Comments on: Honoring Peace, Not War: The Pacifist’s Dilemma on Veterans Day http://carrieanddanielle.com/honoring-peace-not-war-the-pacifists-dilemma-on-remembrance-day/ Simplify, Beautify and Prosper in all areas of your life. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:47:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Rick_Juliusson http://carrieanddanielle.com/honoring-peace-not-war-the-pacifists-dilemma-on-remembrance-day/comment-page-1/#comment-11308 Rick_Juliusson Wed, 12 Nov 2008 01:24:05 +0000 http://carrieanddanielle.com/?p=5250#comment-11308 Thanks Danielle. It's so important to remember that "they", those with different views, are people with honest motives and beliefs that they are acting on, even if we disagree. Thanks Danielle. It's so important to remember that “they”, those with different views, are people with honest motives and beliefs that they are acting on, even if we disagree.

]]> By: Rick_Juliusson http://carrieanddanielle.com/honoring-peace-not-war-the-pacifists-dilemma-on-remembrance-day/comment-page-1/#comment-11307 Rick_Juliusson Wed, 12 Nov 2008 01:22:33 +0000 http://carrieanddanielle.com/?p=5250#comment-11307 "Why do I feel like a bad person if I don't wear a poppy?" Yes, Danette, you've hit it on the head there. I felt like a bad person just writing this article, like I was being unpatriotic and disrespectful and dishonouring. I still get chills remembering George W Bush's statement, "If you're not for us, you're against us." “Why do I feel like a bad person if I don't wear a poppy?” Yes, Danette, you've hit it on the head there. I felt like a bad person just writing this article, like I was being unpatriotic and disrespectful and dishonouring. I still get chills remembering George W Bush's statement, “If you're not for us, you're against us.”

]]> By: DanielleLaPorte http://carrieanddanielle.com/honoring-peace-not-war-the-pacifists-dilemma-on-remembrance-day/comment-page-1/#comment-11303 DanielleLaPorte Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:25:03 +0000 http://carrieanddanielle.com/?p=5250#comment-11303 In my last vocational incarnation, I ran a think tank in Washington DC. It's still surreal, but we consulted the The Pentagon on the dynamics of social change and scenario planning. Me - a Canadian barely from the right side of the tracks, a pacifist, vegetarian...My judgment going into the Dept. of the Navy was epic. "What a bunch of fools" I thought. And, plenty of the military folk I met over the years were just that - arrogant, narrow minded, ego-driven little boys. AND...without a doubt, by far, they were each working for peace, in their own way. I met Colonels and Admirals who entered the military with the highest notions of serving their country - truly noble. Peace and protection were the aim. The Pentagon serves an essential purpose, but I won't romanticize it. I met a lot of young military people who were effectively seduced into free education and a tribe to belong to. Peace can only happen when we look after each other's higher interests. In my last vocational incarnation, I ran a think tank in Washington DC. It's still surreal, but we consulted the The Pentagon on the dynamics of social change and scenario planning. Me – a Canadian barely from the right side of the tracks, a pacifist, vegetarian…My judgment going into the Dept. of the Navy was epic. “What a bunch of fools” I thought. And, plenty of the military folk I met over the years were just that – arrogant, narrow minded, ego-driven little boys. AND…without a doubt, by far, they were each working for peace, in their own way. I met Colonels and Admirals who entered the military with the highest notions of serving their country – truly noble. Peace and protection were the aim. The Pentagon serves an essential purpose, but I won't romanticize it. I met a lot of young military people who were effectively seduced into free education and a tribe to belong to. Peace can only happen when we look after each other's higher interests.

]]> By: Danette http://carrieanddanielle.com/honoring-peace-not-war-the-pacifists-dilemma-on-remembrance-day/comment-page-1/#comment-11302 Danette Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:36:04 +0000 http://carrieanddanielle.com/?p=5250#comment-11302 I was just passing a man selling poppies on the weekend, and I asked myself, "why would I buy a poppy?" What does it mean? Where does the money go? Why do I feel like a bad person if I don't wear a poppy?<br><br>My memories of this day is of watching violent footage of soldiers in the trenches and singing sad songs in school. I agree that we can honour the dead by learning from their lives, and I would love to see peace being created and celebrated instead of war being repeated, in the world and on the screen.<br><br> "Never Again" has been so watered down. I would love to see that flame rekindled.<br><br>Thank you Rick. I was just passing a man selling poppies on the weekend, and I asked myself, “why would I buy a poppy?” What does it mean? Where does the money go? Why do I feel like a bad person if I don't wear a poppy?

My memories of this day is of watching violent footage of soldiers in the trenches and singing sad songs in school. I agree that we can honour the dead by learning from their lives, and I would love to see peace being created and celebrated instead of war being repeated, in the world and on the screen.

“Never Again” has been so watered down. I would love to see that flame rekindled.

Thank you Rick.

]]> By: Laura Neff http://carrieanddanielle.com/honoring-peace-not-war-the-pacifists-dilemma-on-remembrance-day/comment-page-1/#comment-11295 Laura Neff Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:32:52 +0000 http://carrieanddanielle.com/?p=5250#comment-11295 WOW. Thank you for this articulate view of today's holiday and your struggle with it. I've wrangled with these feelings myself, especially as I said goodbye this a.m. to a 19-year-old nephew visiting from the nearby Marine base where he's stationed, awaiting deployment to Iraq in January. How does one support someone they love while being morally opposed to what they're committing their life to? It's a tough one, to be sure. You've given me more fodder in my thoughts. Many thanks. WOW. Thank you for this articulate view of today's holiday and your struggle with it. I've wrangled with these feelings myself, especially as I said goodbye this a.m. to a 19-year-old nephew visiting from the nearby Marine base where he's stationed, awaiting deployment to Iraq in January. How does one support someone they love while being morally opposed to what they're committing their life to? It's a tough one, to be sure. You've given me more fodder in my thoughts. Many thanks.

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