A brave and modest country
Apr 16th 2007, 2:12 pm
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: London, Ontario
Posts: 31
A brave and modest country
Sunday Telegraph Article From today's UK wires: Salute to a brave and modest nation - Kevin Myers, The Sunday Telegraph LONDON -
Until the deaths of Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan , probably almost no one outside their home country had been aware that Canadian troops are deployed in the region. And as always, Canada will bury its dead, just as the rest of the world, as always will forget its sacrifice, just as it always forgets nearly everything Canada ever does.
It seems that Canada 's historic mission is to come to the selfless aid both of its friends and of complete strangers, and then, once the crisis is over, to be well and truly ignored.
<snip>
Until the deaths of Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan , probably almost no one outside their home country had been aware that Canadian troops are deployed in the region. And as always, Canada will bury its dead, just as the rest of the world, as always will forget its sacrifice, just as it always forgets nearly everything Canada ever does.
It seems that Canada 's historic mission is to come to the selfless aid both of its friends and of complete strangers, and then, once the crisis is over, to be well and truly ignored.
<snip>
Last edited by Biiiiink; Apr 16th 2007 at 3:33 pm. Reason: Copyright - please give the link to the article instead, see site rule #6
Apr 16th 2007, 2:53 pm
#2
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, BC
Posts: 1,377
Re: A brave and modest country
Sunday Telegraph Article From today's UK wires: Salute to a brave and modest nation - Kevin Myers, The Sunday Telegraph LONDON -
Until the deaths of Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan , probably almost no one outside their home country had been aware that Canadian troops are deployed in the region. And as always, Canada will bury its dead, just as the rest of the world, as always will forget its sacrifice, just as it always forgets nearly everything Canada ever does.
It seems that Canada 's historic mission is to come to the selfless aid both of its friends and of complete strangers, and then, once the crisis is over, to be well and truly ignored.
Until the deaths of Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan , probably almost no one outside their home country had been aware that Canadian troops are deployed in the region. And as always, Canada will bury its dead, just as the rest of the world, as always will forget its sacrifice, just as it always forgets nearly everything Canada ever does.
It seems that Canada 's historic mission is to come to the selfless aid both of its friends and of complete strangers, and then, once the crisis is over, to be well and truly ignored.
Few people realise that Canada declared war on Germany in Decenber 1939 - long before the US!!!!!!! My father was one of the first Canadians to volunteer for the army in the spring of 1940. He was 17 and still at college. He served in Europe for the whole duration of the war, in England, France and Italy. His father served in Europe for both the first and second world wars.
We all owe Canada a big debt for being such a "selfless friend". I am proud to be Canadian and am looking forward to spending the rest of my life living in a great country.
Joanne
Last edited by Biiiiink; Apr 16th 2007 at 3:34 pm. Reason: Copyrighted text
Apr 16th 2007, 3:53 pm
#3
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2004
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 801
Re: A brave and modest country
Thanks for the post, an interesting read I missed first time around!
Cheers, Iain
Cheers, Iain
Apr 16th 2007, 4:14 pm
#4
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia
Posts: 312
Re: A brave and modest country
One of those poor lads killed is in the same unit as my cousins fiancee.
I heard about it last weekend,, basically cousins fiancee's brother was driving (should have been in the back apparently),, had he been in the back he would have been killed !!
I believe they are all from NB & NS.
I dont think we hear alot from Canada full stop really do we ?
I heard about it last weekend,, basically cousins fiancee's brother was driving (should have been in the back apparently),, had he been in the back he would have been killed !!
I believe they are all from NB & NS.
I dont think we hear alot from Canada full stop really do we ?
Apr 16th 2007, 4:16 pm
#5
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 9,606
Re: A brave and modest country
Sunday Telegraph Article From today's UK wires: Salute to a brave and modest nation - Kevin Myers, The Sunday Telegraph LONDON -
Until the deaths of Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan , probably almost no one outside their home country had been aware that Canadian troops are deployed in the region. And as always, Canada will bury its dead, just as the rest of the world, as always will forget its sacrifice, just as it always forgets nearly everything Canada ever does.
It seems that Canada 's historic mission is to come to the selfless aid both of its friends and of complete strangers, and then, once the crisis is over, to be well and truly ignored.
<snip>
Until the deaths of Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan , probably almost no one outside their home country had been aware that Canadian troops are deployed in the region. And as always, Canada will bury its dead, just as the rest of the world, as always will forget its sacrifice, just as it always forgets nearly everything Canada ever does.
It seems that Canada 's historic mission is to come to the selfless aid both of its friends and of complete strangers, and then, once the crisis is over, to be well and truly ignored.
<snip>
Apr 16th 2007, 4:30 pm
#7
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 9,606
Re: A brave and modest country
I think the motivation has changed somewhat too. A fair number of the CF guys out there volunteered, and not always out of a sense of humanity.
Apr 16th 2007, 4:31 pm
#8
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2005
Location: Guelph, Ontario
Posts: 127
Re: A brave and modest country
One of the things I love about this country is the dignity and the unassuming way they go about things.
Compare this to our neighbours down below and the way their military chants, whoops, punches the air and generally savours death and destruction and you can see why they're held in such low regard the world over.
Is it any wonder Americans pretend to be Canadian when abroad to avoid getting so much negative attention?
I'm convinced if other nations had as much diginty and professionality when it comes to situations like these conflicts, life would be a lot safer for many, many people in their home countries and in the mid east.
Another country that springs to mind here is Poland, they have (had?) a notable presence in the Gulf, but you wouldn't know it. And they've been through a hell of a lot in the last century - but you wouldn't hear them griping about it or trying to make you feel sorry for them - too much pride, rather like Canada.
Compare this to our neighbours down below and the way their military chants, whoops, punches the air and generally savours death and destruction and you can see why they're held in such low regard the world over.
Is it any wonder Americans pretend to be Canadian when abroad to avoid getting so much negative attention?
I'm convinced if other nations had as much diginty and professionality when it comes to situations like these conflicts, life would be a lot safer for many, many people in their home countries and in the mid east.
Another country that springs to mind here is Poland, they have (had?) a notable presence in the Gulf, but you wouldn't know it. And they've been through a hell of a lot in the last century - but you wouldn't hear them griping about it or trying to make you feel sorry for them - too much pride, rather like Canada.
Apr 16th 2007, 5:34 pm
#10
Born again atheist
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: Europe (to be specified).
Posts: 30,259
Apr 16th 2007, 5:43 pm
#11
Born again atheist
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: Europe (to be specified).
Posts: 30,259
Re: A brave and modest country
Just curious.
Last edited by Novocastrian; Apr 16th 2007 at 5:46 pm.
Apr 16th 2007, 6:05 pm
#12
Concierge
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 46,386
Re: A brave and modest country
You are an arse.
I've been in Europe many times and never pretended to be Canadian. In fact until I met my Canadian husband I had never been in Canada and never thought to go there. So stuff your attitude about Americans where the sun doesn't shine. That is spoke by an American with an Attitidue ... you bigot.
I've been in Europe many times and never pretended to be Canadian. In fact until I met my Canadian husband I had never been in Canada and never thought to go there. So stuff your attitude about Americans where the sun doesn't shine. That is spoke by an American with an Attitidue ... you bigot.
One of the things I love about this country is the dignity and the unassuming way they go about things.
Compare this to our neighbours down below and the way their military chants, whoops, punches the air and generally savours death and destruction and you can see why they're held in such low regard the world over.
Is it any wonder Americans pretend to be Canadian when abroad to avoid getting so much negative attention?
I'm convinced if other nations had as much diginty and professionality when it comes to situations like these conflicts, life would be a lot safer for many, many people in their home countries and in the mid east.
Another country that springs to mind here is Poland, they have (had?) a notable presence in the Gulf, but you wouldn't know it. And they've been through a hell of a lot in the last century - but you wouldn't hear them griping about it or trying to make you feel sorry for them - too much pride, rather like Canada.
Compare this to our neighbours down below and the way their military chants, whoops, punches the air and generally savours death and destruction and you can see why they're held in such low regard the world over.
Is it any wonder Americans pretend to be Canadian when abroad to avoid getting so much negative attention?
I'm convinced if other nations had as much diginty and professionality when it comes to situations like these conflicts, life would be a lot safer for many, many people in their home countries and in the mid east.
Another country that springs to mind here is Poland, they have (had?) a notable presence in the Gulf, but you wouldn't know it. And they've been through a hell of a lot in the last century - but you wouldn't hear them griping about it or trying to make you feel sorry for them - too much pride, rather like Canada.
Apr 16th 2007, 6:08 pm
#13
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2005
Location: Guelph, Ontario
Posts: 127
Re: A brave and modest country
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4881474.stm is the article that put that idea in my head... never heard it from anyone over here.
Apr 16th 2007, 6:08 pm
#14
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2005
Location: Guelph, Ontario
Posts: 127
Re: A brave and modest country
You are an arse.
I've been in Europe many times and never pretended to be Canadian. In fact until I met my Canadian husband I had never been in Canada and never thought to go there. So stuff your attitude about Americans where the sun doesn't shine. That is spoke by an American with an Attitidue ... you bigot.
I've been in Europe many times and never pretended to be Canadian. In fact until I met my Canadian husband I had never been in Canada and never thought to go there. So stuff your attitude about Americans where the sun doesn't shine. That is spoke by an American with an Attitidue ... you bigot.
Apr 16th 2007, 6:14 pm
#15
Assimilated Pauper
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 40,018
Re: A brave and modest country
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4881474.stm is the article that put that idea in my head... never heard it from anyone over here.
Lots of comments there about Americans who have heard of Canada knowing they could pretend to be Canadian but very few about actually doing it. This sums it up well:
"I was aware before I moved here that when you travelled abroad it was always better to say you were Canadian if you could get away with it. But we treated it more like a joke."
The idea's a bit silly, lots of people resent England and the English but we don't go around pretending to be Welsh.