Britain says Thanks to Canada

[Trainman]

Thought some of us might like this. Gives one something to think of as we head towards Remembrance Day:

 

Britain says Thanks to Canada

 

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.

 

Canada is the perpetual wallflower that stands on the edge of the hall, waiting for someone to come and ask her for a dance. A fire breaks out, she risks life and limb to rescue her fellow dance-goers, and suffers serious injuries. But when the hall is repaired and the dancing resumes, there is Canada, the wallflower still, while those she once helped Glamorously cavort across the floor, blithely neglecting her yet again.

 

That is the price Canada pays for sharing the North American continent with the United States, and for being a selfless friend of Britain in two global conflicts.

 

For much of the 20th century, Canada was torn in two different directions: It seemed to be a part of the old world, yet had an address in the new one, and that divided identity ensured that it never fully got the gratitude it deserved.

 

Yet it's purely voluntary contribution to the cause of freedom in two world wars was perhaps the greatest of any democracy. Almost 10% of Canada 's entire population of seven million people served in the armed forces during the First World War, and nearly 60,000 died. The great Allied victories of 1918 were spearheaded by Canadian troops, perhaps the most capable soldiers in the entire British order of battle.

 

Canada was repaid for its enormous sacrifice by downright neglect, it's unique contribution to victory being absorbed into the popular Memory as somehow or other the work of the 'British.'

 

The Second World War provided a re-run. The Canadian navy began the war with a half dozen vessels, and ended up policing nearly half of the Atlantic against U-boat attack. More than 120 Canadian warships participated in the Normandy landings, during which 15,000 Canadian soldiers went ashore on D-Day alone.

 

Canada finished the war with the third-largest navy and the fourth largest air force in the world. The world thanked Canada with the same sublime indifference as it had the previous time.

 

Canadian participation in the war was acknowledged in film only if it was necessary to give an American actor a part in a campaign in which the United States had clearly not participated - a touching scrupulousness which, of course, Hollywood has since abandoned, as it has any notion of a separate Canadian identity.

 

So it is a general rule that actors and filmmakers arriving in Hollywood keep their nationality - unless, that is, they are Canadian. Thus Mary Pickford, Walter Huston, Donald Sutherland, Michael J. Fox, William Shatner, Norman Jewison, David Cronenberg, Alex Trebek, Art Linkletter and Dan Aykroyd have in the popular perception become American, and Christopher Plummer, British.

 

It is as if, in the very act of becoming famous, a Canadian ceases to be Canadian, unless she is Margaret Atwood, who is as unshakably Canadian as a moose, or Celine Dion, for whom Canada has proved quite unable to find any takers.

 

Moreover, Canada is every bit as querulously alert to the achievements of its sons and daughters as the rest of the world is completely unaware of them. The Canadians proudly say of themselves - and are unheard by anyone else - that 1% of the world's population has provided 10% of the world's peacekeeping forces.

 

Canadian soldiers in the past half century have been the greatest peacekeepers on Earth - in 39 missions on UN mandates, and six on non-UN peacekeeping duties, from Vietnam to East Timor, from Sinai to Bosnia.

 

Yet the only foreign engagement that has entered the popular non-Canadian imagination was the sorry affair in Somalia, in which out-of-control paratroopers murdered two Somali infiltrators. Their regiment was then disbanded in disgrace - a uniquely Canadian act of self-abasement for which, naturally, the Canadians received no international credit.

 

So who today in the United States knows about the stoic and selfless friendship its northern neighbour has given it in Afghanistan?

 

Rather like Cyrano de Bergerac, Canada repeatedly does honourable things for honourable motives, but instead of being thanked for it, it remains something of a figure of fun. It is the Canadian way, for which Canadians should be proud, yet such honour comes at a high cost. This past year more grieving Canadian families knew that cost all too tragically well.

 

Lest we forget

[BowTied]

Very interesting! Article is from 2002, but still rings true as our the death toll of our soldiers continue to rise.

Edited November 4, 2008 by BowTied

[Precise1]

Celine Dion, for whom Canada has proved quite unable to find any takers.

 

William Shatner

 

And I'll throw in Brian Adams for good measure....

 

the rest of the world, as always will forget its sacrifice, just as it always forgets nearly everything Canada ever does..

 

And try, and try, and try again...

 

While it's easy to make fun of our retarded cousins up north, I'll be the first to say that they aren't such bad neighbors. Even if we don't understand what they are all aboot...

 

 

B

[Pezzy]

lol@the Celine Dion comment.

[nige]

thanks for posting that Trainman. Hopefully jittermonkey will read it too

[knox]

great article Trainman, and how true....

[Zibi]

Great article

[AlMac]

While it's easy to make fun of our retarded cousins up north, I'll be the first to say that they aren't such bad neighbors. Even if we don't understand what they are all aboot...

 

 

B

 

 

retarded? i don't think so...

just goes to show how much you know about my canadian brothers and sisters...

saying things like that just makes you look 'retarded' all the same.

[Pezzy]

Don't worry about B, Al... he does it to piss off a few resident canucks.

 

If he really meant it, he knows I'd sick my polar bear on him!

[Precise1]

retarded? i don't think so...

just goes to show how much you know about my canadian brothers and sisters...

saying things like that just makes you look 'retarded' all the same.

 

Sorry, perhaps you don't know me. I'm only serious in technical threads and even then asshattery sometimes overwhelms me.

I have to joke and laugh at everything lest I start crying and a weeping machinist is an ugly sight. Usually the only cure is a bullet...

My previous post was all tongue-in-cheek so sorry if you felt it was an attack. If it makes you feel any better, I think more of my fella Amurrikans is retarded than you polar circle elves... Oh, say HI to Santa for me!!

 

Just a bit of advice, stay clear of Pezzy's igloo, she has the meanest polar bear around!!

*shivers*

 

It's all good and I'm just poking fun...

 

B

[BowTied]

Sorry, perhaps you don't know me. I'm only serious in technical threads and even then asshattery sometimes overwhelms me.

I have to joke and laugh at everything lest I start crying and a weeping machinist is an ugly sight. Usually the only cure is a bullet...

My previous post was all tongue-in-cheek so sorry if you felt it was an attack. If it makes you feel any better, I think more of my fella Amurrikans is retarded than you polar circle elves... Oh, say HI to Santa for me!!

 

Just a bit of advice, stay clear of Pezzy's igloo, she has the meanest polar bear around!!

*shivers*

 

It's all good and I'm just poking fun...

 

B

 

 

Ahhh, that explains it. And here I thought you Yanks were still sore about about that war of 1812 butt kicking.

[Precise1]

Nope, not at all. But I highly recommend it is not tried again. We have far more red necks than you do and they are all armed...

 

B

[jitterymonkey]

thanks for posting that Trainman. Hopefully jittermonkey will read it too

 

I read it, & I never said Canada hasn't helped and sacrificed a lot.

& the U.S. has made a lot of mistakes. I'm the 1st to admit.

 

But just compare the number of lives lost in WWII

http://warchronicle.com/numbers/WWII/deaths.htm

That article at the start of this post fails to mention the amount of ships,planes,tanks,lives etc...etc... that the U.S. put forth against the Axis.

YOU NEED TO HAVE MORE BABIES.... Simon? Pezzy?

 

Here's some more figures (sorry kinda old) http://www.afghanistannews.net/story/391727

What if on 9/11 terrorist attacked Canada instead?

Don't you think President Bush would have been the 1st to your aid & to attack

(yes,I know... war monger) the perpetrators with everything congress would give him?

 

Maybe I'm not as edumacated as you all. But one thing I do know is the U.S. has come to the rescue (yes,kicking & screaming at times) of most of the countries that now look at us as something to scrape off their shoe.

& for to long now I've heard nothing but how terrible this country is & why can't we be more like Canada or Europe.

If we were more like Europe or Canada during WWII it could have easily went the other way & we might be speaking German Or Russian right now.

 

Guess all I'm trying to say (& doing a bad job of it) is

Think how lucky you are that America is such a juicy target.

As far as I can tell Canada & the U.S. support Israel, freedom of religion & speech.

You all drive decadent S.U.Vs and have sex & abortions...etc..etc...

If we weren't here.... TAG, you'd be it.

 

I love Canada,as I'm sure a lot of Americans do & I/we appreciate your help & sacrifice.

Maybe you haven't heard a lot of love going north,but we haven't heard a lot of love south of the border either.

 

On the other thread, I was upset & got a little mad at Simon because he called our President a dumb redneck.....

Personally, even though I disagree with BHO 75% or more of the time about where he wants to lead this country. I would never call him any of the horrendous names I've heard President Bush called these last 8 years.

(before he was President,Yes... Now,that he will be? No.)

 

Fine, I admit it,I was wrong. It's still a free country.(for now) Simon can say whatever he wants.

Same with you. Bad mouth me & all you want. I'm here for the Nissan camaraderie not to debate political philosophies.

I promise I WILL NEVER open my big mouth again unless it's Pathfinder related.

This forum is waayyy to helpful & fun for me to get banned or quit.

Believe me,if I'd have kept posting on the other BHO thread,I would have either gotten banned or quit.

Way better for me to just stop reading all political & religious(I'm an atheist) threads.

(this is the last one promise. , I'm going COLD TURKEY

 

Hopefully no hard feelings with anybody.

If so I'll gladly accept the 1st A hole of the month award.

Just me being me

Edited November 7, 2008 by jitterymonkey

[02silverpathy]

Great article indeed.

We have far more red necks than you do and they are all armed...

 

B

Man that is the truth! I think that if not #1 USA is close at highest number of firearms per capita!

 

And yes, why is there actually a smaller population in Canada? When it gets cold here and football season nears end or specific teams have really great years....people start making babies!

Edited November 7, 2008 by 02silverpathy

[ILoveMyPatty]

I think the question is, why are there so many people in the US? California has more people than all of Canada. I sure as hell wouldn't want to be crowded by a bunch of people constantly... I'm quite content with the population where I live, but when I go to Seattle I want to stab myself in the eye with a pencil.

 

Oh and the Asians are doing a good job of making our population grow like a wildfire. Vancouver is now Hongcouver.

Edited November 9, 2008 by ILoveMyPatty

[Precise1]

I think the question is, why are there so many people in the US?

 

No polar bears...

 

B

[BowTied]

No polar bears...

 

LMAO!

[beastpath]

I read it, & I never said Canada hasn't helped and sacrificed a lot.

& the U.S. has made a lot of mistakes. I'm the 1st to admit.

 

But just compare the number of lives lost in WWII

http://warchronicle.com/numbers/WWII/deaths.htm

That article at the start of this post fails to mention the amount of ships,planes,tanks,lives etc...etc... that the U.S. put forth against the Axis.

YOU NEED TO HAVE MORE BABIES.... Simon? Pezzy?

 

Here's some more figures (sorry kinda old) http://www.afghanistannews.net/story/391727

What if on 9/11 terrorist attacked Canada instead?

Don't you think President Bush would have been the 1st to your aid & to attack

(yes,I know... war monger) the perpetrators with everything congress would give him?

 

Maybe I'm not as edumacated as you all. But one thing I do know is the U.S. has come to the rescue (yes,kicking & screaming at times) of most of the countries that now look at us as something to scrape off their shoe.

& for to long now I've heard nothing but how terrible this country is & why can't we be more like Canada or Europe.

If we were more like Europe or Canada during WWII it could have easily went the other way & we might be speaking German Or Russian right now.

 

Guess all I'm trying to say (& doing a bad job of it) is

Think how lucky you are that America is such a juicy target.

As far as I can tell Canada & the U.S. support Israel, freedom of religion & speech.

You all drive decadent S.U.Vs and have sex & abortions...etc..etc...

If we weren't here.... TAG, you'd be it.

 

I love Canada,as I'm sure a lot of Americans do & I/we appreciate your help & sacrifice.

Maybe you haven't heard a lot of love going north,but we haven't heard a lot of love south of the border either.

 

On the other thread, I was upset & got a little mad at Simon because he called our President a dumb redneck.....

Personally, even though I disagree with BHO 75% or more of the time about where he wants to lead this country. I would never call him any of the horrendous names I've heard President Bush called these last 8 years.

(before he was President,Yes... Now,that he will be? No.)

 

Fine, I admit it,I was wrong. It's still a free country.(for now) Simon can say whatever he wants.

Same with you. Bad mouth me & all you want. I'm here for the Nissan camaraderie not to debate political philosophies.

I promise I WILL NEVER open my big mouth again unless it's Pathfinder related.

This forum is waayyy to helpful & fun for me to get banned or quit.

Believe me,if I'd have kept posting on the other BHO thread,I would have either gotten banned or quit.

Way better for me to just stop reading all political & religious(I'm an atheist) threads.

(this is the last one promise. , I'm going COLD TURKEY

 

Hopefully no hard feelings with anybody.

If so I'll gladly accept the 1st A hole of the month award.

Just me being me

 

Why do things like this always have to become a competition?

Canada is our ALLY, regardless of how many of thier troops die compared to ours. They are still making a supreme sacrifice.

America is the ONLY superpower left, but that does not negate the contributions of smaller, less powerful nations. You think troops on the ground care that Canada lost less troops in WW2?

No, they are damn well happy that other troops are there to share the burden.

Incidently Canada lost more people by percentage of the population than the U.S. and only came to the "rescue" of Europe in 1941, two years after the war had begun! (And even then because the U.S. was attacked, not out of a sense of moral responsibility)

We all know the great and wonderful contribution that the U.S. gave to the war effort, but it is precisely because the U.S. came out of the war the sole viable Superpower that contributions from countries such as Canada are marginalized.

The article had the sole purpose to remind us of this, not to strip the U.S. of its hard earned laurals.

 

If Americans do not feel any love from other countries it is because the U.S. is now, like it or not, the world leader. Other countries, whether they admit it or not, look to us for guidance and justice. This is something to accept and be proud of. In my experience abroad it is not specifically Americans that people dislike, or American ideology(which is pretty much the same as Western Europe: liberal democracy), it is our pursuit of this policy. A liberalised Europe that has been free from major war in the last fifty years, and is just a shadow of its former glory, will of course take issue with many objectives the US has. In an increasingly global world it is important to take concerns into consideration as this is part of the democratic process which safeguards western society. Equally important however is the ability to make crucial descisions in the face of dissent. The U.S. cannot be loved for everything it does, that is unrealistic. Some descisions will not be liked.

 

My original purpose was just to point out that regardless of how many Canadians have died in any of the wars in the last century, the soldiers and indeed the people of Canada deserve the respect and recognition that comes with carrying the banner of liberal democracy.

 

So thank you Canada, Britain, and any other country who has the nerve to stand with us and do what is right despite public/world opinion, and the little recognition you get from the public of the very country you are aiding.