Stalemate & Another War

I originally planned on finishing 2023 with my previous post about Christmas, but I feel two current events need to be addressed even though they’re not directly related to this blog.

It’s been many months since I’ve talked about the war in Ukraine.  I haven’t written about it since February, but I have been keeping up to date on the country’s fight for freedom from the orc hordes.  I’m sure everyone was hoping the war would be over by the end of this year, but it was not to be.  I think too many people, including world leaders, thought Ukraine’s military could pull off a major victory with the limited resources they were given.

The much talked about & anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive began in early June.  The goal was to breach the orc front lines and reclaim as much occupied land as possible.  Some speculated the cities of Melitopol & Mariupol were the main goals because their capture would sever the land link between Crimea and mainland Russia.  Unfortunately, many factors got in the way of success.  Weather & especially late weapon deliveries from NATO led to postponement, giving the orcs plenty of time to construct defensive networks in the right places.  When Ukrainian soldiers finally attacked, they ran into walls of defences and counterattacks.  It got so bad that Ukrainian soldiers abandoned their combat vehicles and trudged on foot to the frontlines so their vehicles wouldn’t get destroyed by artillery & kamikaze drones. 

The counteroffensive came to an end in early December and succeeded in liberating around 370km² of land.  That’s better than nothing, but when you look at the map, it’s not much.  The operation did fall short of expectations, but it did show everyone, including the orcs, that Ukraine is not giving up and will continue to fight for freedom.  Unfortunately, this isn’t translating well in the political sphere.

The $40 billion in aid from the USA will be used up by the end of this year.  (It might even be all spent as I’m writing this).  There are other countries that provide military aid, but the USA provides the most.  An additional military aid bill worth $60 billion is being considered/debated by American Congress, except there are orc friendly Republicans who don’t want to give Ukraine more money & military equipment.  I don’t understand that at all.  They’re using isolationist excuses like focusing on strengthening the border with Mexico and saying Americans should only worry about problems inside America.  It’s the same rhetoric used during World War 2.  I also don’t understand how these Republican politicians can support the tyrants in the Kremlin.  They must be brainwashed by orc propaganda.  It must have been the same during World War 2 except they were brainwashed by Nazi propaganda until December 7, 1941 . . . “a date that will live in infamy.”

Too many people believed Ukraine had the ability to pull off another stunning victory like in 2022 when Ukrainian forces rapidly advanced in the Kharkiv & Kherson Oblasts.  Well, they would have, if NATO gave Ukraine everything they needed right away instead of in pieces.  Or even better, join Ukrainian soldiers on the battlefields and liberate all occupied lands including Crimea.  That would have been nice.  NATO & the Free World must not be intimidated by nuclear threats from the orcs.  They don’t have the will to use them because they will lose a nuclear war.  Many people want NATO to avoid going to war with Russia, but I’m beginning to think it’s inevitable, because some douchebag in the Kremlin wants to be remembered as the orc who took on the Western World and won.  That’s not going to happen.

I really hope Congress approves another $60 billion in military aid for Ukraine.  The country needs it.  Ukraine is fighting for everyone’s freedom.  F-16 fighter jets are supposedly coming, but their deployment is still months away.  They will give the Ukrainian Air Force a much-needed boost, but they alone won’t turn the tide of the war.  More support is needed, especially air defences.  It’s now winter and the orcs are attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure again.  The power plants need protection from missiles, bombs, and drones.  If NATO leaders are reading this, please send Ukraine more missile defence batteries (Patriot, NASAMS, MANPADS, IRIS-T, Centurion C-RAM) right away.  They’ll be used and not sit in warehouses gathering dust.

Slava Ukraini!

While the Ukrainian counteroffensive was going on, another war began in the Middle East in early October.  Hamas terrorists decided to launch a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, launching rockets, killing thousands of civilians, and taking 251 people as hostages.  Israel immediately retaliated, declaring war, and sending its military to push back Hamas and expel it from the Gaza Strip.  Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas and indefinitely occupy Gaza.  That’s going to be a challenge for the military because Hamas has built an extensive network of underground tunnels to freely move around.  Entering those tunnels & clearing them of Hamas fighters won’t be easy.    

A lot has happened in just two months.  Unfortunately, the war coming to an end is not one of them.  Israel has blockaded the Gaza Strip, bombarded it with its air force, invaded in late October, paused for a truce in late November, and then resumed fighting in early December.  The war is still ongoing as I write this, and I don’t know how it will end.  Hamas has given reasons for its October 7 attack, but I wonder if they were hoping it would encourage its allies to join in the struggle.  Hezbollah has in a way, but its fighters haven’t crossed the border and invaded northern Israel.  Iran gives support to Hamas but hasn’t sent its military directly to the conflict zone.  (That would be difficult considering the country of Iraq sits between Israel & Iran).  I think several countries bordering Israel want to get involved but are hesitant because Israel possesses nuclear weapons.  The country doesn’t publicly acknowledge or deny they have them, but the entire world pretty much assumes they do.  If a larger regional war does break out in the Middle East, then who knows where that will go.    

And while all this is happening, Palestinian civilians in Gaza continue to suffer.  Although, truth be told, Hamas hasn’t been kind to the people of Gaza since they took over in 2007 and ruled with an iron fist.  There are widespread & documented reports of human rights abuses committed by Hamas.  For the civilians right now, there are very few safe places to go because Gaza is a small strip of land, and they can’t leave because of the blockade.  The Israeli army hasn’t attacked all of Gaza, but many observers believe it’s only a matter of time.  Civilians must hunker down, find shelter somewhere, anywhere, and find food & water.  The children of Gaza are suffering the most, seeing & experiencing things no child should have to go through in a lifetime.    

This war may go on for a very long time, leaving only flat land & rubble for civilians to return to.  Israel says the war will take months, and I can see that happening, unless the conflict spills over and becomes a regional war.  Will this latest conflict lead to World War 3?  I don’t think so, unless USA & Russia get involved.  The war in Ukraine looks like the more plausible trigger.

My hope for 2024 is for things to get better.  I want Ukraine to succeed in liberating all its territory and push back the orc hordes to the 1991 borders.  If victory means further fracturing Russia, then so be it.  The world survived the collapse of the USSR; it will survive the collapse of Russia.  I also hope peace will return to the Middle East.  I know that sounds like a farfetched dream because that part of the world has been volatile for many years, but it’s still possible.  We just haven’t found the right solution yet. 

 

Christmas 2023

Christmas decorations started going up in Inuujaq School at the beginning of December.  Classes decorated their doors and staff decorated the main hallway, main office, and staff room.  The student support assistants made a large banner in one corner of the main hallway on behalf of the school staff.  Christmas themed pencils were given to teachers to distribute them to students.  The decorations made the school’s interior appear lively, a needed distraction from the constant darkness outside. 

The school’s Christmas Concert was on everyone’s minds.  Classes had been busy preparing their acts while also making decorations for the concert.  The high school drummers & I were also busy preparing our set list.  There would be three cadences performed as a drumline followed by solos.  The selected three cadences were more challenging, but doable.  I just had to rearrange a few parts.  Everyone practiced their acts at the afternoon dress rehearsal two days before the concert.  The dress rehearsal took place at the community hall.  I borrowed Frank’s truck to transport the drums, stands, music, hardware, and a keyboard.  The keyboard would be used for the final act: school staff singing a Christmas song.     

Classes also made decorations for the upcoming Christmas concert.  High school & middle school students put up these decorations at the community hall on December 14.  The decorations were transported on vehicles provided by staff.  Students & staff also set up chairs and a few tables.  The setup lasted the entire morning.

December 15 was very busy & exciting.  Santa visited classes and took pictures with students.  One of my high school drummers volunteered to play the role.  He was the first person to try on the new Santa costume I bought from Spirit Halloween.  (Yes, they also sell Christmas costumes).  Thankfully, the costume fit.  A few high school students helped Santa dressed as elves.

Several middle school students helped staff set up tables & chairs in the gym for the evening Staff Christmas dinner.  White tablecloths were placed over the tables, a sound system was set up at one end of the gym, the large staff banner was taped to a wall, garbage cans were placed in strategic locations, and a large Christmas was placed near the sound system.  Everything was ready just before the bell rang for lunch.

Everyone headed to the community hall after lunch.  Doors opened at 1:30pm and people flooded in to find good seats.  Students & staff were dressed in their best clothing.  The place was packed when the concert began at 2pm.  Performing acts were arranged in order of grade.  Kindergarten began the festivities by performing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.  Grade 1 did the Chicken Dance.  Grade 2 sang & danced to the tune of This Little Light Of Mine.  Grade 3 sang an Inuktitut song titled, Maani, Maani. 

Grade 8.

The theme of dancing continued with the next three acts.  Grade 4 did a Christmas dance, Grade 5 did a Jerusalem Dance, and Grade 6 did a Winter In Wonderland dance.  (Those were the names of the acts).    

Grade 9

Grade 7 performed a Grinch Skit.  Grade 8 sang the song Hallelujah and Grade 9 did a Christmas dance number.  My drummers & I set up our drums in the main foyer during the Grade 8 performance.  When the curtains closed after the end of the Grade 9 performance, the moment had finally arrived.  It was time for the High School Drumline to perform.

Kids crowded around the front of the stage as the drumline & I moved our instruments and equipment on stage.  Several people also helped.  You don’t want to keep the audience waiting.  We got everything in place in less than 5 minutes . . . I think.  We did our final stretches, made sure our music papers were in order, took one final deep breath, and exhaled.  I signaled to the emcee that we were ready.  The curtains were drawn, and we came face-to-face with the audience.  Just like at the Halloween assembly, I raised my sticks, clicked 4 times, and the music began.

The snare drummers had to play with their snares off because it would have been too loud.  We played the three cadences without problems.  The audience applauded each performance.  The drumline then took a step back to give the soloists their space.  The first soloist was a tenor player who played blindfolded.  He got through it without dropping his sticks.  Next was me on the snare drum.  I think I did quite well.  The last solo was more of a duet.  A student & set up two quad tom drums facing each other.  The duet was short & simple, but the main highlight was the two of us moving around the toms and playing at the same time.  The audience really liked that.  We all took a bow and waved at the audience as the curtains closed.  We survived.

The drumline quickly packed & moved everything off stage to make way for Inuujaq School staff.  The keyboard & a chair were brought out for the vice-principal.  Staff got into their places on stage with music sheets in hand.  The curtains opened, and the staff sang a Christmas carol in Inuktitut and English.  They practiced several times before the concert.  They performed well.  And with that the concert came to an end.

Several staff & students helped me move the instruments & equipment into Frank’s truck.  I then got a few volunteers to help me bring it back to school.  I then drove the volunteers home.  Students were now dismissed for the Christmas holidays.

The Staff Christmas Dinner began at 6pm.  The local hotel catered the event.  Staff & guests were welcomed by the principal.  An Elder blessed the food, and everyone lined up with plates in hand.  The menu consisted of roast, ham, turkey, stuffing, vegetables, gravy, peas & carrots, juice boxes, and various desserts.  The hotel kitchen staff did an excellent job preparing the food.  Secret Santa gifts were handed out thereafter and the staff played a dice throwing game for prizes.

Leftover food was distributed among the staff & guests.  Everyone helped with the cleaning of the gym.  We wished each other a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!  School would resume early next year.  Several people flew down south for the holidays the next day.  I was one of them.

Happy New Year!  See you all in 2024!

December Parade & Candy Toss

I forgot to mention in my last post that the people of Arctic Bay bid farewell to the sun on November 11.  The days have been getting shorter & darker for the last month.  We won’t see the sun again until February.  We don’t, however, endure 24 hours of darkness.  Even on the shortest day of the year, I think it’s December 21, there’s still a bit of light in the sky, but it’s dusk, or more like dusk transitioning into night.  I’ve been told the community only sees 20 minutes of sunlight on that day.  I only experienced it in 2020 when the world was still in lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

3045 Army Cadet Corps held its second Parents Night Parade of the 2023-2024 Training Year on December 6.  There were several cadet accomplishments I wanted to publicly recognize before the cadets were dismissed for the Christmas holidays. 

The cadets & I spent an hour setting up the gym for the evening parade.  We opened doors at 6:15pm to let guests find seats.  The parade began at 6:30pm.

The beginning was similar to Remembrance Day in November.  The cadet flag party marched into the gym carrying the flags of Canada & the cadet program.  They deposited the flags in front of the awards table and then took up positions as Left Markers.  The cadet parade commander marched the remaining cadets onto the parade square and halted them next to the Left Markers.  The commander dressed the platoon and then waited for the arrival of the Guest Reviewing Officer (GRO).  I was the GRO this time.

I halted in front of the cadet platoon and received a General Salute.  This was followed by the playing of the national anthem.  I then inspected the cadets on parade.  The cadets then did a March Past to showcase their drill to the audience.  I did a quick speech welcoming the parents, guardians, and friends to the parade and thanking them for supporting the cadet corps.  I continued with awards & presentations.

Year 5 Workshop cadets.

Seven cadets earned marksmanship level badges since October.  One Level 1, three Level 3s, and three Level 4s.  (Level 4 is the highest).  I announced the three winners of the Fall Biathlon competition in late October.  The winners received t-shirts & bragging rights.  Next to receive public recognition were the three senior cadets who attended a Year 5 Workshop down south in late November.  The workshop teaches leadership & instructional skills senior cadets can use at their home corps, summer camps, and excursions.

The Army Cadet League of Canada gifted the corps an Anniversary Certificate, recognizing the 30^th anniversary of the corps history.  The anniversary was in 2022, but better late than never.  I displayed the certificate to everyone in attendance and used the opportunity to announce the corps 31^st anniversary. 

The last batch of awards was promotions.  Eight cadets moved up in the ranks.  Seven lance corporals were promoted to corporals and one corporal was promoted to master corporal. 

The cadets did an Advance in Review Order followed by a General Salute.  The anthem God Save The King was played.  I marched out of the gym and the cadets were dismissed.  The parade had come to an end.

The cadets & I posed for a group photograph.  The cadets were then dismissed to the reception table.  Reception lasted about 20 minutes.  The cadets helped me put everything away.  I congratulated them one last time for putting on a good performance.  I then dismissed them for the remainder of the night.

Since I’m writing about December 6, I would like to be serious at this time and state that in Canada, December 6 is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, also known as White Ribbon Day.  This day was created in 1991 in response to the deadly & tragic École Polytechnique massacre of 1989 that occurred on December 6 in Montreal, Quebec.  For those who don’t know, a psychotic misogynist madman, armed with a rifle, killed 14 women & injured 14 others at École Polytechnique before taking his own life.  This domestic terrorist act brought the issue of violence towards women to the forefront of Canadian politics & life.  Thirty-four years later, women in Canada & around the world still experience violence & harassment daily.  That’s appalling.  I’m glad women are fighting back all over the world but much more work & fighting needs to be done.  I hope violence, discrimination, and harassment against women & girls are gone for good really, really soon.

The last day of cadets for 2023 was December 9.  I let the cadets have a fun afternoon playing sports & games.  I held a candy toss at the end to the delight of everyone.  To promote safety & prevent injury, I instructed the cadets to make a large square using gym mattresses.  Shoes were removed and extra-large Ziploc bags were handed out.  Cadets were then instructed to stand around the mattresses.  I went upstairs to the mezzanine and got a large plastic bucket filled with candy.  When the cadets told me they were ready, I picked up the bucket and dumped all the candy onto the mattresses below.  The cadets immediately jumped in to claim their sweets.  Once all the candy was gone, I instructed the cadets to put away the mattresses.  I’m glad they didn’t start right away because I quickly discovered I had more candy.  I cancelled my previous order and instructed the cadets to stand around the mattresses again.  They were excited to hear there was more candy to claim. 

The cadets put away the mattresses before forming up for a quick debriefing.  I wished the cadets a safe & happy Christmas and not to eat their candy all in one night.  I also told when the first training day would be in 2024.  The senior cadet dismissed the platoon, and everyone headed home.