Remembrance Day 2009

This Remembrance Day, let’s remember, above all, the tremendous price our veterans paid for the gift of our freedom. We should also reflect upon what we’ve learned about preserving freedom since then, and about how we may do so in future.

One thing we’ve learned is that global freedom is a global concern. Whenever and wherever we tolerate crimes against humanity we will eventually live to regret it, because it will most likely spread and eventually threaten our own freedom. This, along with a genuine concern for the plight of tyranny victims everywhere, is what drives our armed forces in their missions abroad today.

The new global society that is emerging can be threatening to us at times, for example economically, but if it increases the understanding and tolerance for all races and religions, then it is our best hope for peace in the future. Some day we may have a common currency, common language, world religion, common legal system and so on. Many recent developments, such as free trade, point in that direction. Of course there will be new, increasingly sensitive and controversial issues like sharing of natural resources, for example water and oil, and even climate control.

This column usually focuses on outdoor activities, and Remembrance Day is an appropriate time to think about the freedoms we Nova Scotians enjoy in outdoor pursuits. Visitors are frequently amazed that we can travel over any uncultivated land for fishing, a rare privilege anywhere today. We can easily find plenty of forested or waterside land where hunting is permitted, and most other non-destructive activities like canoeing or hiking are possible throughout the province. We are very fortunate to enjoy these freedoms and we certainly shouldn’t abuse them or take them for granted. After all, we have them only because our veterans gave their all for us.

Remembrance Day, 2009 is about remembering our veterans as well as supporting our troops on their missions today. We should all remember that!

Please stay on the line …