Some People think all Veterans Are Evil

[Fake Boris]

Originally posted by MrFun
Canada realized that Germany would be a far greater threat to other parts of the world if Germany would have been able to conquer all of Europe.

So Canada allied with the other Western nations in the spirit of common interest of self-preservation.

Canada was still tightly integrated with the British Crown in 1939 and didn't really have much of a choice to enter the war.

Edit: are you talking about WW1? Because in 1914, Canada's foreign policy was dictated by Britain.

IIRC we only gained the right to a separate foreign policy with the Westminster Statute (1931).

[MrFun]

Yeah, Canada's foreign policy was dictated by Great Britain during World War I.

But given the severity of the threat from Germany, I'm certain that Canada would have joined the Allied side regardless of their position with Great Britain.

[chequita guevara]

Britain went to war against Germany to protect its empire and grab German colonies, not because of an existential threat from Germany. Canadians, being the slaves of Britain, had to go off and die in droves to protect rich men on the other side of the ocean. So what Canadians were dying to protect their country from occupation and ruin? How did Canadian participation in WWI do anything other than fill French soil with dead Canadian boys?

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Comrade Snuggles

Originally posted by notyoueither
Why?

Why is it evil to ask for millions of children to come die over stupid bull****?

Stupid bull**** to you. Maybe not to others.

Originally posted by Comrade Snuggles
When, exactly, did Germany attack Canada?

Canada was part of the British Empire. A majority of Canadians thought of themselves as British. Canada did not have a navy. Parliament voted funds and paid for ships in the Royal Navy (our fleet). In 1914 Canada did not have an army. The few standing units were technically part of the British Army (our army).

One of the early decisions was to form a seperate Canadian Army. In the meantime, units fought attached to British formations. The battalion of the PPCLI was attached to a British regiment. When the 1st Canadian division arrived in France it was attached to a British corps. When the 2nd got there they joined the 1st as a Canadian corps attached to a British army. As more divisions arrived they formed a 2nd corps and with the 1st became the 1st Canadiam Army, under a British general.

In short, we were British. The slow process of evolving into a seperate Canadianness began in Flanders.

We all still carried British passports until ~1949.

[Fake Boris]

Originally posted by Comrade Snuggles
Britain went to war against Germany to protect its empire and grab German colonies, not because of an existential threat from Germany. Canadians, being the slaves of Britain, had to go off and die in droves to protect rich men on the other side of the ocean. So what Canadians were dying to protect their country from occupation and ruin? How did Canadian participation in WWI do anything other than fill French soil with dead Canadian boys?

QFT.

Borden got elected in part because he had promised French Canadians not to institute a draft. When he did so anyway, riots broke out and the police shot demonstrators.

The English part of Canada generally agreed with the draft, and the incident spurred a burst of hatred against French Canadians.

[notyoueither]

Incidentally, part of the power and one of the reasons for the prominence given to the poem in Canada is that it was written during what could be called Canada's Lexington and Concord.

The battle in 1915 (2nd Ypres) was the blooding of the 1st Canadian division, and they gave a good account of themselves despite being gassed with no protection against it other than piss in handkerchiefs.

It's a bit akin to Star Spangled Banner.

[Grandpa Troll]

I was in Charlotte N C at a 2 day workshop during Veterans Day, but am proud to have served my country, during mid-late 70's. In fact I believe a fine member here, Wittlich, was also stationed USAEUR at same time as myself

I have allways wondered about people who are haters of veterans, veterans serve at the behest of their Commander-In-Chief, The President of The United States. He is the supreme commander.

Politics may and do often play part and parcel to where,when and why we bear arms on not only domestic but foreign soil as well.

But a true soldier, personal feelings aside, follows directives and orders, while he may question authenticity of said orders, execution of said orders must be aheard to, simply put and predjudicially performed.

For those Brothers and Sisters in arms, past,present and future, I salute you.

For those who are haters or even simply possessers of dissension of this debate, I to salute you, for you have that God given right, since soldiers die for freedom, and that includes those protesters who choose to deny the value of military intervention to support free choice of those less fortunate.

Gramps

[MrFun]

Originally posted by Comrade Snuggles
Britain went to war against Germany to protect its empire and grab German colonies, not because of an existential threat from Germany. Canadians, being the slaves of Britain, had to go off and die in droves to protect rich men on the other side of the ocean. So what Canadians were dying to protect their country from occupation and ruin? How did Canadian participation in WWI do anything other than fill French soil with dead Canadian boys?

NYE has posted a great response already.

But I would also like to add the fact that any aggressor with a mania for more and more territory would not know where to stop their conquest.

A Germany who has conquered much or all of Europe would have posed a serious economic and even territorial threat to countries across the Atlantic (Canada, United States, etc.).

Just because Germany was not invading Canada at the time during World War I does not negate any real future possible threat from across the Atlantic.

But this is mostly based on if Canada had had free will in foreign affairs; during World War I, Canada was still dependent to Great Britain in this respect.

[chequita guevara]

MrFun, it is obvious from your posts that you have little to no understanding of Imperial Germany, so stop embarrassing yourself by comparing it to Nazi Germany.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Grandpa Troll
But a true soldier, personal feelings aside, follows directives and orders, while he may question authenticity of said orders, execution of said orders must be aheard to, simply put and predjudicially performed.

The German soldier's justification, I was following orders. There is no honor in following evil orders, and when you fight for imperialism, you follow evil orders.

The one hero to whom Asher could point was a solider who disobeyed orders.

[Blaupanzer]

Returning somewhat to the OP, all proof that war is futile, a particular conflict is futile, or that the warmakers use their own people as cannon-fodder is incidental to whether the nation should honor those who served -- the veterans. Arguing that honoring these unwitting dupes encourages more dupes to support later war efforts is not useful to the families of the veterans. These people are proud and regard non-prideful input as treason. They also take it very personally.

I am surprised this thread has lasted 10 pages.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Comrade Snuggles


The German soldier's justification, I was following orders. There is no honor in following evil orders, and when you fight for imperialism, you follow evil orders.

The one hero to whom Asher could point was a solider who disobeyed orders.

OK, Fred.

[chequita guevara]

Fred?

[notyoueither]

Your banging on about people you disagree with as evil reminds me of someone.

[Asher]

Fred from Canada.