Monthly Archives: July 2007
US Military Might be Catching a Clue
| 7/25/2007 | Posted by Patti under War on Terror, World Politics |
One of the problems with have a strong level of confidence of who you are is that instead of carrying that awareness with humility there can be a tendency to want to carry a big stick to make sure that no one dares to challenge your confidence. So it has been with the US for a long time. They have consistently blundered into situations with an attitude of ‘we are the superpower and we will be obeyed’ which only serves to seriously blur the line between being confident and being arrogant bullies.
Once that line is blurred into oblivion, the people being subjected to the arrogance and bullying will resist no matter how much the bully thinks they are there for the people’s own protection. Thus is how it goes in Iraq and likely would be in Afghanistan if not for the moderating presence of NATO. An article in today’s Toronto Star talks about how the US military are starting to realize that branding themselves as a “force” rather than “we’re here to help” is contributing to the failure of the occupation in Iraq.
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Watch Those Kids Online!
| 7/24/2007 | Posted by Patti under General |
The Toronto Star today reports that the popular website Myspace has revealed that they have 29,000 registered sex offenders as registered users on the site. You really want to be keeping an eye on who your kids are ‘chatting’ with.
Dangerous Pedophile Gets Life
| 7/24/2007 | Posted by Patti under Canadian News |
Peter Whitmore, a man (and I use that term loosely) with a long history of sexual offenses against young children has been allowed to accept a deal where he accepts a life sentence in return for the Crown not pursuing a dangerous offender designation. Under the designation it would be 25 years before Whitmore could apply for parole — with a life sentence, he can apply in 7 years.
His most recent victims are 10 and 14 years of age. His depraved attacks on them after abducting them from their families last year has left the boys and their families deeply emotionally wounded. One only needs to read their impact statements to give a glimmer of how deeply. (more…)
Black and the Order of Canada
| 7/17/2007 | Posted by Patti under Canadian News |
As it stands right now, Conrad Black has been convicted of four of the thirteen charges the American government brought against him. The most serious charge being obstruction of justice. He could spend up to thirty years in prison on those charges. Most of the attention on this case has been because Black is a big name which has been brought down by his own sense of entitlement and arrogance, his sense of being an untouchable.
After having made his initial fortune in Canada, Black went international with his media empire. The Canadian government through the Governor General’s office inducted Black as an officer of the Order of Canada, the second highest level of the Order. The British government wanted to install him in their House of Lords but without the Canadian government giving assent to the honour, Black couldn’t claim it and remain a Canadian citizen. So, being a strong and loyal Canadian (not) he renounced his citizenship and went off to England to become a Lord. (more…)
VanDoos Begin Deployment to Afghanistan
| 7/16/2007 | Posted by Patti under Afghanistan |
Members of the famed VanDoos, the Royal 22nd Regiment, based in Valcartier, Quebec have begun their deployment to Afghanistan. It is the regiment’s turn to take up Canada’s mission in Afghanistan. The men deploying there have all volunteered, by all accounts they are looking forward to taking part in this mission.
They also hail from the province where opposition to the mission in Afghanistan is the highest in the country. This is nothing new for Quebecors, they have been loath to take part in any war that Canada has been engaged in. I can’t say that this ongoing attitude in that province particularly endears them to me.
This entry really isn’t about what I think about the people of Quebec. What crosses my mind is that is must be difficult for VanDoos to be deployed knowing their home province is not strongly behind them. The bulk of the members of the VanDoos come from Quebec, their operational language is French. They view themselves as not only representing and serving Canada but also Quebec. It must be difficult to feel an affinity with a people who don’t support you. (more…)
Flying the Red Ensign
| 7/11/2007 | Posted by Patti under General |
A couple of days ago, Senator Romeo Dallaire spoke out decrying the flying of the Red Ensign on a regular basis at the Vimy Memorial. Back in March when the discussion about the flying of the Red Ensign at the commemoration ceremonies for the Battle of Vimy Ridge, I agreed that the Red Ensign should fly during that time. It was a time to honour those who fought the battle, those who died and those who survived. They had served under the Red Ensign and honour should be rendered to them with that flag flying.
The Prime Minister’s Office overrode the standing protocol that only the current Canadian flag was to fly on Government properties in order to allow the Red Ensign to fly at Vimy. It was an exception to the rule I agreed with. Harper took that one step further and left the Red Ensign flying at the same level as the Canadian flag and French national flag on an ongoing basis. That is what Dallaire spoke out against. (more…)
Along the Highway of Heroes
| 7/9/2007 | Posted by Patti under Brave Canadians, Canadian News |
Last night, hundreds if not thousands of Canadians from Trenton to Toronto along Highway 401 put aside any differences they might have about Canada’s mission in Afghanistan to turn out in honour of our fallen heroes. Every young Canadian who has returned home in a casket since the mission started in 2002 has taken this same route, landing at CFB Trenton to be received by their family and their comrades in arms and then taken by motorcade with their family to Toronto.
Speeding along Highway 401 with police escort front and back, the motorcade passes under highway overpasses lined with citizens, police, EMS workers and firefighters. It’s a message to the families, Canada cares. It’s not soothing words spoken by politicians on hand to meet the planes. It’s an outpouring from grateful citizens who want to reach out to the families to say they care. (more…)
We Will Remember Them
| 7/4/2007 | Posted by Patti under Brave Canadians |
They shall grow not old, as we who are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning
We will remember them
In memory of our fallen Canadian:
– Afghanistan July 4, 2007
Afghanistan July 4, 2007
Afghanistan July 4, 2007
Afghanistan July 4, 2007
Jordan AndersonAfghanistan July 4, 2007
Capt. Jefferson FrancisAfghanistan July 4, 2007
Always Caring — Always Canadian — Never Defeated
Support Our Troops — Wear Red on Fridays
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