This whole Greg Gutfeld thing is seriously spinning out of control. I posted the video here on the site a few days ago and pulled it fifteen minutes later because, having left my computer to get a coffee, it dawned on me that giving Gutfeld any sort of attention was a waste of time. Unfortunately, our government doesn’t seem to think that the best course of action, as Peter McKay announced today that the government will be demanding an official apology from those on the show and Fox News.
For a man that seemingly has the wit and class of a washed up high school football star that’s turned to routinely beating his wife and kids in an alcoholic stupor to ease facing the daily reality that in his adulthood no one cares what he thinks or does, his idiocy is churning up the sort of attention that gets you promoted by the likes of Fox News, not fired. If the government of this country is actually going to give Gutfeld, an utter nobody, the time of day by demanding an apology then it’s playing directly into his hot little hands. The government of this country should be above such things – it’s the government for Christ sakes.
I completely understand that many Canadians are offended by the comments made on the show about our military, but is the opinion of such a media peon so important that we should give it credence? As Canadians we know what our military has accomplished, and the truth of the matter is that this country rarely receives the credit that it deserves for the sacrifices it has made. But that is what makes us Canadians, the fact that we act without the desire to achieve power or prize.
When one thinks of the term ‘Stormtrooper’, in a historical sense, images of elite German SS units are usually what first come to mind. The truth, of course, is that the term, which was first coined by the Germans – Stoßtruppen – was initially made in reference to Canadian soldiers during the First World War because of a trench raiding tactic developed in 1915 by Victor Odlum of the 1st Canadian Division. In short, they feared our audacity.
On June 6th, 1944, Canadians went ashore at Juno Beach, the second most heavily defended of the five landing zones. Despite the fact that within the first hour of the landing elements of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division suffered 50% casualties, equal to those sustained by the Americans at Omaha Beach, those that stormed Juno Beach that day were the only ones to achieve all of their objectives. The seawall faced by Canadian troops was twice as high as that faced by the Americans at Omaha, the waters were heavily mined, and none of the German defenses along it had been damaged by pre-invasion bombardments. They faced eleven 155mm guns, nine 75mm guns, pillboxes, and Wilhelm Richter’s 716th Division. And yet, up until June of 2003, no significant historical site existed to commemorate what was accomplished there that day.
Most of you know my position regarding this country’s involvement in Afghanistan – it’s policy that I take issue with, not the service of our soldiers. That said, it should never be overlooked that compared to any member of the NATO force currently involved in combat operations in Afghanistan, Canada has lost more soldiers based on the size of our contingent than any other nation. But even that horrible reality does not require the government of this country to disrespect itself by asking for an apology from four morons and a news network.
In conclusion, the Canadian government needn’t defend the reputation of this nation’s military because the overall reputation of the Canadian Armed Forces can more than defend itself without a word being uttered.
