Conservative MPs gave Stephen Harper a standing ovation during a closed-door meeting Wednesday when he told them he will not yield to criticism of the way the government commemorates military deaths... Flags on Parliament Hill will no longer be selectively lowered to half-mast when soldiers lose their lives.
Although I could understand how some families may not want to draw attention to their relative's death - what ever happened to lowering the flag in respect and acknowledgement of the sacrifice that person made for their country? I in no way whatsoever agree with Canada's role in Afhganistan - in fact, I also see this move by Harper to mirror that of our dear frightfully stupid neighbor George Bush... if Canadians don't see the coffins coming back, and the death tolls remaining to be a running tally scrolling on the bottom of the television screen, then one does not have to recognize how stupid it is to be over seas doing what we're doing. For whatever reason, people still believe that Canada is just doing some peacekeeping here and there, trying to help people rebuild their country... though I'm sure they've been disillusioned that it's not a war. It is a war which is bringing people home in coffins draped with flags, and causing people to silently weep as they've lost a loved one.
Have some respect Harper......
2 comments:
You hit the nail on the head when you said "selectively". It was the Liberals in 2002 who decided to lower the flag when the 4 soldiers were killed in the friendly fire incident. And it was the Liberals in 2005 who decided not lower the flag when a soldier was killed in Afghanastan. I guess the rule of thumb for the Liberals is the number of people killed, is that it? At least the Conservatives made a decision thats the same for everyone. And if you listen to a lot of military people, that's the way they like it.
The point is, for all the acknowledgement and respect you are giving that one soldier who died in Afghanistan, you are taking acknowledgement and respect AWAY from a soldier who didn't have a flag lowered on his behalf because he was "only" flying an helicopter in Canada when he died.
Thats the whole point of Rememberance Day. To remember ALL of Canada's soldiers EQUALLY and RESPECTFULLY.
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