War and Remembrance

The five of us just finished watching the incredible film Innocent Voices, on the true story of a boy and his community during the 80's El Salvador conflict, where there was forced child military recruitment. Cristian living in Central and South America during the conflicts confirms it is truly accurate of the trauma war does to children, recruitments and their families, and how soldiers can turn children into killing machines. It brings me back to Romeo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative and his work TheyFight Like Soldiers, They Die Like Children. Cristian explains that he was in the area in 2005 for the film. Carlos Padilla now lives in Mexico as a writer and film-maker.

Realizing the eve of Remembrance Day to my fellow Canadians, I feel a great pit in my stomach if I do not write. I write not to offend but because in reflection of the years I have been on this earth, I have realized Remembrance Day has been a touchy subject at times; for example the white peace poppies. Every year I question if and why I see so much anger and backlash when people have  a discussion of how it makes them feel or from what see as anything against the general and traditional narrative we have heard since WWI and II. My intent is not to hurt or offend, but only the sharing of knowledge and to help create a greater understanding of others.

Quoted from the official VeterensAffairs holds great importance:

"These wars touched the lives of Canadians of all ages, all races, all social classes. Fathers, sons, daughters, sweethearts: they were killed in action, they were wounded, and thousands who returned were forced to live the rest of their lives with the phsical and mental scars of war...
Yet for many of us, war is phenomenon seen through the lens of a television camera or a journalist's account of fighting in distant parts of the world. Our closest physical and emotional experience may be the discovery of wartime memorabillia in a family attic. But even items such as photographs, uniform badges, medals, and diaries can seem vague and uncconnected to the life of their owner. For those of us born during peacetime, all wars seem far removed from our daily lives.
We often take for granted our Canadian values and institutions, our freedoms to participate in cultural and political events, and our right to live under a government of choice... "

In retrospect, one important distinction made in Conflict Studies is acknowledging that war and warfare has greatly changed from the narratives of Carl von Clausewitz's On War, and therefore the methods and narratives should follow suit. But many of the contemporary issues that surround  us today is in part due to the narratives of war not being updated within society. Reflection and progression is important because new and unforeseen issues arise and thus tactics and what is found to important ever changes. Yes, in some aspects we never seem to learn from our mistakes in history, but maybe we have learned, just those narratives are condemned or silenced.

Once you have seen country case study after case study of conflicts or mass atrocities you realize how frightenly similar they all are. Hitler does not seem so distant and horrendous because you realize how quickly and commonly these events have slipped into action, citizens, neighbours, brothers and sisters turn on each other, while the other parts of the world or even members of their own country are 'oblivious' or paralysed from action of resistance. Or if they have, are turned around and branded as "stubborn", "allies to the enemy", or this century's favourite: "terrorists". The contemporary cases seem endless: Yugoslavia, Rwanda, Chile, El Salvador, Uganda, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Nigeria, or in my current work and study in Guatemala. And of course may I not forget USA and Canada.

The use of 'Never Again' is repeated throughout the generations ... but it has come into much criticism and debate because of the fact that it does happen again, again, and again. Indeed much of the foundations of International Law as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights were founded on this drive. It is not to be naive and hope for eternal 'peace and freedom' but we have the ability and choice as individuals of how we treat one another, actively or passively.

Then the question turns to the quote in the third paragraph on 'unconnected' and 'removed'.  Maybe the issue revolves around because we only deem reflection and remembering the loss one day of the year. Maybe it makes us wilfully ignorant to the reality and effects of war and conflict and the general use of violence in attempts to solve problems. For example, I will never forget the short video I saw on, African Men. Hollywood Sterotypes in relation to all the North American warfare films and games. The closer you are to conflict, indeed you see much less of a interest and demand for this 'entertainment'. For war and violence is ...and those who are actually put in those surroundings, will deal with the most traumatizing times of their lives, during and after. And boy have read, talked and interviewed those who were affected by war and violence, first or second hand, civilian or soldier, from around the world, and from different backgrounds and history, and the trauma is very real.

We all justify for our actions or inactions. We cannot deny this because it is our human nature, But we cannot forget that our justifications are human nature because it is used for both the most positive and the most horrendous of action, and from those deemed most brave or courageous of sacrifices and to those deemed the most cruel or monstrous.

So can we really 'remember' when it's not yet in the past?