An open letter to Jack Layton
This email was sent on to MP Jack Layton. After hearing his inflammatory statements I have again attempted to communicate my concerns onto him. I would urge anyone who agrees with me send a letter off to Mr. Layton expressing their concerns at Layton.J@parl.gc.ca or snail mail following this post.
Dear Mr. Layton:
I am sending this open letter in the hope you will refrain from using terms such as hopeless and unwinnable when referring to the mission in Afghanistan. I know that you wish our soldiers no ill will, but your words can have a devastating effect on the morale of our troops in the field.
They did not choose to be there Mr. Layton, they’re simply performing their duties as soldiers and whether you disagree or agree with the mission is really quite irrelevant to doing your part in supporting them. Saying that you support the troops runs contrary to statements you have made over the last six months, before you discard this email as just another war supporter let me explain how I find your actions contrary to one who shows support.
As much as this is a war between factions it is also a war of propaganda and what you say and do here at home can adversely affect the lives of Canadian soldiers on the ground in Afghanistan. Morale is one issue. Think of the Canadian soldier in the field who has just lost one of their comrades to an improvised explosive device. Today they bow their head in grief, but tomorrow they are expected to perform their duties and must venture out into harm’s way. How do you think that soldier will feel when he or she reads the news from home via the internet and that one of the leaders of the opposition is referring to their mission as hopeless? Perhaps compounded by the grief and the negative comments of Canadian Politicians will result in him or her not seeing the next IED, missing an impending ambush or targeting an innocent bystander or civilian. Misery loves company Mr. Layton and believe me that when I say that negative comments such as yours can have a frightening affect on soldiers in the field. Whether or not one agrees with the mission we must understand that those are Canada's sons and daughters over there and we should be weary of what we do or say.
Using words like unwinnable or hopeless serves as propaganda for the Taliban to use for recruitment and heed the cry of battle. Propaganda is a very effective tool used by the enemy and you should not allow yourself to be exploited by the adversaries of Canadian soldiers. While you decry how utterly hopeless the situation is and how we are killing civilians you empower an enemy that is prone to use civilians as human shields. There is a method to this madness and that method involves breaking the resolve of the Canadian people and demoralizing the soldiers. The last thing we need Mr. Layton is Canadian officials helping the Taliban on their quest to spread hate and propaganda. They do this well on their own.
If you want our soldiers to come home and withdraw from the mission in Afghanistan I encourage you to put forward as many motions as you like. Urge you to work in Government to bring voice to your agenda. This is what our soldiers are fighting for Mr. Layton, but personal responsibility on your part would be greatly appreciated. If you would like to further harm our soldiers and embolden our enemy you need only carry on making inflammatory statements which include catch phrases such as “unwinnable or hopeless.”
If you truly support our soldiers and you care about the families of these outstanding Canadians I would ask you to use your words more carefully in the future. As a retired soldier and father of two young men who serve this country I implore you to exercise common sense and decency when making reference to our soldiers in harm’s way.
RCS
Contact Jack Layton via snail mail or by phone at:
Jack Layton, M.P.
Leader of the NDP
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON
Canada
K1A 0A6 Phone Number (613) 995-7224 Fax Number (613) 995-4565
Mailing Address - Constituency Office
Jack Layton, M.P.
Leader of the NDP
1506 Danforth Ave
Toronto, ON
Canada
M4J 1N4 Phone Number (416) 405-8914 Fax Number (416) 405-8918
This email was sent on to MP Jack Layton. After hearing his inflammatory statements I have again attempted to communicate my concerns onto him. I would urge anyone who agrees with me send a letter off to Mr. Layton expressing their concerns at Layton.J@parl.gc.ca or snail mail following this post.
Dear Mr. Layton:
I am sending this open letter in the hope you will refrain from using terms such as hopeless and unwinnable when referring to the mission in Afghanistan. I know that you wish our soldiers no ill will, but your words can have a devastating effect on the morale of our troops in the field.
They did not choose to be there Mr. Layton, they’re simply performing their duties as soldiers and whether you disagree or agree with the mission is really quite irrelevant to doing your part in supporting them. Saying that you support the troops runs contrary to statements you have made over the last six months, before you discard this email as just another war supporter let me explain how I find your actions contrary to one who shows support.
As much as this is a war between factions it is also a war of propaganda and what you say and do here at home can adversely affect the lives of Canadian soldiers on the ground in Afghanistan. Morale is one issue. Think of the Canadian soldier in the field who has just lost one of their comrades to an improvised explosive device. Today they bow their head in grief, but tomorrow they are expected to perform their duties and must venture out into harm’s way. How do you think that soldier will feel when he or she reads the news from home via the internet and that one of the leaders of the opposition is referring to their mission as hopeless? Perhaps compounded by the grief and the negative comments of Canadian Politicians will result in him or her not seeing the next IED, missing an impending ambush or targeting an innocent bystander or civilian. Misery loves company Mr. Layton and believe me that when I say that negative comments such as yours can have a frightening affect on soldiers in the field. Whether or not one agrees with the mission we must understand that those are Canada's sons and daughters over there and we should be weary of what we do or say.
Using words like unwinnable or hopeless serves as propaganda for the Taliban to use for recruitment and heed the cry of battle. Propaganda is a very effective tool used by the enemy and you should not allow yourself to be exploited by the adversaries of Canadian soldiers. While you decry how utterly hopeless the situation is and how we are killing civilians you empower an enemy that is prone to use civilians as human shields. There is a method to this madness and that method involves breaking the resolve of the Canadian people and demoralizing the soldiers. The last thing we need Mr. Layton is Canadian officials helping the Taliban on their quest to spread hate and propaganda. They do this well on their own.
If you want our soldiers to come home and withdraw from the mission in Afghanistan I encourage you to put forward as many motions as you like. Urge you to work in Government to bring voice to your agenda. This is what our soldiers are fighting for Mr. Layton, but personal responsibility on your part would be greatly appreciated. If you would like to further harm our soldiers and embolden our enemy you need only carry on making inflammatory statements which include catch phrases such as “unwinnable or hopeless.”
If you truly support our soldiers and you care about the families of these outstanding Canadians I would ask you to use your words more carefully in the future. As a retired soldier and father of two young men who serve this country I implore you to exercise common sense and decency when making reference to our soldiers in harm’s way.
RCS
Contact Jack Layton via snail mail or by phone at:
Jack Layton, M.P.
Leader of the NDP
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON
Canada
K1A 0A6 Phone Number (613) 995-7224 Fax Number (613) 995-4565
Mailing Address - Constituency Office
Jack Layton, M.P.
Leader of the NDP
1506 Danforth Ave
Toronto, ON
Canada
M4J 1N4 Phone Number (416) 405-8914 Fax Number (416) 405-8918
