For more than a century, Remembrance Day has been a day to commemorate those who have died in the line of duty during wars and conflicts. While the specific customs and traditions may vary from place to place, the purpose of paying tribute to fallen soldiers remains the same. The sexual habits of fallen soldiers have never factored into the ceremonies. Remembrance Day is an occasion of solemnity and reflection, and it has long held a special place in the hearts of Canadians of all faiths. It is a day when we come together to honour the sacrifices of our war dead, paying homage to their courage, valour and unwavering commitment to protecting our country and its cherished values. There is no room for narrow ideological divisions.To many of us, the act of honouring our war dead at Remembrance Day is not merely a secular observance; it is a deeply spiritual exercise. It is, in essence, a liturgy, a sacred ritual that transcends the confines of the earthly realm or any trappings of government and fads exploited for crass political purposes.The Remembrance Day ceremonies unfold as a reverent choreography of ritual acts, beautifully orchestrated to pay tribute to our fallen heroes. This sacred symphony consists of various components that add depth to the spiritual character of the event. There is the invocation, a solemn calling upon God for guidance and strength, setting the stage for the reverence to follow. Hymns and songs, often echoing through the somber air, instill a sense of awe and immense gratitude.The act of contemplation, the two minutes of silence, where those in attendance reflect on the profound sacrifices made by our servicemen and women, is a moment of deep introspection. It's a time when we consider the enormity of the sacrifice and the enduring cost of freedom. John Macrae's poem, In Flanders Fields, typically marks the ceremony with the indebtedness we have undertaken for generations to carry on remembering them.In essence, these ceremonies are far more than symbolic; they are a poignant reminder of the immortality of the human spirit. The individuals we honour on Remembrance Day, though they may have left this world physically, live on in our collective memory as souls who have transcended the boundaries of time. Sexuality does not factor in a spiritual world.The sacrifices of our soldiers were not in vain; they were made in defence of the people and values they loved and those values, when safeguarded within the framework of liberal democracy, include the freedom to worship according to one's own beliefs. However, with a final secularization of the ceremonies in mind, the Trudeau government has issued orders to keep God out of these sacred observances, and chaplains must now use language that submits to the sexual identity ideology as “Gender-Based Analysis.” This effort to align Remembrance Day with spiritual and religious undertones reflecting what one might call the 'Alphabet Sexual Society' is nothing short of an affront to the faith of those who have fallen and the faith of their descendants.The argument for the government remaking of Remembrance Day is couched in the language of inclusivity. While inclusivity appears as a noble goal, it should not come at the cost of stripping a sacred occasion of its traditional spiritual dimension. Inclusivity has already been achieved through respectful accommodation in the ceremonies, allowing people of diverse beliefs to participate in their own way without imposing a one-size-fits-all secular framework. By attempting to politicize Remembrance Day, the government risks excluding those who draw solace and spiritual sustenance from the ceremonies.You might recall this government has tried to apply the same 'gender analysis' to energy projects with the explicit intent to kill energy development in Western Canada. In other words, it is a political weapon used as an attempt to dilute the very essence of a day that holds immense significance for Canadians who see it as a spiritual exercise. The Trudeau government is once again weaponizing its ideological sexual identity fetish and dividing Canadians further.The attempt to separate God from Remembrance Day is a divisive and exclusionary act. It disregards the importance of faith to those who have lost loved ones in service to our country. It denies the comfort that many find in the belief their departed heroes are in a better place. It overlooks the profound spiritual dimension of Remembrance Day which has been a source of strength and solace for generations.To address this radical move to extinguish our traditions, civil society must take a stand. If the official state ceremonies are to be stripped of the spiritual essence we cherish, then the responsibility falls upon the Royal Canadian Legion and the broader community to seize the moment, abandon the state-sanctioned events and create their sacred observances funded by the community. It is a call to action, a plea to keep alive the spiritual character of Remembrance Day, regardless of the misguided divisive policies of the government.To summarize, the Trudeau government's effort to 'alphabetize' Remembrance Day to divide us further must be soundly rejected. Remembrance Day ceremonies shouldn't be altered frivolously. The spiritual nature of this day is a critical part of our identity. Citizens need to uphold the spiritual ethos of Remembrance Day regardless of partisanship and resist any political manipulations by the federal government.Our fallen heroes and the traditions they fought for deserve no less. It may be too late for this year, but citizens should ignore the official state ceremonies and hold their own among friends and family with respect for the traditions and the values that genuinely bring Canadians together.Our responsibility to those who died in our defence is to heed the words of Colonel John McRae:"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 dieWe shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields." Marco Navarro-Genie is President of the Haultain Research Institute. With Barry Cooper, he is co-author of Canada’s COVID: The Story of a Pandemic Moral Panic (2023).
For more than a century, Remembrance Day has been a day to commemorate those who have died in the line of duty during wars and conflicts. While the specific customs and traditions may vary from place to place, the purpose of paying tribute to fallen soldiers remains the same. The sexual habits of fallen soldiers have never factored into the ceremonies. Remembrance Day is an occasion of solemnity and reflection, and it has long held a special place in the hearts of Canadians of all faiths. It is a day when we come together to honour the sacrifices of our war dead, paying homage to their courage, valour and unwavering commitment to protecting our country and its cherished values. There is no room for narrow ideological divisions.To many of us, the act of honouring our war dead at Remembrance Day is not merely a secular observance; it is a deeply spiritual exercise. It is, in essence, a liturgy, a sacred ritual that transcends the confines of the earthly realm or any trappings of government and fads exploited for crass political purposes.The Remembrance Day ceremonies unfold as a reverent choreography of ritual acts, beautifully orchestrated to pay tribute to our fallen heroes. This sacred symphony consists of various components that add depth to the spiritual character of the event. There is the invocation, a solemn calling upon God for guidance and strength, setting the stage for the reverence to follow. Hymns and songs, often echoing through the somber air, instill a sense of awe and immense gratitude.The act of contemplation, the two minutes of silence, where those in attendance reflect on the profound sacrifices made by our servicemen and women, is a moment of deep introspection. It's a time when we consider the enormity of the sacrifice and the enduring cost of freedom. John Macrae's poem, In Flanders Fields, typically marks the ceremony with the indebtedness we have undertaken for generations to carry on remembering them.In essence, these ceremonies are far more than symbolic; they are a poignant reminder of the immortality of the human spirit. The individuals we honour on Remembrance Day, though they may have left this world physically, live on in our collective memory as souls who have transcended the boundaries of time. Sexuality does not factor in a spiritual world.The sacrifices of our soldiers were not in vain; they were made in defence of the people and values they loved and those values, when safeguarded within the framework of liberal democracy, include the freedom to worship according to one's own beliefs. However, with a final secularization of the ceremonies in mind, the Trudeau government has issued orders to keep God out of these sacred observances, and chaplains must now use language that submits to the sexual identity ideology as “Gender-Based Analysis.” This effort to align Remembrance Day with spiritual and religious undertones reflecting what one might call the 'Alphabet Sexual Society' is nothing short of an affront to the faith of those who have fallen and the faith of their descendants.The argument for the government remaking of Remembrance Day is couched in the language of inclusivity. While inclusivity appears as a noble goal, it should not come at the cost of stripping a sacred occasion of its traditional spiritual dimension. Inclusivity has already been achieved through respectful accommodation in the ceremonies, allowing people of diverse beliefs to participate in their own way without imposing a one-size-fits-all secular framework. By attempting to politicize Remembrance Day, the government risks excluding those who draw solace and spiritual sustenance from the ceremonies.You might recall this government has tried to apply the same 'gender analysis' to energy projects with the explicit intent to kill energy development in Western Canada. In other words, it is a political weapon used as an attempt to dilute the very essence of a day that holds immense significance for Canadians who see it as a spiritual exercise. The Trudeau government is once again weaponizing its ideological sexual identity fetish and dividing Canadians further.The attempt to separate God from Remembrance Day is a divisive and exclusionary act. It disregards the importance of faith to those who have lost loved ones in service to our country. It denies the comfort that many find in the belief their departed heroes are in a better place. It overlooks the profound spiritual dimension of Remembrance Day which has been a source of strength and solace for generations.To address this radical move to extinguish our traditions, civil society must take a stand. If the official state ceremonies are to be stripped of the spiritual essence we cherish, then the responsibility falls upon the Royal Canadian Legion and the broader community to seize the moment, abandon the state-sanctioned events and create their sacred observances funded by the community. It is a call to action, a plea to keep alive the spiritual character of Remembrance Day, regardless of the misguided divisive policies of the government.To summarize, the Trudeau government's effort to 'alphabetize' Remembrance Day to divide us further must be soundly rejected. Remembrance Day ceremonies shouldn't be altered frivolously. The spiritual nature of this day is a critical part of our identity. Citizens need to uphold the spiritual ethos of Remembrance Day regardless of partisanship and resist any political manipulations by the federal government.Our fallen heroes and the traditions they fought for deserve no less. It may be too late for this year, but citizens should ignore the official state ceremonies and hold their own among friends and family with respect for the traditions and the values that genuinely bring Canadians together.Our responsibility to those who died in our defence is to heed the words of Colonel John McRae:"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 dieWe shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields." Marco Navarro-Genie is President of the Haultain Research Institute. With Barry Cooper, he is co-author of Canada’s COVID: The Story of a Pandemic Moral Panic (2023).
