If We Don’t Remember, We Will Forget

“In Flanders fields the poppies grow/Between the crosses, row on row.” ~ from “In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae

For many Canadians, the above poem symbolizes a very important holiday: Remembrance Day. On the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, we are called to stop and give a moment of silence out of respect for the thousands of soldiers that fought (and are still fighting) for our freedom.

I remember when I was still in grade school, every year we would have a Remembrance Day ceremony to honour our veterans and fallen soldiers. It was always a time when our school would come together to learn about and respect those who have risked their lives for our collective safety and freedom, some ultimately sacrificing themselves for that privilege. Within the days leading up to this year’s Remembrance Day, however, news had broken out that some Albertan schools allow students to opt out of Remembrance Day ceremonies.

I don’t get it… The only reason we live in a free country is because men and women went out and fought for it, so it seems to me that those of us who live in Canada should be able to take a few minutes to say thank you for that. I feel as though many are consumed with this idea that we never have enough time to do anything, which is a load of BS. The only reason it feels like we have so little time is because we try to do too much. Regardless, one can take at least two minutes (my goodness, even an hour is not anything in the long run) to be still and say a small thank you for someone you don’t even know who has basically given you your life. Also, Remembrance Day is not a religious holiday, so until someone explains to me why anyone would have an aversion to showing respect for our fallen soldiers, I will fully believe that we who live in Canada have an obligation to remember. Remembrance Day should be celebrated in all schools and students should attend those celebrations. They’re a part of our history, and they’re a part of our present.

I read an article about Premier Redford’s reaction to Edmonton Public Schools’ policy, and one of the Twitter comments struck a chord with me:

“If you make Remembrance Day ceremonies “optional” for kids, then the whole point of Remembrance Day will be FORGOTTEN. Mandatory. #CTVYEG” ~ Travis Currah via Twitter 

So, fellow Canadians, let’s take a stand and fight for the many soldiers like they fought for us. They deserve to be remembered, by all of us.

Have a great day, one full of thanks for the many blessings we have.

Joyanne 😀

A “Ground-Breaking” Idea? More Like An Old Idea Finally Given Its Just Desserts

“Singing live: there’s an emotional level to this that just cannot be created in the studio.” ~Russell Crowe

Les Misérables is coming out on film in December and I couldn’t be more excited to see it! Since immersing myself in Titanic: The Musical this past March/April, I had been bombarded with musical theatre geeks (a term I use lovingly) who absolutely adore Les Misérables. Truth be told, before I performed in Titanic, I had heard of Les Mis, but I didn’t know the story, and I didn’t really know the music other than ‘that Susan Boyle song,’ “I Dreamed A Dream”.  Since meeting all these Les Mis fans, however, I have since listened to the soundtrack, watched the 1998 film version, and have tried to read Victor Hugo’s original masterpiece (unsuccessfully thus far, but some day I’ll get through). I have fallen in love with the story and the music, so I am now anxiously waiting for Les Mis, the musical, to come out in December.

Because of this new found love, every once in a while I will go on YouTube to watch the trailer. However, today I watched a featurette on live singing, something that director, Tom Hooper, calls “genuinely ground-breaking.” See, instead of recording the singing beforehand and then melding it into the film later on, the actors are singing live during filming. The result is a much more honest representation rather than having to “make all your acting choices three months before you’ve even met the actor you’re working with” (Eddie Redmayne, playing “Marius”).

Hold on… isn’t this what live musicals/theatre in general already do and have been doing the entire time, capturing human experience as it happens? I just can’t believe that directors and producers of movie musicals haven’t thought of this before because it’s always being done in live theatre just by the fact that it’s live and happening right there in front of the audience. In the words of Miss Caroline Bingley in Pride and Prejudice, “I am all astonishment” (Chapter 6).

Just wanted to bring that to light and remark that perhaps this “ground-breaking” idea is merely an old idea finally accepted as fact.

Yay live theatre (though I am looking forward to the movie)!

Have a great day!

Joyanne 😀