Blue Like You

Yellow politicians refuse yellow ribbons

My respect for the Record has been restored today. Their awesome editorial takes Waterloo Regional Chair Ken Seiling and Kitchener mayor Carl Zehr to task for their wimpy behaviour regarding the display of Yellow Ribbons in support of our brave troops:

…It is understandable that Seiling and Zehr refuse to recognize one club, charity or special interest group out of concern that they might run afoul of the law unless they recognize every group. But the Canadian Armed Forces are unique. They are not an interest group, ethnic club or religion. They have no political allegiance beyond their willingness to serve and protect this democracy.

The men and women of Canada’s Armed Forces wear the uniform of Canada. They fight for Canada. Increasingly they die for Canada. They are in Afghanistan because they were sent there by a federal government democratically elected by Canadian voters — by us, in other words. No other collection of people can make this claim. No other group stands for the national interest with such authority or risks so much to perform this essential duty…

Also there is a couple of excellent letters to the editor today which express the outrage and embarrassment that I’m sure many K-W residents are feeling today (all relevant links will be provided in ‘Comments’):

I was appalled to read that Waterloo Region is refusing to allow its police cruisers and ambulances to display yellow ribbons under the guise of weak excuses and an obscure Ontario Human Rights Commission ruling issued 17 years ago.

When observing the wimpy response of our regional leaders, I was reminded of the following poem by Ralph Chaplin:

“Mourn not the dead that in the cool earth lie, . . . but rather mourn the apathetic throng, the coward and the meek who see the world’s great anguish and its wrong, and dare not speak.”

I shudder to think what life would be like today if we had been led by politically correct politicians during the Second World War.

Our country decided to engage militarily in Afghanistan. Our own soldiers are fighting and dying there. The least we can do is support them.

Lorraine Williams, Kitchener

Paul Filsinger writes a heartwrenching plea, which was actually Letter of the Day(City should show support for our troops). He asks Mayor Carl Zehr, who had supported the homecoming troops recently, to also support the ones who are still in Afghanistan. Here is an excerpt:

...However, there are many who are not home and many more who will leave friends and families over the next several months to serve their country in Afghanistan. In February 2008, my son will be among them. He has chosen to serve his country in the Canadian Armed Forces and we support him in his chosen career path. We are very proud of him and all who serve their country, whether home or abroad.

As a sign of continued support for our troops, both past and present, I am requesting the City of Kitchener allow the display of “Support Our Troops” ribbons on all fire department vehicles under the jurisdiction of the city…

Please take the time to read the whole letter.

It takes a lot to make Toronto’s Mayor David Miller look good by comparison, but Waterloo Regional politicians have accomplished that very difficult task.