Alberta? Quebec? We are all Canadians
Comment
by Michelle Minnoch

Last week I was fortunate enough to take part in Exercise Maple Defender in Wainwright, Alberta. A total of 19 Ontario journalists were invited on board, to interview the soldiers, take part in missions, and to basically gain a better understanding of how the Canadian Forces are training the reserves.

There were few of us that had exciting missions - I was one of three who actually got to visit one of the Afghan villages; some hit an IED seven minutes into their mission, and had to return to the base for the day; others spent the day in their G-Wagon, with no action at all.

Luckily, I was not only out for almost eight hours, but I walked a great deal as the boys were looking for IEDs, and later on our squad was attacked by the enemy. Although it sounds harsh, it was a tremendous learning experience, not only for the boys who got to experience a fight, but for the journalist who felt a rush as she had to dive into the bushes for cover.

Coming home to the news of two more soldiers killed in Afghanistan drove a nail through my heart. Although I personally do not know a soldier serving in Afghanistan, I personally feel a sense of loss when I see another soldier on the news making the trip home most fear.

You know there is someone, whether they are someone you know or someone in the media, that when they speak makes you cringe and want to slap a piece of duct tape on their mouths? For me, that person usually is Gilles Duceppe.

When BQ Leader Gilles Duceppe announced his threat to topple the Harper Government unless there is a firm commitment to troop withdrawal by 2009 his outrage angered me. My anger was not because he wanted a commitment; it was how this desire came about.

It seems as though when the first 67 soldiers were killed, the commitment to withdrawal was not needed by Mr. Duceppe. When the latest two soldiers were killed, both from Quebec, his voice became loud and clear.

We are all Canadians whether Mr. Duceppe likes it or not. We are the True North Strong and Free. And united, we do stand.

But playing politics on an issue that concerns and affects people from all over this great country does not cut it in my book. Whether from Quebec, Nova Scotia, or Ontario, these men and women and fighting the best fight they can, with a sneaky enemy in an unfamiliar territory.

There is a great amount of debate whether supporting the troops means supporting the war, and people are conflicted as to whether they are one in the same. I not only support our troops, but I do support the fact they are helping a country in dire need and reform. Sure, I would like to see more Canadian troops in ravaged Darfaur, but right now this is where we are, this is where we stand, and this is where we will fight.

Like it or not, Mr. Duceppe, we are united as a country and until our Government calls a vote regarding troop commitment, maybe you should keep your comments to yourself. I realize speaking up is a fundamental right we all share, but there's speaking up and there's speaking out of turn. If he voiced his concerns over the rising death toll before some Quebecois were killed I might not be so angry. His comments came at a time when two Quebecers were killed - and to call an emergency debate over the issue because of that - is an insult to the soldiers, their families, and Canadians. One lost life due to this conflict is no greater than the next - they are all men and women making the sacrifice many of us would or could not. Whether an Ontarian, Newfie or from the NWT, we all have one thing in common, and that is this great country of ours.

Where's Red Green when you need him?