The fight against fascism is ongoing today
By Lethbridge Herald on November 8, 2025.
Editor,
An open letter to Mr. Nathan Neudorf, MLA for Lethbridge East:
As we here in Lethbridge and throughout our province of Alberta prepare to commemorate the sacrifices of our armed forces members, I am sure that you will be laying your wreath as a member of the United Conservative Party.
But we all must take the time to think about the Lethbridge and Alberta men and women who gave their lives to fight against fascism in order to maintain our democracy and rights and freedoms.
But as a member of a provincial political party in Alberta, you are part of those who would try to see that Alberta separate from the sovereign country of Canada. I refer you to the poignant war poem written by Lt. Col. John McCrae, “In Flanders Fields.”
In closing, Mr. Neudorf, I ask you to take a stand for our province and tell Premier Smith you do not want Alberta to be wrenched from Canada.
Jim Culver
Lethbridge
9-8
An excellent comment, thank you.
In May of 1915, in the midst of war, John McCrae penned his poem.
Today, I am most struck by McCrae’s words:
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
In reflection, what does it mean for us to “break faith with [those] who die”?
In particular, what does it mean to “break faith” with those 650,000 Canadians who enlisted for military service, the 424,000 who went overseas, the more than 66,000 Canadian service members who gave their lives and the more than 172,000 who were wounded during the course of WW1?
In general, what does it mean to “break faith” with those Canadians who have served since then and who continue to step up to serve in Canada’s military.
From an historic perspective, what exactly were Canadian military personnel engaged in fighting against and fighting for from 1914 – 1918?
Prior to the outbreak of WW1, historians record the rise of violent German nationalism combined with an accelerated Western colonial imperialism.
What has changed? Is nationalism on the rise again? Does global colonial imperialism continue? How do these events impact breaking faith with those who die?
Should rising nationalism and ongoing imperialism be a concern to Albertans? To Canadians?
Are we able to point to covert signs and overt demonstrations of a rising nationalism in this country? In this province? To signs of rising authoritarianism?
Do we witness a creeping erosion of rights in this country? What is happening to Indigenous Treaty rights? How are rights, as identified in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, being eroded or blatantly denied?
Are we becoming sensitized to the inroads of centralized governing power and control in this province? Ref:
The Alberta Sovereignty Act Within A United Canada Act (S.A. 2022 c. A-26.5)
The Provincial Priorities Act (Bill 18, 2024)
The Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act, 2024 (Bill 20)
The Health Statutes Amendment Act (No,2), 2024 (Bill 26)
The Fairness and Safety in Sport Act (2024) and Education Amendment Act (2024 – Bill 27)
The Critical Infrastructure Defence Amendment Act (2025)
The Back to School Act (Bill 2, 2025) invoking the Notwithstanding Clause
Are we turning a blind eye to federal erosion of human rights through legislation? Ref:
The Combatting Hate Act (Bill C-9)
The Strong Borders Act (Bill C-2)
The imposition of national security confidentiality (NSC) to which essentially avoids transparency and accountability.
Are we witnessing similar threats by international governments?
Mr. Culver’s request is not frivolous. Rather, at this time in our history, it is more than appropriate.
Your comments are erroneous and without any substance regarding the Remembrance Day commemoration. Are you forgetting that you/we live in a democratic society? Perhaps you are deceived by socialist NDP jargon and propaganda or worse Liberal woke ideology.
Then again, fascism seems to appeal to some …
Particularly to those who have ‘forgotten’.
And your’s are insulting , ignorant and fail to understand the immortal words quoted above.
If you have nothing of “substance” to say (other than your usual nasty , continuous vitriol directed at the NDP) shut up!
fascism is a great tool to allow the likes of “harold’s reality” neo-con preferences to trample the actual rights and freedoms of all