- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 60
I have sent the following e-mail to the Prime Minister with info copies to the leaders of the opposition.
Sir:
My family and I fully support your decision regarding the return to
traditional half masting of flags on the death of Canadian soldiers and of
the decision to bar media from the repatriation at Trenton. That the media
and opposition parties should turn this into a political frenzy is abhorent.
I have today sent the following letter to 21 major newspapers across the
country.
Sincerely,
John H. Neilson, CD
Canadian Army RC Sigs (Ret'd)
I am writing to express my deep disgust with the politicizing of the deaths
of our fallen soldiers by the media and by the opposition parties. This is
both unseemly and disrespectful. Where were the cries of "respect our
troops" prior to 2002? Their bodies were repatriated without fanfare or
lowering of the Peace Tower flag. In fact most Canadians didn't even know
they had died in the service of their country, 26 in the Balkans alone
during the 1990s and over 150 in various "peacekeeping" missions. The
Canadian public was shielded from these facts, ignored the Forces and
demonstrated an unwillingness to support them. The flag on the Peace Tower
was not lowered for these deaths nor for those which occurred during World
Wars I and II and Korea. This is not a sign of disrespect. There is a
formal protocol for half masting flags which is being strictly followed.
The Liberal government's haphazard policy of lowering the Peace Tower flag
for selected soldiers does not reflect the well-established rules for half
masting of flags and was not a "tradition" but a temporary bump in the well
established traditions of the country and the Forces. The Peace Tower flag
represents our country more than any other flag. In my opinion it should be
lowered only on the death of our Queen, Governor General, Prime Minister and
on Remembrance Day. In respect of media coverage on the repatriation of our
dead at Trenton, I agree with the decision taken. The media report our
casualties and film the departure from Kandahar. There is no need for us to
also intrude on the families mourning and privacy, which is then rebroadcast
over and over again. The government is not hiding the fact that these
deaths occurred or the manner in which they took place. Despite the
outraged response of the media I do not believe this is an infringement of
freedom of the press but simple respect for the families involved. The
feeding frenzy that both of these events has generated represents the
ultimate in disrespect for our serving men and women and I find it
disgusting that they should be used to score political points or
journalistic sensationalism. Support our troops, respect our troops, honour
our troops, love our troops but do not misuse or trivialize their feelings
or traditions.
Sir:
My family and I fully support your decision regarding the return to
traditional half masting of flags on the death of Canadian soldiers and of
the decision to bar media from the repatriation at Trenton. That the media
and opposition parties should turn this into a political frenzy is abhorent.
I have today sent the following letter to 21 major newspapers across the
country.
Sincerely,
John H. Neilson, CD
Canadian Army RC Sigs (Ret'd)
I am writing to express my deep disgust with the politicizing of the deaths
of our fallen soldiers by the media and by the opposition parties. This is
both unseemly and disrespectful. Where were the cries of "respect our
troops" prior to 2002? Their bodies were repatriated without fanfare or
lowering of the Peace Tower flag. In fact most Canadians didn't even know
they had died in the service of their country, 26 in the Balkans alone
during the 1990s and over 150 in various "peacekeeping" missions. The
Canadian public was shielded from these facts, ignored the Forces and
demonstrated an unwillingness to support them. The flag on the Peace Tower
was not lowered for these deaths nor for those which occurred during World
Wars I and II and Korea. This is not a sign of disrespect. There is a
formal protocol for half masting flags which is being strictly followed.
The Liberal government's haphazard policy of lowering the Peace Tower flag
for selected soldiers does not reflect the well-established rules for half
masting of flags and was not a "tradition" but a temporary bump in the well
established traditions of the country and the Forces. The Peace Tower flag
represents our country more than any other flag. In my opinion it should be
lowered only on the death of our Queen, Governor General, Prime Minister and
on Remembrance Day. In respect of media coverage on the repatriation of our
dead at Trenton, I agree with the decision taken. The media report our
casualties and film the departure from Kandahar. There is no need for us to
also intrude on the families mourning and privacy, which is then rebroadcast
over and over again. The government is not hiding the fact that these
deaths occurred or the manner in which they took place. Despite the
outraged response of the media I do not believe this is an infringement of
freedom of the press but simple respect for the families involved. The
feeding frenzy that both of these events has generated represents the
ultimate in disrespect for our serving men and women and I find it
disgusting that they should be used to score political points or
journalistic sensationalism. Support our troops, respect our troops, honour
our troops, love our troops but do not misuse or trivialize their feelings
or traditions.
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