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Should Canadians accept pacifist religious accommodations on Remembrance Day?

Remembrance Day book decision upsets former teacher

The topic of religious accommodation and Remembrance Day has, again, reared it’s ugly head.

This time it’s happened in Prince Edward Island where a former teacher, military reservist and now a grandmother, is alerting politicians and the media about a librarian being asked not to read Remembrance Day stories to a visiting Grade 1 class because one of the students belonged to the Jehovah’s Witness faith.

"[The librarian] said she could talk about peace-making and peacekeeping, but she doesn’t read about Remembrance Day, so I was quite concerned," Fran Albrecht told the Chronicle Herald.

Andrew Sprague, a spokesman for the Department of Tourism and Culture, the agency in charge of the P.E.I. library system, told CBC News that this was just a one-off.

"We try to be as inclusive as possible with programming at all public libraries," Sprague said.

"We were asked to put together a program that allowed all students in one class to participate while at the same time speaking to the spirit of Remembrance Day, so we were prepared to do stories about peace keeping and peace making, two important functions of our military."

Jehovah’s Witnesses are one of several religious groups that don’t feel comfortable with commemorating Remembrance Day in Canada or Veteran’s Day in the United States.

The blog, Defending Jehovah’s Witnesses explains why:

Jehovah’s Witnesses themselves do not go to war because the Bible shows that God’s servants are not to “learn war anymore.” —Isaiah 2:4. Jesus also showed that his followers would not take up weapons of warfare. (Matthew 26:52)

Jehovah’s Witnesses are Christians. They recognize Jesus’ command to be “no part of the world” by remaining strictly neutral in political matters. (John 17:16) Yet it is important to note that Jehovah’s Witnesses do not protest against military actions or interfere with those who choose to serve in the armed forces.

While Canadians are generally an accommodating people when it comes religious freedoms, many seem to get their backs up when it comes to November 11th.

Last year, Canadians were up in arms about the white poppy campaign, a longstanding expression of anti-war sentiment.

In 2012, federal Conservative cabinet minister Jason Kenney lashed-out at an edict by the Manitoba government allowing grade school students to opt-out of Remembrance Day ceremonies.

"I find it offensive. They don’t opt out of the freedoms secured by our war dead," Kenney tweeted, according to Sun News.

Also in 2012, it was reported that some Alberta school boards offered the same opt-out clause.

That had raised the ire of then-Alberta premier Alison Redford.

"I’m disappointed in that," she said according to CTV News.

“I believe that as a Canadian it is our duty to respect and honour everyone who has made that sacrifice. I’m very disappointed in that decision.”

Canadians and even our politicians are sensitive when it comes to Remembrance Day.

They are as they should be passionate about the day’s meaning and want their fellow countrymen (and women) to commemorate those who fought for this country.

But are Canadians wrong to expect individuals to put aside their religious beliefs for that one day?

What do you think?

Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

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