Canada's military continues to pursue an aggressive campaign in Afghanistan, an action which has resulted in the violent deaths of over forty Canadians and countless Afghanis. To date there has been no significant visible public discussion of this tragic, ongoing circumstance. Is this the role we want Canada to play on the international stage? Are you satisfied with the explanations, justification, and rationale being offered up by politicians and military "experts" in charge of this mission? War is perhaps the most serious venture a country can undertake. Generations of Canadians will have to live with the consequences of this policy! We must not let this critically important issue be swept under the carpet, or allow it to proceed without a proper forum for comments, questions or critical analyis.

In May of 2006 a number of musicians and artists contacted their local members of parliament and requested that they raise some pertinent questions in Ottawa. We were told that they would do so if there as a significant grassroots movement. In order to demonstrate our conviction 51 artists (representing the effort of hundreds of individuals) wrote and recorded songs expressing their perspective on Canada at war in Afghanistan. The resulting collection, "Afghanistan...On Guard For Thee?", was released on CD in November as a catalyst for a wider discussion amongst a wider artistic community, and the public at large. This is only the beginning.

It is a non-partisan dialogue. Please join in this discussion. As artists (musicians, poets, writers, creative thinkers...) you are free to give voice to ideas and feelings that others are unable to express. Your fingers rest upon the pulse of Canada, and your work is a barometer of the heart and soul of ordinary Canadians. We hope many of you will contribute your reflections, observations, and opinions as some form of creative statement. Your participation will add a valuable perspective to the project, and it will make a difference.

- Lewis Melville, Dave Clark