I understan what you are saying, but agree to disagree. I am also a taxpayer.
Sticker shock over support for soldiers
Fri, August 17, 2007
By Neil Waugh -point of view Section
The yellow ribbon controversy hit a new low in Calgary this week when city garbage workers were ordered to scrape the “Support Our Troops” stickers off their truck bumpers.
This is the latest incident emanating from Calgary’s loony city council and its bewildering Mayor David Bronconnier after a majority of councillors voted against the patriotic bumper stickers.
Edmonton city council gladly accepted the pro-military decals.
It was the right thing to do considering what these brave men and women are committed to these days in Afghanistan.
Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach also sensed a moment of political opportunism when he allowed provincial employees to put them on government vehicles after strong lobbying by the provincial sheriffs.
Unfortunately, union politics reared its ugly head and he was forced to make the bumper stickers voluntary for fear of a backlash from certain segments of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees.
But it’s the Calgary situation that is the most disturbing and troubling, especially after the Calgary Police Association defied offensive municipal politicians and held a “yellow ribbon check-stop.”
Police officers, transit drivers and other city of Calgary workers could simply drive up and get a ribbon.
In recent months, Bronconnier has been out-performing Liberal Leader Kevin Taft as the thorn in the Alberta Tories’ side with his constant carping about infrastructure money.
He appears to have political ambitions beyond civic politics. But his logic-defying opposition to the ribbons clearly has hurt his chances.
The whole debate - whether coming from Calgary city council or cynical federal Liberal Leader Stephane Dion - seems so silly and frivolous.
Remember, it’s our troops who are in a distant and dangerous land putting their lives on the line for their country.
Supporting our Armed Forces has nothing to do with whether you agree or disagree with the Afghan mission. It’s about the men and women who risk their lives to protect our way of life.
Why quibble over putting a sticker on the back of a Calgary garbage truck? Shame on Cowtown.
Lets see if they print letter that was sent.
Dear editor
There are more than 2,900 Canadian soldiers, sailors and Air Force personnel deployed worldwide on operational missions. On any given day, about 8,000 Canadian Forces members - one third of our deployable force - are preparing for, engaged in or returning from an overseas mission (according to the Defence Dept). Maybe the city should also tell all the military members not just in Iraq, everybody else in the rest of the world that we don’t agree with their choice of job as well? Maybe the city should tell the all families and troops in November what they really feel as well, by cancelling Remembrance Day ceremonies since our military’s contribution to the maintenance of our freedoms doesn’t deserve the support of the city. Come on city officials why hide your feelings and be forced to be politically correct hypocrites on Nov.11. Sleep in till 11:30 on Nov 11th, I’m sure the worldwide troops will appreciate your indifference.
I will, too. Agree to disagree, that is.
But, be careful. This is one of those “slippery slopes” that we sometimes don’t see because our Patriotism blinds us. ;)