Recently the 93rd anniversary of the victory at Vimy Ridge was commemorated. In his speech Harper stated in reference to the soldiers, 'They risked their lives so the people of Europe could live with the same peace and freedom that had taken such deep root in Canada.'
In what way did the taking of Vimy Ridge, in a war notorious for its moral ambiguity, have anything to do with spreading peace and freedom?
Governor General Michelle Jean added the statement, “As proud and grateful Canadians, we pause today to mark not only the ninety-third anniversary of this Nation’s victory at Vimy Ridge but also to pay tribute to the passing of a truly remarkable generation who helped to end the most terrible conflict the world had ever known'
The fact that millions of young men were forced at the will of their governments to uproot their lives to go off and fight often to be injured or killed is a tragedy. However, is 'remarkable' the best word to describe a generation who foolishly and aimlessly dived into such a cataclysmic conflict?
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