A ? for Canadians

[AnnW]

I saw the following story on TV tonite...Finally, a trip to Canada for a pee wee league hockey team from Brockton, Massachusetts turns very ugly when the kids witness a burning of the Stars and Stripes and a whole lot more. We'll talk with the team's coach Ernie Nadeau and two of the boys play on his team.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,1315,00.html

I was very surprised and my dh commented, "well, the Canadians aren't supporting us in the war" which really surprised me so I researched and found this...

http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/foreign_policy/iraq_crisis/menu-en.asp

Our Policy
As the Prime Minister stated in the House of Commons, Canada’s policy was aimed at bringing about Iraq's compliance with UN Security Council resolutions. Under this policy, Canada would require the approval of the Security Council to participate in a military campaign. Canada worked very hard to find a compromise to bridge the gap in the Security Council. Unfortunately we and others working toward this goal were not successful. Canada will not participate in military action without a new Security Council resolution. We hope that the war will be brief with a minimum of casualties on both sides.



So I guess my question is...why isn't Canada supporting the Coalition forces in the war? You haven't had an embassy in Iraq since 1991 and the war with Kuwait so it doesn't seem like you have great relations with them.
How do you feel about the war?

[darlene]

I'll try and explain this as diplomatically as possible.

First, Canada is a very diverse country, and the ramblings of our Prime Minister does not reflect the views of the general population of the country. People on both sides of the argument have put out various polls and surveys to try and show what Canadaians really feel about Americans and the war in Iraq. The reality seem to suggest that outside of Quebec, the majority of Canadians do support America and the war. The strongest support is in Alberta and the west. Quebec, like France, opposes the war.

It also helps to understand what Canadians feel is their identity as a nation. When you ask a typical Canadian what it means to be a Canadian, the most likely response will be that we have socialized medi-care and we are not American. In my opinion, that is pretty lame, to have to define a country by what we are not instead of what we are. But I think that attitude has had a great influence on our government's stand. The desire to secure votes in Quebec may have something to do with it as well.

It might be interesting to note that our government is changing its stand now that it has been discovered that we have soldiers on the ground in Iraq and ships in the Persian Gulf. Our government had put itself in a position of not supporting our own troops. Talk out of the government now is becoming much more supportive of the Americans.

Generally, I think many Canadians would rather live under a tyrant than have to fight for freedom. The degeneration of our democratic system here in Canada supports that claim. This is why a lot of Canadians have been using the phrase "embarassed to be a Canadian" quite a bit lately. Thankfully, the Americans, British and Austrailians have undertaken the task of protecting our lifestyle and culture.

Doug

[AnnW]

Doug? Darlene's dh?? Hi there!! Thanks for such a great explanation! I was just so shocked when I heard the news story.

[darlene]

Yep, that was my dh! He understands all the political issues so I thought it best that he respond!

:)