Canada, a “Peacekeeper” at War…?
Posted On August 12, 2008 at 1:02 am in Love Leadership, Love Leadership News
As a Canadian citizen I have always been proud of the fact that we Canadians have long been known as a peaceful nation. In 1957, the year I was born, Prime Minster Pearson won the Nobel Peace Prize. As I grew up, this stuck with me, and I came to identify being Canadian with being a “keeper of peace.” Prime Minster Pearson once said: “It is very important for Canadians to consider our responsibility to help build peace in our communities and world.” I have always agreed that this is our role in the world.
So when Canadian troops where sent to help fight the Taliban in Afghanistan, I was, in truth, upset. I know there is some logic to the argument some make that we have an obligation to support the US and other Allied forces in their battle. But I personally felt there must or should be a different way in which we could participate.
The other day on the radio I heard a Canadian soldier who had just returned from Afghanistan. His name was Lieutenant Colonel Robert Walker. He was being interviewed on how Canadians are approaching this war. He was asked how the Canadian forces are approaching the Afghan people, given that insurgents are blended in with the general population so that hard to tell who’s who. Walker responded that the only way they can do this right is to attempt to treat all Afghan people with respect and to protect their dignity. I thought “Wow, what an amazing response!”
General Bern Loeffke, a well recognized US General, once told me a story about a solder he led who was extremely religious. When they were on a specific mission were there could potentially be causalities to the opposing army, the soldier volunteered to lead the charge. It surprised General Loeffke that a religious, loving soldier would volunteer to do this. “When asked, the soldier responded with a statement that stunned and stuck with me,” the General said. He replied that the least beastly person should do the beastly things.”
With this in my mind I listened to the Canadian soldier’s radio interview and reflected on Prime Minster Pearson. Even trough I still wish we were not in this conflict with the Taliban. I at least derive some comfort from the thought that Canadians are “the least beastly to do these beastly things.”
In Love Leadership. protecting and respecting the dignity and humanity of all is what Love Leaders aspire to. It feels to me that the leadership of the Canadian do keep this uppermost in their minds and that this attitude does show up in their actions. For this I am both grateful and proud.
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