Apologies for my Fearless Leaders...

Joined
Aug 6, 2002
Messages
746
I know this may belong on the Canadian or Political forum, but I consider this forum my home on BF.C and want to ensure that you people, who I have come to respect, read this.

Rusty/Uncle; I hope you can bear with me on this one. I ask that this post doesn't degrade into an argument like the last one - Courtesy and Good Manners should prevail.:cool: If this thread degrades into name-calling then I wish it to be moved or deleted, as it will then have done no good as my point is lost anyway.

Here goes:
You and all Americans have my heartfelt apologies for the childish behaviour of some people in my Government. Their name-calling is reprehensible, and I assure you that they do not speak for the majority of Canadians. In fact, they haven’t truly represented us in years. Acting like toddlers doesn't help their credibility. Everyone I have spoken to believes that those individuals should be dismissed.

Please don’t judge our nation on the lack of integrity of a few slippery politicos. We don’t take them seriously either. :D

Incidentally:
There was an informal poll on a Canadian TV station tonight, and 65% believe in supporting America’s efforts.

Also, a couple days ago, the CEO of a large gold producer wrote a letter (this was published) which deserves a ‘Thumbs up’:

13:39 EST Wednesday, March 19, 2003
TORONTO, ONTARIO--
March 19, 2003
Honorable Jean Chretien
Prime Minister of Canada
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington St.
Ottawa, K1A 0A2
Dear Prime Minister:
The dream of peace, democracy and civil rights in the Middle East,
ever so elusive, has never been closer. You and all Canadians have
a responsibility to help shape this dream. To make this world vision
a reality, the dictator Saddam Hussein must go, Now!
Your opposition to the US led coalition guarantees Canada no role in
shaping the future of this region. And it will also transform our
once longest undefended border in the world into a formidable
barrier to trade, capital, travel and friendship with our largest
trading partner. The cost to all Canadians will be very significant!
The opportunity to support the US initiative must be done today
before it starts. Call President Bush, tell him you and
Canada support his plan. Offer Canada's diplomatic skills
in shaping the renewal and growth of this region.
Yours truly,

Robert R. McEwen
Chairman & CEO
Cc: Mr. George W. Bush, President of the United States of America
Mr. Michael F. Kergin, Canadian Ambassador to the United States
Mr. Paul Cellucci, United States Ambassador to Canada
Mr. Stephen Harper, Canadian Alliance
Editor, Financial Post
Editor, Globe & Mail
Editor, Toronto Star
Editor, Ottawa Citizen
President, Canada Newswire

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Goldcorp Inc., Robert R. McEwen, Chairman & CEO, (416) 865-0326

From what I gather, this man is generally a very private individual, but felt this matter important enough to speak out on. I happen to agree with him.

To close, I want to emphasize that most of us Canadians respect alternate viewpoints. However, virtually none of us condone the childish name-calling that a few of our politicians have stooped to. You have my apologies for those people. Hopefully they will lose their jobs as they have proven that they are unqualified to provide articulate, constructive international solutions.

My Country has learned to live in a harmonic diversity of different cultures and creeds, all of which retain their individuality. I can only hope that we will yet offer these constructive skills in the middle east, so that Iraq's cultural mosaic can learn to live in the freedom of mutual respect that we enjoy.

Phil
 
Shame on Chretien, the Liberal Party of Canada, the CBC, the morons demonstrating in the streets and the Arab propaganda machine. But I believe that the majority of Canajuns are in solidarity with the USA even if they have legitimate doubts, as are the majority of Americans. Unfortunately, the loud mouthed bastards up here in Canada are in power.
 
really now, what can one politician call another that would be an insult?

Relax.

Welcome back. How many khuks do you have now?:p
 
Phil, politicians are politicians, and there ain't much we can do about it but exercise our responsibility to vote. As far as I'm concerned you got nothing to apologize for. When I think of the Cantina, I don't think in terms of Phil the Canadian guy, or Sharri the Polish guy, or Stephensee the French guy, etc., etc.. Here we're all just guys (maybe even some gals if the Duck don't scare 'em off), regardless of what we look like and where we're from, and that's one of the things I treasure about this forum.

Speaking of that, I've not seen any posts from Stephensee lately. I hope it's because he's off enjoying a nice vacation, and not because he's avoiding us out of worries about being ridiculed or picked on. I'll go out on a limb here and assume that I speak for most, if not all of the regular folks in the Cantina, I can be loyal to my country and still be loyal to my friends. And I won't sit quiet while either's being attacked. Honorable people can disagree honorably, but only fools turn to hatred.

Sarge
 
Thanks for your post, Philthy. I miss Canada being with us. It was always the US, Britain, Canada, and Australia if no one else. Now one is gone from the four friends.

I don't understand the popularity of US bashing. It was bad 15 years ago when I visited BC. I never spent any time bashing Canadians. That's what all the crap does to you; you find yourself on the verge of French jokes or Canadian jokes, American jokes..it gets easier to blanket an entire nation.


munk
 
We'll all just guys. I've been following the war on CNN and I tell you the truth when I saw those poor Iraqi soldiers who surrendered I felt sorry for them.

How would you like to be an Iraqi soldier right now? Talk about tough duty. I feel sorry for all of them except those in command.

And thanks, Phil.
 
Thanks, Phil. I figure that most polls are statistically generated to sell folks on stuff anyhow. Agenda setting stuff, you know.

I like Canada. Been there many times, Ontario, Upper Peninsula, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, etc.

I would hazard that I am a bigger fan of Hockey than many sports. Grew up in Erie, PA, and Canada was just a stones throw across the locks.

Keith
 
From what I saw in the travels I have done in foreign lands. The general population of most countries would have very little trouble getting along with each other. When the politicians start running their mouths then we have a problem that is almost hopeless. One of the biggest problems with politicians is they think they know what my needs are more than I do. There is no way they can know what my needs are when most of them have more money than they have good sense.

I thought about the Iraqi soldiers the same as Uncle Bill. How do they expect a man to fight very long on an empty stomach? They must not distrust Americans too much or they wouldn't give them selves up to American troops. And, in one case I heard about giving themselves up to newsmen.:)
 
I feel bad about Canada not being involved. Almost everyone I talk to up here supports the operation. I think that the biggest reason for us not being involved is because we're not able to help, the Canadian Forces are too stretched thin. We're running out of reserves and the lack of equipment is pretty bad. I thought something my CO said the other night was pretty good. He said that all he knows is that he's worked in the States lots, played hockey in the U.S., has alot of american friends. We watch the same movies and listen to the same music and that he believes that Canada and the U.S. are pretty good people when it comes down to it. He told us to just remember that when faced with questions as to why we're not involved in Iraq.

Just wanted to share that with you guys. :)

Bryson Cadle
 
It was never about how few the Canadians were; we just liked knowing they were with us.


munk
 
No disagreement with anything said above.

........................................
Please don't take this as gospel - it's more my take on the situation and wondering if I'm off base or if others feel the same. ( It's my opinion or feeling and worth what you paid for it. )

It occurs to me that both Germany and France are on the opposite side from the US in the United Nations bickering.

But the Germans apparently take their disagreement on a matter of fact basis. They don't lecture us on our morality, that I've heard of.

The French, however, come across to me as taking delight in lecturing and belittling, and moralizing, and treating the US with Gallic contempt. And that belittling and contempt is being returned by the US with compound interest added.

Anyone else see this, or do I need to take my meds? If Stephesee is reading, remember, we ain't mad at you, just your pompous politicians. Like someone said, how do you insult a politician? Politicians ought do be identified as such so they aren't mistaken for humankind, be they American, Canadian, French, German............

Hmmm - do you suppose that instead of elections we ought to have a limited hunting season on them?
 
Chirac is to France what Grey Davis is to California. In both cases you see the damage they inflict, yet have to catch yourself on feeling too much sympathy; after all, the voters choose them.


munk
 
after all, the voters choose them

Note that not everyone chose them; just not enough DIDN'T. (Hmm, that reads most badly. Hopefully the meaning comes across).
 
Thanks guys,

I was worried that our leaders had put me in the soup by being idiots. I can see now that this is not the case. Contempt for dumb politicians is universal. :)

Rusty wrote:
Hmmm - do you suppose that instead of elections we ought to have a limited hunting season on them?

ROTFLMAO! However, in Canada you can hunt vermin all year long without a license. :D I guess we just need an official ruling on what species they are.
 
Back
Top