Canada's Real Investment In War

This war propaganda assures me that the “new government” is ensuring that Canadian Forces “have the tools they need to protect our country and our way of life.” But who is protecting our Canadian Forces from them? My country is a peace keeper, not an armed occupation force. My Canadian way of life includes my son - alive and well, without innocent blood on his hands. The “new government” has yet to compensate previous soldiers sacrificed to Agents Orange, White and Purple! How dare they use the boots of a soldier to promote their war? How dare they tell me they are “ensuring Canada’s multi-billion dollar investment generates new jobs for Canadians and long term economic benefits for Canadian industry!” How dare they brag to me that my son’s life is part of the investment in their war, death and destruction industry and expect me to be pleased! Is that what my son is to them - a job creation tool? Their marketing tool, bragging about how great they are at getting Canadian taxpayers “the best value for their money” sickens me to my core. I have made an investment in my son that is greater than any they have made. I brought him into this world. I watched over him through the tender years. I paid for the braces on his teeth that gave him that beautiful smile. I encouraged his patriotism to Canada’s peace-seeking, peace-keeping values. I stood proudly when he swore his allegiance to Canada, to defend and protect her and her people. They exploit him and all his brother and sister soldiers through their propaganda and corporate lust for territory and control. They send me a picture of muddy boots. Where is the soldier? They see the boots, the force, the power and youthful zeal which they use like a machine. I see the boy/man who dreams of owning his own business some day; the groom dressed in his tuxedo waiting for his bride; the man holding his first born child in his arms; the human being who seeks to right the wrongs in the world. I see the boots all right! I see them together with the blood, the sacrifice, the coffin and the flag draped over it. I see the form letter thanking me for my sacrifice and I am frozen in the insanity of it all! They claim they are rebuilding our military to defend our national sovereignty and security, while stripping it away with their plans to have Canada absorbed into the U.S. Why the double speak? Why the false bravado? Do they think most Canadians don’t see the flesh and blood that wears the boots? Or do they hope most Canadians don’t know a soldier? Do they offer their offspring to their corporate wars? If the sacrifice is so necessary, so righteous, so humane and so peace-promoting, why aren’t their sons and daughters wearing those boots? Yes indeed, a soldier knows his/her duties. Soldiers follow orders. It can be no other way. Theirs is not to question why. That is our job. You and I owe the soldier more than just a passing thought, more than quiet submission, more than a lowered flag, after the fact. Canadians owe all soldiers their commitment to never let their lives be carelessly thrown away in mindless wars for corporate profits. We owe the soldier more than our sympathy! Before their bodies are shipped back to us in sealed coffins, we owe them our true patriotism — which means never, ever allowing them to be blindly sent off to fight wars of aggression. We must do our job as citizens of a free democracy; we must prevent the soulless sacrifice of our youth. We must never put them in a situation where they feel forced to take innocent lives in order to protect their own. Care enough to speak up! God help us all if we don’t stand up for this generation of soldier. Mother of a Canadian Soldier (Name withheld to protect the innocent) CANADIAN ACTION PARTY/PARTI ACTION CANADIENNE LEADER, CONSTANCE (Connie) FOGAL www.canadianactionparty.ca [Proofreader's note: this article was edited for spelling and typos on October 4, 2006]

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