Remembrance Day is tomorrow in Canada. These days you see many people walking around with a red poppy pinned to their jackets. We are urged to remember what the veterans did for us during the war. It’s ironic then that Remembrance Day almost completely ignores the many Chinese Canadian soldiers did for Canada during the war. Everywhere you see images of white soldiers, but where are the native Canadians, the black Canadians, the Chinese Canadians? Even at the Canadian War Museum that recently opened in Ottawa, you see no hints that any Chinese Canadians participated in the war effort.
If you dig hard enough you can find some info on the Chinese Canadian soldiers, but most people do not even know that they existed. On the Veteran Affairs Canada website, they do have a section dedicated to those forgotten soliders. Running some Google searches yield a few pieces of info here and there. But they all seem to be unanimous that the period of racism has passed, and the Chinese Canadians, in turn for their heroic service during the war, now enjoy the same privileges as other Canadians.
It’s quite sad that Canada has chosen not to acknowledge the histories of these brave men and women, who fought for the country they loved. Even now, it’s the Chinese Canadians that have to make sure that their history and heritage is not forgotten forever. There is a Chinese Canadian Military Museum in Vancouver that is dedicated to “educating the public of the Chinese fight to repeal discriminatory laws and to earn their citizenship with all the rights and privileges and stand equal with other Canadians.”
The reason why I won’t wear a poppy is because I want to remember. I remember that it wasn’t just the white people who fought for Canada. I remember the ordeals that the Japanese Canadians had to go through. I remember all the excuses given by the Canadian government to justify racism during the war. When I look at images of our war heroes — like the statue erected across from Wilfrid Laurier University, at the Veteran’s Green — I can’t help but feel a bit repulsed by all the racism and ignorance that comes with Remembrance Day.
lest we forget
November 11th, 2007 at 1:31 pm
I wanted to make a post like this one, but I felt I would offend too many people. But after reading this, I think I need to start telling people why I don’t wear a poppy either. Thanks.
November 11th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
I think it would be expected that people will be offended. My earlier idea of wearing a poppy with the words 忘れない (”don’t forget”) would probably be too offensive, especially since people wouldn’t even know what it means. The point isn’t to offend but to educate people.
November 11th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
I am an old Chinese-Canadian, and I wear a Poppy. and I wear it proudly. Many members of our family sacrificed for Canada during the great wars…and war sucks.
I sincerely appreciate your sense of Asian pride - which I too share, as yes, this is still much a white-centric Canada we live in.
The important point is that it shouldn’t matter whether they depict white or asian soldiers on their info bumphs… they all fought for our Canada. Our asian-canadian history will rightfully be told (eventually). It will require the diligence of young people like you and others to keep up the awareness.
But just because some current lame ass joker does not show some Chinese/ Japnaese vets on their public info bits, should not deter any of us from respecting those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for what we all have today.
Keep up your interesting blog commentaries.
November 11th, 2007 at 7:39 pm
tUCC: Thanks for your feedback. My message wasn’t to tell other people that they shouldn’t wear the poppy. You wear one, and I salute you for it.
My reasons for not wearing one was stated here, and I feel that by not wearing one it’s much easier for me to share the parts of Canadian history that rarely get told. When I wear one, people don’t really talk to me about it, but if I don’t wear one then they might ask me why I’m not wearing one, or if I’m going to wear one.