Lest We Forget... To buy Christmas decorations

Every year on November 11th, we as a country take the time to show respect to our military Veterans who have fought for the freedoms we enjoy today as Canadians.

In the weeks leading up to Remembrance Day, you will see proud Canadians from coast to coast wearing a poppy close to their heart as a token of reverence for our fighting men and women who - in many cases - gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect the liberties of our country and its citizens.

Realities being what they are, many sectors of the retail industry have decided that Christmas merchandise and displays be presented to the public as early as possible in order to maximize holiday revenue for their stores. This occurs as early as November 1st; so you could be looking at discounted Halloween costumes while you listen to Bing Crosby crooning about that White Christmas he's been pining over for what seems like a hundred years.

For some time now there has been a vocal segment of the population that has made it quite clear that they find the ability to buy a dancing snowman before November 12th quite unacceptable, and that we should all "show some respect" for the people who died to make our country what it is today.

I call bullshit.

The fighting men and women who went to war in the name of Canada were fighting for something very specific- our freedom. They fought for our freedom to exercise democracy, to live peacefully without suffering under a reign of tyranny and hate, and to buy a goddamned Charlie Brown Nativity scene on November 3rd if we so choose. I've got a nutbar on my street who put his Christmas tree up two days after Halloween. Who are we to tell him that he can't, as ridiculous as we may all think it is?

This country is in bad enough shape because of people telling us what we can and can't do because it might "offend somebody" and their delicate sensibilities. It's bad enough we can't even call it Christmas anymore , and now you're expecting me to take someone else's cue as to when and how I can start to celebrate it? I don't think so.

By the way, it is MERRY CHRISTMAS; not "Merry X-Mas" or "Happy Holidays" - and this is coming from an Atheist. See what would happen if you tried calling Ramadan "Rama-Lama Ding Dong" because the religious connotation offended you. You'd find a Jihad under your Holiday Tree.

Anyway, I have my own thoughts on retailer responsibility on Remembrance Day, and I personally think any non-essential services should be shut down as a show of respect for the occasion. The fact of the matter is that many establishments are still open and I exercise my personal freedom and right to choose by not patronizing them. The difference between my stance and the "NO HO HO UNTIL THE POPPIES GO" movement is that my choice is just something that I do - not a production that I feel I have to gain a groundswell of support for to show how much reverence I have for the occasion.

What can you do to show respect for our Veterans? Thank them and shake their hand when you meet one. Proudly wear a poppy on your jacket to show that you remember the sacrifice our troops made so we can live the lives we do today. Attend a Remembrance Day service and listen to the stories of our men and women who fought for our country. Value your freedom not just on November 11th, but every day of the year.

Feel free to get ready for Christmas whenever you like, gentle reader, and don't feel that pang of guilt when you find yourself tapping your toes to "Santa Bring My Baby Back To Me" on November 10th. Remember, if it weren't for our Veterans fighting for us, we might be waiting for Shanto Claus or Swastika Klauss to come down our chimneys on Christmas Eve.

In closing, I want to share a response from a neighbor of mine who served in WWII when I asked him what he thought of stores that put out their Christmas stock before Remembrance Day is over:

"I think it's great. This way I can replace all these fuckin' lights that burnt out last year before we get a foot of snow on the ground".

Doesn't that say it all?

In Flander's Fields

Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae

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