sheikyerbouti said:
I'm back.. miss me? >
Just to throw a wrench in the works, it seems most of you agree with my assertion that the CF's participation in the civilian community is shaped by its regional focus.
I believe you wrote earlier in this thread that the average Canadian focus was what?? Regional ie they play the Navy coming home from sea because that is what the wife wants to see in that area.
Once again...talk to the locals and average Canadians who whined and whined for the budget cuts that took the Victoria Pats etc etc away from there local areas!! Thus, leaving us unable to afford to fly in to visit once we moved out. I don't recall seeing those populations on my television set or in the paper protesting these Base closures and budget cuts. Unlike the uproar now occuring to our Southern border regarding their recently announced closures.
Point One: I have never attend an "Armistace Day Parade" yet I have never missed a Rememberance Day Parade, Battle of the Atlantic etc etc...
Point Two: Perhaps you are experiencing decreased Military participation at your location due to the same budget cuts and Base closures mentioned above?
My experience also attests to the fact that our numbers can't quite boggle the mind when our entire CF fits in the Skydome. So no, we just don't look like muchdue to same said budget cuts mentioned above. But all of us are out there...they are not "optional."
And last year during our Ceremonies here in Fredericton, I was awestruck at the fact that many many members of the un-uniformed population continue to walk on by, one really lovely middle aged gentleman thought it would be hilarious to crank his car stereo while Oh Canada and the Last Post were played and he and his buddy thought that was really funny. And the vet next to me made the remark as to why couldn't all Canadians be more like us that currently were serving in uniform!!!
And I have have never had more compliments and thanks in my life than from those same vets for having the "courage" to carry on the torch that they had passed to us. A lack of respect is also shown by some of the average Canadian population and I regret the situation that yourself and the honourable veteran's found themselves subject to when those soldier's ate and ran. And I hope they paid dearly for it. But, do not let one negative experience tar your whole picture.
"Respect begets respect."
I totally agree but it's a two way street vice the one way you seem to be on. From my own experiences, I can attest to the fact that the overwhelming majority us CF pers are indeed out there in the community doing their very best to be ambassador's to the public at home and this of Nation internationally when deployed. As has been said many times in this thread previously, we do our utmost but can not make the media print it...it's again....all subjective....
Perhaps instead of asking us to become more involved in the community (which we already overwhelmingly are) you should be out taking the civilian Community to task for not becoming involved, interested in (despite our best efforts) or supporting their Military, after all "respect begets respect.
". Just my point of view.