Do our actions speak louder than our words?

The challenge I have is the absolute priority we place on human beings who are in the public eye and ignore those that have made a significant difference in our lives.

3 Events took place in the past month that were obvious to most people in my area;

• The U.S. Election
• Remembrance Day
• Taylor Swift’s concerts on Toronto

When I see all the crying that Trump was elected and the blaming that Harris was not, I shake my head. When I see parent’s going out of their minds because their precious child is attending the Taylor Swift concert or they have not been able to buy a ticket for the concert, I again shake my head.

A question though, have you ever thanked a Veteran for their sacrifices to gives us the freedom we have?

The following story may put this whole thing into perspective.

He was getting old and paunchy, and his hair was falling out fast, and he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past.  Of a war that he once fought in and the deeds that he had done, in his exploits with his buddies; they were heroes, everyone. And sometimes to his neighbors his tales became a joke, all his buddies listened quietly for they knew where of he spoke. But we’ll hear his tales no longer, for old Joe has passed away, and the world’s a little poorer for a Veteran died today. He won’t be mourned by many, just his children and his wife.  For he lived an ordinary, very quiet sort of life. He held a job and raised a family, going quietly on his way; and the world won’t note his passing, a Veteran died today.

When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state, while thousands note their passing, and proclaim that they were great. Papers tell of their life stories from the time that they were young, but the passing of a Veteran goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land, some leader who breaks his promise and cons his fellow man?

Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land, some singer who has not known difficult times, but sells out numerous concerts?

Or is it the ordinary fellow who in times of war and strife, goes off to serve his country and offers up his life?

The politician’s income and the style in which they live, are often disproportionate, to the service that they give, isn’t it? While the ordinary Veteran, who offered up his all, is paid off with a medal and perhaps a pension, small. And, when they are ill the first thing many are offered is assisted dying.

It is not the politicians with their compromises and ploys, who won for us the freedoms we now enjoy.

When we find ourselves in danger, with enemies right at hand, would you really want some political leader or a pop singer’s ever-weak stand?

Or would you want a Veteran, his home, his country, his kin, just a common Veteran, who would fight until the end?

They are just common Veterans, and their ranks are growing thin, but their presence should remind us we may need his likes again. For when countries are in conflict, we find the Veteran’s part, is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start. If we cannot do him honor while he’s here to hear the praise, then at least let’s give him homage at the ending of his days. Perhaps just a simple headline in the paper that might say: “Our country is in mourning, a veteran died today.”