Point: "Are you gonna let him get away with backstabbing our troops?"

Lorne Warawa, MILNEWS subscriber, 14 Feb 06

(Counterpoint Below)

Here is where the proverbial rubber meets the road, people.

It's all lofty and cerebral to debate freedom of the press verses common sense when you have nothing at stake, but that has changed, and how you respond should tell you something about yourself in the process.

Ezra Levant, right wing nutball and self-appointed guardian of Western alienation, who is also the publisher of the Western Standard, decided to publish the controversial Danish cartoons. He cites freedom of speech, and about a dozen other lofty notions, for why he should insult Muslims with a re-publishing of the offensive cartoons, ones that most of you have already seen over the Internet. His prerogative, and bully for him, some of you will say.

Hear me out first.

Canada has entered a challenging phase of operations in Afghanistan, in a new and volatile area where we have yet to establish a positive presence in (as I know we can). My own experience of Afghanistan as a soldier allowed me to understand that these people are not stupid, are very inquisitive of foreigners, and have access to the world's press. Further to that, they publish their own newspapers and magazines, and have their own television where opinions are welcome to be broadcast. Afghans will be highly curious of the Canadians, and will be seeking information about us as a people and our intentions, just as they did in Kabul. The aid the Taliban receives from the people of Kandahar will be directly influenced by their initial opinion of us. They will shortly know a major Canadian magazine has needlessly reprinted these inflammatory cartoons.

I am directly accusing Mr. Levant of sensational editorializing at the expense of our soldier's lives. We haven't even had time to establish the excellent rapport and understanding we're famous for before being backstabbed by Levant. This is going to inflame sentiments in our operational region, and Levant couldn't care less.

I am now saying he feels the same for the fate of our troops' lives.

This is where esoteric philosophizing meets hard reality, and now you have a choice. Support Mr. Levant's right to republish insults, and join him in betraying our solders, or help me create a backlash that will chastise this thoughtless jerk and refocus his energies towards helping, not killing, Canadian Soldiers to prove a point that is not even in contention if you think about it rationally.

I should also add that Mr. Levant waited nearly 3 weeks, - he constantly made his point in his magazine, and the Calgary Sun, on the issue, yet never published the cartoons. He waited because Alberta-posted soldiers were 3 weeks away from coming home from Afghanistan, and he knew that he would face a backlash from the families if he had backstabbed the soldiers from his home province. But soldiers from Ontario and Quebec are obviously of less importance to him.

Here is the Letter to the Editor website of the Western Standard. Here is the Letter to the Editor e-address of the Calgary Sun. And here is Peter Worthington's home paper's editorial address. Worthington was an old soldier who has lots to say about Canada's troops and makes a point of supporting us. Perhaps he should know your opinions too.

There is intelligent debate, and then there is the thoughtless and inflammatory actions of Ezra Levant. I hope no Canadian soldier finds themselves at the receiving end of a Taliban response to Levant's stupidity, but right now, I fear the worst. Send this jerk a message, and educate him that Canadian soldiers don't need to be back-stabbed at home when they're on the most hazardous mission they've had since Korea. I encourage you to forward this message with your commentary, but please leave my name on it. I take full responsibility for starting this redress, unlike Mr. Levant. I have not launched this through the Military intra-net but if it finds it's way there, again, leave my name. I don't have a reason to hide.

Lorne Warawa

Roto Zero

ISAF, 2003-04

Counterpoint: "Short Answer - Yes"

Robert Bonnett, MILNEWS subscriber, 14 Feb 06

While I support our military, and feel that this action has made their lives more dangerous, I also don't think anyone in the world should be held hostage to radical sentiments.

"Freedom": condition of being free or unrestricted. That is what our soldiers and country are trying to export to the people of Afghanistan. I think that you are marginalizing their (the Afghani's) intelligence and ability to discern that having freedom means that they can agree and/or disagree with anothers' sentiments without resorting to murder, arson, and general mayhem. You will probably be thinking that I am wrong about that statement, and due to the fact that they have been without this freedom, I might have to concede they are incapable, but I'm hoping their wisdom will prevail and they will come to understand this concept in time.

Now I'm going to have to throw this at you. Why is it permissible for the Imams, presidents, press, and whoever else feels like fanning the flames of religious hatred in the Islamic world to call for the destruction of Christians, Jews, USA, the west, et al but "we" (for the most part) have the ability to accept that they don't really like us (except for our $$, because if that wasn't the case, they would just turn off the taps and give "us" the big fuck off) without resorting to riots, arson, bombings, murders, etc.? Perhaps everytime "one of them" calls for the destruction of "our way of life" Pres. Bush, PM Blair, Pres. Chirac, or Uncle Vladimir should judiciously choose a target to destroy in order to signal their displeasure with the offending country.

You have a very strong dislike for the so called right-wing nutballs, but don't seem to look at the other side of the coin very often. (Occasionally, you get introspective but only so much as it glorifies the belief that your position will become stronger from learning from the mistakes.)

I'm sure you have the mental capacity to understand that trillions of "things" disgust, abhor, and generally piss each and every one of us off in our lives, yet the majority of us aren't resorting to much more than discussing it verbally or through emails such as this. The indignity that Muslims have endured from these cartoons is marginal at best, and in no manner should be seen as an excuse for their ignorant and unruly behaviour. For Christ's sake do you know how many times a day the "Lords" name is said in vain? You don't see Christians and Jews rioting and burning things down do you?

Take a breath and relax.