Breaking Faith

The above photo is from the web site of the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa. The army unit was the only regiment from Ottawa to land on Juno Beach on D-day in 1945 (Juno was the beach taken by the Canadian Forces). This photo shows them (Canadian soldiers!) marching on Bank Street in Ottawa in the victory parade of 1945 ..... with guns! I did not make this up. These are our some of our soldiers that did not die on Juno. Oddly, our democracy survived their presence on the street of a Canadian city ... with guns.

Members of the Cameron Highlanders are currently serving in Afghanistan. In the past few years they have served in The Congo (2002-05) , Bosnia (1994-95, 1998-09 and 2002-04), Kosovo (2000), and Israel/Syria (1997-98). Bless them.

According to Damian Brooks at Babbling Brooks the Liberal Party of Canada website still has the French version of the "Pinochet ad" (Soldiers with guns. In our streets.) up and running. (Google it yourself. I don't want a curse on my blog that would result from linking to it directly)

Okay now. Canadian Forces members are being portrayed by our governing party as a threat to our democracy and freedoms. It is not a mistake. Liberals have not pulled the French version of the ad even after the matter was brought to their attention. Their assertion that that the clip was never intended to be aired is now a proven lie.

Now imagine yourself as a member the Cameron Highlanders or another unit, deployed to Kandahar in Afhganistan. You have put your life in harm's way to defend those Canadian values Mr. Martin prattles on about in this election. How do you feel about him and his the Liberal party's portrayal. Soldiers. In our cities. Indeed!

This is demoralizing to our troops, offensive in the extreme and downright disgusting. Shame! Shame! Shame!

In Flanders Fields

By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918) Canadian Army

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

I ask you not to break faith when you cast your ballot in this general election.