It’s bad enough that the Dumb-Ass Harper government’s decision to not lower the flag for our dead soldiers smacks of idiocy, cowardice, ridiculousness and utter blindness.
But this decision to ban the media from observing the arrival of our war dead on Canadian soil smacks of the most despicable hypocrisy.
It is a direct copy of the Bush administration’s shameful ban on media coverage of dead soliders returning from Iraq. THAT policy came about due to the (understandable) worry that observing flag-drapped coffins will only decrease support for the war on terrorism, just as it contributed to crumbling support for the Vietnam War.
As anyone with half a brain can tell, Bush’s (or, more likely, Cheney’s) decision simply made matters worse…
But WHY in the name of heaven would our less-than-glorious leader adopt the same short sighted policy? He espouses the claim that the return of dead soliders is not a media event…something the families of a number of dead soliders disagree with:
“It should be up to the families to decide whether they want reporters present at such ceremonies.”
“I know, in 2002, it was a great thing for us to have the media there… We wanted to show all Canadians what the cost of their liberty is. People saying, ‘Thank you for the life of Marc’ – as a parent that’s hard to hear, but knowing what’s the reason behind it helps us to move on.”
—Richard Leger, whose son Marc was killed in Afghanistan four years ago
And, from Maureen Burrowes, who is a cousin of deceased Cpl. Randy Payne:
“I honestly believed I would see my cousin’s return on CBC as I could not be present today. I really feel that our current government has made a very bad decision and voters will remember this in the next election.”
“The timing is absolutely horrendous and I would love to know how to get this reversed.”
So, Mr. Harper…do tell us? What are you trying to hide? Do you expect so many dead bodies that covering their return would be a waste of time? Perhaps you aren’t planning on welcoming our glorious dead home personally, as the previous two Prime Ministers have done. The media would have a field day, exposing such base, reprehensible cowardice on your part…
As for not lowering the flag…do you expect so many regular waves of dead Canadians that it might fly at half-mast indefinitely? Can you spell q-u-a-g-m-i-r-e? You’ve certainly caught yourself in one right now…
Are you so enamoured with the George W. Bush world-view that you must xerox yourself a copy from his misguided and maladjusted playbook?
Forget the child-care nonsense, the GST cuts, or the fiscal imbalance…such matters are transitory rubbish! Stephen Harper, your decision regarding the return of our military dead is foul, disgusting, and unforgiveable.
May history damn you with all its might…and may voters damn you as soon as possible!
