Five years ago, Mike Frastacky invited a couple of friends to view his slide show of his recent trip to Afghanistan. We sat around discussing his journey and his dream to rebuild a school for the children of war. He was in love with the land, the history and the people.
Mike was once again saving up his wages from carpentry to return to Afghanistan the following year. He asked me to publish one of his photographs on the cover of Common Ground (see November 2001, issue 124), so more people would know about the situation where schools were devastated by wars and homeless orphans lived under blue tarps waiting for relief.
Mike volunteered five years of service to the people of the village where the school was built.
Last month, Mike was murdered in Afghanistan.
Mike Frastacky reminds me of the son of another carpenter. Two thousand years ago, that man taught love and kindness, imploring people to forgive their enemies and those who had forsaken them. He was crucified in the Holy Land because he represented peace and love for all.
Mike’s death comes after Canada’s new prime minister staged a news conference from an Afghani military base in support of the US occupation, and on the heels of Israel’s recent invasion of Lebanon.
It used to be that Canadians travelling abroad felt safer than Americans because we were respected as peacekeepers. Americans would even sew a Canadian flag onto their backpacks, in order to avoid the anger of many people offended by American imperialism.
Stephen Harper, wittingly or unwittingly, has blurred the distinction between Canadian and US foreign policy, and hence by association, Canadians and Americans. Canada is beginning to be tarred by the same hatred previously directed at Americans. Will all white folks be judged the same, and all foreigners be called Western devils? We as Canadians are now more at risk because of our new government’s lack of diplomacy to many members of our global community.
We can be friends of the US, but we do not have to do their bidding. Good friends tell the truth, allow their friends independence and correct them when they feel they have made a mistake. We can be friends of the US without having to adopt their enemies as our enemies. We can continue to work for peace and understanding. Canada is not just against war and violence; we are also for understanding, social justice and friendship.
Let us not be drawn in closer to a politic or fanaticism that condones the bombing of cities, and for that matter, innocent human beings. Let us see through the deception of those who profit from war. Let’s stop falling for their fear mongering, whether in the name of God, democracy or freedom.
We need to get smart for peace, not dumb for war.
Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. Mike, thank you for your kind heart. May you carry the pictures in your soul of all those you loved and helped. May our tears be your medals of honour. Peace.

PS: If this message reaches someone who may be in possession of Mike’s slides, please call Common Ground. We would like to invite those who are dear to him to contact us, so we can arrange a slide show of his work, in memory of his legacy and as a celebration of his life.