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Old 01-27-2012, 10:53 AM   #1
keilan
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A Salute to a brave and modest nation by Kevin Myers of '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.

Read the rest:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/p...got-again.html

Last edited by PaceAdvantage; 01-29-2012 at 04:06 PM. Reason: Most Americans know not to post the full text of copyrighted materials...Canadians? Not so much I suppose...
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Old 01-27-2012, 11:11 AM   #2
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I had not heard about Somalia, but I know Canada was integral to D Day and beyond.

We haven't all forgotten, eh?
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Old 01-27-2012, 11:52 AM   #3
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Keilan, this is a nice editorial. It appears it may have been written in 2002, and recently reprinted. Or the original dateline is April 2002. Its negative in its tone, completely. The one comment that follows from a reader is dated 2010, while current comment updating is enabled. The reader's comment speaks volumes as much of what we do in life goes unnoticed, or barely noticed. Still, onward and upward we go . . . . .

Quote:
Thank you for writing this article. As always, the Canadians I know are fiercely proud and would appreciate your respect of the soldiers we have escorted along the Highway of Heroes. Afghanistan is a contentious issue in Canadian politics currently as we struggle to balance the number of soldiers returning in body bags and the commitment we made to do our best to help in any way we can. However, in the years that follow, I do hope that we will continue to step up to the plate regardless of international accolade or lack thereof (for really, a pat on the back isn't the point). I enjoyed your article and indeed learned a few things too!
Thanks again.
One other thought--the author wrote of actors and singers, who, sadly, gave up their Canadian citizenship upon coming to the lower 48. He was absolutely clueless in that he made no mention whatsoever of one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time, legendary pianist Oscar Peterson, who was born Canadian and remained so his entire life. Canada's most honored, most celebrated gift to the world of music, and one of its greatest humanitarians. This is just plain inexcusable, or to me, would be for any Canadian.

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Preferring not to use his celebrity status to sway public opinions, Mr. Peterson nevertheless remained dedicated to the belief that his native Canada has a responsibility in leading the world in equality and justice. With this in mind, he took a firm stand to promote the cause of human rights fair treatment for Canada’s multicultural community. In recognition of this effort, Mr. Peterson was promoted to Companion of the Order of Canada, Canada’s highest civilian honor. He had been inducted as an Officer of the Order in 1972.


During his life and career Mr. Peterson received many awards and honors. These include the Praemium Imperiale (the Arts equivalent of the Nobel Prize, presented by the Japan Art Association), the UNESCO International Music Prize, 8 Grammy Awards (including a Lifetime Achievement Grammy), the 1993 Glenn Gould Prize, of which he was the third recipient, the first chosen by unanimous decision and the first ever non-classical musician, and many honorary degrees.
These other film and pop stars wouldn't be worthy to carry sheet music in a briefcase for Oscar. Then again, too, he didn't need any, it was all in his head. http://www.oscarpeterson.com/bio/
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Old 01-27-2012, 12:10 PM   #4
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My step-father was a WW-II Army Vet who served in Europe. He talked many times of his great respect for The Canadians and the Aussies he served with. He was a part of Gen. Montgomery's multi-national force and was therefore fighting alongside allies from different nations.

He often said that they (Canadians and Aussies) were some tough SOB's.
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Old 01-27-2012, 12:37 PM   #5
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I didn’t expect this response but I’m pleased by your acknowledgment - thanx Tom, Grits and Dennis
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Old 01-27-2012, 01:16 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by keilan
Canada repeatedly does honourable things for honourable motives, but instead of being thanked for it, it remains something of a figure of fun.
Maybe if you guys learned how to spell?

Just kidding. Been a big fan of Canada since the Iranian hostage crisis.
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Old 01-27-2012, 09:46 PM   #7
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God Bless Canada !!!!
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Old 01-27-2012, 10:13 PM   #8
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I'm a big fan of Canada myself. Not only having visited Montreal numerous times and Quebec City too but also Niagara Falls. And Hippodrome de Montreal, Hippodrome de Quebec, and Fort Erie Racecourse too!

We couldn't ask for better neighbors and I think most Americans would agree.
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Old 01-28-2012, 02:44 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by keilan
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 its 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, Mike Weir, Jim Carrey, Dan Aykroyd, etc. 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.
To our northern neighbors. Heroes all...and forgotten no more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlcyb...eature=related
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Old 01-28-2012, 04:22 AM   #10
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Keilan,
Please, never let our "political" disagreements cloud ones judgement to think that we don't appreciate our neighbors to the north. I think it was NJ who put it best, we couldnt ask for better neighbors!
We may go back and forth and say a lot of dumb things back and forth. I see it as a brotherly love type of relationship. Where, it's ok for us to pick on each other, just don't let anyone else pick on one of us.
The sacrifices Canadians have made will NEVER be forgotten.
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Old 01-28-2012, 10:22 AM   #11
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During Desert Storm we had an amphibious attack ship and a cruiser hit by mines within hours of each other causing severe damage to both vessels. A Canadian destroyer came to our aid and was instrumental in getting that cruiser out of more danger and providing much needed help to that stricken vessel. We have always had a good friend and ally in Canada and you can always count on them when the chips are down.
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Old 01-28-2012, 01:34 PM   #12
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I think it’s possible I’ve been hyper sensitive and fiercely proud of my country at the same time. Many comments directed towards Canadians on this board over the years have been inaccurate, disrespectful and unkind imo.

To those that have taken the time to post here – thank-you!!
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Old 01-28-2012, 03:45 PM   #13
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In my office I've got a Newfoundlander on my left, a Torontonian on my right, and a little Quebecois always sneaking over and saying funny things.

Can't forget Canada even if I tried, they have me surrounded.
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Old 01-28-2012, 04:26 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by keilan
I think it’s possible I’ve been hyper sensitive and fiercely proud of my country at the same time. Many comments directed towards Canadians on this board over the years have been inaccurate, disrespectful and unkind imo.

To those that have taken the time to post here – thank-you!!
Yes, you have been hyper-sensitive, and no doubt proud, as you should be.

I'm glad you've gotten a glimpse of how people really feel, as I've felt you've taken the negative comments you've encountered and painted us all with a broad brush.

Last edited by PaceAdvantage; 01-28-2012 at 04:29 PM.
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Old 01-28-2012, 04:43 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by keilan
I think it’s possible I’ve been hyper sensitive and fiercely proud of my country at the same time. Many comments directed towards Canadians on this board over the years have been inaccurate, disrespectful and unkind imo.

To those that have taken the time to post here – thank-you!!
And you have every reason to be proud. Canada is a good neighbor and a great ally. I just hope that that strong diplomatic relations continue, and that our leaders on this side of the border don't find a way to screw that relationship up, too.

May God smile favorably upon your nation and may he shine the light of his Truth upon it.

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