We Salute The Flag

Relatives of the soldiers killed in action during the Iraq and Afghanistan war are reacting to changes in the way that Canada's war dead are being recognized. These changes have been made without any source of input of military families and are creating quite an uproar in the local community. The decision by the government to ban journalists from covering the ceremonies for those fallen soldiers returning to Canadian soil has come under criticism and many of the families of those people with loved ones overseas are speaking out. Many of these families, military officials and opposition parties are also unhappy with the decision that flags on Parliament Hill will not be flown at half-mast when a soldier is killed in the line of duty. Most of the people opposed to this decision regard it as an insult to members of the armed forces. The Canadian government has stated that flying the flag at half-mast is usually only done for politicians and VIPs. However, people are asking why a Canadian soldier, who has given their life for their country, should not be recognized as a VIP of the country. Even though some states in Canada have disregarded the new legislation, most people are disgusted by what the government has done.

From a functionalist view, which "emphasizes the way that parts of a society are structured to maintain stability" (Schaefer 13), the legislation holds many issues. One reason for such a problem is that flying the flag at half-mast fills a need for those families and military officials who have lost someone in the war, and those fighting overseas right now. If recognition for those lives lost is not done, then the stability of the soldiers fighting overseas might go down which would in turn cause more casualties and loss of the war. Families will also become unhappy and unstable leading to a loss of nationalistic views and moral. This loss in moral might then bring the quality of work in Canada down which would affect the entire society. Keeping the flag at half-mast also fills the need for closure that most families need when they have lost a loved one in such a hard way like war. Military enlistment may also be affected since the people, knowing that recognition for their achievements and life will not be honored the way that the society needs them to be recognized and honored.

In looking at this issue from a Social Conflict view, which "assumes that social behavior is best understood in terms of conflict or tension between competing groups" (Schaefer 14), these people of the working class who have soldiers overseas need a sense of unity with themselves and those of a higher class, such as government officials. From a Marxist view, this need for unity in social status continues on a daily basis and is the cornerstone for those who agree with the Marx's view of the conflict perspective. The conflict stems from families who have loved ones who have died overseas that want them to be recognized as heroes just like those politicians and VIPs who have the flag lowered at half-mast for their loss. People feel there must be a sense of recognition between the social classes that make up the Canada. W.E.B. Du Bois would argue that the reason for such social unrest is that the families of those who have lost someone need to have society know what the war is doing to the country. These families would feel that flying the flag at half-mast would give the rest of the society the knowledge that would make people want to stop a war. People would see the flag