Surely there are issues of equal, if not greater significance. For example do we really want a government that is so committed to digging out the oil in the tar-sands that it cares not how doing this will exacerbate the global warming issue and our dependence on fossil fuels? Do we want a PM who's head is so far up Bush's ass that he doesn't realize Bush's time is up in under a year. Can we re-elect a Prime Minister who promised transparency and ethics only to turn around and spend his entire time in purely manipulative, real-politik back-room dealings. Not saying Afghanistan isn't important, just saying, let's get it all out in the open so we can rid ourselves of these a-holes when we get the chance.
i agree, though, that harper has really shit the bed with his whole "transparency" promises, when in fact he's gone on to be the most closed, secretive, and tyranical PM we've had in a while.
frankly, though, who the F are we gonna elect other than him? Dion? Layton? Duceppe? (ever since i moved to Mtl, i've become a hard-core seperatist!!!)
i'm not sure they'd be any better. or, not much better, anyway.
at least, though, any of them would give out gov't a shred of personality.
i mean, is harper, like, living tissue over a metal endoskeleton, or what?
How can we not be there without a combative role?? "Please Mr. Taliban, hold your fire, we're trying to build a school here"? The main reason we are taking on the most caualties is because our military budget was decimated in the 90's by Chretien. Canadians have to drive everywhere, where other NATO deployments are flying in helicopters. That makes them a pretty brave lot. That is my brother in-law on the left. He HATES going there. He does say that when you see the people's gratitude, he knows it's the right thing to be doing. McKay is in Lithuania right now demanding another 1000 troops from NATO or we're out. That I can agree with. Canada has been doing too much of the grunt work. They will get them, because the pulling out option would be devestating. It would also mean a lot of lives were lost for nothing. Countdown until Harper is up Obama/McCain/ or Clinton's ass?
well... let me backtrack on that a little, and make less of a value judgement.
not mentioning it was yr bro-in-law, then just sitting back and waiting for comments suggests baiting--trying to get others to make controversial statements, or draw them into an arguement in which you already have a very clear and established position.
I have mentioned my relatives there before, and my position. That has never been secret.I wasn't going to mention who was in the pic, you asked, comments were posted before I answered. If that is what you consider baiting, then I did. I posted it to debate. That is all. As for "trying to get others to make controversial statements", I have no such power. This is an issue that our country is living through. If by merely posting a pic of soldiers and asking what people think we should do about it is "not cool" I will not bother you folks with the topic again. I'm not offended by different opinions, that is why I wasn't going to mention who was in the pic, no other motive. Yes there are other issues, I posted this as "Possible Election" because if the extension is defeated in Ottawa next month- we go to the polls.
afghanistan is an unjust war being fought for hidden reasons. Lives are being wasted. Especially innocents. We should not mettle in their business or we ll face the consequences. We are a pawn of the empire. We are there to build the pipeline.
We should give all of our troops and equipment the the UNITED NATIONS. the united nations was created to be a worldwide governing body. As long as single nations like the US undermine theyre power by acting independantly from United Nations judgements the world will keep up its steady escelation toward global war and the subjegation of the planet like orwell.
We should no longer act as a branch of the US military and should openly oppose US military action.
Our military should be used only in UN sactioned activities. I would send them to AFRICA. AFRICA is the place that needs our humanitarian and military help.
Pipeline? Is there a pipeline in Afghanistan too? I don't know what to think. I am anti-war-death-injustice but it's hard to tell when there is a moral obligation to defend something/someone. It seems the turn the other cheek philosophy loses something on a large or extreme scale. I am definitely skeptical about US lead initiatives, but heck, who really knows?
Afghanistan is a UN sanctioned mission. Iraq is not. I agree that we should have troops in Africa, but we have been warned that would require a combat role as well. I could be mistaken here, but I don't believe Afghanistan has any oil. Opium is their main export. I am not by any means a pro-war guy. I think the Iraq situation is an unjust occurence. I believe that as a first world country, we have a responsibilty to help those who cannot defend themselves.
my contention was with i perceived as baiting-- posting a pic that you knew would generate controversial discussion, without mentioning that it was someone you know in said pic.
keep posting this, or whatever else you want to post--please.
i simply support what's known in the media as "full disclosure". It's the idea that in order for something to be fair, the reader needs to know exactly what the writer's connection is to what they're writing about. that's it.
I could see your point if this was my first ever posting on this subject. If I was to post the pic- then go BAM! "How dare you have such an opinion- that's my bro whaaa!" Without ever previously expressing my opinion on the subject, yes that would be baiting. I doubt anyone on this blog was suprised by my opinion, regardless of who was in the pic. Like I said, had you not asked, I would not have mentioned him. It's just an issue I like to debate, hoping to hear other people's possible solutions, or interpretation of the situation. We have all posted pics of unknown origin to the viewer and had them commented on. Oh well, I did probably overreact to the baiting ...back to art :)
A Love for Art was a collaborative blog for visual artists, musicians, writers, and social scientists. This blog has evolved into a new blog called BETA, go check it out!
To stay or not to stay?
15 comments:
well, of course an election always raises these issues.
i guess, for me, the big questions are... what are we staying for? or, what are we there for in the first place?
nice pic, btw. where's it from?
what election? stay where?
Federal Election. Afghanistan.
Surely there are issues of equal, if not greater significance. For example do we really want a government that is so committed to digging out the oil in the tar-sands that it cares not how doing this will exacerbate the global warming issue and our dependence on fossil fuels? Do we want a PM who's head is so far up Bush's ass that he doesn't realize Bush's time is up in under a year. Can we re-elect a Prime Minister who promised transparency and ethics only to turn around and spend his entire time in purely manipulative, real-politik back-room dealings. Not saying Afghanistan isn't important, just saying, let's get it all out in the open so we can rid ourselves of these a-holes when we get the chance.
Down with Harper!
haha! tell us what yr really thinking, disc.
i agree, though, that harper has really shit the bed with his whole "transparency" promises, when in fact he's gone on to be the most closed, secretive, and tyranical PM we've had in a while.
frankly, though, who the F are we gonna elect other than him? Dion? Layton? Duceppe? (ever since i moved to Mtl, i've become a hard-core seperatist!!!)
i'm not sure they'd be any better. or, not much better, anyway.
at least, though, any of them would give out gov't a shred of personality.
i mean, is harper, like, living tissue over a metal endoskeleton, or what?
Yeah, Wolfie, Montreal is definitely politically aware, it must be the water.
I thinkk Canada should stay there as long as it's for humanitarian causes, not for combat. I think Dion is for this.
How can we not be there without a combative role?? "Please Mr. Taliban, hold your fire, we're trying to build a school here"?
The main reason we are taking on the most caualties is because our military budget was decimated in the 90's by Chretien. Canadians have to drive everywhere, where other NATO deployments are flying in helicopters. That makes them a pretty brave lot.
That is my brother in-law on the left. He HATES going there. He does say that when you see the people's gratitude, he knows it's the right thing to be doing. McKay is in Lithuania right now demanding another 1000 troops from NATO or we're out. That I can agree with. Canada has been doing too much of the grunt work. They will get them, because the pulling out option would be devestating. It would also mean a lot of lives were lost for nothing.
Countdown until Harper is up Obama/McCain/ or Clinton's ass?
baiting. not very cool.
well... let me backtrack on that a little, and make less of a value judgement.
not mentioning it was yr bro-in-law, then just sitting back and waiting for comments suggests baiting--trying to get others to make controversial statements, or draw them into an arguement in which you already have a very clear and established position.
that's my two cents.
I have mentioned my relatives there before, and my position. That has never been secret.I wasn't going to mention who was in the pic, you asked, comments were posted before I answered. If that is what you consider baiting, then I did. I posted it to debate. That is all. As for "trying to get others to make controversial statements", I have no such power. This is an issue that our country is living through. If by merely posting a pic of soldiers and asking what people think we should do about it is "not cool" I will not bother you folks with the topic again. I'm not offended by different opinions, that is why I wasn't going to mention who was in the pic, no other motive. Yes there are other issues, I posted this as "Possible Election" because if the extension is defeated in Ottawa next month- we go to the polls.
afghanistan is an unjust war being fought for hidden reasons. Lives are being wasted. Especially innocents. We should not mettle in their business or we ll face the consequences. We are a pawn of the empire. We are there to build the pipeline.
We should give all of our troops and equipment the the UNITED NATIONS. the united nations was created to be a worldwide governing body. As long as single nations like the US undermine theyre power by acting independantly from United Nations judgements the world will keep up its steady escelation toward global war and the subjegation of the planet like orwell.
We should no longer act as a branch of the US military and should openly oppose US military action.
Our military should be used only in UN sactioned activities. I would send them to AFRICA. AFRICA is the place that needs our humanitarian and military help.
Pipeline? Is there a pipeline in Afghanistan too? I don't know what to think. I am anti-war-death-injustice but it's hard to tell when there is a moral obligation to defend something/someone. It seems the turn the other cheek philosophy loses something on a large or extreme scale. I am definitely skeptical about US lead initiatives, but heck, who really knows?
Afghanistan is a UN sanctioned mission. Iraq is not. I agree that we should have troops in Africa, but we have been warned that would require a combat role as well. I could be mistaken here, but I don't believe Afghanistan has any oil. Opium is their main export.
I am not by any means a pro-war guy. I think the Iraq situation is an unjust occurence. I believe that as a first world country, we have a responsibilty to help those who cannot defend themselves.
maybe i wasn't clear... i dunno.
my contention was with i perceived as baiting-- posting a pic that you knew would generate controversial discussion, without mentioning that it was someone you know in said pic.
keep posting this, or whatever else you want to post--please.
i simply support what's known in the media as "full disclosure". It's the idea that in order for something to be fair, the reader needs to know exactly what the writer's connection is to what they're writing about. that's it.
I could see your point if this was my first ever posting on this subject. If I was to post the pic- then go BAM! "How dare you have such an opinion- that's my bro whaaa!" Without ever previously expressing my opinion on the subject, yes that would be baiting. I doubt anyone on this blog was suprised by my opinion, regardless of who was in the pic. Like I said, had you not asked, I would not have mentioned him. It's just an issue I like to debate, hoping to hear other people's possible solutions, or interpretation of the situation.
We have all posted pics of unknown origin to the viewer and had them commented on. Oh well, I did probably overreact to the baiting ...back to art :)
it's interesting being here in QC and talking to them about the war(s).
(p.s. Gilles Duceppe is my MP!!!)
yeah, but seriously... i'd be glad to see more of/on this topic.
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