Typically Canadian

[mbarrick]

As usual we are, despite all the flack for "doing nothing" quietly doing more than expected, more than we said we would, and doing it right. The headlines on all the papers today are about how "disappointed" the American government is with us, yet the American embassador to Canada, Paul Celucci, also had these words about our naval presence in the Persian Gulf which is still there because we are still in Afghanistan:

Ironically, because of the presence in the Persian Gulf, they will provide more support for this war in Iraq indirectly than most of those 46 countries that are fully supporting us. It's kind of an odd situation.

So, to those that are "ashamed" of our "lack of involvement" - shut the fuck up. Our government did the ethically right thing by staying in line with our prinicples regarding the UN, international law, and peacekeeping. Never forget that Canada invented peacekeeping and ever since we first distinguished ourselves in the Boer War, Canadian soldiers have continued to earn and maintain the respect of friends and enemies alike. General Rommel, the German commander of the North African theatre in WWII, said that if he had Canadian soldiers with American equipment he could win the war. In the first gas attacks of WWI at Yprès, it was the Canadians alone that held the line while everyone else ran and died. Canada was in WWII two years ahead of America and it was the Canadians (including my father) who spearheaded the invasion of Italy in WWII and cleared the way for the Brits and Americans. It was Canadians (again including my father) that landed at Dieppe and prooved that the invasion of Normandy, while difficult, was not impossible. Our peacekeepers were in Korea and, despite the reputation garnered from American draft-dodging, our volunteer millitary was in Vietnam. And in the first Gulf War it was Canadian fighter jets that were sent in first, specifically to be shot at, so the Americans could come in with relative safety to take out the anti-aircraft guns.

Be proud of Canada. Be proud that we have the guts and moral fortitude to finish wars and ethics enough not to start them.

Comments

[infusco.livejournal.com]

dude, while i agree with the statement you make in the post and was infuriated by Cellucci's comments, I must insist you retract the "Here's a nice cup of shut-the-fuck-up, go sip on it while you grow a brain." statement.

Our neighbours to the south are known for bullying and foul language, attempting to end an argument by verbally insulting or attacking opposition or making threats.

Everyone has a right to an opinion, even a sole dissenting one, that is what freedom of speech is all about. So will you be nice and apologize to the lady for attacking her or were you planning on applying for citizenship somewhere else in the world? Didn't sound too diplomatic, eh? ;)

[mbarrick.livejournal.com]

And this is precisely why I orginally chose (http://www.livejournal.com/users/mbarrick/357786.html) not to say anything about this issue. I am not without opinion and my opinions are not without reason and historical context. I don't have the time or the general inclination to participate in arm-chair politics. Two quotes I am very fond of are:

I cannot in any degree approve of those restless and busy meddlers who, called neither by birth nor fortune to take part in the management of public affairs, are yet always projecting reforms; and if I thought that this tract contained aught which might justify the suspicion that I was a victim of such folly, I would by no means permit its publication. I have never contemplated anything higher than the reformation of my own opinions, and basing them on a foundation wholly my own.

• René Déscartes, "Discourse on the Method of Rightly Conducting the Reason, and Seeking Truth in the Sciences"

and: