At this time of year, we wear red poppies in commemoration of those who fought in the name of peace — those who gave their lives so that we wouldn’t have to. This message is one that has eluded many, and we need not look far beyond our borders to see this.

The five wars that characterized the 20th century took innumerable lives and affected countless more. They tore apart families who saw their sons, fathers and brothers go away never to return, or to come back broken and weary. War is nothing to be glorified, Agatha Christie once said; to win a war is as disastrous as to lose one.

A woman’s understanding of war is that it is essentially a man’s exploit, born out of masculine drives and priorities without regard for the human costs. This underappreciation for life and this call to aggression are threats to our existence that may be closer than we think.

Currently, Canadian troops are deployed in peacekeeping missions around the world. But it wasn’t too long ago that a bellicose neighbour to the south exhorted us to join a war that continues today with no end in sight. Our response to them was a noble one, but one that may have been different under the current administration. Today, Canadians are living under a new leadership, one that has already shown more hawkish tendencies.

These include taking a less balanced stance in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, taking little action in deterring the conflict in Darfur and flirting with the idea of a missile defense system. These actions serve to undermine Canada’s role as a proponent of peace in the fragile world system.

Every year on Nov. 11, millions around the world promise never to forget. Yet war still rages in the veins of men from Fallujah to the Ivory Coast, to Nepal to Colombia. Canada must ensure its role in future conflicts is one of peace-building. A lack of commitment to peace on the part of our leaders is a betrayal of the sacrifice and legacy of those who have perished.