Stephen Harper reaches a new low

[Flubber]

Originally posted by joncha


Barring the media from covering the return of dead soldiers is something else altogether. If they think the sacrifice is worth it, they shouldn't be trying to hide the emotional impact of it from the country.

To me this one depends on the feelings of the military in general and the particular families. If the families say they don't want that coverage, I would hope the government would try to respect that

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by Richelieu
Playing politics with soldiers death:

And i'm not talking about Harper.

Ah, taking a page from the Republican playbook, eh. Any time people point out the Conservatives' wrong doing, you'll scream 9-11, the war, playing politics.

The fact is that the Conservatives are insulting the dead Canadian soldiers by trying to sweep their deaths under the carpet. It's shameful.

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by Flubber


To me this one depends on the feelings of the military in general and the particular families. If the families say they don't want that coverage, I would hope the government would try to respect that

The Conservatives talk about respecting the families wishes, but instead, Harper insults them.

The families of the dead want the flags at half-staff. One father who lost a son even wrote to the PMO before his son died asking that the government maintain this simple honour.

Instead, the Conservatives insult them and change policy and the day the soldiers died.

From the Star.

Tina Beerenfenger, whose husband Cpl. Robbie Beerenfenger was killed near Kabul in 2003, said she was shocked by the flag decision.

“I feel that these soldiers deserve recognition that the flag should be at half-mast for each and every one of them.

“I know it’s not a tradition, but since then they’ve lowered it and I feel that Canadians all over should know when one of our soldiers fall, and remember them on that day and again on Remembrance Day.”

Mandi Hein, whose husband Cpl. Dwayne Hein is serving in Afghanistan, called the decision an insult to members of the Armed Forces.

“My husband told me he is opposed to this decision and so are other soldiers he’s serving with in Afghanistan,” she told the Winnipeg Free Press.


Richard Leger participated in the same type of sad homecoming for his son Marc in 2002 and says he’ll forever cherish the public participation.

“It was a Canadian thing. It was something we wanted to show all Canadians — what the cost of their liberty is,” Leger told the CBC.

“It’s still heartwarming to (remember) the people’s faces. People were lined up on (Highway) 401, in 2002, all the way from Trenton to Toronto.

“They wanted to be there. They had to be there. I was told that often. . . and those are the things I carry with me all my life.”

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1145962620057&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by joncha
The flag thing is stupid and partisan, and wouldn't even be an issue if they hadn't made such a big deal about it in opposition.

Tell that to the families of the dead. The flag issue is important to them. It is important to the members of the Canadian Armed Forces.

From the Star:
The mother of Cpl. Jamie Brendan Murphy, a soldier killed in Afghanistan in 2004, said she was disappointed that flags were not lowered.

“I don’t think it’s right, because they’re over there fighting for us and they’re losing their lives, and we’re not honouring them,” said Alice Murphy from Conception Harbour, Nfld. “Honour the soldiers and put the flag at half-mast.”

One thing the politicians never seem to learn is that rituals are important in the military. Harper's decision will be remembered by the military. And his so-called support of the military is exposed for what it is: political grandstanding.

[DinoDoc]

Is there anythign here other than pointless whining from Tingkai?

[Tingkai]

If you learned to read you would find out how many Canadians are upset about this issue.

[DinoDoc]

It's not even a tradition according to your article. I fail to see the real importance I should attach to whining about rituals that don't even exist.

[Sikander]

Originally posted by Tingkai
If you learned to read you would find out how many Canadians are upset about this issue.

Don't bother learning how to read Dino, apparantly it's only one.

[Sikander]

Originally posted by Tingkai


Ah, taking a page from the Republican playbook, eh. Any time people point out the Conservatives' wrong doing, you'll scream 9-11, the war, playing politics.

The fact is that the Conservatives are insulting the dead Canadian soldiers by trying to sweep their deaths under the carpet. It's shameful.

Meanwhile in the Conservative Caucus...

Hey, let's insult the dead Canadian soldiers for no apparant reason and no political gain!

Sweet! Then we can go get sushi and not pay!

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by joncha
The flag thing is stupid and partisan, and wouldn't even be an issue if they hadn't made such a big deal about it in opposition.

Barring the media from covering the return of dead soldiers is something else altogether. If they think the sacrifice is worth it, they shouldn't be trying to hide the emotional impact of it from the country.

[Tingkai]

Weeks before his son, Corporal Matt Dinning, was killed in Afghanistan, Lincoln Dinning wrote to Harper and asked that flags be flown at half-staff when a soldier is killed in combat.

"I would suggest to you that there is no more important VIP than a Canadian soldier who gave his life in the service of his country."

Instead of paying respects to a grieving father, Harper and the Conservatives dissed him.

As for the reasons behind the Conservatives actions, Jimmycrackcorn hit the nail on the head. The Conservatives want to hide the cost of war from Canadian voters. The Conservatives are worried that as more Canadians die in Afghanistan, Canadians at home will start questioning the Conservative war policies.

Harper's approach is "best we forget"

[Drake Tungsten]

Originally posted by DaShi
Pity post.

Originally posted by Jaguar
Pity post.

Damn you two! This thread should've died a quick death, unreplied to and unloved, but your damn pity kept it on the front page long enough for someone to finally take the poorly disguised bait. Now we've got to live with this ****e thread taking up space that could be better served by the dozenth locked iPod thread. A pox on both your houses...

[Sparrowhawk]

/me has no opinion on this issue.
Didn't even know it was an issue before the news tonight.

Tingkai, read your pm's please

[DaShi]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten




Damn you two! This thread should've died a quick death, unreplied to and unloved, but your damn pity kept it on the front page long enough for someone to finally take the poorly disguised bait. Now we've got to live with this ****e thread taking up space that could be better served by the dozenth locked iPod thread. A pox on both your houses...

No, we just did what should have been done. A few pity posts and let it silently fade away.

[Drake Tungsten]

That worked out real well, didn't it?