Lest we forget

I wouldn't call myself a military buff.  But I take Remembrance Day very seriously.  WWI and WWII were atrocities.  I think it is important to periodically revisit those horrible events.  It gives us perspective - war is atrocious, both for soldiers and civilians, and we should attempt to avoid it at all costs.

With that said, I'm proud of the roles Canadians (and Newfoundlanders, back then) played in the wars.  My grandfathers (pictured below) both served Canada, overseas or at home.

[Henry O'Brien]

[Leonard O'Connor]

To me, the world wars had clear morally "good" and "evil" sides (at least with respect to the Holocaust).  Some of the armed conflicts ongoing today don't seem to be so clear cut.  My wish for 11/11/11 is that those countries involved in armed conflict will work diplomatically where possible to find meaningful solutions.  Ones that don't waste the lives of soldiers or civilians.