By India Madsen
York University is a future oriented institution. We tell incoming students that their “future starts here.” Our school-wide Academic Plan is entitled Building a Better Future, and our motto is Right the Future. But, on November 11th, we look to the past.
On Remembrance Day, we honour the sacrifices made by those who have served to protect us and those who have given their lives to defend this country. We honour them in reflection, through art, listening, and ceremony. Although some people argue that Remembrance Day glorifies war, I believe that observing this day helps those of us who are privileged to have never personally experienced war to, in some way, conceptualize its horrific reality. We often see glorified depictions of war in video games, movies, and advertisements, but listening to the experiences of veterans helps us to understand the realities and impact of war.
Many of us keep family and friends whose lives were touched by war in mind at this time. On Remembrance Day, I often think about the experiences of my grandparents, who lived through WWII. I wonder how being a teenager in Nazi-occupied Denmark like my grandmother or serving in the Canadian Armed Forces like my grandfather, would have influenced my worldview. When I close my eyes for the two minutes of silence we traditionally observe, I sometimes think about how my grandparents must have felt when the armistice was announced. Relieved? Overwhelmed? Disbelieving? Although I can only imagine how they felt, I know that my grandfather, Don Smiley’s, experiences in the military greatly influenced his life. After the war, he went on to become a professor of Political Science here at York and worked as an international delegate facilitating elections abroad. His story inspires me because he worked towards peace long after the war had ended.
Honouring those who protected this country should not be confined to Remembrance Day. Staying informed about the world we live in, engaging in critical conversation about causes we care about, and voting in elections are important times when the sacrifices of soldiers should come to the forefront of our social consciousness. Sadly, in our most recent municipal election, Toronto experienced the lowest voter turnout ever recorded in our city—less than 30% (Moore, 2022). I believe that exercising the rights that Canadian soldiers fought to protect is an important way that we can show our respect and gratitude.
There is no way for us to ever fulfill our debt to Canada’s fallen soldiers. However, there are many ways that we can work towards a future of peace and freedom for all. Each of us must consider the ways in which we can share our time, energy, and resources in service of this goal, both nationally and globally. This Remembrance Day, I challenge you to consider how your or your family’s experiences with war might shape your actions to right the future.
Source: Moore, O. (2022, October 5). Voter turnout in Ontario municipal elections drops to new low. The Globe and Mail.