Monday was BC Day and most British Columbians probably took advantage of the good weather and enjoyed the holiday.
Monday was also the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the First World War, the Great War that was to end all wars and make the world free for everyone forever.
No comment.
I liked it when Canada was respected as a peacekeeping nation. Now we are a buttinski nation that can’t keep its nose out of anything the USA is involved in. What are we accomplishing with our war measures? Who is benefitting?
Certainly not the people who are on the front lines, nor the children on the Gaza strip. Certainly not our recent war veterans. Choosing sides in disputes can get in the way of truces, never mind peace (Israel/Palestine).
Besides, it’s hard to know which side to choose — who can we believe?
The Wonderful West isn’t always right, eg. the U.S. certainly mislead the world on Iraq.
The world situation reminds me of the Kingston Trio’s Merry Minuet. It was written half a century ago but the lyrics are eerily apt today.
Don’t have room for them all, but the song is a tongue-in-cheek poke at natural disasters plus the strife and unrest in a world that is “festering with unhappy souls.”
It ends with “But we can be tranquil and thankful and proud, for man’s been endowed with a mushroom shaped cloud … and we know for certain that some lovely day, someone will set the spark off and we will all be blown away.”
The last line is my favourite. “What nature doesn’t do to us will be done by our fellow man.” That’s possible given the state of world affairs.
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Wildfires in the Cariboo have been on my worry list this summer.
The Mount Polley tailings pond breach was totally unexpected. Let’s hope for the best in both regards.
Diana French is a freelance columnist for the Tribune. She is a former Tribune editor, retired teacher, historian, and book author.
