Has everything gone smoothly in Afghanistan, of course not. Should we leave, allowing things to get even worse? The Taliban is at the same strength; imagine where they could have been now if they hadn’t faced any resistance.

What I find most concerning is that we would actually consider quitting when our help is needed; that we lose resolve this easily.

Yes, the Afghan government is a joke and maybe corporate interests are ready to move in, but that’s still better than the alternative - half time stonings at soccer games, terrorist training camps spreading death around the world. Maybe with our help the government can become independent. What you call corporate exploitation an afghan, who is poor beyond belief, might call a job that can provide a better future.

There’s the ideal world and there’s reality. You can either work with what you’ve got or do nothing.

Is that why retention is at an all time low and suicide rates at an all time high in the CF?

I’m tired of hearing how we’re better than other people… even though that’s not the intention, that’s how it comes accross. Think about it a bit before you call other places shit hole countries.[/quote]

Yeah, I thought the same thing when I read that comment. I wasn’t sure if the bigotry and ethnocentrism was intentional or not, so I decided to let it slide.

Has it been mismanaged? Absolutely. Is Afghanistan better off? Probably. Should Canada, or Germany, be proud of its mission and the nobility of the cause in a world where apathy towards humanitarian atrocities in Palestine, Congo and Darfur is the rule, rather than the exception? Most definitely. Soldiers are heroes because they are willing to risk their lives in duty to their country. Its a pretty simple deal, and anyone not willing to die for their country, or for a greater good shouldn’t sign up. Their deaths should be mourned, but their mission must be celebrated.[/quote]

I agree. Being a soldier myself, I have some friends going over there, and they’re going because they want to, not because they’re being forced to. I have been given the impression that most of the Canadian soldiers who are there, support the mission and want to be there.

I’m tired of hearing how we’re better than other people… even though that’s not the intention, that’s how it comes accross. Think about it a bit before you call other places shit hole countries.

Your last paragraph is bang-freaking-on. I do not like Stephen Harper’s vision of, and for, Canada… and I suspect (or maybe just hope) many others don’t, as well.

Actually, speaking of having the war on one’s mind, Pitt’s last entry has been stuck in my head, and it came back to me several times yesterday, specifically yesterday, thinking, “I am so lucky. I am so lucky. I am so lucky.” I’m able to sit outside on a gorgeous day and listen to music and enjoy a BBQ with friends and play with my dog, and the explosions in the sky are for entertainment purposes only.

Has it been mismanaged? Absolutely. Is Afghanistan better off? Probably. Should Canada, or Germany, be proud of its mission and the nobility of the cause in a world where apathy towards humanitarian atrocities in Palestine, Congo and Darfur is the rule, rather than the exception? Most definitely. Soldiers are heroes because they are willing to risk their lives in duty to their country. Its a pretty simple deal, and anyone not willing to die for their country, or for a greater good shouldn’t sign up. Their deaths should be mourned, but their mission must be celebrated.

I’ll take that as an insult. I hate the Liberal party. You passed judgment quite quickly that we were Liberal Party supporters. I have always supported the Progressive Conservative party, not this hybrid “Conservative Party”. Never liked the Reform Party nor it’s reincarnation Alliance Party. I don’t like Harper, never have, and like Matt said he is the one responsible for extending what the Liberals started.

I have enjoyed Canada Day so far, played baseball and had a few beers.

Today on Canada Day I could not stop thinking about each and every one of them, thinking about our founding fore-fathers, our native peoples, and each one of us (2nd generation Immigrant from Italy). Tears filled my eyes, so many people have had a hand in trying to make this the best damn place to live and yet we can’t even tackle homelessness, end poverty and care for our neigbours, we can’t do a single good thing without looking for praise or at least bragging about it in some form. I often wonder why do we walk around looking for comfort in what everyone else thinks or feels why don’t we approach our lives the way our mothers would tell us, “Do unto others as you would do unto yourself” ? Perhaps it is because we’re wise enoughto realize that even moms are hypocrites too. Better yet we’re too fucking chicken to stand up for something we believe in and much rather debate about it on a website. I say admidst all the fire works, beer, and sex, let’s use our balls for standing up for something and each of us write/call and visit our MP and tell them you’re not happy. Brag about that and while you’re at it head to your local armed forces base and drop off a special card of thanks.

I’ll be doing both tomorrow, because Canada Day is a reminder of everything I have and everything I can provide the world.

I’ll still take the beer though.

i for one have always liked and been interested in
some of the differences in culture and ideas and people
found just across the border from me, in ontario-
and from vancouver to halifax.

i hope i get to see more of your great country
in the years to come…

and most of all hope that the world somehow
gets a break in the action-
and the hot wars of this early century
don’t turn into an even greater inferno.

vincent, in buffalo[/quote]

Visit soon, Vincent, before the differences are gone…because they certainly are going.

I take it you’re not performing somewhere today?

boooooooo ya

Canadians are collectively passive - but when asked to help out we always do.

Our troops abroad are a shining example of this - yeah its a shitty fucking tour in the worst area of that shit hole country but then as always Canada pitches in. Of course the decision was a bad one - who could disagree?

Still that is what we do - the little guy that is always there for someone - unrecognized and never a complaint about the bad cards weve been dealt - quiet reserve.

And through all of our years as a country we still are one - a country that is.

Pride is easy to come by - don’t ever forget that - Canada is a survivor. A country that has more to offer to its citizens than most.

Count yourself lucky you live here.

Peace