Liberals sink to new low

[geoffrey]

So, here I am, home today relaxing, catching up on some work. I decide, hey why not watch question period in the House of Commons (while waiting for some Kraft Dinner to finish cooking), see what's happening in Ottawa.

And what do I see? A select group of Liberal opposition members wearing poppies.

I have never seen such a politicalisation of the dignity of a symbol of the blood shed by our veterns to defend our country.

I think all Canadians, especially our veterans, should demand an apology from these disrepectful people that are said to represent the views of Canadians.

I know Canadians wouldn't stand for such an abuse of our vetern's dignity.

[Freshinit]

The Liberal party has been in shambles since the loss of the election. Did you happen to catch the statement by that darker skinned Liberal lady MP? Just the tone to her voice the entire time infuriated me. Its as if they hired an actress to officially represent their opposition.

[uOttawaMan]

So, here I am, home today relaxing, catching up on some work. I decide, hey why not watch question period in the House of Commons (while waiting for some Kraft Dinner to finish cooking), see what's happening in Ottawa.

And what do I see? A select group of Liberal opposition members wearing poppies.

I have never seen such a politicalisation of the dignity of a symbol of the blood shed by our veterns to defend our country.

I think all Canadians, especially our veterans, should demand an apology from these disrepectful people that are said to represent the views of Canadians.

I know Canadians wouldn't stand for such an abuse of our vetern's dignity.

Are you kidding me?

What a gong show.

This is unbelievably ridiculous. The soldiers are NOT being disrespected by the government or even by the media at large ( although they are throwing gasoline all over the place in hopes of starting a massive fire), and then the Opposition goes and does this???

The flags are still lowered at home bases and hometowns as was the tradition. TRADITION. Not some chickenshit little anamoly that occured because our government wanted to make a poltical point to the US.

Talk to any of the soldiers in Afghanistan or abroad, and they'll tell you they wish the media would actually ask them what they think instead of assuming. I've seen many personal soldier blogs saying that the way it was when our ancestors served in WW1 and WW2 and Korea and beyond was the way it should stay, and to stop trying to cause shit just to score publicity points.

Absolutely unreal. And here i considered myself a moderate liberal to an extent.. **** that.

[Hicksey]

They don't have caskets to publicize anymore so they have to replace it with something right?

It just goes to show that the Liberals will stop at nothing to get power and they don't care whose toes they have to step on or who they have to pay disrespect to.

[Black Dog]

Er...how is wearing a symbol that comemorates Canada's war dead disrespectful, exactly?

[Hicksey]

Er...how is wearing a symbol that comemorates Canada's war dead disrespectful, exactly?

If I thought for a minute that they were wearing them out of genuine concern for the troops I wouldn't care.

Because its for their partisan agenda that they wear them it is disrespectful.

We wear poopies to honour those who fought for our country. NOT TO SUPPORT A PARTISAN AGENDA.

And besides, they're looking to me like hypocrites for sending them there, defending their decision amidst demands from the NDP to discuss the Afghanistan deployment leading up to the election, and then whining about it as soon as the conservtives come into office.

[geoffrey]

Er...how is wearing a symbol that comemorates Canada's war dead disrespectful, exactly?

It's only respectful to wear a poppie around rememberence day. Otherwise, it's just making a political symbol. Why not just wear it all year long? If these people did wear them since age 5 everyday, I wouldn't have much of a case.

But wearing a symbol that represents the suffering of our vets in order to make political points, which most vets disagree with anyways, is both disrespectful and an ugly show of partisan politics.

I appreciate that the Bloc and NDP had the moral conscience not to follow this disgusting example. It's obvious where the ethics, how little exist, in parliment lie.

[Black Dog]

If I thought for a minute that they were wearing them out of genuine concern for the troops I wouldn't care.

Because its for their partisan agenda that they wear them it is disrespectful.

We wear poopies to honour those who fought for our country. NOT TO SUPPORT A PARTISAN AGENDA.

And besides, they're looking to me like hypocrites for sending them there, defending their decision amidst demands from the NDP to discuss the Afghanistan deployment leading up to the election, and then whining about it as soon as the conservtives come into office.

I haven't heard any members of the opposition using this to call for the withdrawl of Canada's troops: most of the flak directed at the Cons has been over how they chose to handle the situation. (IMO all the parties should just STFU about the dead soldiers). Why, just a week or two ago all the parties re-affirmed their support of the mission. So: what "partisan agenda" are we talking about here? (Also: I'd be willing to bet that if it were CPC caucus members wearing poppies, you'd be applauding them.)

It's only respectful to wear a poppie around rememberence day. Otherwise, it's just making a political symbol.

Sez who? If so, I have a bone to pick with those veterans who sport the special veterans license plates with the poppy on them: apparently, they should only bust those out in November.

Why not just wear it all year long? If these people did wear them since age 5 everyday, I wouldn't have much of a case

It's not every day that Canadians get killed in combat is it?

But wearing a symbol that represents the suffering of our vets in order to make political points, which most vets disagree with anyways, is both disrespectful and an ugly show of partisan politics.

I'm stll not clear on what political point is being made here. Please: enlighten me.

[BubberMiley]

It's only respectful to wear a poppie around rememberence day. Otherwise, it's just making a political symbol. Why not just wear it all year long? If these people did wear them since age 5 everyday, I wouldn't have much of a case.

You're just making up rules, trying to make your opponent look bad. According to Veterans Affairs at:

http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm...resources/poppy

"Although it is tradition for the Poppy to be worn only during the annual Remembrance period, a person may wear a Poppy any time he or she wishes to do so. "

[Hicksey]

If I thought for a minute that they were wearing them out of genuine concern for the troops I wouldn't care.

Because its for their partisan agenda that they wear them it is disrespectful.

We wear poopies to honour those who fought for our country. NOT TO SUPPORT A PARTISAN AGENDA.

And besides, they're looking to me like hypocrites for sending them there, defending their decision amidst demands from the NDP to discuss the Afghanistan deployment leading up to the election, and then whining about it as soon as the conservtives come into office.

I haven't heard any members of the opposition using this to call for the withdrawl of Canada's troops: most of the flak directed at the Cons has been over how they chose to handle the situation. (IMO they should all just STFU). Why, just a week or two ago all the parties re-affirmed their support of the mission. So: what "partisan agenda" are we talking about here? (Also: I'd be willing to bet that if it were CPC caucus members wearing poppies, you'd be applauding them.)

This is all about scoring political points. And thats why I think like you they all ought to STFU about it. But as long as the Liberals keep up these petty, disrepectful displays they'll look like idiots to me.

And I don't care about who is wearing the poppies. Troops should not be political pawns. They perform the will of whatever government is in office regardless of its politics.

[Black Dog]

And I don't care about who is wearing the poppies. Troops should not be political pawns. They perform the will of whatever government is in office regardless of its politics.

I'm sure you've heard of Clausewitz's line that "War is simply a continuation of political intercourse, with the addition of other means." He wrote that in 1832 and it still holds true today. You can't divorce soldiers on the battlefield from the policies that put them there.

I have to ask, too: how is this any different than the CPC using the Liberals' treatment of the armed forces to score political points? Is that not turning the troops into poliical pawns as well?

[Hicksey]

And I don't care about who is wearing the poppies. Troops should not be political pawns. They perform the will of whatever government is in office regardless of its politics.

I'm sure you've heard of Clausewitz's line that "War is simply a continuation of political intercourse, with the addition of other means." He wrote that in 1832 and it still holds true today. You can't divorce soldiers on the battlefield from the policies that put them there.

I have to ask, too: how is this any different than the CPC using the Liberals' treatment of the armed forces to score political points? Is that not turning the troops into poliical pawns as well?

That's a nice statement, but I think its a little acute. Those soldiers would perform almost any duty passed down by their government. Its the government that should be blamed because the soldiers do not do anything other than those orders which they are duty bound to complete. They are not a clandestine force that acts on their own initiative.

You keep making the assumption that I am married to the CPC. To be a true conservative you should be wary of all governments--whether they're the one you chose or not.

I personally think that the no pictures of the coffins is a respect for the dead issue. Anything the CPC politicizes beyond that should be subject to as much criticism as I've heaped on the Liberals.

[betsy]

Today Graham was on Question Period and he's insisting that the Trenton affair was supposed to be a public event!

Enough already!

[PocketRocket]

Vicious attack on the dignity of our veterans

This thread is a classic example of making a mountain out of a molehill.

Talk about a non-issue.