The sacrifices that bind us together

As I was reading about the latest Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan today, I noticed a link on the Toronto Star's site that showed the home towns of all the killed soldiers.

Every province except PEI has sacrificed at least one son or daughter in this war, as well as the territory of Nunavut.

Maybe it's just me but I found seeing all the little pins spread across the country to be a strangely nationally unifying image.

And I know that soldiers go where they're told, but in this country I get the sense that they join because they believe in it. That's what we're told, anyway. If that's true, and these men and women are sacrificing themselves because they believe in making the world a better place, it makes me wonder if I'm doing anything to make the world a better place.