Happy ANZAC Day !

They went with songs to the battle, they were young. 

Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow. 

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted, 

They fell with their faces to the foe. 

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: 

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. 

At the going down of the sun and in the morning, 

We will remember them. 

- Laurence Binyon, "For the Fallen"

Hero. Everyone holds their own personal definition of a hero. To me, a hero is someone who stands above the rest, who ventures into danger when everyone else is venturing away, who leads others, who serves in situations most people ignore, who dedicates his or her life to the public, often placing his or her own lives at risk or in the back burner. A hero is noble, courageous, brave, and owns a lot of self-control. A hero is human, but capable of doing or saying things most humans wouldn't be able to do or say.

Today is ANZAC Day, the day of Remembrance for the heroes of Australia and New Zealand. On this day, we celebrate the valour and sacrifice of these two countries' soldiers, honouring their memory and the results of their actions. For those of us who come from different countries, we think about our soldiers, too, as we listen to the brass melodies and wear the poppies. We think of the changes brought upon by the men and women in uniform, whether in the field of battle or on the streets of the countries where they served. We imagine their plight, and are grateful for their service, knowing deep within ourselves that, perhaps, we wouldn't have been able to act like them.

I recognize that because of the misconduct and poor example of a few soldiers, some people hold a negative view of the military. I also accept that some wars have not been fought for the best purposes, and that some wars should never have begun. However, I choose to value the acts of true heroes, and the noble purposes behind conflicts. True heroes wear the uniform with pride, help those in need, sacrifice themselves for the better good, share their supplies with the needy, help to build homes in devastated towns, and shake hands with the locals. True heroes question the reason behind their mission, ensuring their service serves justice. True heroes know when to withdraw their troops, and re-evaluate the mission. True heroes remain faithful to their wives at home and communicate with their children. True heroes rise beyond the call of duty. True heroes respect the customs of the locals, and respect their enemies. True heroes stand up against members of their corp if these are putting the uniform to shame with inhumane or insulting behaviour. True heroes speak with conviction and tenacity, but with kindness behind their words. The Great War, World War II, Viet Nam, Korea, and the Gulf War have all seen these kind of heroes... and it is them who I salute today.

Before I finish, I would like to leave you with the story of this young soldier, Sgt. Dennis Weichel (29). In 2012, Weichel died in Afghanistan as he lifted an Afghan girl who was in the path of a large military vehicle barreling down a road. The children had been picking up shell casings lying on the road. The casings are recycled for money in Afghanistan. Weichel and other soldiers in the convoy got out of their vehicles to get them out of the way of  the heavy trucks in the convoy. The children were moved out of the way, but an Afghan girl darted back onto the road to pick up some more casings that lay underneath a passing MRAP, or Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle.  The huge armored trucks can weigh as much as 16 tons and are designed to protect the troops they carry from roadside bombs. Weichel spotted the girl and quickly moved toward her to get her out of the way.  He  succeeded, but not before he was run over by the heavily armored truck.

                                                        

Sgt. Weichel didn't die in the field of combat, after hours of facing enemy fire. He died doing something some would consider insignificant. Something that shouldn't have even happened. Like him, many soldiers act without thinking for their own safety. No, not every soldier dies in the field of battle. But, like him, those soldiers that die fighting for what they believe in, who die honouring their families, countries, and who die serving justice - they are heroes. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.

Happy ANZAC Day !

Félicitations !

I am not yet married, although I would love this opportunity. My wedding would be spectacular, with many wonderful details. All of my friends would be there, and we would all enjoy an amazing time. My cake would be delicious, and my wedding gown would have a massive train. Above all, my husband and I would share our love, our dedication, and our compromise to share our lives together. We would affirm our faith in one another, and take the final step towards our lives together. We would state before the entire world that we are in love and that we shall share that love until death do us part.

A lot of us dream of our wedding since we are very young. We might keep a scrap book with pictures of wedding dresses. We might design our menu or day dream about the reception. To some of us, it is very important that our children come into an established, stable union between ourselves and our partners. To some others it is extremely important that "the ties" people bind in matrimony be "tied before G-d." These people consider matrimony an essential sacrament through which they enhance their faith, an invitation that allows G-d into every moment of their married lives.

 
Because I know that marriage is all of these things and so much more, I am very happy to receive the news that France is now allowing homosexuals the opportunity to marry. With this action, France joins Holland, Belgium, Spain, Canada, South Africa, Norway, Switzerland, Portugal, Iceland, Argentina, Denmark, Uruguay, and New Zealand in granting its citizens this freedom. Although marriage itself is not a human right, the right to be happy is. The happiness and freedom one experiences during one's wedding are undeniably some of the greatest emotions we will ever feel before we die, right along with the birth of our children, our first home, and our first, successful job. I am proud to find France, and these other countries, standing up for everyone's right to be happy.

You see, homosexuals are people, and people have the right to be free and to be happy. We all do! I know certain groups quote The Holy Bible as a source of their rationale for not allowing homosexuals to be married. I need to respect that opinion, and to respect the source. Why? Because I practice respect. However, countries are not governed by one religion or another. Christianity cannot be the basis upon which the laws that apply to all humans is based, simply because we are not all Christians. Besides, the same people who quote The Bible when it comes to homosexuals ignores the fact that slavery is also found within the Holy Book; not to mention the atrocious way women are treated in some of its pages. Above all, I find that people who quote The Bible as their excuse for not allowing homosexuals to be married, or to be happy, might have missed the point of Christianity. Jesus Christ did not preach "love some." He preached "love your neighbour." All of them. He didn't come to divide a people, but to unite them and to remind them to look towards G-d, a fact that they had forgotten. Every gesture and every story in Jesus's ministry speaks of love, forgiveness, inclusion, and human rights.

Last, but not least, marriage is a source of security. We would all love to believe that relationships end perfectly for everyone, that abuse and neglect never occur, that everything is Honky Dory until we die. This isn't so for everyone. Some spouses lack health benefits. Some spouses experience abuse. Some spouses find their mother-in-law withdrawing them out of the lives of their beloved when he or she contracts a terminal disease. If a relationship comes to an end, what decisions are made in regards to the children, the house, the money? This is when marriage steps in and grants security to both parts of a relationship. Certain laws and procedures come into place, and they guarantee that the end of the relationship benefits both people. It also guarantees certain rights in the event of terminal illness, ones that cannot be denied. For two people who are in love and who seriously consider sharing the rest of their lives together, this form of security is vital. It allows love to flourish.

I am happy France took the step to allow homosexuals the opportunity to be married. I hope during the next few months France celebrates a host of beautiful and joyous wedding celebrations. I hope the people who plan them, hold them, and photograph them enjoy them deeply. I hope the men and women who celebrate them experience unbridled bliss as they take their vows before their families, friends, and G-d. May love surround them, always.