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The Country the World Forgot, Again. A Salute to a Brave and Modest Nation.

An ARTICLE of interest
Courtesy of the DAILY TELEGRAPH in BRITAIN

Until the deaths of four Canadian soldiers accidentally killed by
a US warplane in Afghanistan, probably almost no one outside their home
country had been aware that Canadian troops were deployed in the region. And
as always, Canada will now 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 which Canada pays for sharing the North American Continent
with the US, 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 its purely voluntary contribution to the cause of
freedom in two world wars was perhaps the greatest of any democracy. Almost
10 per cent 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, its 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 which the US 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 film-makers 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 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 unshakeably 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 per cent of the world's population has provided 10 per cent of the
world's peace-keeping forces. Canadian soldiers in the past half century
have been the greatest peace-keepers on earth - in 39 missions on UN
mandates, and six on non-UN peace-keeping duties, from Vietnam to East
Timor, from Sinai to Bosnia. Yet the only foreign engagement which 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 US 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 weekend four shrouds, red with blood and
maple leaf, head homewards; and four more grieving Canadian families know
that cost all too tragically well.


The above article appeared in the Telegraph entitled The Country the World
Forgot, Again.

It was recently reprinted in a Canadian newspaper, Entitled, Salute to a
Brave and Modest Nation

PS: This is from RCAF.COM mailing list www.rcaf.com/
As a nation and as individuals, it is far more nobler to do what is right
and just when others, through indifference or by design, choose to do
nothing, as opposed to being forced into action as a result of circumstances
generated by their own indifference.

It is notable that this particular unsolicited and heart-felt observation
arrived from an ocean away well before that of just a few hundred miles
south of the border. Who we are and what we have done as a nation is
something that George Bush doesn't, can't or won't acknowledge, unless
embarassed by the media and then only to expound the empty platitudes of the
spin-doctors. Who needs that ?

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"Does Canada's refugee system need an overhaul?"

Asked by Journalist Rex Murphy - February 6, 2005

I agree with this response by C.Telford of Winnipeg, Manitoba

Canada's refugee system is an international joke. Where else could an individual take 16 years and likely hundreds of thousands of taxpayers dollars tying up the system. The biggest joke of the week was when the judge who last heard Mr. Singh's last appeal stated that 'further delay (in the deportation) would cause Canadians to lose confidence in the Canadian immigration system"!

The reality is that we can't have an honest discussion on immigration in this country. The special interest groups have effectively stifled debate. While the majority of Canadians are fed up with the abuse of the system, they have no voice. The government continues to consult "stakeholders" such as immigration lawyers and others who have a vested interest in keeping the system as porous as possible, rather than ordinary Canadians.

Any changes to fix the broken system are always branded as heartless or racist.

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Another interesting response:

Mr. Harjit Singh should have never been allowed into Canada in the first place, and he sure should have been deported when Mr. Mulroney was still Prime Minister. Being an immigrant myself, I see first hand numerous cases of abusing Canada's refugee system.

I remember the topic of revamping the refugee system when Ahmad Ressam was captured in Washington State in December of 1999. As you may recall, Ressam wanted to celebrate the new millennium by blowing up LAX. Ressam was in Canada as a refugee, his claim was denied, but, as we know, he wasn't deported, even though he committed a series of petty crimes while in Montreal. The topic also came up after 9/11, and again, nothing has been done about it.

I used to pay close attention to issues relating to refugees and immigrants, and hoped to see improvements. Alas, it seems Canadian politicians have yet to develop back bones to do something about it.

Yours Truly,
Khaled Shahin
Halifax, NS

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Canadian Quotes, Facts and Humor

"It is in our nature to travel into our past, hoping thereby to illuminate the darkness that bedevils the present." - Farley Mowat

Canada is the only country in the world that knows how to live without an identity. - Marshall McLuhan

"Canadians consume more Kraft Dinner (a.k.a. Kraft Macaroni & Cheese) per capita than any other nationality on earth." (but they wash it down with Molson's Ex so it's OK)

Canadians:
  Encourage immigrants to keep their old ways, and avoid assimilation.
Americans:
  Encourage immigrants to assimilate quickly, and dump their old ways.
Brits:
  Encourage immigrants to go to Canada or America.

"Canadians are more polite when they are being rude than Americans are when they are being friendly." - Sociologist Edgar Friedenberg

Faced with unfriendly waiters or sales staff, 62 per cent of Canadians simply vow never to return rather than cause a fuss by complaining. (wimps)

About 50 per cent haggle when making big purchases.

Sixty per cent favor legalization of doctor-assisted suicide. (Let's get rid of the Senate now)

Canadians are committed to the environment. An overwhelming majority of people (84 per cent) from across Canada would be willing to change their lifestyle to reduce their footprint on the Earth. 

Two Canadian hunters are out in the woods when one of them collapses. He doesn't seem to be breathing and his eyes are glazed. The other guy whips out his cell phone and calls 911. He gasps: "My friend is dead! What can I do?" The operator says: "Calm down, I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead." There is a silence, then a shot is heard. Back on the phone, the guy says: "OK, now what?"

A conversation in a St. John's bar - Newfie: "Where are you from?" University of Toronto graduate: "I come from a place where we do not end our sentences with prepositions." Newfie: "OK, where are you from, Jackass?"

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The Canadian Identity

by John A. Mayer - Canadian singer/songwriter

"Canada is the only country in the world that knows how to live without an identity." - Marshall McLuhan

There is no Canadian identity. We used to have something that resembled an identity, but no one really knew what it was. The world described Canadians with words like polite, nice, peace-keeper and hockey-mad. Tolerant, trusting and "oh well, what can you do about it, eh?" are a few more. Most Canadians identify with free health care, social services and "Hockey Night in Canada". The nation has now also become just a geographical place where people immigrate to because they can't get into the U.S.A. or they like universal health care and can manipulate our bleeding hearts better. It certainly isn't for the snow and ice.

"Canadians are an ambivalent lot: One minute they’re peacekeepers, next minute they punch the hell out of each other on the ice rink." - Ken Wiwa of The Globe and Mail (have you seen hockey moms in the stands?)

Multi-culturalism is being promoted by vote seeking politicians at the expense of encouraging people to find a truly national identity. I have no problem with law abiding citizens of different races and cultures, but consider this. The only "Canadians" the world fears are the terrorists and criminals we let in who use our benevolent laws to screw us over. Our major cities now have slum areas and increased murder rates, not to mention imported diseases (SARS, bird flu, etc.). There are many immigrants who fit into the fabric of this country very nicely and I welcome them, but it seems to me the imported barrels have a lot more rotten apples these days.

You can aspire to become whoever the hell you like when you get here as long as you don't try to change the country in your own image. I spend half my time in the U.S. and contrary to what most Canadians with low self esteem think, it is still the best country on the planet after Canada. They expect people to integrate (learn to speak English) and contribute to the success of the nation -- as it should be. When I grew up in Scarborough, Ontario at Kennedy and Ellesmere, it wasn't known as "Scarberia" or "Scarlem" as it is today. Black posses, Asian triads and other thugs are involved in crime, prostitution, gambling and drugs using violence as a substitute for civilized behavior. If you think this is racial profiling, go take a walk at Markham and Lawrence around 1:00 A.M. and get back to me.

I believe people should cherish their roots and embrace change at the same time. Become a part of this great country called Canada and help to define what it means to be a true Canadian. Neil Young, Celine Dion and Shania Twain never forgot. Maybe it's time to pursue common goals, take action and oppose a wimpy political system that wastes the country's time and money with pork barrel spending and fat pensions. Any aspiring or true Canadians can respond here - e-mail.

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Religious Freedom vs. Classroom Safety
by John A. Mayer

Canada's Supreme Court ruled Thursday Mar. 3rd, 2006 that it's OK for Sikh boys to wear ceremonial daggers to school. The judges said they must uphold the guarantee of religious freedom under the Charter of Rights and it would be "disrespectful to believers in the Sikh religion" not to allow them. Orthodox Sikhs, who number about 25,000 in Canada, are required by their religion to wear the "kirpan" at all times.

Are they all CRAZY!!! These things are weapons. Knives cut people! Maybe these idiots don't have any children in Canadian schools but I sure as hell don't want my Grandkids exposed to a clear and present danger in the classroom. Given the state of religious fanaticism in the world right now, I am not prepared to trust anyone that believes daggers are an integral part of their dogma.

These judicial hypocrites allow Sikh MPs to wear kirpans in the House of Commons (who cares about one less politician), but trial judges in some provinces have banned them from courtrooms.

Most airlines once routinely allowed passengers to wear kirpans with blades no longer than 10 centimetres. However, after the 9/11 terror attacks on the U.S., Transport Canada imposed a total ban on all "knives or knife-like objects," which included religious ones. So it's not OK on an airplane but just fine in your kid's classroom.

Go to this link to read more: http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060302/scc_sikh_dagger_060302/20060302?hub=CTVNewsAt11

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The Presence of Hezbollah in Canada

Excerpt from an article by Douglas J. Hagmann, Director, Northeast Intelligence Network - Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Investigation by the Northeast Intelligence Network, verified by contacts within CSIS and U.S. federal agencies, confirmed that Hezbollah — banned in December 2002 - has an active presence in Canada. According to Canadian intelligence, Hezbollah raises money, recruits terrorists, purchases military supplies, and forges travel documents in Canada. Money is raised in Canada in much the same fashion as in the Unites States - through credit card scams and counterfeit rings. In two cases, alleged Hezbollah agents wanted for terrorist activities overseas were found hiding in Canada. Hezbollah theft rings have stolen luxury cars in Canada and sent them to Lebanon for use by senior Hezbollah officials.

The North Carolina Hezbollah terror cell cited above was part of a larger Hezbollah network that included Canadian operatives. The Canadian part of the network was reportedly operated by Mohammed Hassan Dbouk and his brother-in-law Ali Adham Amhaz, who allegedly received money from Hezbollah officials in Lebanon and engaged in credit card and banking scams in Canada in order to finance the purchase in Canada and the U.S. of military items which were then smuggled into Lebanon.

Amhaz was indicted in North Carolina in March 2001 on charges of providing material support to Hezbollah. In October 2001, Canadian authorities arrested him based on an American arrest warrant calling for his extradition. Amhaz was freed in December 2001 after the U.S. dropped the arrest warrant; the U.S. indictment against him still stands, although Dbouk has since fled back to Lebanon.

My questions: Why are there 50,000 Lebanese "Canadians" in Lebanon and what are they doing there? Does anyone in the middle east care about anything else but hatred?

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