Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Hypocrisy
Image via WikipediaSoldiers as a rule are an easy going lot. They don't ask for much, and don't expect much in return. They don't want pity nor do they want scorn. They will only ask for what is fair and in most cases only take what is owed. They will do the biding of the nation and all that it asks. They will take life, and give theirs if necessary. When on Civie Street all soldiers will know another, sometimes without speaking a word, no introductions are required. All that is required for lifelong loyalty is that the enemy is met side by side and it doesn’t matter if you are black, white, Chinese, Hispanic or anything else, for that bond to exist. This form of respect is only known to those who serve. It is because of this bond that soldiers despise hypocrisy in all its forms. They hate those that say one thing and do another. Soldiers are no angels; they drink, swear, get drunk and at times become rowdy. When they can, they live their life and find the small pleasures in things that most people take for granted, like dry socks or a stick of gum. They also train hard to do the things that need to be done when duty calls. Canadian soldiers are the devils that are hidden from sight only to be unleashed when fanciful words of politicians are no longer enough.
On the battle field they may only know each other for a few minutes, spending those precious seconds with faces planted in the same piece of dirt. They eat together, sleep together, care for each other and sometimes even cry together. They may not know each other by name, but they are all brothers, and now, in the modern world sisters too. They would give there last bit of food or water to another soldier. They gladly undergo this hardship for they believe, that the nation and the people that elected the government that sent them, are worth it. All they ask of the nation in return is that it stands behind them.
They wear Canada’s flag on their shoulder, but if you look closer you will see that it is stitched to their heart and soul. They wear it with pride and honour, but there are those that think their Canada was made by those thugs that burn cars and scream that the rule of law is oppressive. There are those in the seat of power that see the soldier as a drain on the country, especially if they become injured. It has been stated that it would be better if our soldiers die on the battlefield to save costs. But these same politicians have no problem asking the soldier to help protect them from the thugs that burn the cars.
God and the soldier
All men adore
In time of trouble,
And no more;
For when war is over
And all things righted,
God is neglected -
The old soldier slighted.
All men adore
In time of trouble,
And no more;
For when war is over
And all things righted,
God is neglected -
The old soldier slighted.
By, Anonymous
So, for politicians to argue on whether or not to compensate those that have paid a price for answering the call that they themselves issued, is very hypocritical. There are those that believe that democracy and the rule of law is there only for when it is convenient, and to be hidden behind and made a mockery. They believe that the burning of police cars and damage to a city is justified and they think that civil unrest and destruction somehow translates into guaranteed rights and freedoms. Many of these people would be the first to mock and belittle a soldiers love and duty to Unit and country. But, these are the very same people that will cry “no blood for oil” as they plug in their iPods and laptops that draw electricity from the hydro plants that use the oil.
Soldiers bare their burdens with a black and sarcastic humour, and they are asked to do the things that only other soldiers know, but they smile and whip off a brisk salute and then turn and face the fog of war.
They don't do this because they want to be heroes or earn a piece of metal with coloured cloth attached. They do this so that the nation will continue and the joys that all free people have, live on. But when they return home the very people that sent them turn their backs and say your valour and sacrifice is only worth so much.
Why must a wounded soldier return home, to a place that he should be safe only to do battle again with the land he loves. Is it too much to ask that the men and women that enforce the will of the nation, be compensated in a fair and respectable way?
Friday, September 24, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
Social Media and Social Responsibility
16-year-old girl 'gang raped' at rave, photos posted to Facebook: RCMP
Normally, I write about military related topics but today I am going to digress from that a little to give my point of view on something different.
At what point does a Social Media Companies right to run its business end and the right of a gang rape victim begin? When does a company become responsible to the people to ensure that the right thing is done and that their safety is preserved?
These are some of the questions that I have been asking myself since I heard this terrible story. The short version is, a girl was raped by multiple men after being drugged and the act was photographed and videotaped and posted on the net. I cannot imagine what the victim and her family must be going through. The RCMP has reported that that possession of the photos is criminal offence and anyone possessing or posting them to the net could be prosecuted.
Then why aren’t they being prosecuted? Why is the Social Network not being compelled to give up information to the police about people posting and possessing these photos? Does this not make the operators of the Social network complicit in a criminal act? It would if it were me or any other private citizen. In my view, this girl, and her family have the right to justice no matter the cost or how big the undertaking. There are many ways that that the media site can do the right thing, my question is, do they want to? When every page on their site has advertisements and directed and targeted ads ranging from everything from tooth picks to sex, it begs the question do they really want to catch these people. If they wanted to, the social media site could shut down every account that has the photos and pass the names of the people posting to the police simple and done. Would it be good for their bottom line to have the public know that they gave up some of their members to police? what I say to that is, if you have done nothing illegal you should have nothing to worry about.
Social media sites hide behind their “terms of use policies” as though they were the Holy Gail, and that it will protect them from all evil. Well when a company becomes so big it that it has the ability to create society and to change it, it should also share in the responsibility to protect it and not just wash its hands when an evil and vial deed is done.
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