Thursday 11 November 2021

REMEMBRANCE DAY -- Lest We Forget

It was in July 1921 that the Great War Veterans’ Association, a Canadian veterans group, took up the poppy as a Remembrance Day symbol.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the immortal words of Wilfrid Owen,

  

 

No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells; 
      Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,—
The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;
      And bugles calling for them from sad shires.

 

Sadly we never learn.  Not long after the war to end all wars, we had WW2.  And then Korea.  Vietnam.  Afghanistan.  Iraq.  Not to mention all the other conflicts that have maimed and killed untold millions.  And as we step part ways now into the 21st Century, are we soon witnessing "In the nightmare of the dark, all the dogs of XXX bark"?

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Well, folks, looks like winter is on its way.  It's just below freezing now, though today's high is going to a balmy 6 degrees Celcius.  Not bad for mid November.  People say this will be a horrible winter.  I hope not.  After the mild winter we had last year, I'm just not prepared for a typical brutal Ottawa winter season.  I must say though that I have enough winter coats to withstand the cold.  But I don't want to have to.

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Decolonization is a favourite word these days.  Hear it all the time.  It's like one of those really popular things, you know, like Taco, Pizza, and Sex.  Well, maybe not the last one.  But unlike them, these populist terms have a shelf life that's significantly shorter.  Wait and see.  Not that I have any issue with the idea of decolonization.  I agree with it, actually.  Like toxic masculinity, another one of those things.  I agree that it's bad.  But I guess I've lived long enough to not jump on bandwagons.  I mean, seriously?  We talk about decolonization in Canada all the time, to the point where some actually say we should not celebrate Canada Day, before the country is built on colonization etc etc.

Fuck you!

People should put their money where their mouth is.  If one thinks Canada is so bad, that it's a shame that the country was formed the way it was, then one should give up one's citizenship and move to a place where it's all la-la land.  Like China, maybe?  Or Russia?  Or Iran?  You can't have the cake and eat it, too.  Travel the world using the passport of a country you despise?  What a fucking hypocrite!

And then there are those who lament capitalism.  You know, I think unbridled capitalism is bad as well.  Look at the wealth gap in some of these places!  But I don't see a better alternative, do you?  Really?  You want communism?  Remember how many people Stalin killed?  Remember how many Mao starved to death?  And if communism is so good, maybe you should move to fucking China.  But more on my point about hypocrisy.  These same people have no trouble drinking their SBUX while commenting on capitalism, or texting on their iphones, or dressed in the latest torn jeans, etc etc.  Again, go fuck yourself.

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Oh wow, Chunski, you sound so pissed off.  Why?  I'm not, not really.  I just didn't sleep very well last night and have been up since 3.  Haha, though some of you might remember that once upon a time, a long long time ago, in a galaxy far far away, I used to get up at three EVERY SINGLE FUCKING DAY to go to that college in PA.  What wonderful days!

So I will leave you with this thought:  MORE COFFEE PLEASE!  

 

 

 

 

4 comments:

  1. Beautiful photo. Did you take it?

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  2. The build up and ending of this post is great! Love reading your fired up rants Chung! I agree with those who "oppose capitalism" yet don't live a meek lifestyle. Those who are for everyone, yet don't even want to hear the opposite sides view points and what may have shaped them to be that way. The best, and you speak so eloquently on it, is the ones who continue to push for a more socialist/communist way of government and life, yet wouldn't last a day in those countries that actually have this instituted. These are the same ones who push to defund the police and want stricter gun control laws, yet have a private ARMED security force with them everywhere they go. The saying has been used more and more over the last two years and it's ever more true each day: Rules for thee, not for me.

    Stay warm up there my friend and if you ever make it back to the ungodly college in PA, give me a shout!

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    1. Thanks, Blue. I'm just a very simple-minded person. Practice what you preach, is what I always say. That's why I get so PO when people say one thing and do another. I don't have problem with people disagreeing with me, as long as their words are consistent with their actions, I respect that. Take care, Blue. Hey, Beavers are bowl-bound!

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Chunski welcomes KIND comments. Just say nice things. Otherwise, I will find you and sit on you.