In the late morning hours of Nov. 11, Carleton held its Remembrance Day ceremony on Library Road, an event which had around 200 attendees and lasted 20 minutes.
Remembrance Day, a holiday intended to honour the sacrifices Canadian service members have made during wartime, has never been without its fair share of criticism and critiques. This is especially the case this year, after commentator Don Cherry’s statements about immigrants not wearing poppies showed that ignorance still pervades the conversation.
Historically, Remembrance Day events have neglected to address criticisms about the Canadian military. Some argue raising these issues is inappropriate because it detracts from the purpose of the holiday.
However, there is a reason people tend to raise these issues around Remembrance Day. This is the time of year we are thinking about the military, the way we perceive it and the issues surrounding it.
We can remember and honour the lives of our family members who died fighting wars for Canada, if we have them, and we can also think critically about Canadian nationalism and actions the country has taken during war.
For next year’s Remembrance Day, Carleton University should facilitate talks and forums so that students can discuss what this day means to them. This way, Carleton community members on all sides can understand each other’s perspectives better.
File photo.
