So as I eat my Jamaican food and wait for my laundry to finish, I'm thinking why the hell did I wait so late to do my laundry. What's really on my mind though is that Warren Kinsella linked to this blog. I'd be lying if I said it didn't put a bit of a smirk on my face -- ok fine, a pretty big one. Methinks he's not so good at resisting temptation though.
Still, he made a good point. I think he was trying to get across that the "troops" are in Afghanistan trying to install the values of democracy and freedom that we enjoy here in Canada. A perfect example of what we enjoy more that most countries is what's going on this week/weekend in Toronto: http://www.pridetoronto.com/. It's undeniable that the mission is more than worthwhile in that sense, but I think that's exactly why this mission has to be planned and executed with the utmost expertise. I don't think that's the case. How does this go back to the stickers? Well some might think supporting our troops is likewise supporting the good cause they're trying to accomplish. Another school of thought is that supporting our troops might be misconstrued by some with decision making powers as support for the way the mission is being carried out. Expressing support for the troops isn't intrinsically a political statement, but in reality the political ramifications are almost unavoidable, so that's why I feel the way I do.
I don't really wanna harp on this because there are people who could express both points of view better than I can, but the saddest thing about this mission is stories that are way too frequent about more lost lives. Mentioning this is not a way to enhance a position on supporting our troops, but it's more evidence that this mission needs to have clear direction that will produce a positive lasting effect.
Quite frequently when I read these stories about soldiers returning in the way no one ever wishes to travel, I remember during the Gomery era how M. Chretien was defending his record by saying that if he didn't decide to keep out of Iraq there would be young Canadians returning in body bags. Who knows what Chretien would have done if he were making the decisions on Afghanistan, but what he did re: Iraq was a good display of leadership. Currently, we lack such leadership. Period.
Watching politics from downtown Toronto. Pretty Simple.
4 comments:
I agree with your position on the "support our troop" sticker debate. Even if the stickers seem insignificant(they are just stickers), it's the little things like that which contribute to the bigger picture.
That being said, I think instead of supporting "our troops" (indirectly supporting war), focus should be on stopping Canadian involvement in war, directly or indirectly. If we are a peaceful nation, there is no reason we should contribute to senseless killing of people and destruction to our environment.
Support, my ass! Support would be buying armored vehicles to replace golf carts instead of huge airplanes in deals that smack of kick-back.
Support that's nothing more than yankee sloganism is delusional and sure as hell, anyone believing we're bringing democracy to Afghanisnam, would probably fail a "Sally-Ann" test, too.
As for the Great Borrower of Yankee Slogans, Stephen Harper, he is to Tom Flanagan what Bush is to Dick Chaney; a mindless speaking machine whose foresight was circumcised at birth.
Can you even take that previous comment seriously? I really do not know what to make of it. All I can say is that if you are going to comment on something, try not to make yourself sound like a retard...(i.e. Starting a post with the words: SUPPORT, MY ASS!) No one will take what you say seriously.
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