic noon rally in Toronto which was nothing more than an hour of self-promoting radio personalities repeating over and over that ridiculous leftie mantra declaring "support for the troops but not their mission"!
Thankyou for pointing out that it is important to reassure OUR SOLDIERS that we support their mission.
That lazy, sniveling, spineless, mealy-mouthed expression "We support our troops, just not their mission" is what only the most spurious and disingenuous political hacks use to try to curry favour with the majority of Canadians.
They don't believe in the cause, they don't support the troops or their mission they simply realize the political expediency of the so-called position.
...hmmm, the term honourable hardly fits!
shaz......thanks for stopping by and commenting. I always appreciate your input.
Daisy......I saw the so called rally in Toronto. Your comments and observations are spot on! I couldn't agree with you more.....
Thanks for sharing them.
BTW.........have you voted yet on the kawabi site? I don't know which choice I'm leaning towards...do you think there's a dew line somewhere on Otterdale property?
Dana,
I have not yet looked at the choices.
I must admit a degree of deep disappointment (being the object of, at least some of, the explanation that the committee has declined to establish any sort of lasting legacy of helping others through these soirees).
I have reached a point in my life where doing things for the sake of doing them (and perhaps that is really unfair - but at least doing them just for me, then) simply does not cut it any more.
My kids are growed - out there doing their things - and I have places to go, things to do and people to help, on my horizon. Alas, a deep sense of disappointment has developed for me. (not that it need be for anyone else!)
So - I have been shy about making my opinion known, until now.
With that said, my wife Marit and I visited Otterdale over te summer and it was GOOD! Not Kawabi - very different physical plant (especially) but an uncanny return to so many of the sights, smells and feelings of camp were the result. In a word, I LOVED it!. So any excuse to go back will be good enough for me!
"DAISY"
I had a feeling.....an inkling and I don't blame you for feeling that way. I was disappointed too, and can only come to the conclusion that it was too much work. That simply isn't an excuse as far as I was concerned. I don't like the fact that the whole reason behind you instigating this in the first place was to help out a person in need....... and I LOVED the idea of helping out someone who was amazingly talented at working with kids....to have a chance to spend another summer doing just that and not have to worry about tuition.
WE are all so fortunate.......and blessed.......it is time to pay it forward....
alas........it will have to happen in another capacity and it will.
I too visited Otterdale last summer and saw Luten in action.....it was a quick visit, but good to finally see the fruits of Jeff's dreams. Not many people manage to fulfill their lifelong dream.......he is living proof that it can be a reality. I'm very proud of him.
So......if it is Otterdale and it is "camp rules".......what exactly does that mean?? :)
I think the weekend should start with a clean slate like Kawabi...and we all have input on just exactly the camp rules are. Then, we head to the dew line to break them all....... hahaha
Post a Comment