Canadian Heart & Patriotism

What if you knew that the country that you love and call home was suddenly under attack?  This attack is intended to remove your freedom, your prosperity, your faith, and everything you've worked hard for your whole life to build.  The attack I speak of comes in the form of new policies put in place that enhance the rights of the government while encroaching on the rights of the citizen.  We rarely give the headlines a second thought but we have to start asking ourselves some of the hard questions.  For instance, do we like full body scanning at the airport, vaccines that are neither safe or protective, the NAFTA that is soon to become the North American Union, new taxes that offset out of control government spending, fraudulent activities of government and banks, the protection of the corporate infrastructure at a cost to the taxpayer, jobless rates on the rise and shrinking pensions? The list could go on and on. 

The problem is that people don't ask enough "why" questions.  Why are we so willing to take everything that is handed to us on a plate?  I think it is because the public knows that the politicians are all cut from the same bolt of cloth and so why bother caring...we get the same old rhetoric no matter who we vote in.  Pre-election promises go right out the window the minute the new PM takes office.  Like the wizard in the Wizard of Oz we are told to "pay no attention to the man behind the curtain".

I believe that things can change.  I believe that we can reclaim the Charter of Rights and Freedoms as our edict for life in this country.  I know that as Canadians we can start asking the "why" questions, hold our politicians feet to the fire and regain our Country...."the True North: Strong and Free".

A new documentary entitled "Myths for Profit" examines Canada's role in NATO peacekeeping operations over the past 20 years and yields a hard analysis of the reasons why we are really in Afghanistan.

CBC news provided a piece back in 2008 analyzing Canada's role in the Afghanistan conflict and asked the question: "Should troops be pulled out in February 2009 as has been committed?"  Well, 2009 has come and gone and still no concensus has been reached as to when we could see our troops return home.

Now with the release of highly sensitive military reports on all aspects of operations in the Afghanistan theatre via Wikileaks.  These reports allude to Canada's involvement in the use of depleted uranium in bombing of civilian targets (see Graeme Smith's Live Dia-Blog on what is contained within the WikiLeaks Docs here.)

Clearly, the Canadian dots are continuing to be connected in ways that are not entirely favorable to the Harper regime.  Lawrence Cannon openly criticized the leaking of over 15,000 reports as potentially "endangering the lives of our men and women in Afghanistan". Cannon defended accusations that his office was hiding things from the Canadian public. 

CBC's further reporting of the WikiLeak can be found here.

See the Myths for Profit video below:

Well, Harper has really done it this time.  He's succeeded in creating the Utopian Canada he's always wanted...Too bad it's all a lie. This weekend the leaders from the G8 and G20 Countries are due to drop in by helicopter into Toronto where at most they will see the birds eye view of a deserted Toronto Downtown Core, the inside of the conference room, their hotel room and a fake lake complete with adirondak chairs and an artist painting the serene 'landscape'.  This is Canada?  Concrete and chain-link and a police presence that outnumbers the civilians 20 to one?  (That ought to impress Russia and China, for sure!)

So what is all this shennanigans really about anyways? Economics? The welfare of mothers around the world?  No, it's about paving the way for the North American Union and a deeper integration with other countries economies.  Not a problem you say?  I guess, If you don't mind Canada the corporation selling most of it's water, oil, and uranium resources to the US and others?  Oh, yes, under NAFTA things like water are considered goods that are exempt from protectionism and are therefore under the same trade umbrella as say, durum wheat.  As well, Canada would be required to maintain the same level of exports regardless of what kind of year we were having, so in years where rainfall was scant, we would export the same amount leaving less for you and me.  Think it's not about that?  Have you noticed the increase in the number of 'water' related tv ads, specials, movie shorts, etc...? Just Google RBC's short film on water and you'll get my drift. Yes, we're being 'water-softened' ahead of the announcement and the truth is that water will be the next commodity on the stock market.

So, how do you sell Canada and it's resources to the new global marketplace? Well, it's about image and like any Hollywood blockbuster, movie sets cost money and we wouldn't wan't any pesky protestors to muck up the 'take's' would we? 

All the miles of fence and concrete barriers is really about spit shining the PM's reputation.   Like any good dictator, you do whatever it takes to make sure people only see what you want them to see.  And protestors do not bode well for a Prime Ministers image.  It's a turn off to have marches in the streets, sound cannons and tear gas when you're trying to have a $750 dollar a plate dinner. (Just guessing at the dollar amount of course, maybe they'll order the chili combo from Tim's who knows - now that would be a Canadian experience!). 

But seriously, what does Harper have to fear from his own public? Sure protestors are disruptive, and the threat of terrorism is always ready to rear it's ugly head(so we're regularly told), but is the PM really sure the city is wearing new clothes.  Like in The Emperor's New Clothes, the Emperor(Harper) truly beleives he's not naked even though the rest of the world (most importantly the Canadian voters) knows different.   He really thinks that he can construct barriers and fences and ressurect defunct acts in order to 'create' the illusion that all is fine and well in the land of maple syrup.  Obviously, none of his advisors have a brain to share amongst them, for surely, someone would have burst out laughing when the "Fake Lake" idea was tabled... But these crazy times really do lend themselves to even crazier politics don't they?

So Far several MSM (mainstreammedia) reporters have blogged their experiences with unlawful searches and intimidation tactics performed by the decidedly bored police officers. All because they didn't have the proper papers... Papers?  Who knew anything about having the proper papers?  Is this Nazi Germany? Isn't that what the concrete and fencing is for? What's next... armbands??? Pardon the analogy to the Gestapo, but you gotta admit it's a scary similarity.  Hopefully these reporters will do more with their stories than cite it as a slight disruption or annoyance.  Hopefully they'll be mad as hell.  I know I am and I'm nowhere near Toronto. 

All I can conclude is that if the PM is proud of his country and his people in it, he would have done better to provide security in a way that didn't remove the rights of everyday citizens.  He would have made Toronto like a crown jewel to be admired and treasured and shown off, not obscured from view.  And this shining citadel on a hill would have made a safe forum for protestors and welcomed their right to free speech. The reality is that Harper is a greedy, fat bureaucrat, with his eye on power and the dollar sign's that go with it. 

This weekend, Liberty and Freedom are being sold out from under us and we better start waking up to that fact before it's too late.

For more information on G8/G20 see: http://www.pressfortruth.ca/

For more information on NAFTA and the NAU see: http://www.nauresistance.org/

Amy Miller - Alternative Media Centre, Independent Journalist from Darren Puscas on Vimeo.

Our new Sub-site, devoted to Peace Activism in Canada and around the world, is up and running.  Find click here and follow the white rabbit down the hole......

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.

With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!

From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

 In case you didn't know, the Aboriginal peoples of Canada have reason to celebrate this rememberance day.  Many courageous and patriotic men of Aboriginal ancestry joined the Allies in their fight against the Nazi war machine.  Below is an excerpt from the Aboriginal Veterans Tribute website.  Please take the time to read these touching stories of bravery and sacrifice from our fellow countrymen.

       "After having neutralized the enemy's resistance near Falaise, Canadian, British Troops, including a Polish Armoured Division advanced, pursuing the Germans into Belgium.  Antwerp had been secured, though the entrance to the port remained heavily defended.
The port at Antwerp held strategic importance to the Allies and the enemy. Both banks (Scheldt Estuary) leading to the port were engaged.
The First Canadian Army was tasked to clear the Scheldt Estuary, as resistance increased.
Notably at Moerbrugge on the east bank of the Ghent canal (near Bruges), where enemy reinforcements were brought in, and it was here that Cpl Welby Lloyd Patterson (Six Nations - Oshweken, Ontario), earned a Military Medal (MM).

"On the night 09/10 September, 1944 'C' Company, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders of Canada was among other sub-units of the 10th Infantry Brigade which had successfully set a small bridgehead over the canal at Moerbrugge, Belgium.
The enemy counter-attacked in great strength and acting on his own initiative, Corporal Patterson worked his way through intense enemy mortar and machine gun fire to a position behind two stumps from where for three hours he fired with such coolness and devastating accuracy that the enemy was unable to effectively counter-attack the main position.  The courage, initiative and complete disregard for personal safety shown by Cpl Patterson was undoubtedly responsible for the
defeat of repeated enemy thrusts at his unit's position".

Thank you Jeff Schlingoff for your website to honor these men.