Lost in the Twilight Zone

Forgive me, please, but I am feeling like I am just a little bit lost in the twilight zone at the moment.

You might recall I've already confessed my past (and yes, even current) leanings towards the NDP. That's 'past' federally but still very current provincially. Yes, it's true. Provincially I remain an NDipper.

Federally, however, I had enough long ago. Definitely since the installation of Taliban Jack Layton as King of their castle.

Now, I am most definitely not a fan of our Conservative government either. And I've certainly had my issues with them when it comes to their support, or lack thereof, of our military. But when it comes to NDP federally, particularly on the issue of support for the military and their work in Afghanistan .... yeah, right.

Thus, the little bit of cognitive dissonance when I read this piece written by Peter Stoffer, one of the NDP MPs from Nova Scotia, in today's Chronicle Herald.

Mr. Stoffer notes that although we have seen improvements to a number of veterans’ benefits in recent years, including operational stress injury social support centres, wellness and transition programs under the new Veterans Charter, and assistance for Allied veterans now living in Canada, there is much more we can do to improve the lives of veterans and their families. Which, as he states it, is why New Democrats continue to press the Conservative government to implement key reforms for programs and services.

Some of these reforms include unfulfilled promises. The Harper Conservatives ommitted to resolving the clawback of Service Income Security Insurance Plan(SISIP) pensions for disabled veterans, extending the home care (VIP) program for all widows and veterans, as well as fully compensating all victims of Agent Orange and holding a public inquiry into its use. Despite promising significant reform, the Conservatives have not stopped the practice of appointing their friends to the Veterans Review and Appeal Board.

Unfortunately, the government’s lack of action on SISIP and full compensation for Agent Orange victims from 1950 to 1984 has led veterans to launch class-action lawsuits in hopes of forcing a government response.

Beyond its broken commitments, the government needs to improve the New Veterans Charter for modern-day veterans to better support those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, bring an end to the unjust clawback of CF and RCMP service and CPP disability pensions at age 65, increase the survivors’ pensions from 50 per cent to 66 per cent, and eliminate the gold-digger clause (marriage after 60) that prevents widows and widowers from receiving pension and health benefits.

New Democrats have also advocated for equal access to veterans’ hospitals and pavilions throughout the country. Currently, as some families have recently discovered, veterans are not eligible for a bed at the local veterans’ hospital or pavilion if they did not actively serve in the Second World War or Korea. In one case, a veteran was not eligible for admission because he did not serve in a "theatre of war" in one of those wars, even though he had a long and distinguished military career. In a similar story, a veteran was turned away because he served in Cyprus.

We argue that the federal government should make these services available for all veterans, open up discussions about the future of the facilities, and develop Health Care Centres of Excellence for modern-day veterans, RCMP and their families. These specialized centres could provide a unique model of care to better assist veterans with specific physical and psychological injuries and needs.

Veterans and their families deserve our deepest gratitude for their contributions to our country and for protecting the freedoms we hold so dear. For these brave men and women, Remembrance Day is every day. The least we can do is make sure they receive the support they have earned. Lest we forget.

It's awful hard to argue with now, isn't it?

Here's hoping we will be hearing more of the same from the NDP in the future. And that some of that patriotism and respect and gratitude for our military actually rubs off on Mr. Layton.

That would be a very good thing.

Hypocrisy

I find it hard to imagine why the federal government would claw back a disability pension granted to a Canadian injured while serving his country once they are discharged from the military.

Apparently, I'm not the only one. And apparently some of those veterans affected have had enough.

A former soldier who returned his military medals in protest to the Governor General will get a chance to argue for his class-action lawsuit in the country’s highest court.

The Supreme Court of Canada said Thursday it will hear Dennis Manuge’s case.

Manuge, of Porters Lake, and a handful of other veterans recently sent their Canadian Forces Peacekeeping Service Medals and NATO Service Medals to Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean, the commander-in-chief, to protest the treatment of wounded soldiers.

He described the decision as "outstanding news for disabled vets."

A military mechanic injured at the Canadian Forces base in Petawawa, Ont., Manuge had $10,000 of his disability pension clawed back by the federal government after he left the military.

Both a military ombudsman and a Senate committee which investigated the case found the claw back to be "profoundly unfair." And although a private-member’s bill tabled to rectify the claim was approved by the House of Commons, apparently that wasn't good enough for the Conservative government, which refused to recognize it.

Now that same government is fighting the class action suit every step of the way, having successfully appealed the certification of the lawsuit. Which point will now be decided by the Supreme Court of Canada.

You have to wonder (or at least I do) why and how a government who repeatedly states how much it appreciates and values the "bravery and dedication of the exceptional men and women of the Canadian Forces" could act this way.


Or perhaps they only truly appreciate the service of those who have "made the ultimate sacrifice". Seeing as how it's cheaper for the government coffers that way.

'A Pittance Of Time'

Lest We Forget.


Well worth recycling, I think. Don't you?

'Don't Let Them Down'

Although this video was clearly made for the American military, it applies equally to our own brave Canadian soldiers. And it seems even more appropriate when we consider that we are only a few short days away from voting for the future of our country.

I found this video deeply touching. Hope you do, too.


H/T to Fuzzilicious Thinking

Bluenose Heroes

There were a few events over the weekend that I hoped to blog about once we got back home. But let's start with the most important ones first.

The Chronicle Herald carries the story of three Nova Scotians awarded medals for their service in Afghanistan.

On May 16, 2007, then Master Corpororal Gerald Alexander Killam was leading ten soldiers through a village in southern Afghanistan. According to the Dartmouth native, they knew something was up when women, children and elderly folks started leaving the village. When they attempted to do the same, they came under machine-gun fire from three different locations. A Taliban ambush. The Master Corporal ordered his soldiers into a nearby water-filled ditch to take cover and then organized them to start returning fire.

According to a citation provided by the Governor General’s office, "Although separated from his platoon, he identified enemy positions and issued clear orders that enabled his section to engage the enemy. Inspired by his leadership, Sgt. Killam’s troops fought back a numerically superior enemy with no casualties to his section." Sgt. Killam says he was just doing his job that day. His chain of command begs to differ. He will be awarded the Medal of Military Valour at a March 26th ceremony Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean in Ottawa.

28 year old Cpl. Matthew John David Elliott, also from Dartmouth, will be recognized with a Meritorious Service Medal for demonstrating versatile "and ingenious methods of collecting intelligence." The Corporal is a gunner in a light armoured vehicle. He credits his father, a veteran Mountie who worked in intelligence gathering for a decade, for helping him out in Afghanistan. But before he left for Kandahar, Cpl. Elliott used computer software to teach himself how to speak conversational Pashto, the local dialect.

Warrant Officer James Adam Hunter of Springhill, the civil-military co-operation detachment commander for Canada’s provincial reconstruction team in Kandahar last year, will also receive a Meritorious Service Medal. "His diligence, particular attention to cultural sensitivities while dealing with local Afghans, as well as his vast knowledge of the Zharey district, were instrumental to successful counter-insurgency operations in the region," says the commendation.

In the words of the Warrant Officer,

"I hoped before I came over — and I found it’s true here — that I see a physical difference as I go along where things are changing, and things are improving. It’s very small, very minute things, mind you. But it’s things that I can say, ‘I assisted with this.’ I actually did something that I can be proud of, things I can brag about, even back home."

Bravo Zulu, gentlemen.

Cpl. Matthew Elliott of Dartmouth
sits in an American Blackhawk helicopter
last April en route from Ma’Sum Ghar to
Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan.

A Picture Says A Thousand Words

Being somewhat of a [ahem] regular reader at Lex's, I have come to learn a fair bit about American politics. A lot more than ever before. In fact, perhaps really more than I want to know. More than what's good for me... Nah, I shouldn't say that, I actually find most of it pretty interesting.

Anyway, through Lex (and punky d at Take Five), I have been following the story of the protestors and the US Marine Recruting Station in Berkley, California. Lex has linked before on occasion to this same site, somebody obviously local to the area, who attends and takes photographs at these protests, then puts up these amazing 'photo-essays'.

I would seriously suggest you check out this one that Lex linked to today. Scroll down through the whole thing. There are two pages and it's well worth the look. Then come back and tell me what you think, okay?

A Soldier's Wife's Christmas

Recognizing that this is a little late, I just fdiscovered this in the comment section at Sgt Hook's. And since a dear friend's husband will soon be leaving for his second deployment, this time to Afghanistan, I am honoured to post this here.

A Wife’s Christmas
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, especially not a mouse.

She kept a tight shift, all chores would be done,
No rodents would be in this house trying to have fun.

She finally got the children to settle down and stay in their beds,
Now she runs through the list of things to do, kept in her head.

She had bought all the presents wrapped them up too,
Balanced the budget, shopped for the food.

She mailed all the cards to family and friends,
Sent a Christmas care package special for him.

She’s been busy of late, checking chores off her list,
Christmas must go on for her two little kids.
School recitals, and plays and church functions too,
Without him she never thought, these were all things she could do.

For a moment she almost nods off,
Sleep lately has been tough.
She remembers a few more details,
The list grows, time is never enough.

She completes her listed chores,
Taskers, As he would say.
And heads off to bed,
Prepped for another Christmas Day.

Now the children wake up, and rush down the stairs,
Mom is already awake, sitting, waiting in his chair.
Kids are excited, there are many presents for them,
Their minds filled with toys, they briefly forget him.

She calms the children down, there is something to be done,
Before they tear into their presents, and begin all the fun.
Lets bow our heads and together we’ll pray,
For your daddy who cant be here, with us today.

A little girls voice asks “Mommy where is he again?”
“Is he still out fighting, all those bad men?”
Yes my dear, he’s still standing his post,
Maybe next Christmas though, he’ll get to stay home.

One by one they open presents,
With new toys they begin to play.
She takes a sip of her coffee and watches,
Although with her children, another lonely Christmas Day.

At the end of the day, it was mission success,
She gave it her all and she had done her best.
The kids now tired and ready for bed,
She tucks them in gently and gives a
kiss on the head.

While this story may sound sad,
They share a common thread.
There are many strong wives out there,
Having yet another Christmas, without their men.

Update: Found this video in my travels, of the same name. It's a beautiful song. You might want to bring your kleenex with, though.

What I Want To Know

What I want to know is why we don't have something like this in Canada. So simple. So easy. Such a great idea. So why not?

The phone lines are now open. Please call in with your thoughts.

H/T to Take Five for the link

Told You So ...

I really hate to say I told you so. Honest, I do.
But sometimes you just have to. Because its true. And now I have proof.

I know its true because Blackfive said so.

Supporting the troops who really do keep bad guys from hurting your worthless behinds and pay blood price so you can freely show your ignorance and shortcomings to the world (and basic lack of commitment to free speech) does NOT equal supporting the war. They are, in fact, two separate things and only a mind operating in non-Euclidean space rather than reality could possibly find an intersection between the two. Since it is obvious that you failed basic logic (and probably most science courses as well I bet), they are exclusive of one another.

Okay, sure, they were talking about that incredibly stupid power play involved in the Election Committee's decision to order the Boy Scouts to remove their care boxes soliciting donations to support the troops. Because, you know. It was a political message. During an election. Can't have that.

Still, its not like you're going to argue with Balckfive, right?

And before anybody crawls in or swoops down and goes *there*, you can find my own personal viewpoint here.

Maxine on Minorities

We Need To Show More Sympathy For These People . . .

* They travel miles in the heat.

* They risk their lives crossing a border.

* They don't get paid enough wages.

* They do jobs that others won't do or are afraid to do.

* They live in crowded conditions among a people who speak a different language.

* They rarely see their families, and they face adversity all day every day.

I'm not talking about illegal Mexicans;
I'm talking about our troops!

H/T to doorkeeper

Let Me Get This Straight

Yeah, yeah, I know.
I'm back to helping them Americans again. *gasp*

But, in my defence, I do so love 'good causes'. Just got to find me some Canadian ones, I guess. And it might be something that some of my American friends might be interested in.
So there!

Anyway, while I'm searching out good Canadian causes, what do you think of this?

Boy Scout boxes soliciting care package donations for deployed soldiers in a Cambridge, MA polling stations were removed because a poll worker complained that they were implicitly “pro-war.”

Boy scout collection boxes? Give me a break...

As Lex points out, the Scouts had twice sought (and received) permission from the Election Committee to conduct the drive, made 25,000 flyers (incurring an expense of $1500 dollars) and sought the support of their extensive social networks. Only to have it blow up in their faces on election day.

But here is the really cute part.

Weinerman [executive director of the city’s Election Commission] cited a law that prohibits political messages near any polling station in an election. But state law prohibits political messages pertaining to a particular election within 150 feet of any polling station, according to a spokesperson for Secretary of State William Galvin’s office. There is no law stopping someone from promoting an unrelated political message within 150 feet of any polling place.

From reading this it sure doesn't sound like any violation of state law to me, even inside the 150 foot radius. Despite what the 'lady' has to say.

While most of the boxes were set up in the lobbies or front entrances of the polling stations, some were placed in the same room as voting booths, according to election workers. Weinerman said the scouts were never given permission to set up the boxes inside the 150-foot boundary.

Kind of makes you wonder what else might be at play, doesn't it?

Any any rate, I liked Lex's idea.
Of writing a message of support to the Boy Scouts:

Boy Scouts
Troop 45PO
Box 38-1241
Cambridge, MA 02238

Hopefully a message of support to the Boy Scouts won't violate any, you know, laws... Cuz I would hate to see something like that happen.

Update: Courtesy of Dave H at in the comments at Neptunus Lex

Marsha Weinerman:Executive Director
Office Hours:
Cambridge Election Commission
51 Inman Street
First Floor
Cambridge,MA 02139
Phone: (617) 349-4361
Fax: (617) 349-4366
Monday:8:30 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Tuesday to Thursday:8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Friday:8:30 a.m.-Noon

Email to:
Elections2@Cambridgema.gov

Time Bombs

Watched something else on TV last night. On Global Currents.

They call themselves the 'Atomic Soldiers'. Check out the photo gallery.

In the spring of 1957, 40 young Canadian soldiers from the Queen's Own Rifles were sent to Nevada on a top secret mission. These young men did not know they would be used as guinea pigs in the most important nuclear test program of the Cold War: Operation Plumbbob.

Since then they've been in engaged in a battle with the Canadian government. A battle to have them even recognized. Let alone compensated. You see, they were deliberately exposed to radiation during Operation Plumbbob. Many of them are now dead. From cancer. And many more have been diagnosed with cancer.

In February, 2007, a few days before a planned news conference on Parliament Hill and with this documentary in the works, they finally received a phone call from the Department of Defence. The then Minister of Defence wanted to meet with them. So they met. And were promised he would look into it. They had been trying to get somebody to look into it for 50 years.

On November 6, 2007, a press conference was finally held on Parliament Hill.

Do you think they have heard anything back from the former or current Minister or anybody else in power yet? The present Minister of Defence is The Honourable Peter MacKay, by the way. A Nova Scotian.

Spread the word around. That we think its long past time this matter was seriously looked into. And check out the vetrans' blog.

Cross-posted at The Flight Deck

A Helping Hand

I watched a great story on W5 last night.

It was about a group of Canadian doctors who volunteer in the hospital in Kandahar. Yup, Afghanistan. It seems that there aren't enough doctors in uniform so a partnership has been formed with civilian doctors.

Framed in plywood, the tiny hospital is tucked away in the corner of the sprawling Canadian base in Kandahar. It may not look like one you'd find in Canada, but it does house the sophisticated medical equipment needed in modern medicine but it also maintains a very military flavour. Nurses wear side-arms and those in military pants stand shoulder to shoulder with those in surgical scrubs. And while the Canadians run the hospital, they also work alongside American and Dutch personnel.

It may look calm in the operating room. But Dr. Puskas, an orthopedic surgeon from who has pioneered new techniques in hip and spine surgeries, says "They come in horrendously injured with parts missing and parts of other people. I heard this phase recently biologic shrapnel, another person's body part as a that was something that was new to me."

Putting their own lives on the line along side those of our military and those from other countries.

It's not just the medical emergencies created by war that are challenging. This hospital is in the line of fire. Taliban rockets have and could have hit the base at anytime. But the civilian doctors didn't even think about the danger until the moment came to say goodbye.

For Dr. Puskas, it was one of his sons who reminded him of the potential. "I don't think he really understood it and as I was going through the checkpoint in Toronto to say goodbye he turned to me and he says you know is the next time I see you, going to be in a box? Because he had seen Canadians come home in coffins and that startled me because I hadn't really seen that that was sort of on his radar screen to that extent."

But its the stories of hope I remember. A healthy baby born to a mother whose face is badly disfigured from an explosive blast.

A 10 year old boy badly injuerd. My mind struggles to remember ... was this the one that had his leg amputated? I'm not sure. But I do know that he was slowly nursed back to health. And left the hospital with his grandfather by his side.

A 13 year old with tuberculosis. The disease is slowly destroying his spine and it won't be long before he is paralyzed. But a spinal fusion is performed by Canada's best spinal surgeon; a man with a badly needed skill set in the right place at the right time. And now he is already walking beter than he was before.

It makes me proud to be a Canadian. And makes me proud of my fellow Canadians. What about you?

"A Pittance Of Time"

One of my favourite videos. Of all time.
Because it really says so much.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.


And appreciate the fact that we actually have the ability and the choice to give those two minutes to honour those that have done and continue to do so much for us.

I probably feel a special connection to this video because Terry Kelly is from Nova Scotia. And I have watched him perform many times.

The video site which tells the story of the incident that motivated this song and video. And Terry Kelly's site.

Wondering What YOU Can Do?

It's called Valour IT.
Voice Activated Laptops for OUR Injured Troops.

Okay, technically its their injured troops. As in American.
And yes, I am Canadian.

But that doesn't mean that I don't know a very very good cause when I see one. And it doesn't mean that there's not a real need.

And tomorrow is Rememberance Day. And Veterans Day in the United States. Which means that you, you lucky dog, still have a little time left. To do a very, very good thing.

Which by the way, might, even if you're not American, actually net you some Income Tax relief. Don't quote me on that though. Still, maybe. And that's like gravy.

And just in case you were wondering.
Yes. Yes, I did put my money where my mouth is on this one. Because even a small amount helps. And maybe we should consider starting something similar for our own troops...

But today tomorrow is the last day!
So what are you waiting for? Get outta here....

Update: Don't believe me?

Update II: You can find the history of Valour IT here