Monday, April 24, 2006
Hey, But Thanks for Dying, Anyway
4 Canadian Soldiers Dead in Afghanistan - Cons Can't Be Arsed To Notice
Corporal Matthew Dinning, Bombardier Myles Mansell and Lieutenant William Turner all died at the scene of the attack, a dried up riverbed.
The fourth soldier – Cpl. Randy Payne – died of his wounds in hospital.
On Monday, the Canadian flag outside the coalition headquarters flew at half-mast. In Ottawa, however, the flag above the Peace Tower on the Parliament Buildings was not lowered.
The Conservatives have said the government will no longer lower the flag each time a Canadian soldier is killed.
The practice had been established by the previous Liberal government. Instead, the Conservatives have said they will return to the previous tradition of lowering the Peace Tower flag only once a year, on Remembrance Day.
“The previous Liberal government broke with this long-standing tradition that confidently brought Canada through its wartime history and instead decided on an ad-hoc basis to lowering the flag of the Peace Tower,” Mr. O'Connor said in a letter to The Globe and Mail.
“As Minister of National Defence, I can tell you that this adhockery unfairly distinguished some of those who died in Afghanistan from those who have died in current and previous operations. Lowering the Peace Tower's flag on Nov. 11 ensures that all of Canada's fallen heroes are justly honoured.” he wrote in the letter.
Canadian flags outside post offices in Edmonton were lowered to half-mast on Monday in honour of the four, one of whom was a part-time reservist worked in the city as a letter carrier. The flag above Toronto City Hall was also lowered. One of the men who died in the weekend attack was from the Toronto area.
Friends and comrades in arms remembered all of them fondly.
In Ottawa, Interim Liberal Leader Bill Graham called on the federal government to reconsider the recent change in policy.
“I think there is a concern that it will be perceived by the troops themselves and by Canadians as a lack of respect for the sacrifice they're making,” Mr. Graham told reporters outside the House of Commons on Monday.
“I think this is something the government should rethink.”
Corporal Matthew Dinning, Bombardier Myles Mansell and Lieutenant William Turner all died at the scene of the attack, a dried up riverbed.
The fourth soldier – Cpl. Randy Payne – died of his wounds in hospital.
On Monday, the Canadian flag outside the coalition headquarters flew at half-mast. In Ottawa, however, the flag above the Peace Tower on the Parliament Buildings was not lowered.
The Conservatives have said the government will no longer lower the flag each time a Canadian soldier is killed.
The practice had been established by the previous Liberal government. Instead, the Conservatives have said they will return to the previous tradition of lowering the Peace Tower flag only once a year, on Remembrance Day.
“The previous Liberal government broke with this long-standing tradition that confidently brought Canada through its wartime history and instead decided on an ad-hoc basis to lowering the flag of the Peace Tower,” Mr. O'Connor said in a letter to The Globe and Mail.
“As Minister of National Defence, I can tell you that this adhockery unfairly distinguished some of those who died in Afghanistan from those who have died in current and previous operations. Lowering the Peace Tower's flag on Nov. 11 ensures that all of Canada's fallen heroes are justly honoured.” he wrote in the letter.
Canadian flags outside post offices in Edmonton were lowered to half-mast on Monday in honour of the four, one of whom was a part-time reservist worked in the city as a letter carrier. The flag above Toronto City Hall was also lowered. One of the men who died in the weekend attack was from the Toronto area.
Friends and comrades in arms remembered all of them fondly.
In Ottawa, Interim Liberal Leader Bill Graham called on the federal government to reconsider the recent change in policy.
“I think there is a concern that it will be perceived by the troops themselves and by Canadians as a lack of respect for the sacrifice they're making,” Mr. Graham told reporters outside the House of Commons on Monday.
“I think this is something the government should rethink.”
