FOREST HEIGHTS SPEECH TO STUDENTS:
delivered to the 1800 student body of Forest Heights School in Kitchener, Ontario

Good Morning.

I was asked to speak here because someone started the rumour that I was a war veteran. I'm not.

However I was an Air Force Corporal who just happened to be on the First United Nations Peace Keeping Force, and that is as close as I got to any belligerent action in my military career.

My Grandfather, Matthew Robert the first, died in the trenches in the first war and left a widow with two small sons. My father, Matthew Robert the second, joined the Canadian Army and left his wife with two young children when he went off to serve. Fortunately he returned.

In the early 1950s, I was so affected by the events of the war in Korea and the newspeak news reports of Communist domination that I quit my education in Grade 11 to join the military. My father was very proud that Matthew Robert the third was following family tradition.

Now my Grandson is 15. He wants to get into some action and kick a little terrorist butt. Perhaps that is why I agreed to come here today.

We need to stop this butt kicking mentality and start communicating.

1954: I joined the Canadian Air Force and Colonel Nasser came to power in Egypt. In 1956, he took away the control of the Suez Canal from Britain and France. This started a shooting war. Our Prime Minister, Lester B. Pearson, suggested to the United Nations that there should be a neutral UN Peacekeeping Force set up in the canal zone to separate the parties - kind of like a teacher on the playground I guess. An agreement was arranged. Canada would supply the air planes, ground equipment and some peacekeepers. The rest of the world would collectively supply troops.

The other countries brought their servicemen to Naples, Italy, where we had set up our air transportation base. From there we flew the soldiers into Egypt in our old beat up C119 Flying Boxcars. The one nice experience for this 19 year old boy was that I got to go to Italy to eat pizza before many North Americans even knew that this delight existed.

It has been 45 years since I was on that UN Peacekeeping Force and the situation in the area has only gotten worse so I'm really not sure how much we helped.

At this point in this Day of Remembrance and Reflection, I would like to acknowledge the sacrifice and service of all of those who died to protect and preserve their democracy. They - including my Grandfather and my Father, have my greatest respect for their personal contributions. War itself is not a pleasant thing to be admired however -- regardless of what Hollywood tells you. For a different perspective on war, I would like you to read Johnny Got His Gun, by Dalton Trumbo. It is ancient -- but the message is ageless.

My military career ended in 1963 when my first daughter was born. I abandoned all service to my country to play the money game -- in the global game of monopoly. I couldn't find a job packing parachutes or maintaining ejection seats -- as you might well imagine. Since I had little education, I was required to go to night school and eventually enter Conestoga College to study Industrial Engineering. Let me assure you -- this is not the way to get your education.

One day my young daughter asked me what I thought about the pollution of the planet. My answer upset her tremendously. It was then that I realized I needed to know more about the subject and started to read everything I could find in the library about pollution.

What I read about was not only the destruction of the ecological bio-diversity of the earth through our pollution but also the loss of our democracy through deception and political maneuvers. In my view, I felt that people should know this stuff. The Cambridge Reporter editor said that they would print the results of my research.

I became a writer at 63 years of age. This old dinosaur had to learn how to use a computer because it could do something I couldn't. It could spell.

I wrote about 75 pieces and started to write to influential people, organizations and politicians about my concerns. I found that I was defending my country again - but not in uniform. Of these two things -- my medals and my scrap books-- I think that seeing these articles in print has been my greater reward.

Finding the enemies in the fight to save the planet and to preserve our democracy is not easy. There are no uniforms to distinguish friend from foe. You can not fight them with bullets and bombs. You need to use your brains, -- your time, -- your energy, -- your voice -- your pen and your wallet.

I sincerely hope you never have to use violence.

There are real and aggressive powers cloaked in free trade, globalization, and market economy rhetoric. They will take your democracy away from you - they will replace your laws to suit their personal interests - they will take your national health care - they will take your mind and your individuality - they will corrupt your food and sell your water - they will pollute your rightful inheritance.

Be informed and be vigilant.

At this point I would like to recommend Paul Hellyer's book Good-bye, Canada. This is a depressing eye opener regarding what is happening to our country.

As I have said, I think that I am back in the military service of Canada - this time armed only with my trusty word processor. Please remember -- that as well as being Canadian -- we are caretakers of this earth. We are World Citizens and that Mother Earth herself needs defending. Our veterans, in their time and place in history, knew what they had to do -- and they did not shirk their duty.

Neither should we.

Thank you for asking me to come here today.