Day 2 - 220 -- Peacekeeping and Peacemaking

August 9 is National Peacekeepers' Day in Canada. On this day in 1974 the largest single-day loss of Canadian peacekeeping forces occurred when a UN marked plane was shot down in the middle east. There have been about 125,000 peacekeepers from  the Canadian Armed Forces, the RCMP, other police forces and diplomats. They have deployed around the world since the UN force was developed post World War II. A monument in Ottawa to Canada's Peacekeepers and Peacemakers is called Reconciliation. It is a large walkway and is quite moving.

I know two people well who served in peacekeeping operations -- an uncle posted in Cyprus in the early 1960s and a friend posted in Egypt in the late 1970s. I am proud of them both and thank them for that service to the world. Activities involve many skills from policing to diplomacy and much in between. The movie Hotel Rwanda included scenes with a Canadian Colonel heading the peacekeepers, though this was only very loosely based on General Romeo Dallaire. The documentary film Shake Hands with the Devil, and the fictional film of the same name, were based on the General's memoirs of  peacekeeping efforts in Rwanda before, during and after the genocide. These highlight the many skills necessary to keep and make peace in contentious areas. They also clearly note the huge personal cost to those serving in terms of longer term mental health issues.

Finding one appropriate song for today was challenging. There were many that came to mind, each with a slightly different tone. I chose one that emphasizes hope within the despair -- if that makes sense. The version shared here is from a live concert where the singer-songwriter mentions his education work in peace and points out a Nobel Peace Prize winner in the audience. It seemed to fit the theme best for today. Enjoy!

Peace Train -- Yusuf Islam (former stage name Cat Stevens)