Service

It would be a wonderful world if all we had to disagree about is if you can start decorating or selling Christmas gifts prior to Remembrance Day. 

I truly honour our Veterans.  My father served proudly in the RCAF.  He rarely talked about the experience.  From what I understand, that is fairly common.  My father was a proud member of the Legion.  I was a proud member of the Legion as well as I could join on basis of his regimental number.  My father believed that without the "Spitfire" plane in WWII that the Allies may not have won the War and some of the rights and freedoms that we take for granted may not exist.  My father's nickname for me was "spitfire" so I always thought that was an amazing compliment. 

Our Veterans just went out and did good.  They were all brothers and sisters united in their service.  It didn't matter what colour was their skin, what God they worshipped, or how they chose to love.  They just served. 

For a number of reasons, my partner and I never had the opportunity to serve our country as a member of the Armed Forces.  That doesn't mean we haven't served our country in other ways. 

We truly love to give back.  And, I think that is the best way to honour our Veterans.  Service.  If you have it, give it away.  Give what you didn't get.  Giving is truly liberating.  I never want to get something when I give but I always do; a new friend; a sense of satisfaction; a profound moment of enlightenment.  One brother once told me that you only get what you give.  It took me a while to learn that lesson but it is so true. 

My partner serves our country in so many ways.  I can't count what he gives to so many organizations.  He is one of my heroes.  For 30 years, he gave his time as Santa.  One year, he volunteered as Santa 37 days in a row.  Imagine how many people he made happy and that would include infants to centanarians.  He has been Santa at a Skate with Santa event, so there he was skating for hours. 

And, just for the record, he is one of the people that Don Cherry would call "you people".  He is an immigrant. 

Honour our Veterans today and everyday by service to make our Country stronger. 

If you are the type of person who feels entitled by virtue of white privilege, honour us all by the gift of your absense. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

One of my saddest days in Winnipeg

Image
I felt compelled to attend an information meeting of the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre.  Compelled because it will be, not in my neighbourhood, but in my City Ward.  Compelled after reading Bruce's story and his family's wish to make this recovery centre his legacy.  Compelled because of the opposition to this centre.  I wanted my voice to be a positive one. Since the land has already been rezoned, the BORC is going to happen and the meeting was to update the community on progress and get input on a few minor details.   I didn't realize that it would be one of the saddest days I have experienced in Winnipeg.   When I arrived, I experienced the "white people". They were people dressed in white who were there to oppose the Centre.  In order to get in to the community centre, I had to pass two "white people" who were at the door with placards in opposition.  It was intimidating.  They didn't deter anyone from entering but th...
Read more

There's Something from Jenny - Part 2

Image
I am trying to evolve as a blogger.  One of my friends told me that I needed to start adding my pictures to my blog so that people would know who they are communicating with.  So, good, bad, or ugly, I am adding my picture as much as I can.  It makes me feel vulnerable.  Not as vulnerable as I would feel if I was running for Mayor of a major Canadian city. I can't imagine how vulnerable I would feel, having every move and every word analyzed and taken out of context.  Perspective always defines your reality.  For example, I could tell you that I witnessed a murder by the Superstore last week.  That might bring up some powerful images in your mind.  Then, there would be those who know that a group of crows is called a murder.  That gives my previous statement have a whole different image in your mind.  So, when I spent an hour with Jenny Motkaluk that was my biggest impression.  She doesn't mind being vulnerable.  She just w...
Read more

Seriously? Opposition to BORC opening at old Vimy Arena Site

Image
I decided to go for a walk today.  It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon.  My quest was to understand the home owner's opposition to having the closed arena site being converted to a much needed addiction treatment facility.  I took some pictures on my phone and want to explain what I found out.  The first picture was taken while I was standing on the immense green space at the back of the old Vimy Arena.  You can see in the background what is the closest residential development.  It is a town house complex.  In order for someone who was participating in treatment at BORC to interact with someone living in the complex, they would have to walk and then cross a creek, and then get through the trees.  I would think the residents living in that complex would be more worried about the drainage pipe that leads on the creek.  I would be concerned about a wandering child being trapped in there.  The second pic...
Read more