Awareness Needed For Youth

I have to ask myself just how many teens and business people know what this day is really about? Just what do the younger people know about World Affairs. My sixteen year old was oblivious as to who Yassar Arafat was, when I told her of his death, she said "Who cares, I don't know who he is, he doesn't mean anything to me". My mouth dropped. This opened up a discussion about what she is taught in school, Wars, history and the fact she better know it. She hasn't learned about the Middle East Wars, much less learned about WW 2. or even further back. Despite our telling her to watch the news and read the papers. In my time in high school we went right back to Celtic battles, Industrial Revolution, and we knew what the Holocaust was about, right through to the Vietnam War (my time of graduation). Even my 19 year old son said they touched very little on it in the school when he was in. So what are they learning besides how to wear belly button rings and talk on MSN?

Since her brother is now in the Canadian Forces Army, I thought that his little sister should attend the Remembrance Day Ceremony with me in person. "We can watch on TV she said." Uh uh, nope. I rousted her out of bed, made her get up. This wasn't going to be just a day off from school. Off she went with me to honor her Grandfather who was in WW2 and her Brother now in the Army plus her Uncle, and great Uncle who served Canada. But I was informed that she already sat through a 2 hour service at her school.

She told me then about how some wore their headphones and listened to music while the school service was going. How disgraceful....off we went. The Service in Peachland was excellent, speeches that included all service people and not just the veterans. The only problems were the young Brownies, Guides who did the wreath laying for some of the businesses. I asked myself why those business owners didn't lay those wreaths themselves. Some were standing right there, others no where to be seen. Where were some of the store owners, Ah they must have been getting ready to open their stores. cha ching.... they could have accompanied the young lasses up to the front. It was cute to see, but when you see a 6 year old putting down a wreath I still feel they have no comprehension of what the service was about. The stores I felt should have stayed closed on this day. People can get their groceries if needed the day before. The big chains who need the extra dollars. Pitiful. Interestingly I found it was the small family owned operations that closed.

The crushing blow in this was when God Save the Queen was sang at the end of the service. My daughter didn't know the words. I stared at her in disbelief, she said they don't sing it at school so they were told they don't need to know the words and she never learned them.

I was also dismayed at the number of young people there, you could count on one hand the kids there, (didn't include the Brownies etc)mostly those in attendance were late 30's, 40's and upward. These you could see knew the actual meaning of the day and were taught the significance.

Make this a National Holiday, no stores allowed to be open at all, make it to remember those that have fallen for our Country in War and during Peace Time efforts, for all service members where ever they are also. Make the school kids learn our history and make them attend services on November 11.

Without those service people of the past, those kids wouldn't be living in this free country where they can see Avril Lavigne or have their stereos, cars, or designer clothes on their backs. They should not have that service in school where they get 2 hours off of teaching (a treat for them). The day should be the day to mark it. It isn't just a day off school.

D.S.