Monthly Archives: August 2008
Obama Effect
| 8/29/2008 | Posted by Patti under General |
I generally give only a cursory look at American politics. Other than general knowledge of who is who and what the Americans are up to, they are not exactly a centre of influence for me. Having said that, I have to admit to having picked up some curiousity in their current election, particularly about Obama.
I’m just barely old enough to have started to have become aware of current events about the time of the race riots in the 60s, the assassination of President Kennedy and of course the Vietnam war. One of the first books about social justice I read was “Black Like Me”. It was a white author who had black pigment put onto his skin in order to explore what it was like to live as a Negro (they used that word then).
I remember my sense of disbelief that people could be treated so badly. When I asked my mother about it, she told me that the author was exaggerating. My mother often lacked a sense of other people’s reality. I realized that when I saw news reports about the battles to desegregate schools in the US and the reports about the Klu Klux Klan and their persecution of blacks. (more…)
Will the Diefenbreaker Really Exist?
| 8/28/2008 | Posted by Patti under General |
Hot on the heels of the cancellation of the procurement process for two naval supply ships and 12 mid-size Coast Guard ships being cancelled last week, Harper has announced that a new Coast Guard icebreaker to be named the John G Diefenbaker will replace the Louis St. Laurent by 2017. Believe it only when I see it actually launch. Other than some ground equipment that was badly needed by our troops in combat in Afghanistan, what exactly has the Harper government delivered on?
Oh wait, the first of four Globemasters (C-17) transport planes was actually delivered and is in use. The 429 (Transport) Squadron based in Trenton looks after it and my Legion Branch is liasoned with them. So, I know that exists. What else has either actually been delivered on or has moved beyond the procurement stage to an actual order taking place and construction getting underway? (more…)
Manufactured Dysfunction
| 8/27/2008 | Posted by Patti under General |
The only thing left for Canadians to know now, is exactly when Harper will go to the Governor-General and ask her to dissolve the 39th Parliament of Canada and when we’ll vote. He claims that parliament has become dysfunctional and unworkable.
Considering that his government has outlived the usual 18 month life expectancy of a minority government and about 40 government bills have been passed into law, just what does he consider to be workable? He’s been operating as though he had a majority and getting away with it by declaring several of those bills as confidence motions. In order to avoid supporting the government, the Official Opposition, the Liberals, have absented themselves from votes thus allowing the laws to pass. (more…)
Ottawa Bails on New Supply Ships
| 8/26/2008 | Posted by Patti under Canadian Politics |
The federal government has bailed from the bidding process to replace to supply ships for the navy and procure 12 patrol ships for the Coast Guard. They claim that the suppliers are unable to bring in quotes within the cost limitations the government has set. Did the government consider that their expectations might be unrealistic?
One of the few bright spots in the otherwise bullying administration of Harper has been what appeared to be an unwavering determination to rebuild the Armed Forces that had for so long been neglected by successive Liberal governments (and the Mulroney Conservative regime). It now appears that the Harper Conservatives are more talk than true action. (more…)
The French Need A Spine
| 8/25/2008 | Posted by Patti under General |
Lest someone thinking I’m talking about French-Canadians, I’m not, I’m talking about the French as in France. Tragically, the French lost 10 soldiers last week, Canada lost 3. That brings the French total losses since 2001 to 14 and Canada’s to 93. The loss of so many at once has the French public wringing their hands and calling for their soldiers to come home. The French have a military of about 225,000 while Canada has 62,000. France currently has 2,800 soldiers based in Afghanistan and Canada has 2,600.
I have no doubt that the French troops are as dedicated as Canada’s are. I have no doubt that the French troops hurt as much when they lose fellow soldiers as when Canada loses one of theirs. What appalls me is the French public’s desires to cut and run in the face of loses. We get some of that here in Canada and I look down my nose at them as well, for some reason though, the French cowardice just irks a tad more. (more…)
Fall Election Looms
| 8/22/2008 | Posted by Patti under Canadian Politics |
Once again, the election drums are beating. Such is life when there is a minority government in power. What makes this time rather interesting is that Harper is the one that is adding fuel to the fire. So much for his oft repeated declaration that he intends to govern until October 2009 which is when the law, that he brought in, sets for the next federal election.
Harper is claiming that the opposition parties are obstructing the function of parliament and that unless he has some indication that he has a functioning parliament, he will bring about the dissolution of parliament. He really can’t get himself off the opposition benches can he? Maybe an election will put him back in his more natural location, on the opposition benches — he appears to be more comfortable there. (more…)
We Will Remember Them
| 8/21/2008 | Posted by Patti under General |
Comments off
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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 Canadians:
Sgt Shawn Eades – Afghanistan August 20, 2008
Spr Stephan Stock – Afghanistan August 20, 2008
Cpl Dustin Wasden – Afghanistan August 20, 2008
Always Caring — Always Canadian — Never Defeated
Support Our Troops — Wear Red on Fridays
Taliban Tries to Intimidate Canada
| 8/18/2008 | Posted by Patti under General |
So, the mighty Taliban have written a letter threatening to murder more Canadian civilians in Afghanistan. Man that sends me just a running for the nearest fox hole. NOT!
A person could almost have some respect for the Taliban if they focused on military struggle, poking and jabbing at our forces as they work to try to establish a secure country in Afghanistan, secure of attacks by the Taliban. I have zero respect for so called insurgents who willfully murder fellow Afghans while claiming to be fighting for the freedom of Afghanistan and aid workers working to help Afghanis.
Their letter claims that the murder of the aid workers last week (two Canadians, one American) were in revenge for the alleged deaths at a Afghan wedding party at the hands of American troops. The deaths at the wedding party have not been confirmed by coalition forces. That’s a bit priceless when the Taliban have wilfully killed way more civilians than the coalition forces. In a war like this where only one side actually wears a uniform, you’d expect that the uniformed side would be guilty of the greater number of civilian deaths from erroring on the side of caution while trying to sort out the good from the bad guys. (more…)
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