Long thought of as a core constituency of Conservative parties in Canada, veterans have been the target of Conservative cutbacks and slights over the past couple of years. Conservatives are more than willing to hold veterans up as election props, but for whatever reason, have taken to attacking them. Conservative
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Montreal Simon: The Many Reasons Julian Fantino Should be Fired
I don't think it's possible for Julian Fantino to sink any lower than he did the other day.By treating elderly veterans like children and giving them the bum's rush.But I see he's trying hard to accomplish the impossible. For there he was today defending the indefensible, blaming the victims, and trying to
Continue readingcmkl: Ex-soldiers hold sit-in to protest Veterans Affairs office closure
I suppose if you’re used to facing gunfire, police removal isn’t so bad. Though I think it’s an embarassing shame for the federal government that the veterans are having to fight all over again. Ex-soldiers hold sit-in to protest Veterans Affairs office closure.
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Chris Alexander, Julian Fantino, and the Con Bullies
The other night I wrote about how disgusted I was to see Chris Alexander, the Con Immigration Minister, go after Deb Matthews, the Health Minister of Ontario, like a schoolyard bully.For the "crime" of standing up for the right of refugee claimants to receive health care. And I quoted this paragraph
Continue readingParliamANT Hill: VeterAnts say JuliAnt fAntino treated them with disrespect
Inspired by this headline: http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/veterans-say-fantino-treated-them-with-disrespect-in-meeting-over-va-office-closures-1.1658981
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Stephen Harper and the Revolt of the Veterans
There couldn't be a more powerful protest. Or a greater slap in the face. For years he posed as a patriot, for years he strutted around boasting he was the best friend the Canadian military ever had. For years he could count on the support of most veterans.But not anymore. Read more
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: Remember Harper Muzzling Scientists? He’s Doing It To Veterans Too
Under the Harper Government, we have been fed enormous amounts of propaganda pablum in the name of “Support the War in Afghanistan Troops”. The “highway of heroes” when our troops were being returned in pine boxes on a weekly basis; goodness knows how many photo-ops of Harper and Mackay on
Continue readingA Different Point of View....: Conservatives exploit Afghan deaths, but treat vets like 2nd class citizens
A travelling tribute to the men and women who lost their lives in Afghanistan will arrive in your province or territory during the next year or two. The memorial, featuring plaques of the 161 Canadians killed, will be welcomed by their families and friends, but some of us will react
Continue readingWalking Turcot Yards: Arlington West Memorial Santa Monica
“Each Sunday from sunrise to sunset, a temporary memorial appears next to the world-famous pier at Santa Monica, California. This memorial, known as Arlington West, a project of Veterans For Peace, offers visitors a graceful, visually and emotionally powerful, place for reflection.” From the web site. In Canada we currently
Continue readingThe Ranting Canadian: “Power & The Glory” by Cockney…
“Power & The Glory” by Cockney Rejects
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Those years ago our ships set sail to restore England’s pride.
Thousands of blokes like me and you, were on their way to d…
The Ranting Canadian: Buffy Sainte-Marie performs for Veterans for Peace and Iraq…
Buffy Sainte-Marie performs for Veterans for Peace and Iraq Veterans Against the War in 2008.
Continue readingThe Ranting Canadian: Remembrance Day 2012 at Queen’s Park,…
Remembrance Day 2012 at Queen’s Park, Toronto
This year, since November 11 fell on a Sunday, I managed to attend two Remembrance Day ceremonies at Queen’s Park in Toronto.
First I obse…
The Ranting Canadian: The Harper Conservatives must really hate Canadian military…
The Harper Conservatives must really hate Canadian military veterans.
The HarperCons seem to prefer that our armed forces members either die in action or commit suicide due to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder than live to require healthcare and other b…
The Ranting Canadian: "The misuse of November 11: How the Harper government exploits Remembrance Day" – by Peter Goffin, November 9, 2012
“The misuse of November 11: How the Harper government exploits Remembrance Day” – by Peter Goffin, November 9, 2012: Excerpts:
The greatest trouble with Harper’s Conservatives using Remembrance Day to construct an image of Canada as one of history’…
Politics and its Discontents: After Cutting Through The Sanctimonious Rhetoric
…it is apparent that, like most governments, the Harper regime has been quite content to recruit, exploit and ultimately abandon those who, in good faith, joined the armed forces to support a ‘muscular adventurism’ that has both tarnished and dimi…
Continue readingThe Ranting Canadian: This Youtube link is “War in the East”, a dub…
This Youtube link is “War in the East”, a dub reggae-influenced song by Canadian punk band D.O.A.
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I wear a poppy and commemorate Remembrance Day…
The Ranting Canadian: “Wasted Life” by Stiff Little Fingers This song was…
“Wasted Life” by Stiff Little Fingers
This song was specifically written about the Troubles in Northern Ireland, but many of the lyrics apply to almost every military conflict in the entire history of the world, including those still happening.
War…
The Ranting Canadian: No more war but class war. Honour the fallen on Remembrance Day,…
No more war but class war.
Honour the fallen on Remembrance Day, but also curse the politicians, businessmen and monarchs who sent them to kill and die in conflicts that, for the most part, have been pointless and unnecessary. War is hell, and those wh…
Accidental Deliberations: Parliament in Review – March 29, 2012
There’s been much ado about the NDP’s position on trade agreements based on the Cons’ recent publicly-funded cheerleading for free trade at any price. But for anybody looking for the NDP’s actual view on trade, the House of Commons debates from March 29 offer a rather thorough indication. The Big
Continue readingThe Equivocator: Rob Anders should resign from the Veterans Affairs Committee
Who is Rob Anders? He was elected MP for the riding of Calgary-West in 1997. Before the 2011 election he was known as the MP who spoke the fewest words in the House of Commons and for being the only member of parliament to vote against making Nelson Mandela a
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