[FormerViperDriver]

Originally Posted by Lofty

Always interested/intrigued in mans need to kill each other.

Well for that I recommend you delve a little bit in some evolutionary psychology books, such as "The Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology" edited by David Buss.

As to history books, any will do to simply give you an idea that taking our freedom for granted is one of the most dangerous things that can happen to our civilization.

As Edmund Burke said: "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." Not just the Canadians, but every one else in the western world (and many other nations) has somehow figured that out and has engaged troops in Afghanistan. That's because instead of emoting about "meat grinders," they've actually learned something from history and are doing something about it. Too bad they have to do it with some in our own midst giving aid and comfort to the enemy through their defeatist attitudes. Now that's the REAL tragedy...

Canada should, again, be proud that they are on the front lines of the fight to stop tyranny and the advance of a form or religious fundamentalism whose outcome, left unchecked, can ONLY be a nuclear weapon blowing up some day in downtown New York city, or maybe Toronto for that matter. Would that count as a "meat grinder"?

FVD

[Captain Eddie]

Originally Posted by FormerViperDriver

Well for that I recommend you delve a little bit in some evolutionary psychology books, such as "The Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology" edited by David Buss.

As to history books, any will do to simply give you an idea that taking our freedom for granted is one of the most dangerous things that can happen to our civilization.

As Edmund Burke said: "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." Not just the Canadians, but every one else in the western world (and many other nations) has somehow figured that out and has engaged troops in Afghanistan. That's because instead of emoting about "meat grinders," they've actually learned something from history and are doing something about it. Too bad they have to do it with some in our own midst giving aid and comfort to the enemy through their defeatist attitudes. Now that's the REAL tragedy...

Canada should, again, be proud that they are on the front lines of the fight to stop tyranny and the advance of a form or religious fundamentalism whose outcome, left unchecked, can ONLY be a nuclear weapon blowing up some day in downtown New York city, or maybe Toronto for that matter. Would that count as a "meat grinder"?

FVD

Right on, FVD. All very true!

[dilligafocau]

Originally Posted by jim

I am not sure what you mean by that? Surely fighting the Nazis and Japanese was a global fight.

I have just reread that first post. I would like to add to the above comment.

The sacrifices of the Canadians in WW11 has not been forgotten nor has it been absorbed into British history. The Canadians acheivments stand out in their own right.
I for one will never forget the brave Canadian airmen that flew over the Reich night after night, Neither will I forget the soldiers and seamen that gave their lives so that I could live as a free man and reap the benefits those men fought for.

God bless them.

As a fortunate Londoner now living in Oz I agree with Jim's comments. Canada, like Australia, New Zealand, South Africa & India answered the call to arms. Im thinking with a few minor changes the Journalist/Author of this piece may have named any of the great Commonwealth Nations & made it an issue.

Did Canada & the other participant nations fight for a just cause to suit some kind of national ego?? I think not, they fought for the greater good....& stuff me they won.

[bsmith13]

Originally Posted by Lofty

Any you could particularly recommend?
Always interested/intrigued in mans need to kill each other.

Another excellent book on men in combat is "On Killing", if you can find it. It discusses the psychological impact on a normal, non-violent person when thrust into a situation where they are required to take another life.

"On Killing" doesn't discuss why governments choose to enforce national policy in a way that requires taking another life. I haven't read FVD's recommendation, but I suspect it doesn't either. None of the men and women I serve with (in moments of serious honesty) are excited by the prospect, but it is far more complicated than that. Whether their trust in "We the People" is misplaced or not, they are prepared to protect their homeland by whatever means necessary.

[mustangdriver]

All of the allies fought brave and humbling fights. These young men left home as boys, and fought a long tough war. And when they returned they were men. They had missed out on a lot of their lives. Some would miss out on the rest of their lives.

[Lofty]

Originally Posted by jim

I am not sure what you mean by that? Surely fighting the Nazis and Japanese was a global fight.

I have just reread that first post. I would like to add to the above comment.

The sacrifices of the Canadians in WW11 has not been forgotten nor has it been absorbed into British history. The Canadians acheivments stand out in their own right.
I for one will never forget the brave Canadian airmen that flew over the Reich night after night, Neither will I forget the soldiers and seamen that gave their lives so that I could live as a free man and reap the benefits those men fought for.

God bless them.

Reading my comment back, does look a bit "iffy" and difficult to not sound patronizing.
Ratio of population to losses, would think Canada was hit harder than Britain would be in percentages, though looking on it as a global war,i guess did it matter who of the allies troops were used.
As a mission it failed, though as a precursor to D Day a lot of valuble lessons were learned.

[Lofty]

Originally Posted by FormerViperDriver

Well for that I recommend you delve a little bit in some evolutionary psychology books, such as "The Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology" edited by David Buss.

As to history books, any will do to simply give you an idea that taking our freedom for granted is one of the most dangerous things that can happen to our civilization.

As Edmund Burke said: "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." Not just the Canadians, but every one else in the western world (and many other nations) has somehow figured that out and has engaged troops in Afghanistan. That's because instead of emoting about "meat grinders," they've actually learned something from history and are doing something about it. Too bad they have to do it with some in our own midst giving aid and comfort to the enemy through their defeatist attitudes. Now that's the REAL tragedy...

Canada should, again, be proud that they are on the front lines of the fight to stop tyranny and the advance of a form or religious fundamentalism whose outcome, left unchecked, can ONLY be a nuclear weapon blowing up some day in downtown New York city, or maybe Toronto for that matter. Would that count as a "meat grinder"?

FVD

Guess from your comments you can barely contain your dislike of my questions and I am the enemy......
Didn't ever see myself as a bedwetting leftie hiding under the bed....but hey ho........
I can see we aren't going to see eye to eye.......
You apparently have all the answers and I am merely meek and ignorant........
Short of total gencide of the Moslem faith how is the west going to win......?
And YES Canada IS PROUD of its Military as the USA is proud of its, and rightly so!
Its the Politics i ain't enamoured with

[FormerViperDriver]

Originally Posted by Lofty

Guess from your comments you can barely contain your dislike of my questions and I am the enemy......
Didn't ever see myself as a bedwetting leftie hiding under the bed....but hey ho........
I can see we aren't going to see eye to eye.......
You apparently have all the answers and I am merely meek and ignorant........
Short of total gencide of the Moslem faith how is the west going to win......?
And YES Canada IS PROUD of its Military as the USA is proud of its, and rightly so!
Its the Politics i ain't enamoured with

Look, Lofty, I'll just make three remarks:

First, my remark about reading history had to do with the "meat grinder" comment of yours. Perhaps you should read about battles like Waterloo, Stalingrad, Iwo-Jima, Gettysburg, heck, the Thermopylae since it's in the news with the film "300." That might put the few loses we've suffered in Afghanistan in perspective for you. Yes, every loss is tragic for the families and friends of the victims, but if we in the West are going to fold every time we lose a couple of soldiers, my goodness what have we become?

Second, there are plenty of ways to win this war without committing "genocide." Just because not all our strategies (and even tactics sometimes) don't work out as planned doesn't mean we should either give up or kill everyone. I think there's something in the middle there, somewhere.

Third, no I don't see you as the enemy. The problem is that the enemy sees YOU and people like you as our "Center of Gravity'" (in the Clausewitzian sense, the strategic "Schwerpunkt"). They know they'll never, ever defeat us on the battlefield, so they will work on YOU to convince you to give up, through wanton killing of innocents and soldiers which they know will be reported relentlessly by our own media (who have NO interest in any good news. Not necessarily because of liberal bias, it's just that bad news sells). These killings make no sense militarily, but they do make sense as psychological warfare against us. Obviously, the enemy's plan might be working, it seems (that's exactly what I'd do if I were them, BTW; not hard to take a page from ol' uncle Ho in Vietnam). So no, you're not the enemy, you're just his only means to possibly win.

FVD

[flyXwire]

Another good book I highly recommend out there is Dr.Michael Savage's "Liberalism IS A Mental Disorder".

[FormerViperDriver]

Originally Posted by flyXwire

Another good book I highly recommend out there is Dr.Michael Savage's "Liberalism IS A Mental Disorder".

LoL!!!!

I guess I'll have to get that one!

FVD