Extra! : Canads‘s defence structure obsolete,inadequate, Why not petition for change

[Se7eN]

From the Calgary Herald,

Quoting Barry Cooper and David Bercuson


" Canadian government has for the best part of a generation assumed they have a perverse obligation to let Americans, Brits, French, Germans, Australian, yea, even the Belgians and the Dutch, ley both lives and treasure on the line in the continuing effort to maintain freedom and order around the globe. Unfortunately, we hide this truth from ourselveson an ongoing basis, usually by promoting our own good works as peacekeepers."

"Behind closed doors in Washington, however, when Canadians ask what the Americans think about our current defence capability, they are told that no one takes us seriously anymore."

Most of us know this already, but I was thinking why no do something about it. I could make up a petition on a word doc. and send it to whoever wanted it. If we could (dreaming) a million signatures thats 10% of the population. The only way anything will actually change is if we prompt it or let the government know we are concerned.

Well if anyone agrees just post concerns ect. its just an idea don‘t hammer me too hard plz.

 

[fortuncookie5084]

90% of my whiny posts are on exactly this subject. I have friends in the civilian government of the United States, that country‘s military, and the Armed Forces of a few other countries. I know what they think of Canada (to find out what, in words disgustingly similar to theirs, refer to responses to my post on New Zealand). We‘re a pint-sized, underarmed force that talks lots about peacekeeping. We‘re well trained, but that‘s all. If you don‘t believe it then you haven‘t visited a major American or British base yet.

We need to change the attitudes of Canadians first. See my post on the right approach to recruiting. What are the Yanks doing right? What can we adopt to fit Canada‘s vision and recruiting/PR goals? Why don‘t we have a slogan like the Brits do? ARMY: BE THE BEST sure sounds better than YOUR PRIDE YOUR FUTURE YOUR MOVE.

Barring elucidating the general public to our job and our worth, only a new boogey man (Cold War, Soviet Union style enemy) can revive our Army.

 

[ender]

I seem to remember from QL2 that CF members arn‘t allowed to sign petitions relating to the CF, and that if we do we can be charged with mutiny. Is that the case?

 

[fortuncookie5084]

Yes, such petitions have to be started by, and signed only by, non-serving general public Canadians. We‘re supposed to follow the chain of command. Yes, it is even true that many (ok, a few) at NDHQ are on our side, but it is ultimately the weight of politics that decides how much of the pie we get. A petition protesting this will get the originator discharged with disgrace, and any personnel who sign or aid said originator are in line to receive a reprimand (at the least).

 

[Se7eN]

What if it is started by a citizen planning to serve in the future, because I know I could get alot of people to sign and maybe a few poitical, if that helps. I might be able to. But what would happen to me? would i be barred from the military, if i tried to join in the future?

 

[the patriot]

In that case, Mr. Bobbitt would have been charged with mutiny along time ago if Mr. Baril seized the server for this site along with all the Internet ISP‘s along with it. Meaning the owners of all those ISP‘s would be charged with sedition and mutiny as well. Actually, a Brigadier-General tried to shut this site down a few years ago. Go read the "News" section of the site and you‘ll see the article on how this website ended up in the Ottawa Citizen. While we‘re at it, the Colonel of the Royal Canadian Regiment, Lieutenant-General Vance fully supports this site. So I guess we‘re okay.

Now about the petition. You can still do one up. Just do not whatsoever write the body of the petition or sign it as a soldier!!! Sign it as a private citizen. I‘m assuming most of you are reservists or civillians. This is an advantage that most reservists have other than their counterparts in the regular force. There are other means you can voice your opinion as well such as the Conference of Defence Associations. Get a membership, or give your CO the polite suggestion to go get a membership and represent your unit at the various events of the Association. Here‘s the site.
www.cda-cdai.ca

-the patriot-

 

[ender]

My troop commander says that if I sign any petition relating to the army, then I could be charged. I‘m sticking to the safe side on this one.

 

[the patriot]

I understand your fear in the matter. Then why don‘t you ask your Troop Leader why the Conference of Defence Associations exist?! Why are serving members buying memberships and expressing criticism against "Official Government Policy". Sometimes taking a charge for something that is right is worth taking a stand for. Case in point the "Indian Mutiny of 1857". Hindus and Muslims were forced to go against their religion and bite off the cartridges packed with beef and pork fat. Which is sacrilege to both faiths. The Mutiny lasted for 2 years. The British killed and raped the Indian Subcontinent. And to top it off they executed the Indians for practicing their religion (the charge for mutiny and treason) I‘m assuming you work with South Asians. There are quite a few among the ranks of the units in Toronto. So in a nutshell, tell your Troop Leader to go grow some balls.

-the patriot-

 

[ender]

umm, I don‘t quite get the reference to the Indian mutiny as it refers to petitions.

I don‘t really have time to join any kind of association. What with school, and the reserves and all the other stuff I do I don‘t really have time. And I‘m pretty sure the other people in the reserve association are not my age group or rank, so I would feel pretty out of place.

I‘m also not about to tell my troop commader to grow some balls. I mean, he‘s a good guy and all but there are certain lines that I‘m not going to cross..

I‘m also sure that I‘m not going to sign any petitions untill I am 100% sure that I‘m not going to be charged for it.