I think the issue here comes down to one of conflicting values. Interestingly enough, as a student of political science and law, Canadians as a whole have recently been faced with an onslaught of confusion and confliction when it comes to nailing down common mores and values. (Someone else mentioned same sex marriage, as an example....)
While I respect much of what you all have had to say on the subject, I still disagree with some of it, and I'd probably have some issues with having to sit around listening to a sermon on it.... but I digress.
my tags said (well still do) NRE. When I recited the "oath" on joining, I chose the non religious one, sans-bible. Ive spoken with Padres, never on a religious or metaphysical level. Rememberance Day to me has always been about a day for REMEMBERANCE .... The name in and of itself does not invoke religious thoughts for me.
Alright.. lets look at why we salute. "You salute the commission, not the person" is what Ive heard so often. Usually true, since often you dont even know who you are saluting, but in the best of times, often not. Effectively, you salute because it is the respectful thing to do. You respect that person's position as a leader in your organization, and respect the responsabilities they have accepted. Whether they fulfill their end of the bargain is unfortunately up to them, but in any event, you are exercising respect for someone else, who you may disagree with on a very highly personal level.
Effectively what we are looking at here is a microcosmic evolution of the old liberal-democratic debate. liberalism and democracy are entirely two differnt ideologies, and they rarely coexist without significant upheaval.
Turning to our illustrious Prime Minister, on questionning regarding a potential referendum on same-sex marriage, the PM expounded on why such a referendum would be counter productive to the principles the Charter is based on. Democratic, sure. Majority rule. But what about the minority?
Ok...so then we get to the military. Definitely not a democracy.
YOu know, when I sat in those QR&O lectures, and then got an ethics lecture, I didn't really have all that much problem with the idea that as a commissioned officer I shouldn't also be heavily involved in politics. Did I really like my "rights" being a little quashed? No. But as the ethics professor pointed out - I volunteered for the military.
Can I vote? Damn right. But is voting a purely political action? Does my vote for Harper because I think he will bolster the military mean I agree with his entire platform? Is my one vote the equivalent of running for office in my spare time when not commanding troops?
The military (along with peace officers and corrections officers) represent the government's monopoly on the use of force. As such, the military is expected to be impartial with respect to how it EXECUTES the orders of the duly elected government. This delves deep into the whole principle of following orders. Shoot, what if I don't want to be deployed to Afghanistan? What if I think they should be left alone to figure it out themselves, and that I feel that a great minority of Canadians agree with me? I suppose I shouldn't have agreed to be an agent of the Canadian state then, should I?
Look... I personally do not agree with Padres dressing up in full religious garb when addressing formed troops. I also think that I can stand for 20 minutes and respectfully support the beliefs of my fallen comrades. I think the tribunal has confused the public acknowledgement for one of religious acknowledgement rather than support for the beliefs of others.
As military members, I would expect Canada's Forces would represent tolerance to the world, personally one of the things I think Canada represents beyond all else to the world. We are the troops that go out and talk to the people, we are the ones that can proudly wear our flag around the world, and have curious people ask about our homeland with interest... and we are the people who are much more often to modest to talk just about ourselves and instead curiously interrogate others about their homelands, and welcome them to stop in when they travel within our borders.
Should I be ordered to listen to a sermon, for the sake of listening to a sermon? No. Should religious-military ceremonies be based on one majoritary religion only? No. Should I be ordered to stand beside by comrades (Majority or minority) and salute their beliefs? No. I should do it willingly.
Just my .02 cents.
