Saturday, July 07, 2007

Yellow politicians refuse yellow ribbons

My respect for the Record has been restored today. Their awesome editorial takes Waterloo Regional Chair Ken Seiling and Kitchener mayor Carl Zehr to task for their wimpy behaviour regarding the display of Yellow Ribbons in support of our brave troops:

...It is understandable that Seiling and Zehr refuse to recognize one club, charity or special interest group out of concern that they might run afoul of the law unless they recognize every group. But the Canadian Armed Forces are unique. They are not an interest group, ethnic club or religion. They have no political allegiance beyond their willingness to serve and protect this democracy.

The men and women of Canada's Armed Forces wear the uniform of Canada. They fight for Canada. Increasingly they die for Canada. They are in Afghanistan because they were sent there by a federal government democratically elected by Canadian voters -- by us, in other words. No other collection of people can make this claim. No other group stands for the national interest with such authority or risks so much to perform this essential duty...


Also there is a couple of excellent letters to the editor today which express the outrage and embarrassment that I'm sure many K-W residents are feeling today (all relevant links will be provided in 'Comments'):
I was appalled to read that Waterloo Region is refusing to allow its police cruisers and ambulances to display yellow ribbons under the guise of weak excuses and an obscure Ontario Human Rights Commission ruling issued 17 years ago.

When observing the wimpy response of our regional leaders, I was reminded of the following poem by Ralph Chaplin:

"Mourn not the dead that in the cool earth lie, . . . but rather mourn the apathetic throng, the coward and the meek who see the world's great anguish and its wrong, and dare not speak."

I shudder to think what life would be like today if we had been led by politically correct politicians during the Second World War.

Our country decided to engage militarily in Afghanistan. Our own soldiers are fighting and dying there. The least we can do is support them.

Lorraine Williams, Kitchener


Paul Filsinger writes a heartwrenching plea, which was actually Letter of the Day(City should show support for our troops). He asks Mayor Carl Zehr, who had supported the homecoming troops recently, to also support the ones who are still in Afghanistan. Here is an excerpt:

...However, there are many who are not home and many more who will leave friends and families over the next several months to serve their country in Afghanistan. In February 2008, my son will be among them. He has chosen to serve his country in the Canadian Armed Forces and we support him in his chosen career path. We are very proud of him and all who serve their country, whether home or abroad.

As a sign of continued support for our troops, both past and present, I am requesting the City of Kitchener allow the display of "Support Our Troops" ribbons on all fire department vehicles under the jurisdiction of the city...


Please take the time to read the whole letter.

It takes a lot to make Toronto's Mayor David Miller look good by comparison, but Waterloo Regional politicians have accomplished that very difficult task.


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Update: I see that this post has been read by at least one person in Afghanistan today. We are solidly behind you guys and gals our brave Canadian soldiers. Don't let a few wimpy politicians bring you down.

We, the ordinary citizens are very proud of you!!!


27 comments:

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Editorial here.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Paul Filsinger's letter here.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Lorraine William's letter here.

Brian in Calgary said...

Thanks, Joanne, for the links to the editorials and the two letters. I can respect a politician whose views are radically different from mine on any given issue. All I ask is that (s)he try to be consistent. Where it seems (s)he cannot, or have a genuine change of stance, I do ask that (s)he at least acknowledge the appearance of inconsistency and give an explanation. It seems that the mayor only wants to thank the troops for their service when they're no longer there. To me, that is an inconsistency with a capital "I."

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Brian, well said. It sure does seem like some kind of flip-flop, but I think even Regional Chair Ken Seiling needs to use a little flexibility here.

Other cities and towns are showing support with Yellow Ribbons, without repercussions. I don't understand why Ken Seiling and Carl Zehr feel that they would be sued when Toronto isn't.

I am looking forward to hearing from some other members of council for their official position on this matter.

Anonymous said...

I'm getting a bit tired of the House Of Commons where Politicians are forced to wear a ribbon almost every week and it's almost at the point to where the shame comes from refusing to wear one if you don't support the cause.
Toronto has David Miller who backs almost every leftwing cause and if the Public says anything
against them he pulls out the Racism or Homophobe label to silence people.

I support the CBC while I don't support their mission,and I still fund the CBC with my Tax dollars and hve gotten used to it.
So maybe the Politicians should look at the Military as they doo for the CBC, we all agree to support them but don't always support their missions.

Anonymous said...

Gals? What century do you live in?

Joanne (True Blue) said...

What century do you live in?.

I was struggling with that one. What is the current female equivalent of "guys"?

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Chicks?

Anonymous said...

Babes?

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Babes? Somewhat sexist, don't you think? See my problem?

Möbius said...

Persons of hormones?

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Men don't have any? lol!

Möbius said...

Gals is probably better than babes. It is so last century, but that wasn't so long ago.

Möbius said...

Agreed, we do have hormones. But under control!!!

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Well... I don't know about that. But I'll keep the 'gals' until we can invent a better word. It does remind me of old westerns.

Möbius said...

Old Westerns are the best. How often do people refer to "dogies" anymore.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Yeah and no worries about Tonto as a sidekick being politically incorrect.

Möbius said...

Back on topic, my old man fought in WW2, and made a difference. Post facto, knowing what lay ahead, he probably would not have done it again (volunteered!). Howvever, guys (and gals) like him are the basis of our military, and he does not have a high opinion of politicians like Layton and Dion, announcing the failure of those who have made the sacrifice by pulling out before the job is done.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

...he does not have a high opinion of politicians like Layton and Dion, announcing the failure of those who have made the sacrifice by pulling out before the job is done.

Ouch! Wow. That was very well phrased. Perhaps the best I've ever heard. Thanks.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

There. I think I fixed it now.

Möbius said...

Fixed what?

Möbius said...

Don't tell me it was your cat?

Joanne (True Blue) said...

lol! I fixed "gals".

Möbius said...

Ok.

Your cat thanks you.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

If I had a cat, I'd get it fixed. ;)

Brian in Calgary said...

If I had a cat, I'd get it fixed. ;)

Good to hear, Joanne. That's what my sister and I did with out cat, Phantom, when he was six months old.