Peace in our time needs our military

Editor:

Re: Islanders protest Canadian involvement in international combat mission (Page 1 Guardian Oct. 28)

Peace in our time is a wonderful idea and it might happen some day. However, while the world continues to produce people like Hitler it will never happen. The Island Peace Alliance marched in protest claiming the two recent deaths in Quebec and Ottawa are not reason for Canada to ramp up its military efforts in Iraq.

Leo Broderick was one of the Island Peace March leaders and claimed all the usual reasons - big business, the elite who only want the military increased for their own interests. War is all about profits for the rich and does nothing for the poor and hungry in society etc.

Of course there are elements of truth in what he states. War is a dreadful waste, but he fails to tell us how to avoid wars, conflicts and terrorism. The only person that wanted the Second World War was Hitler, and I don’t think I need to remind anyone of the horrors he inflicted. We all want peace, we want justice and the eradication of poverty and decease. How we might accomplish it without having a military presents is very questionable and certainly elusive.

I can’t believe Mr. Broderick would advocate we do nothing when innocent men are beheaded in public and recorded on video for the entire world to see. To allow evil to flourish requires only that good men do nothing. So Mr. Broderick should we just say too bad when two innocent soldiers are murder on Canadian soil? I would love to know your answers, perhaps another white poppy campaign to coincide with the Royal Canadian Legion Poppy campaign. That was one of the more disgraceful ideas initiated by the Canadian Peace Alliance and I’m pleased to say it failed miserably.

We need our military and we must support them always, they do indeed stand on guard for us and I doubt anyone would trade them for the peace alliance to stand in their place.