So if they were a purely defensive force, you know, save tdot after a big scary storm, hand out water in flooded areas around Canada, perform SAR missions in weather that Bears don't even go out in,would you be proud of them then?
What its like in Afghanistan
- Thread starter Boxcar
- Start date
Then you are a hypocrit, because they do just that and so much more now.
So would you like to rethink your position?
I think an apology is in order to those that you insulted, not unlike myself in your last post.
You've insulted me.
Therefore by a law of averages you have likely insulted at least a couple thousand Soldiers and Vets.
As an ex Soldier, I can assure you a very good part of my time was spent in training to do just such tasks.
And it was my pleasure to train hard and do my duty to make sure if your neighbourhood was the victim of some natural dissaster, I would be able to, just like the brave men and women you scorn today, come to your rescue.
But if you feel so passionately that your position is that much more important, please feel free to decline our services on your roof top, or in your basement. That is your right.
WRONG....
Iam Insulted.
Soldiers, weather you agree witht he Mission or not, do a duty for the world, and are. Regardless of your belif, they are doing Good for Afganistan. Since when did helping make a country against some heavy odds a democratic and free nation become wrong....Now I guess you could be a bush basher...But this is a UN Mandate, which Canada under NATO is serving. The UN...Need I say more?
Soldiers are making it possible for their to be reconstruction, and tokeep as many people as they can safe...now they cant keep evryone safe, but I asure you its much safer than the all out Civil war that would take place if we left. If we didnt go in, in the first place it would still be a terrorist stronghold...you cant argue that it wouldnt be. Canada is building schools, and protecting villiages. If you havent noticed Kandahar has been pretty quite lately, since Canada got in there....and already big bissness from world corperations are begining to invest. Thats not good? Please...
Soldiers takepart in many good things, Peacekeeping, and defence of national and world Interest....and Occasionaly offense when needed...theyput their lives on the line...which in itself is a selfless act.
If you dont have respect for the mission, atleast respect the men who work it.
Bear sometimes it isn't worth the bother, our Military also helped out Nova Scotia during White Juan, Hurricane Juan, Swiss Air Crash the Air force and Navy retrieved human remains for weeks alot of members suffer today for what they saw. It was awful. Air Shows, Moose Head Grand Pre the list of good inside Canada is endless. I'd also like to draw attention to our Peace Keeping Missions in Bosnia, Croatia, Somalia, Rawanda. There are many Peace Keepers that came home from these missions suffering today from PTS, I've had friends, neighbours serve under a Peace Keeping Mandate my Husband served under UNPROFOR. The public image of them doing noble deeds have no idea the awful things our troops had to endure and see and they could do NOTHING because it was a UN mandate. A rival group committing rape, all they are allowed to do is write a report remember it's Peace Keeping they are not allowed to take sides. Someday I hope someone will educate Canadians on what Peace Keeping for our soldiers was really like, cause it wasn't about handing out medicine while crowds cheered.
In Bosnia we actully had a few battles......Peacekepping doesnt mean no killing.
Yes I know that Easty but the ROEs were extremely strict on the use of a side arm. I had a loved one serve under the UN mandate. Remember they can't piss without the Media reporting it, after Somalia second guessing became second nature.
Indeed and from that stems the Rawnade massacure, because evryone was too scared to mess up again. Funny how it happend with out them anyway. (not really funny though)
After Somolia, the liberals killed our Army when they disbanded Canada's best, her now Bastard Sons. Don't get me started.
My RealEstate Agent was a member of the Air Borne (I spelled it wrong didn't I) and what a great lad. He's building a boat in his basement, yep a sail boat. He reminds of Mark Harmen of Navy NCIS, oops it's coming on in five minutes gotta run.
My father spent 28 years in the airforce in the 50s they used the Aircrew as jump masters on one exercies near Quebec City a young trooper froze and grabed the static line. He had to cut the line and watch him fall to his death. That image never left him.
He served in the Gaza in 1956 where they awoke on the morning to find the sentries with their throats cut, and they came under sniper fire. This was peacekeeping.
As a kid I remember as his whole crew waited in our kitchen for word of another crew whose Herc had gone down.
I think of the families as I can only imagine what my own mother went through when he was away often for 6 months or more. It is not only the soldier but his family that are making a sacrifice. You insult them as well.
He served in the Gaza in 1956 where they awoke on the morning to find the sentries with their throats cut, and they came under sniper fire. This was peacekeeping.
As a kid I remember as his whole crew waited in our kitchen for word of another crew whose Herc had gone down.
I think of the families as I can only imagine what my own mother went through when he was away often for 6 months or more. It is not only the soldier but his family that are making a sacrifice. You insult them as well.
As I said, I am proud of any soldier who uses their skills to the defence of the country and the help of its citizens. If your work falls into this category, then how have I insulted you?
Soldiers do a job, a job in which in Canada, thankfully, they have chosen, and not been forced into.
And they earn respect and thanks according to their actions in their job, not just for the fact that they are a soldier. I have never said that soldiers dont help in true peacekeeping and service to the community.
They are not the only people who choose to do dangerous life threatening jobs.
They are not the only people who choose to do jobs that may require decisions in the heat of the moment that may be the wrong decisions.
They are not the only people in jobs where they may have to face the decision of going against an order that they think is morally wrong.
And just as we are thankful that people have chosen to be firemen, policemen, construction workers, janitors, doctors or lawyers, we are thankful that people have chosen to be soldiers.
But, just as we judge the actions of firemen, policemen, construction workers, janitors, doctors or lawyers, we judge the actions of soldiers. Because doing a dangerous job, or a difficult job, or a morally debatable job does not give one the right to do whatever we want. All jobs are answerable to the public.
In Canada, we have a democracy, and that means we may speak out against actions committed by public or private servants. In speaking out, we are not insulting the job, we are voicing our moral judgements on the actions of the employee.
I'll have to double check this, but I'm pretty sure all the Soldiers going to Afghanistan are voluntarily going. So once again you would be wrong.
Why are we there?
A few years ago, I read in the Readers Digest, the experience of women living under the Taliban in Afganistan. I was mortified at what was happening over there. Not unlike Rwanda, why wasn't the world doing something?? How could we, in good conscience turn a blind eye?? Unfortunately, the world only responded after 911. That it took such a tragidy before anyone responded is disgusting. (The fact the world did nothing in Rwanda was reprehensible as well).
I really want to know what other alternatives there are in assisting all the innocent civilians, mostly women and female children who are denied the basic human rights that we supposidly cherish. I want our troops to come home safe too so how can that happen without abandoning the Afgans? How can schools, hospitals, homes and businesses be built when there are those determined to destroy them? How do we communicate with Taliban and Al-qeda who rationalize all that they do on some abstract religious ideology?
So, Cortex, what would you have us do?? Do you believe, like Mr. Layton, that discussion and diplomacy would change things and make them better for all Afganistans? You would pull our troops out of Afganistan and then what?? We do nothing? What, realistically, is the alternative?? I believe the world has some responsibility in aiding others, but because there are groups who do not believe as we do and prefer to kill those who don't believe as they do, we do.....nothing...... because it might involve violence?? Help me with this.....
A few years ago, I read in the Readers Digest, the experience of women living under the Taliban in Afganistan. I was mortified at what was happening over there. Not unlike Rwanda, why wasn't the world doing something?? How could we, in good conscience turn a blind eye?? Unfortunately, the world only responded after 911. That it took such a tragidy before anyone responded is disgusting. (The fact the world did nothing in Rwanda was reprehensible as well).
I really want to know what other alternatives there are in assisting all the innocent civilians, mostly women and female children who are denied the basic human rights that we supposidly cherish. I want our troops to come home safe too so how can that happen without abandoning the Afgans? How can schools, hospitals, homes and businesses be built when there are those determined to destroy them? How do we communicate with Taliban and Al-qeda who rationalize all that they do on some abstract religious ideology?
So, Cortex, what would you have us do?? Do you believe, like Mr. Layton, that discussion and diplomacy would change things and make them better for all Afganistans? You would pull our troops out of Afganistan and then what?? We do nothing? What, realistically, is the alternative?? I believe the world has some responsibility in aiding others, but because there are groups who do not believe as we do and prefer to kill those who don't believe as they do, we do.....nothing...... because it might involve violence?? Help me with this.....
Once again you should read posts carefully CdnBear. Where on earth do I say that soldiers going to Afghanistan are not going voluntarily??? Really, if you are going to critique someone's post, read it.