>> What a cynical coward. See, it's all our fault, and if we respond we risk causing more attacks. What a smarmy, pathetic SOB . . . I'd like to think his ilk is still a minority in our great northern neighbor . . . <<
I believe he is a minority, just like those of the US press with similar views.
But some history first:
Older Canadians are well aware of our own sacrifices in previous wars. We were in WWII from the start and took big losses for our size. Sadly the numbers of vocal veterans and their memories are fading with each year.
Rt. Hon. W.L. MACKENZIE KING, M.P., Prime Minister of Canada throughout World War II, 1939-1945.
- Canada contributed food, finances, the 'British Commonwealth Air Training Plan', ships and aircraft, tanks, and a million plus troops to the Allies.
- King's close friendships with U.S. President F. D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was a cornerstone of the Allied movement.
- The Natural Resources Mobilization Act, 1940.
- Unemployment Insurance, 1940.
- National Plebiscite on Conscription (national 'vote'), 1942.
- Oversaw construction of the Alaska Highway, 1942-1943.
- Family Allowances Act, 1944.
And in 1942 even warned us about alcohol!
No one will deny that the excessive use of alcohol and alcoholic beverages would do more than any other single factor to make impossible a total war effort. Fortunately, the Canadian people in all their habits, are essentially a temperate people. I doubt however, if we begin to appreciate the extent to which war itself, and the excitement and environments created by war foster dangerous inclinations and tendencies.
collections.ic.gc.ca
However, us younger folks (I'm 40) have grown up viewing Canada largely as a force of positive change and peace in the world.
Lester B Pearson was a defining influence in this regard, as he was the winner of the Nobel Prize for Peace, 1957, for his efforts in creating the United Nations Peace-Keeping Force.
He was in WW I, and after the war spent 20 years in various roles in External Affairs but notably had important roles in having Canada joining NATO. He also was president of the UN general assembly during the Korean conflict.
Ever since Pearson, we've been involved in conflict resolution and peacekeeping all over the world and that's the vision of Canada that kids grow up with, or at least used to when I was a kid.
Even conservative politicians have called Canada a naturally 'Liberal' (refering to the Liberal political party of Canada) country and its in our history.
A great band, "Spirit of the West", has a song with a line in it "i am far too Canadian" - refering to our preternaturally polite ways, often too polite.
---------------------------------------
Far Too Canadian
(C) Spirit of the West
i'm so content, to stand in line
wait and see, pass the time
talk a streak, fall alseep, wake up late, whine and weep
i kiss the hand that slaps me senseless
i'm so accepting, so defenseless
i am far too Canadian
far too Canadian
i pick the bones, of what's been done
lick them clean, with a cautious tongue
in dim lit rooms, i spill my guts
i'm the revolution when the doors are shut
i'd bite the hand that slaps me senseless
but my patience is too relentless
i am far too Canadian
i am far too Canadian
i am the face of my country
experssionless and small
weak at the knees, shaking badly
can't straighten up at all
i watch the spine of my country bend and break
i'm a sorry state
i scratch the walls, to mark the days
with my coup de (tete), i'm locked away
with Mother Jones, pots of tea
the kitchen poster, anarchy
i never march in demonstrations
i hold my breath for arbitration
i am far too Canadian
i am the face of my country
experssionless and small
weak at the knees, shaking badly
can't straighten up at all
i watch the spine of my country bend and break
i'm a sorry state
---------------------------------------
I share much of the sentiment expressed in that song, inasmuch as its important to have convictions and stand up, as we certainly have done in the past.
Just the same, I do not believe that most Canadians share the view that the reporter you quoted expressed. We view it as an attack. Many are fearful that we too will be attacked. Many, despite decades of pretending that we are so substantially different than the US, suddenly realised that in most or all matters that really count, we are just the same.
So one segment of the Canadian population feels no different than most Americans. Outrage. Realization that its an attack. Recognition that taking the battle to the terrorists is the only way. Grim determination.
Another segment feels pretty much the same, except approach the feelings with a sense of resignation. I believe this is due to our peacekeeping history and nature.
Then there are also those that know nothing other than what the media spoon feed them. The US has plenty of those too. They will swing with the prevailing wind.
And on the extreme end of this spectrum there are those that do hold the opinion that "the US invited this" attack. I can tell you they are a very small minority and that the mass majority is outraged when they hear it.
Oops, rambling again.
Getting back to part of the quote:
"In the gulf war and the attack on Yugoslavia, at least there was no danger of retaliation. I think that was immoral and vile, but it had no concrete downside, or so it seemed then. "
What that reporter fails to acknowledge in his statement is that we were on a peacekeeping mission in a foreign country trying to bring order between two warring parties. It was not our conflict.
The attacks on 9-11 were attacks on all of us. It is our conflict. Sitting back and waiting for more is not my, nor most Canadians, idea of how to go forward. |
