Sins of the Father

Canada Day 2006 in Greenfield Park, Quebec, Canada (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issues with Quebec have loomed large over my life.

I was a teen-ager during the FLQ crisis and terribly frightened

by the bombings, the murder of Pierre LaPorte, the kidnapping

of James Cross, the martial law and the knowledge that troops and tanks

were in Canadian cities.

I was just as frightened during the first Referendum when Quebecers

voted by a skinny margin to stay within Canada.

The second referendum made me angry and the endless insults and

rumblings of discontent since that time made me realize by 2012 that

I no longer cared.

I blogged about it.

I said it would be so easy in this wireless age to keep the rest of the country

together without Quebec.

And maybe it would be.

But I've changed.

In November I went to Ottawa with my brother to honour the memory of my

father and all veterans at the national Remembrance Day Ceremony.

 

While I was there I went through the Museum of Canadian History,

(aka Museum of Civilization).

 

I went in disillusioned and came out with the most astonishing understanding

of the struggles that went into building the country. 

 

I came out feeling, not so much that we owe the people from the past who

forged such a peaceful democratic nation - although that was a big part of it.

Of greater importance, I came out feeling that we owe

the people of the future.

As a result of my 'epiphany' I decided to blog about Canadian history.

To find out how it happened that we are where we are today,

with another separatist government in Quebec and too many

English-speaking Canadians fed up or not caring.

 

The great thing about blogs is that they are short and I must

say I am having a lot of fun with this project

although the underlying intent is serious.

But I think I've reached the first critical point in our story.

You and I know what is about to happen

but there is no way we can reach back in time and warn them

to be careful. 

 

To think about us.

Jeesh! 

 

New France is about to fall.

The Separatists Wore me Down

The Separatists wore me down.

I remember what a jolt it was the day after the first Referendum

when the sun came up. 

I hadn't paid any attention to anything except Quebec in such a long time

 that it

was a surprise to see that everything was so ordinary.

 

The Federalists had won, narrowly.

The next Referendum caused anxiety but also a rising anger.   

 

And since that time I have  just become more and more tired of the news

coming out of Quebec. The language laws,

the return of the Parti Quebecois

and the threat of another referendum.

 

"If they want to go, they should go. 

In this day and age we can survive without them," I reasoned.

I was just tired, tired, tired of it all.

 

Then I went to Ottawa for the Remembrance Day week-end.

 

*** 

 

 

 

In Ottawa I saw some of the things that bind us together.

A man carrying a flag on Parliament Hill.

 

A veteran.

 

 



The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.



 

Our connections with each other and with our history.
 

Canadian recruits at the War Museum.

Standing in the crowd, shoulder to shoulder with other Canadians. 

 

 

Our connection with Britain and the Commomwealth.

 

 

Sculpture at the Museum of Civilization.
 

 No one could walk through the Museum of Civilization,

(Museum of Canadian History), and the National War Museum

and not feel that the country must be preserved.

 

A child getting ready to throw a coin into the Centennial Flame,
Parliament Hill.

 For her.

And for all of us.

 

 



A man warms his hands at the Centennial Flame.
 Built in 1967 to celebrate Canada's 100th birthday.
 

 Each generation has had its struggle, its burden. 

Ours has been to keep the country together.


I won't let them wear me down again.