My husband today bought some poppies to remember the war dead and the victims of war.

However, there is war-dead and victims on all sides. My brother's nephew is serving in the war and is serving the government.

However, I am thinking of those on the other side; as well, as my own. To me; the loss of life in war on both sides both soldiers and civilians regardless of race should be remembered.

My husband keeps asking me,'What have all these people died for-what are they achieving'. Yet, he tells me- what is left for those who survive
Many people want the soldiers home; and to let Iraq set up government. We can help in other ways without more lives being sacrificed.

I remember seeing my brother's nephew when he was three. I now dread hearing of my brother attending his funeral.(I pray it never comes to that) He has just turned 18 and now he is in the midst of the violence, not according to his will, but the will of his superiors.

However, I still feel for those on the other side. Thier losses of loved ones can also be felt.

I can feel for the mothers and sisters etc in Iraq who have lost thier sons and the civilians who have lost thier lives.

The point I am trying to make is the cost of war is high on both sides and I am not referring to the financial cost. The cost is being paid by innocent blood and the blood of the soldiers on both sides.

Innocent civilians dying without reason.

I just want us to remember that there are losses on both sides and the cost is far too dear to those who remain. When are we going to stop the bloodshed and learn to love those who hate us and turn the other cheek.

Hating your enemy accomplishes nothing but perpetuates the cycle of violence.

The sacrifices are far too great for us to continue to allow the bloodshed.

My heart feels for all the victims of war and I emphasize ALL.. However, all I see is spilled blood and no resolutions for the sacrifice.

Remembering those who gave up thier lives on both sides; showing mercy makes thier sacrifice not in vain. They gave up thier lives for 'Peace'-I had a Granddad who died in WW2, whom I never met. I think of him, and wonder why did he die-'Peace' hasn't come-was his death in vain?

That's very touching. I hate loss of innocent life... really, I hate pain being in the lives of innocents... wish it wasn't that way either.

I wonder if Todd Beamer tried to hug the guys trying to hijack the plane that crashed in PA. Maybe that changed their minds and they just decided to ground the plane. Maybe they stabbed him on his right side and he offered them his left to stab as well and they just held hands and sang...

the thoughts are deep and philosophical and wonderful, I wish it were to be, reality bites. Evil exsists. In my opinion.

And they say the blood spilled is the price of freedom...I say that blood and freedom don't mix. Not even in regard to the Revolutionary War, we wanted freedom from the British...but the Natives wanted freedom from us pouring our blood into their homes...I could go on and on, those of you who know me, know that I don't believe war is right, not even for freedom or fear. I fight with a sword of love and a shield of light

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.


We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.


Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

- John McCrae

Damn rememberance day! This is not a good weak to be trying to fill out your application for the reserves! I keep seeing pictures of dead soldiers :S

I had 2 grandfathers in the second world war, and 3 great grandpas in the 1st. They all survived thankfully, but there were men like them that never got to see there homes again. I hope everyone goes to wherever there city/town has there rememberance day thing to pay there respects. I know I will be there. Ill be playing with the regimental pipes and drums of the Canadian Scottish Regiment.



Lest we forget...

This is the message we got at work from our second level:

A request

I have always found it interesting that as a society, we need a to be reminded to stop and take time to appreciate what is around us. Valentine's Day helps to remember those who we care about. We have religious holidays to remind us of the spiritual aspects of our lives. We have birthdays to remind us to enjoy our lives because we don't know how long we will be here for. Thursday is another one of those reminding days.

Regardless our religious affiliations or our personal feelings on the military, each of us lives in a country that enjoys rights and freedoms that are unheard of in other countries. We can choose as a majority, who will lead us. We can send and receive mail without censor. We can go to a multitude of stores to find which has the best price for the same product. And much, much more. The rights and freedoms we enjoy, as Canadian, came at the cost of death, suffering, and hardship by those who demonstrated, and in some cases, still demonstrate, courage, valour, and a belief in our way of life. Remembrance Day is the one time a year we can official show our respect to those who have fought, and continue to fight, for those thing we hold dear.


So I would like to take this opportunity to ask each of you, on November 11th at 11.a.m., to observe a moment or two of silence as a way of remembering not only those who fought/fight for our freedoms, but also as a way of showing appreciation for what we have, as Canadians. I would ask that if you are on the phone or in a meeting, that you would take the opportunity to ask the other participants to join you.


We can never truly lose those things we remember.

Scott

This thread is still valid today as it was when written almost 4 years ago. The suffering for families on both sides have only increased since then. Hopefully this war will be over soon enough for no one really believes it is just.

Me Again made a very good point about the price of war and how it affects all.

I read the poem In Flanders Field not so long ago and this is a fitting thread for it especially considering who wrote it.

Just listen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVE5d2PLWP0

war is ugly .. any war