Seeing Blue

Something I find both amusing and annoying, is the need for some Conservatives to defend any slight, (perceived or real), leveled at their leader or party.

It's one thing when they defend the indefensible, (Fortier, Income Trusts, Emerson, Atlantic Accords, etc.), but when they feel the need to defend an intentionally light article suggesting that the Harper & co. is changing our national colours to better reflect his party on Canada Day, well that is just hilarious to me.

I really think spending all those years in opposition is something the conservatives are just never going to get over.

Capt. (retired) Ron Bezant felt it important enough to write a letter to the editor but as far as I can tell, he didn't check his facts. Red and white are our national colours and have been since 1921. I presume the red, white and blue he refers to are the Canadian Red Ensign, which of course was used as our former flag, however, it was never adopted as official by the Parliament of Canada.

I haven't seen the stage for tomorrow's celebrations yet, but if indeed it is decidedly Conservative blue, more fool them. Such a public display of their peevishness will not go unnoticed.

Day of Action

Anyone who ventured to the BT's today, would have witnessed many a vile and uneducated rant about the point of today's action, not to mention a jaundiced view of what actually happened.

Thankfully, their view of what would occur, was as fictional as how they see other issues in this country.

Yes, there was one fire-brand who disrupted things in eastern Ontario, but in the rest of the country, large urban centres to small communities, we saw education and unity.

I'm not speaking to unity only among First Nations, but unity among Canadians and I sense a different mood now.

The issues are huge and complex and will not be satisfied by one day, nor by taking a black and white view, but there seems to be a sea change and I think that is a good sign.

It's time we all educated ourselves about this issue and allowed a real dialogue to happen. I for one hope this is a good step forward.

Oh, oh!

Something tell's me that this is not going to go over well in BT land. Just a hunch mind you.

This is Progress?

Hamid Karzai was visibly angry and in my opinion, took the only position he could take. He blasted NATO and the US for their tactic's.

"You don't fight a terrorist by firing a field gun 37km (24 miles) away into a target. That's definitely, surely bound to cause civilian casualties," he said.

In a piece I heard on the radio, he went on to say what I think needed to be said, "You cannot bring your Western standards to Afghanistan and expect them to work. This is a different society and a different culture."

Well, finally someone has said it and it's about time. I'm well aware that there are valid criticisms to be made of Karzai, but the man is in an untenable position, imo. How can he support the mission's in his country to his people, if they are being considered "collateral damage" by the West? How can he support their tactics, as it becomes clear, there has been little effort made to understand the people and culture?

That said, I have read some pretty impressive stories about how Canadian troops are making an effort to "get" the culture and I do think we go about in a different way than the Americans. However, I believe that we in the West delude ourselves by believing that everyone on the planet wants what we have.

Unintended arrogance? I'm not sure, but now that Karzai has spoken those words, it is time for us to reassess.

Here is more of the story.

Wishing Her Well

I have read a number of blogs and comments lately, that have been highly critical of Belinda Stronach for not being in the HoC much since she announced that she was leaving politics.

Here is why.

I'm not going to link to any of the sites that were foolish enough to assume that they knew why she wasn't in the House. Their assumptions and pettiness deserve no publicity.

Perhaps this story will be a reminder that there is a difference between expressing an opinion on something and stating that view as fact, with nothing to support it.

I wish her a speedy recovery.

Update - There is a bit more to her story here.