Birthday update #1138

So, what have we done since we last updated?

Oh yeah...

I'M OLDER!!!

Yes, indeed, my birthday was last week and now I've been on this planet for a quarter century. I'm not feeling particularly older and/or wiser, but I have noticed a few more grey hairs since this time last year. That, and I have this uncontrolable urge to nap in the afternoons.

Of course, we had a lil' party where everyone brough appetizers or dessert. It was rather tasty and I still have a bit of cheeseball left in the fridge. Good times - Noodle salad. There were a few presents (all wicked-awesome!) and I thank everyone who helped celebrate my latest revolution around the sun. It's been a rather exciting year with a lot of change, and I'm enjoying myself. Good wife, good friends, good family, good work, good times. Thanks to everyone for being a part of that.

Last week we saw Famous Puppet Death Scenes at One Yellow Rabbit. It was enjoyable--we had a good night out--but it wasn't particularly notable. I've enjoyed some of The Old Trout's previous work more.

But then, on my birthday, we went to see Lt.-Gen. The Hon. Roméo Dallaire (Ret.). This... was an experience...

I would say that all my life I've considered myself a pacifist. The idea of war--of building a military for the express purpose of killing people (purposes aside)--has always bothered me. Perhaps it is because I live in a country that has experienced local peace throughout my lifetime. Violence is deplorable and I've grown to have passive sympathy for anyone caught in conflict. (After rereading "passive sympathy," I'm almost ashamed...)

When we went to Vimy Ridge (the highlight of last year's trip), I was in awe. It was a powerful experience about both peace and violence. It was a tribute to Canada and Canadians and I couldn't help feeling patriotic and proud. But, as we were walking around the site, learning about the thousands dead, especially the Canadians, I couldn't help but wonder "What about the German soldiers who died here? Don't they have graves? Doesn't anyone remember them and their lives?"

I've had a confusing relationship with war and violence, of right and wrong. It's difficult to articulate, never mind make a coherent argument. I've never been too sure where I stand except for a strong internal belief that aggression is wrong... maybe that is a position.

So, when we went to see Romeo Dallaire, I did not expect to have all that challenged. For some reason I didn't think a "Canadian Hero" would come out and force me to rethink my position on war.

Instead, I was entranced by his argument for, in essense, the support of the military. Suddenly, I'm feeling inspired about Canada's role in the world and considering that an active, foreign-deployed military might not be so bad.

His argument: Canada is in a unique position as a middle power with a strong sense of human rights that we can become a force for "conflict resolution" and the protection of humanitarian ideals throughout the world. He attacked our complacency and our reliance on the concept of "peace keeping"--an old form of conflict resolution that assumes the blue barets can physically place themselves between two opposing armies that have a definited line between them.

Using illustrative stories from his experience in the Rawanda genocide, a good knowledge of history and present-day examples, he produced a well-rounded argument for increased military spending and greater foreign military involvement without economic or cultural imperialism or us versus them patriotism. It isn't about the so-called "war on terror" but rather the war to protect people and humanity from enslavement and death. It is about ensuring all humans are treated equally.

One point especially stuck with me. He said that in today's world, not all humans are the same: some humans are more human.

His example is that an estimated 937,000 people died in the Rawandan genocide, and the world did nothing. 2,986 people died in North America on September 11, 2001, and the world mobilized.

Some humans are more human.

So here I am, celebrating my 25th birthday and I thought nothing had changed. I guess I was wrong. I'm still reeling from the change.