An Afghani Adventure
My friend Tony and I were both surprised at Rick Mercer's take on Prime Minister Steven Harper's trip to Afghanistan. Following is a letter Tony emailed to Mercer. I endorse his views.
Hello Rick,
I very much enjoy your show, especially your “rants”. However, your March 14 rant about Mr. Harper’s Kandahar visit included some very serious misrepresentations. I believe it important to call them out as so many people look to your show for information as well as entertainment.
Mr. Harper's visit was not "out of the blue," having been speculated about for over a month. It also was not purely a "classy act," given its timing to coincide with Ambassador Wilson's investiture in Washington and its usefulness in changing the press coverage at home (Shapiro, Emerson, Fortier, child care, "open federalism," etc.). One would have to be a dolt to not see the spin machine at work.
Most disturbingly, though, is your assertion that Harper's photo-op was worth "a thousand speeches on Canadian soil" and that anyone can stand up in the House of Commons and say nice things about our troops.
Support for our soldiers must be built on home soil in our democratic chambers.
Mr. Harper openly opposes free debate and candid discussion of the Afghanistan mission in Parliament. Far from classy or patriotic, Mr. Harper‚s attitude towards the role of democracy in supporting our military is disturbing.
Our soldiers and civil servants went to Afghanistan when our neighbour and ally was attacked. That attack cost two-dozen Canadians their lives. Canadians supported the deployment. After the Taliban and their terrorist tenants were ousted, our soldiers were further deployed to Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led security mission. Canadians support our commitment to NATO. As the nature of the mission in Afghanistan changes to one of civil society promotion and nation building, it is right and proper that our MPs debate the merits and perils of the mission.
Our troops deserve no less.
Canadian soldiers are also aware that our citizens are capable of distinguishing between support for policies and support for the men and women who put themselves in harm‚s way on our behalf.
Mr. Harper would have no such discussion. Far from “classy”. Far from Canadian.
Your rant may have been heartfelt, but it was also deeply, deeply flawed.
Thank you for your consideration.
A. Demaso
Toronto
Hello Rick,
I very much enjoy your show, especially your “rants”. However, your March 14 rant about Mr. Harper’s Kandahar visit included some very serious misrepresentations. I believe it important to call them out as so many people look to your show for information as well as entertainment.
Mr. Harper's visit was not "out of the blue," having been speculated about for over a month. It also was not purely a "classy act," given its timing to coincide with Ambassador Wilson's investiture in Washington and its usefulness in changing the press coverage at home (Shapiro, Emerson, Fortier, child care, "open federalism," etc.). One would have to be a dolt to not see the spin machine at work.Most disturbingly, though, is your assertion that Harper's photo-op was worth "a thousand speeches on Canadian soil" and that anyone can stand up in the House of Commons and say nice things about our troops.
Support for our soldiers must be built on home soil in our democratic chambers.
Mr. Harper openly opposes free debate and candid discussion of the Afghanistan mission in Parliament. Far from classy or patriotic, Mr. Harper‚s attitude towards the role of democracy in supporting our military is disturbing.Our soldiers and civil servants went to Afghanistan when our neighbour and ally was attacked. That attack cost two-dozen Canadians their lives. Canadians supported the deployment. After the Taliban and their terrorist tenants were ousted, our soldiers were further deployed to Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led security mission. Canadians support our commitment to NATO. As the nature of the mission in Afghanistan changes to one of civil society promotion and nation building, it is right and proper that our MPs debate the merits and perils of the mission.
Our troops deserve no less.
Canadian soldiers are also aware that our citizens are capable of distinguishing between support for policies and support for the men and women who put themselves in harm‚s way on our behalf.
Mr. Harper would have no such discussion. Far from “classy”. Far from Canadian.
Your rant may have been heartfelt, but it was also deeply, deeply flawed.
Thank you for your consideration.
A. Demaso
Toronto
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