100 years ago, men fought and died to keep Europe and indeed the world free from the oppression of tyrants. To preserve democracy and the freedoms that were hard won over previous centuries.
In the face of hardship that those today cannot imagine and sadly, all too often, do not seem to have the intelligence to respect.  As many as 22 Million died in WW1.  In brutal conditions, in battles, which we now remember for the tragedy of those deaths and the sacrifice of those that died. Not to mention the many stories of such outstanding personal bravery that is almost inconcieveable in the face of such horror. Has anyone else ever been humbled by the realisation that all that is most noble in humanity can come out in the most inhumane of situations?.  WW1 and WW2 are full of acts of personal bravery, courage and love for others that surely no one can fail to be touched by it.  A past generation that in many ways, embodied the best of us, in the worst of times. 

None encapsulates that feeling for many, than a poem, written upon the death of his friend, by John McCrae a Canadian soldier and doctor.  The words, as moving and relevant now as they were then.  Particularly given that the same hostile forces and ‘foe’ talked about in the McCrae poem still moves in Europe to achieve the same ends, by other means.  No, not Nazi’s.  But no less extreme, no less determined and no less dangerous.  Using the language of social justice and equality to achieve anything but.  With a belief system, which is simply the other side of the coin to Adolf Hitler. Every bit as extreme, every bit as likely to lead to conflict and death.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
    Between the crosses, row on row,
  That mark our place; and in the sky
  The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
  Loved and were loved, and now we lie
      In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
  The torch; be yours to hold it high.
  If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
      In Flanders fields.

Lieutenant Colonel – John McCrae

Many of us remember our Grandfathers or Great Grandfathers.  We have heard firsthand accounts of World War II from them about what they went through which are burned in our minds.  Often these accounts are from those we loved most.  The vast price paid to keep the people of Europe free, democratic, and in peace against anti democratic tyrannical forces and ideologies has been paid in oceans of blood and we must never forget it.  We, ordinary people, must ensure that democracy, freedom and accountability are maintained against the wishes of thesociopaths, corrupt and evil sort, who are so often drawn to positions of power. 

Currently,  we may be on a terrible trajectory again in Europe.   Those same sort hold a great deal of power and we must stop them taking away democracy before it is too late to end without bloodshed.  We must fight it while there is some democracy left in Europe to fight it with.  The cost of preserving freedom is always less than must be paid to win it.  Burying ones head in the sand is likely to end with the burying of the rest of you or those you care about in time.  Reject those that would manipulate you to steal your voice and end democracy.  Be wary of those talking of social justice, freedom and democracy in every speech, yet not being subject to it themselves.  From the kings of old, to the EU of today.

Remember the terrible price they paid so that you might live free, in a democratic world.  A place where we should be able to remove those who fail us or try to sell us bad ideas and replace them with one of us that will recognise our rights.  Those wonderful people of past generations paid the ultimate price in blood and heartache for you and your way of life in Europe, Canada and the US.  Remember the fallen and respect their sacrifice.  Do not tolerate those who would disrespect them.

It was no accident that I wanted to mention the great John McCrae today.  One of my last posts was concerning the absolutely disaster which Canada is becoming today.  State funding Islamic terrorism and being slated for an antidemocratic, population replacement experiment such as we have seen in Germany and Sweden.  Canada wasn’t always so.  Canada has an incredible history and a relationship with true freedom. Not the politically expedient perversion of the term so often used by politicians supporting mass globalisation.

What a time to remember those that suffered so we could live free.  Surely, John McCrae and all those who fought in those wars was a manifestation of spirit which everyone should respect.  Take a few minutes this weekend to remember these people. Visit a local memorial if you can.  Or just learn a little more about what they went through.  I dont just mean the alliance forces either.  If the world wars taught us one thing. It is that people can be very easily corrupted by those with a lust for power and a dark agenda of their own and it almost always ends up in atrocity. 

Now in Europe, the EU want an Army under their control.  A military for outside of national control, militarily useless in the face of the great powers in the world.   On the one hand, the EU cant run a monetary Union, what chance a military one?.   However, it will be perfect tool or the subjugation of  ordinary citizens and recalcitrant member states of Europe.  It will hasten the path to dropping even the present pretence of democracy.