• About
  • Join the Co-op / Donate
  • Contact
Saturday, March 14, 2026
Subscribe
No Result
View All Result
The Brief
NB POD
NB MEDIA CO-OP
Events
Share a story
  • Articles en français
  • New Brunswick
  • Canada
  • World
  • Environment
  • Indigenous
  • Labour
  • Gender
  • Politics
  • Culture
  • Videos
  • NB debrief
  • Articles en français
  • New Brunswick
  • Canada
  • World
  • Environment
  • Indigenous
  • Labour
  • Gender
  • Politics
  • Culture
  • Videos
  • NB debrief
No Result
View All Result
NB MEDIA CO-OP
No Result
View All Result
Home Culture

Poems by Bob Young for Remembrance Day 2009

by R. H. Young
October 31, 2009
Reading Time: 2min read
Poems by Bob Young for Remembrance Day 2009

Photo by Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK - White Poppy, Uploaded by Magnus Manske, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21113120

The Peoples’ Choice

We space age moderns worship life.
We know we’re all the same –
In wanting Planet Earth made safe,
Without the war machine –
Which symbolizes rule by force –
Of people – justice – freedom – choice!

 

War Addicts

Like Viet Nam, Afghanistan
Engaged in “kill to win”
Reminds me that was Hitler’s plan –
It’s how all wars begin.
Each kill to win it war explains,
Why addicts seldom change,
When war machines recruit our brains,
To live not warring’s strange.
Yet Veterans say “NEVER AGAIN”
Let “kill to win it” addicts in.
Support Peacekeeping Blue Berets –
They’re teaching soldiers peaceful ways.

 

Religion on Remembrance Day

I often think Remembrance Day,
Of Jesus status quo.
He’s ruled by force, the Roman way –
No seeds of love must grow.
Remembrance Day we ought to ask,
Do Romans rule today?
Do world Religions mask the task –
Of Empire’s stalking prey?
Non-violent love – prepared to die,
Was Jesus special role,
To change this world and end the lie,
We need to kill to rule.
The Christian human Being cares –
For other lives as much as theirs.

Copyright. R H Young October 2/ 09
Fredericton NB 8451-8999

 

Nine Eleven

9/11 Two thousand One I as on my way to a Veterans Against Nuclear Arms Regional meeting in Nova Scotia. We are United Nations supporters and cheer UN Peacekeepers who say stop the killing and negociate. We know it took the co-operation of communism and capitalism to defeat Hitler and want that same co-operation to save our world today for succeeding generations. Only co-operation can stop pollution, climate change, starvation and war..

One TV interview on that awful day has haunted me ever since. A woman victim asked “Why do they hate us?” She went on to reject violence as a response saying there had been enough killing already.

Sadly violence was the response. In the nuclear weaponed situation we have it is not a time for violence but for co-operation. Eight years of living with the ghosts of 9/11 and that woman’s question prompted the following poem.

Dedicated to all who died by global violence – and children who need to see our world change without violence. As promised when World War Two ended 64 years ago

9/11/2001

“Why do they hate us” victims asked,
Who suffered nine-eleven,
“What evil force could plan attacks,
Against our world trade heaven”.
Is this the modern “us and them”
The ruling class creation,
Where victims turn to violence when,
They lack participation?
It takes a lot of fear and force,
To dominate creation –
Or love to put this world on course
To justice with compassion.
We turn our “us and them” to “we” –
In our United Nations.
And live together violence free.
As Humane populations.
The World Trade Center lesson one:
“This world belongs to everyone”.

 

My Church Service

My Church has served my Country well,
Supporting war and violence,
From swearing in to battle hell,
And sacrifice Remembrance.
My Church has served my people well
When hungry, poor or wealthy,
When status quo’s make living hell
It feeds and clothes the needy.
My Church has served in war and peace,
The living Human Being.
And learned non violence must replace –
The war machines we’re buying.
My Church makes love the power source,
Which frees the slaves from rule by force.

Bob Young lives in Fredericton.

Tags: Bob YoungnuclearpoemRemembrance Daywar
Send

Related Posts

Composite image of a radioactive waste barrel and the Trans-Canada Highway.
Energy

On the road with radioactive waste: Canada’s roads are not safe

December 11, 2025

Canada is decommissioning a nuclear power plant for the first time, marking a new chapter in the country’s nuclear history....

Aerial view of a city in Sudan during the 2023 war, showing large plumes of thick black and grey smoke rising from buildings, illustrating the widespread destruction of urban infrastructure.
Palestine

Besieged health care workers in war zones need our solidarity, says doctor [video]

November 28, 2025

Health care is increasingly under attack in war zones, despite this being in clear violation of international law. Doctors, nurses...

Canada should acknowledge its role in the A bomb: Hiroshima survivor
World

Canada should acknowledge its role in the A bomb: Hiroshima survivor

August 6, 2025

The NB Media Co-op is republishing this letter from 2020 to mark the 80th anniversary today of the bomb dropped...

NB Power review: few details and no climate action requirement
Energy

NB Power review: few details and no climate action requirement

April 14, 2025

Ongoing concerns about energy poverty and spikes in NB Power bills sparked public protests earlier this month. On Monday, Premier...

Load More

Recommended

Celebrating Johanne Perron and 25 years of fighting for pay equity this International Women’s Day

Célébrons Johanne Perron et 25 ans de lutte pour l’équité salariale à l’occasion de la Journée des droits des femmes

6 days ago
A close-up, medium shot shows a person at an outdoor protest holding a cardboard sign that reads "Education cuts SUCK" in hand-written, blue marker. The person is wearing a dark winter hat with earflaps and a black and red jacket. Other protesters and banners are blurred in the background under bright sunlight.

UPDATED: Students Against Cuts NB to rally before budget day

5 days ago
A placard says "NB Power rate increases equal electrocution of consumers."

Advocacy group seeks relief for the poor as NB Power pursues 4.75 per cent rate increase

5 days ago
Celebrating Johanne Perron and 25 years of fighting for pay equity this International Women’s Day

Celebrating Johanne Perron and 25 years of fighting for pay equity this International Women’s Day

6 days ago
NB Media Co-op

© 2019 NB Media Co-op. All rights reserved.

Navigate Site

  • About
  • Join the Co-op / Donate
  • Contact
  • Share a Story
  • Calendar
  • Archives

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • Join the Co-op / Donate
  • Contact
  • Events
  • Share a Story
  • NB POD
  • COVID-19
  • Videos
  • New Brunswick
  • Canada
  • World
  • Arts & Culture
  • Environment
  • Indigenous
  • Labour
  • Politics
  • Rural

© 2019 NB Media Co-op. All rights reserved.

X
Did you like this article? Support the NB Media Co-op! Vous avez aimé cet article ? Soutenez la Coop Média NB !
Join/Donate