One minute they're crappin'...
All over the mission... the next minute they're trying to buy votes, with the dead soldiers bodies...
A section of Canada's busiest highway might be renamed the Highway of Heroes to honour the path fallen soldiers take from Canadian Forces Base Trenton to the coroner's office in Toronto.Another cheap publicity stunt... like the Farmer Bob Rifle Registry.
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty said he will consider an online petition asking the Ministry of Transportation to change Highway 401's name.
Technorati Tags: Dalton McGuinty, Highway of Heroes, Fiberal smoke and mirrors
8 comments:
No matter how much I support our brave men and women in uniform, and wish to honour their valour and sacrifices for us, I stand against this idea.
Highway 401 already has a name: "The Macdonald-Cartier Freeway". This remembers the two key Fathers of Confederation and their partnership that created this Dominion of ours.
Surely the founding of our country won't be swept aside?!?
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never mind that it's a cheap, crass, pre-election fiberal vote-buying scam.
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Premier Dalton McGuinty will do absolutely anything, promise anything, suggest anything, that it takes to stay in power. His morals have no limits that they can sink to.
I am all for supporting our brave troops and the sacrifices they make to keep us safe, but Ontario already has several "Vetrans Memorial Highways" including the 416.
I agree with Bruce Stewart that the 401 should retain the "Macdonald-Cartier Freeway" name (and hopefully continue to be signed as such).
"It is the Highway of Heroes because the history of Highway 401, particularly from Trenton to Toronto, has changed. And it's changed because dozens of Canadians have been carried home in flag-draped caskets from a war zone far away,"
Toronto Sun columnist Joe Warmington
I think the purpose for the proposed name is inappropriate in that is singles out only the dead soldiers.
There are many, many more heroes in Afghanistan who will not die and will therefore not qualify for this proposed recognition.
The petition explicitly singles out dead soldiers being transported along this stretch as the reason for the proposal.
The proposed name is tasteless and norbid, and the rationale is misguided.
Better to honour all Canada's soldiers, dead and alive, rather than name a piece of pavement simply because it transports the military dead.
"It is the Highway of Heroes because the history of Highway 401, particularly from Trenton to Toronto, has changed. And it's changed because dozens of Canadians have been carried home in flag-draped caskets from a war zone far away,"
Toronto Sun columnist Joe Warmington
The petition explicitly singles out dead soldiers being transported along this stretch as the reason for the proposal.
There are many, many more heroes in Afghanistan who will not die and will therefore not qualify for this proposed recognition.
The proposed name is tasteless and morbid, and the rationale is misguided.
Better to honour all Canada's soldiers, dead and alive, rather than name a piece of pavement simply because it transports the military dead.
This is really an outrage. The honour comes from the people that line the highway to pay their respects to fallen soldiers. Cheap political popularity ploys do not honour anyone but the politicians pandering to themselves.
I believe we should support our troops and honour commitments. Perhaps provide them with the tools to protect themselves and carry out the mission instead of sending these young men and women into dangerous situation with antiquated equipment. Maybe we should provide decent support for injured soldiers when they return to civilian life, Perhaps, improve the support for families of veterans who do not return. I am sure the highway of heroes will be a popular passover on the way to the food bank. What is Dalton's position on these issues? There is so much that a provincial leader could do to influence change, but REAL change would take REAL honour and a party that isn't afraid to take a stand.
If this is to buy votes (and of course it is), it better have swayed two extra voters because it has almost certainly cost them my vote.
This commentary by Connie Woodcock of the Toronto Sun captures my sentiment:
“It's inappropriate in several ways. It ignores all kinds of other heroes, for one thing, and for another it's an oversize serving of sentimental slop that is even a touch creepy.
Tell me, how would you like to be a young soldier being shipped out to Afghanistan and have to view signs reminding you that the next time you travel that road you may be in your casket?”
“And what about McGuinty's apparent willingness to go along with the idea? Let's not forget there's a provincial election coming up and this sort of meaningless gesture could be politically helpful, appealing as it does to cheap sentiment. And best of all, for a politician, unlike any of the other stuff the premier has promised lately, it's almost free, give or take a few road signs.”
“And let's memorialize our soldiers in the best way possible -- by coming together from coast to coast and supporting their mission until the day it's over.
That's what they, and their comrades still in Afghanistan, would want.”
I hope that Premier McGuinty takes that advice and leaves the name of the highway unchanged.
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