General Chat

I did add this Janey

List of Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan
Since 2002, 130 soldiers ( ref' 2 months ago)

I said that I hoped they would not be thought of with
" contempt" in their homeland or elswhere.

Your comment as far as I recall accurately was that you held US soldiers "in contempt".

Oops didn't see there was more than one page. Will continue Reading

Your recollection is very far from accurate, Rose.

This is what I said.



It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer
Who has given us freedom to protest.

And here's where the author of this tripe can take it and stick it in the place without sunlight, with my compliments.

I was a campus organizer. And what were the soldiers doing when I was organizing against the war they were fighting?

KILLING CHILDREN, that's what they were doing. LAYING WASTE TO A COUNTRY. PROPPING UP A FOREIGN DICTATORSHIP. That's what they were doing.



It might have been obvious that I was talking about the war against Vietnam.

No Janey NOT that bit... have you the rest please ...my quote of the word "contempt" is accurate.

Yes obviously, I was aware that you had Vietnam in mind BUT you didn't specify

Sylvia, I was going to delete it but it would be churlish to do so now and not give Janey a chance to respond wouldn't it? I didn't delete it before because I was having a 'conversation' with you and didn't want to be accused of ducking out of it.

Julie, you will see that I only read it as far as 10am, well just before, I was on the bus at 10. and when i returned it had gone. I think people saw the insults as insinuated as against the troops. People are very sensitive about our and all troops at this time of year, particularly with so many deaths in Afghanistan. I did not see Janey insult anyone personally no, and, yes I did see at least one remark against Janey but I honestly can't remember what it was. Like I said people got very hot under the collar, it is a sensitive subject.

To continue re what Rose suggested, I also said this.



I have sympathy for some people fighting today's wars, oddly enough, especially in the US. Some people in the US live in such enforced ignorance and are so desperate for an income and any kind of opportunity that they take what the military serves up.

I pretty much have contempt for most in the US and virtually all in the UK who are "serving" in Iraq, however. Pure contempt, with a dollop of hatred thrown in.

Surely you weren't suggesting that *that* vile little venture has anything to do with "freedom". Yeesh.

Freeeedumb. Man, how that makes my ears hurt.

Afghanistan, slightly difficult one. There was and may still be some threat to international security. There arguably was and is a basis for humanitarian intervention - but the world hasn't got its act together on that one yet, and if Afghanistan, why not Sudan? Whatever might have been accomplished in Afghanistan wasn't and isn't going to be. All possible good intentions aside.



Yes, I'm so looking forward to hearing opinions about moi. Where are they now??

Thank you Janey.

Hmm, I wonder whether the thread was deleted because of the personal attacks and insults aimed at me???

Actually Janey you did say that you held US and UK soldiers in contempt. And I think somebody agreed with you about the Campus quote.

Sylvia, will you be getting many wooden spoons in your Christmas stocking or do you have sufficient?

Meanwhile, maybe someone can tell me.

What is being fought for in Iraq?

Simple question.

I agree with Rose in that I did think you were making a generalisation about soldiers when I read through your posts janey

I don't remember who it was that actually said they had reported the thread Janey but I don't think it was in your defence.

Sylvia I don't think anyone has suggested that Janey was banned or anything.

I would like to see the comments re rape though, and your replies to those who responded, without that part of the argument the thread is incomplete.

That is a part of what people found so offensive Janey,

I have a volume of court martial decisions in trials of Canadian soldiers in the occupying forces in Germany post-WWII.

It is replete with cases of rape and other criminal offences by Canadian soldiers against the civilian population.

Any other questions?

I repeat, the thread was reported because what you said WAS offensive to many Janey, no two ways about that... the reporter of the thread said that was their intent.
I wouldn't say you were 'personally ' attacked ( and I read all of it I believe , ) the replies were unusually well reasoned for such an emotive subject IMO

Sorry Sylvia, I had not seen that. Well I can't be held responsible for other people's feelings. Julie Ann's OH was in the army so she feels strongly about it, however I don't wish Janey had been deleted she adds a lot of interest to the boards.

Ok Ann..so therefore then my post wasn't aimed at you

i will be totally honest with you as my post was aimed a Nicholas & Pauline as they were the ones that said the word Insult..

And I'll repeat, Rose -- what a glowing example of the love of FREE SPEECH professed by the author of the tripe in question. (It's amurikkan, btw. Don't you love it when the Brits adopt right-wing Yankee garbage as their own?)

I'll bet all those soldiers fighting for freedom of speech are very proud.


Oh, here go, too.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/nov/14/iraq-abuse-claims-british-troops

Janey I did think at the time that the quote was making generalisations, however, your response was not clear (to me that is) in that it seemed to generalise about soldiers too.

Being so close to Remembrance Day and with so many soldiers away who are related to members on here, your post was bound to stir emotions on the board.

Janey, part of one of my responses was roughly this,

that all our ancestors played a part in giving us the freedoms that we hold dear, mostly by small actions : a random thought by an individual translated into positive action, or a decision made by those with political 'clout' to improve society. ( I said it better the 1st time round)


Of course there are bad apples in every walk of society and proffession, soldiers are no exception, nor are doctors, Politicians , lawyers et al. But 'most' soldiers do their job with honour and make sacrifices for friends, comrades and strangers alike.