Helloo0O Ladies and Gentlemen!
Welcome back to the Inspire Halton Update feed, where we give
you stories to improve your life and the lives of those around you. Today we're going to
talk about the cost of progress.
Since today is the 200th anniversary of the Battle
of York, when American soldiers captured the capital of Upper
Canada during the War of 1812, we’re going to dedicate this post
to that conflict and those who participated in it, American, British, Canadian
and Native.
Canada
today is known for the peaceful, accepting attitude we seek to show. But 200
years ago, we were in a struggle with the United
States. Though outnumbered, we, with our
past British government, fought hard. In a struggle that lasted about 2 ½ years, we survived. Despite
the burning of both the capital of Upper Canada at the time (York,
now Toronto – still provincial capital) and the past capital (Niagara
on the Lake), we burnt Washington and the White House. It
was a hard fought contest with an estimated 19,900 casualties on both sides.
But the cost, however high, however tough, however unlikely
our survival, panned out. The War of 1812 was the last time we were ever
officially at war with the United States. Since that time, we've often been
allies, or at least strong trading partners (though we still traded then, we
were also looked at by some more aggressive Americans as future territory for
the U.S to annex).
All things have a cost. Sometimes we're not aware of what it
is, sometimes it's little, and sometimes it's a lot. These days, though we've
been often blessed with peace at home we still deal with economic difficulties,
with one of the highest recorded divorce rates in history, with poverty. We're
bombarded by this and charities to help these causes which seem to come our
way everyday and are all so important yet, we often let this one and that one down out of necessity. There's just too much to give to.
But, a price is a price –
if it exists, it is a void. Once it is paid in full, it's done. The price paid
by the soldiers in the War of 1812 has bought us 200 years of peace, to date,
and hopefully serenity every lasting between the U.S. and Canada.
You, too, have prices to pay for what is dearest to you. All
diseases have prices to be paid to be defeated. It costs now, perhaps more than
you're willing. But the price given, however unappealing, determines the
future.
Canada would not exist the way it does today without the
bravery of our forefathers.
Recognise the price and pay it when you want to change something
in the future, ignore it if it's not important to you or those you love. Your
decision is one of the most accurate predictors of the future.
Alex H.
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