Am going to go on a rant...Canada's 40th casualty in the "occupation" of Afghanistan was reported the other day...shortly after the 38th and 39th Canadian lives were lost, our esteemed Prime Minister Steven Harper was quoted in a speech that this was the "price of leadership in the world."
Forgive me for having little confidence in our federal government...and for being scornful of what Mr. Harper has to say...but I would like to know what leadership Canada is showing is undertaking a purely military exercise in Afghanistan? Canada has traditionally been known as a peace keeping country...that is leadership...that is (or shall I use the past tense?) this country's reputation...everywhere the Canada flag is seen...it was a symbol of respect...and now...in the four years Canada has participated in Afghanistan...Canadian lives are being lost...and Canadians are participating in the loss of Afghani lives. For what end, may I ask? For many, myself included, there is little sense in Canada's presence...there is no goal...and for that...families lose their loved ones...
For Mr. Harper, this is a symbol of leadership...but I fail to see this...instead, I see Canada simply being a follower...in the tradition of Prime Minister Blair...on the heels of President Bush. These are not days in which I am proud to be Canadian...I think it is a shame that Mr. Harper, in this situation and in others, is sullying our country's reputation...I feel it is often easy to take the path of least resistance...than to stand tall against the bully that lies south of our borders...but that is simply my two cents worth. For this, Canadians will have to pay the price of losing all that was held dear for many generations prior to this one...
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
CBC coverage here:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2006/10/06/harper-leadership.html
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2006/10/06/harper-leadership.html
Forgive me for having little confidence in our federal government...and for being scornful of what Mr. Harper has to say...but I would like to know what leadership Canada is showing is undertaking a purely military exercise in Afghanistan? Canada has traditionally been known as a peace keeping country...that is leadership...that is (or shall I use the past tense?) this country's reputation...everywhere the Canada flag is seen...it was a symbol of respect...and now...in the four years Canada has participated in Afghanistan...Canadian lives are being lost...and Canadians are participating in the loss of Afghani lives. For what end, may I ask? For many, myself included, there is little sense in Canada's presence...there is no goal...and for that...families lose their loved ones...
For Mr. Harper, this is a symbol of leadership...but I fail to see this...instead, I see Canada simply being a follower...in the tradition of Prime Minister Blair...on the heels of President Bush. These are not days in which I am proud to be Canadian...I think it is a shame that Mr. Harper, in this situation and in others, is sullying our country's reputation...I feel it is often easy to take the path of least resistance...than to stand tall against the bully that lies south of our borders...but that is simply my two cents worth. For this, Canadians will have to pay the price of losing all that was held dear for many generations prior to this one...
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
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