tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044826704035279962.post7220834152947380639..comments2024-03-09T08:51:31.789-05:00Comments on Mad Padre: Book Review: The Vimy Trap (2016) by Ian McKay and Jamie Swift Mad Padrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00410143683610813671noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044826704035279962.post-44787004717556500332017-09-30T11:59:32.770-04:002017-09-30T11:59:32.770-04:00Mike,
Thank you for another thoughtful and well ...Mike, <br /><br />Thank you for another thoughtful and well written review. There is something to be said for attempting to understand your critics. All societies have creation myths. Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces in particular are lucky to have one so creditable as Vimy Ridge. <br /><br />There comes a point though when I can't stomach another Marxist/Gramscian critique of Western Society - the argument remains the same, only the details change. There is only so much mean spiritness and resentment that one can stand before it starts to infect your soul. Your description reminds me of my recent visit to the National Army Museum in London, which was recently re-designed. Most of the artifacts were gone and what was left was a thematic presentation (with very little chronology) that left one in no doubt that the author thought armies were a bad idea and should best be done away with. The historical interpretation was often questionable at best and deliberately misleading at worst. I was put in mind of Orwell's smug pacifists who know that they can abjure violence because others must practice it on their behalf. <br /><br />While no creation story is as simple or as clean as it is made out to be, there is much to be proud of CAFs record. I think the best response to McKay & Swift's critique is to do your duty fully and with a glad heart. <br /><br />Conrad Kinchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15683395740934527502noreply@blogger.com