Behind the Lens- the perspective that comes with war (audio and text) – SaultOnline.com

The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.G.K. Chesterton

War from card games to quick use slogans like war on drugs, war on crime, or our mothers favourite, Its like a bomb went off in here, has become something many in the western world have forgotten.

The 158 soldiers Canada lost while fighting in Afghanistan was a stark, yet quickly fading reminder of the cost of peace and democracy.

I know many parents and significant others who lost loved ones during that conflict. Anita Bowes is the mother of Private Chad Horn who was killed in 2008.

She shared with the world, lines Chad had inscribed on his back just before he left for his tour.

For those I love, I will sacrifice, Chad Horn.

As someone who signed the dotted line to protect my country in the face of evil, this week has been hard to watch.

In speaking with others who served on the front lines in multiple wars throughout generations, images being shared out of Ukraine bring back bad memories, night terrors, guilt and numerous other negative effects.

In speaking with an individual recently who saw combat first hand, they were beyond floored at how fast the word war comes out of peoples mouths who have no clue what they are talking about (I sanitized this statement).

Summing up his feelings about the use of that word, For all the cries of our government starting a war on protestors, or calls of a civil war, due to what happened, they have no fg clue what its like to have warplanes drop bombs nearby, bullets whiz past your head or the fear of what happens if I dont wake up tomorrow.

Over the last 72 hours, Ive watched the petty arguments about a Convoy fall quickly to the wayside as western society woke up to no more peace, less than half a world away.

That realization, that a world war could be on our doorstep, combined with a sobering threat of something much bigger if the world interfered, finally seemed to make people realize, in retrospect, how dumb some of the infighting was.

Whether its petty crime in your backyard, the use of an emergencies act, to wear or not wear a mask all of that, seems to have taken a back-seat to the realities of what is happening to a democracy.

I havent heard the word tyrant used in almost 4 days when describing our Prime Minister. Its amazing how the perspective that comes with war shows the true colours of world leaders. When a tyrant invades a country, some of the comparisons die down.

An invasion of this magnitude in Europe has not been seen since Germany and the real Nazis (not the name some give our current government) invaded Poland in 1939. That started a world war that lasted until 1945 and cost the world an estimated 70-80 million people.

For those of you concerned about a nuclear war based on the threat Vladimir Putin levelled against anyone wanting to fight the bully, I have a second theory.

Putin warned, Whoever tries to hinder us, and even more so, to create threats to our country, to our people, should know that Russias response will be immediate. And it will lead you to such consequences that you have never encountered in your history,

Most tech experts will tell you Russia and China have spent millions and possibly billions on creating a cyberattack ability that outpaces the western worlds ability to defend against it.

What if Russia decided to shut down the power grid with a virus?

What if they succeeded in taking over and destroying nuclear facilities across North America?

What about opening up the Hoover Dam, knocking out GPS and communications satellites or shutting down command and controls facilities, both military and civilian, at the push of a button?

To me, those consequences would be much harsher than anything weve seen in history and could do a significant amount of damage, without a single nuclear bomb being deployed.

I know this hasnt been my typical behind the lens in that it hasnt touched on local issues or even significantly on national issues.

But writing about potholes, green buildings, traffic accidents and protests seems to pale in comparison to the bigger picture this week. When the world is facing the distinct possibility of devolving into a significant cataclysmic event, as a journalist it brings perspective.

So, I implore you as a city, this week to put aside your differences. Build bridges with friends and loved ones whom you have disagreed with in the past. Reach out to your fellow citizen and give them a hand, even if you dont see eye to eye.

Because I can assure you the families in Kyiv, arent arguing over booster shots, emergencies acts and freedom convoys. They are in a fight for their lives and just seeing tomorrow is what matters most.

Maybe thats a perspective we all need, that tomorrow is not a given, live in today, fix where you messed up yesterday and hope the world will find its way through this conflict more or less the way we went into it.

Thats the way I see it, from behind the lens, Im Dan Gray.

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Behind the Lens- the perspective that comes with war (audio and text) - SaultOnline.com