“This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.”
It’s Remembrance Day here in Canada, Veterans Day in the United States, and Armistice Day in many other parts of the world. It is on this day that we are meant to look back at the brave men and women who fought in the many wars over the years to protect our freedoms and liberties.
While it certainly isn’t true that we should hurl ourselves headlong into armed conflict unnecessarily, we do have to consider many of the non-violent ways that we can be brave too. Gandhi was very brave in his dedication to non-violent protest, for example. Without bravery, those who mean us ill could take advantage of us. When we are threatened, we must fight back, literally or figuratively.
And that’s what Elmer Davis likely meant in the quote above. A well-known news reporter and Peabody Award recipient, Davis was speaking in the context of the United States, but we can see how it would also apply to any other free nation in the world. Freedom isn’t free. You have to fight for it.
“Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die.”
That quote comes from English writer G.K. Chesterton. Courage isn’t an absence of fear; it’s about having a greater understanding of the big picture. It is sometimes said that if you’re not willing to die for what you believe in, then you’re not really living. I’m not sure I completely agree, but courage is about having conviction and being dedicated to the causes you believe in.
As a Canadian, we grew up reading poems like In Flanders Fields. We must remember and honour the sacrifices of those who came before us, but we must also do our own part to continue protecting these freedoms. John Diefenbaker,13th Prime Minister of Canada, once said:
“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.”
My gratitude goes out to all that served their country.
Freedom is earned everyday, by be vigilant of others freedoms and protecting them just as strongly as we would our own.
I’m embarrassed to say that last Sunday was the first time I found out that Remembrance day isn’t observed in America. I always assumed it was a fairly international thing.
Nevertheless, my gratitude also goes out to all those that have died for their country. I never fail to tear up upon hearing The Last Post.