balbulican says that he doesn't blame the government given the circumstances but:
But I am sickened by the viciousness of the smug, small minded “Canadians” who feel compelled to pass judgement on fellow citizens who are exhausted, terrified, disoriented, and uprooted. I don’t care what your political or religious affiliation is: you don’t help people who are in trouble so that you can bask in their gratitude. You help them because they need help. Their response under extreme stress is irrelevant.
Listen, critics: I understand it’s difficult to have much compassion for people when the toughest thing you’ve had to deal with in your life is a hangnail or a slow internet connection. But at least have the decency to keep your mouths shut and refrain from broadcasting your narrow-minded nastiness to the world. You’re embarassing the Canadians who support the rescue - not for the praise or the thanks - but because it needs to be done for our fellow citizens.I won't speak for Darcey or Peter -- I know they can speak for themselves well enough.
In these two paragraphs, a man who knows nothing of me or my life has accused me of being smug, compassionless, narrow-minded and vicious because I dared suggest that people who were leaving a war zone in a boat and not a bodybag should be grateful -- not to the Canadian people, not to the Canadian government -- but grateful to be alive -- grateful that the fates, providence, God, Allah, good fortune, luck, karma -- conspired to bring about the circumstances that meant they had a place to evacuate to, and a means to do so.
Our government has gone above and beyond the call --as have other governments the world over, but my suggestion that the evacuees should be grateful never even implied that their gratitude should be for the expense, or the time, or the logistics, or the manhours involved in bringing them home -- but rather, just for the very fact of being alive.
Maybe I'm small-minded for thinking that a crowded, stinky boat is better than the coffins that will carry home Al-Akhrass family.
Maybe I'm vicious for thinking that the twenty hours it took to be processed and transported to Cyprus is a better fate than the unknown months of war that face the family and friends many of these evacuees left behind.
Maybe I lack compassion for thinking a person should be grateful for leaving the uncertainty and violence in Lebanon, even if the journey to peace and freedom is slow and bumpy.
There is no smugness in what I've said. I've never been to a country being ravaged by war and I'm already grateful to have been so blessed.
How dare someone say that I'm "embarassing the Canadians who support the rescue" --I'm one of those Canadians who supports the rescue.
Pardon me for thinking that these fortunate Canadians might spare a thought for the family that won't be coming home and for the countless people in Lebanon who don't have the benefit of alternate citizenship.
Sometimes the best way to cope with an unpleasant situation is to remember that someone else has it worse -- that's compassion and it's the first step to gratitude.
canadianna
14 comments:
Anna, my biggest worry is the media bias to listen to the loudest, most obnoxious complainers. This has served to paint many Lebanese as complainers and I hope this wonderful cultural group knows that the majority are grateful to not only be alive, but also to our government for doing everything it can to help Canadian Citizens out of a major jam.
Today the Monsignor of the Maronite Church of Ottawa spoke beautifully thanking Harper and admonishing the press for only interviewing the "talkative" ones who tend to be the complainers.
I have read yours, Peter's and Darcey's writing enough to know that you three aren't the types to be critical of all those being rescued and that your feelings probably only pertain to the few who complained about a bit of vomit and lack of air conditioning and long lines in the heat, etc.
Stick to your guns.
Hell, I remember having to sit at Center Island in a line up as two or three ferries showed up and we were stuck in a massive line in the sun after the dragon boat races and everyone was whining. I guess humans aren't as tough as those guys who fought in the cold snow in 1812-1813 with nothing but a suit jacket, stockings, a pair of shoes and in many cases no gloves.
Good points, Mulder. The Monsignor was targetting the real viciousness here, which is the press. They are focusing on the complainers either for reasons of profit or for pay-back time vis-a-vis Harper.
It angers and enrages Canadians to be constantly bombarded with this one-sided garbage. They should be taken to task for this.
From A Canadian-Lebanese Person's Point of View!
Being a first generation Canadian from Lebanon, and having close family ties with people in Lebanon, I would like to add my own point of view concerning Israel, Hezbollah and Stephen Harper.
Being a previous conservative supporter, I believe that Canada should have a different view where this crisis is concerned. Most of the Lebanese population in Canada, and that is over 300,000 people, voted conservative to help support and further along Stephen Harper's agenda. Now that those same conservative minded Lebanese supporters are in need of help Stephen Harper turns his back on them and supports Israel without knowing what the conflict is. The fight that Israel is waging against terrorism limits itself to a small body of people in southern Lebanon alone. The Lebanese government is a young government in its initial stages of trying to deal with Hezbollah. In the past, Hezbollah, supported by Syria has dealt harshly with any political person making a stand against them. Have we forgotten the UN resolution 1559, which stated that Syria leave Lebanon and for the disarming of Hezbollah militants which caused the death of former PM Rafik El-Hariri? Is it any wonder a young government is fearful of dealing with armed and dangerous militants? The Lebanese citizens are being punished and murdered for something they have no fault in. These murderous acts against the Lebanese citizens and the infrastructure of Lebanon are considered to be criminal acts and can also be called terrorist operations. If these same acts took place against Canada or the United States, they would be quickly considered crimes against humanity and would be dealt with uni-collaterally.
The world is stuck on the 8 Israeli's that died, but what of the 8 Canadian's and the 320 innocent Lebanese civilians killed by Israeli missiles, and the destruction of 5,000 year old Roman ruins in Lebanon? Does the fact that the Israeli PM called Stephen Harper and apologized for the deaths of these Canadians bring them back? Israel says it isn't targeting Lebanese civilians! How come over 320 have been killed and over 1,000 wounded? What do army barracks, bombed in the northern part of Lebanon, by Israeli missiles have to do with Hezbollah, the so-called Israeli target? In 1982, the PM of Israel, Aerial Sharon committed many war crimes against humanity and went unpunished for these crimes. Is the world going to stand by and let it happen again?
Stephen Harper immediately became the puppet of George Bush and Tony Blair at the G8 Summit and followed the prevailing wind of anti-terrorism without understanding the average Lebanese citizen residing in Lebanon can not even carry a firearm. The acts of Israel against Lebanon and the Lebanese citizens borders on criminal. In 1982 when Israel invaded Lebanon for the first time, it began over Palestinians fleeing into Lebanon. That occupation that lasted 18 years, and killed countless innocent Lebanese women and children left the country destroyed. Only now that Lebanon has a stable free government, Israel is set upon once again in the words of its own PM "taking it back to the stone age". This should be easily done with the support of George Bush, Tony Blair and our own PM Stephen Harper.
How would anyone of you feel if you had lost your own home to an Israeli missile with your family still in it and you were brought to search through the rubble to find enough of your children's body parts to bury? Us as North Americans living in a free and safe society can't even go one day, yet alone a few hours without power and water, how do you think it feels for all those innocent people in Lebanon to have to bear the weight of the Israeli army upon them, for acts against Israel that Hezbollah, a small militant group in Lebanon have brought to the door step of every God fearing, God loving individual rather Christian or Muslim in Lebanon. Today I as I sat in a restaurant enjoying my meal, enjoying the beautiful tranquility of the river front scenery, enjoying the peace and safety here in Canada, I realized that my family and friends in a world so far away can no longer enjoy the peace, safety and tranquility of their own country that just days ago gave them the same security that I am feeling today here in our country. Will it be another 18 years before they can again or will Stephen Harper develop a back bone, stand up for Canadian ideals and not George Bush anti-terrorism world domination politics and support those who supported him in the election and finally face his duty as the PM and aid Canadian Citizens trapped in this war zone and voice the concerns of Lebanese Canadians and confront Israel and demand a cease fire that will save the lives of many innocent Lebanese citizens and demand the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanese soil. Come on Stephen Harper, step up to the plate and stand behind those that stood behind you. It is not enough to wait 1 week to come to the rescue of Canadians trapped which is the duty and role of the Canadian leader.
Wow, anonymous, quite the ramble.
"Now that those same conservative minded Lebanese supporters are in need of help Stephen Harper turns his back on them and supports Israel without knowing what the conflict is." Actually, the conflict is terrorist attacks on Israel, are they not?
Oh, maybe not. Maybe they are attacks from the "militant arm" of a "political party" that the Lebanese voted for?
Maybe the Lebanese shouldn't vote for political parties that have terrorist - oops - militant arms?
Just a thought.
"If these same acts took place against Canada or the United States, they would be quickly considered crimes against humanity and would be dealt with uni-collaterally."
Actually, attacks were FIRST made on Israel. Check it out, but I believe that invading a country & capturing soldiers is considered an act of war. I could be wrong, but I'm probably not.
Israel is not pure as the driven snow here (h/t Andrew Coyne), but quit crying for Lebanon's innocence.
The Lebanese voted, in part, for a terrorist government, and is reaping the rewards.
TY Candace.
You reap what you sow. I'm pretty sure that if Hamas wanted help ousting Hezballa the international community would have gladly helped out but no HAMAS didn't and still doesn't want to distance itself from the Hezballa in fact the Lebanese Army supposedly utilized it's raar to guide the Hezballa missiles that is why the Leb army barracks were bombed.
What better time to oust the Hez than now with Israel on one side and the Lebanese army on the other they could be ousted in a matter of days but no Hamas threatens to attack the Israel army if they enter Leb in essence once again suporting the Hez.
Give me a break with the Leb complaining they are just mad Harper is calling a spade a spade and wants peace once and for all in that area as does most of the sane world.
May I respectfully suggest that readers of Anna's post do me the courtesy of reading the original at Stageleft? She (inadvertently, I'm sure) excised the entire preamble that set the context of my statement, which, in essence, was a description of the circumstances and probable state of mind of the people who made those statements.
Anna, I once rescued a diver from a near drowning incident, at some personal risk. After a long swim back to shore and the administration of oxygen, she berated me because one of her fins had slipped off during the rescue.
I wasn't offended. That would have stupid. She was exhausted, terrified, recovering from extraordinary physical and mentail stress, and not thinking clearly - just like the terrified, exhausted Canadians stepping off the boat into the cameras and microphones who so incense you.
I suggest compassion for them. You disagree. Your choice.
balbulican -- I posted a link to your site so people could read the post in its entirety if they so wished.
The statements I cut and pasted were those I intended to address.
Your preamble shows obvious compassion for those in Lebanon, which is laudable. I share that compassion. It was obviously an effort to suggest that those of us who wrote about the angry remarks of some of the refugees had been oblivious to their plight. I respectfully submit that most bloggers have been reading the accounts and are aware of conditions in Lebanon and of the evacuation. Perhaps you were trying to point out that knowing these things, and still writing as I did, showed my ignorance -- and you're welcome to your opinion.
But in the post you were refering to, I made no suggestion that I didn't support the evacuation -- which you implied that I had.
I made no suggestion that I expected the evacuees to get down on their knees and praise the Canadian public or government so I could 'bask in their gratitude'-- which you said was the case.
I take exception to the ease with which you've impugned my character and characterised my position on this issue, in a post, which by the way, has no quotes from mine to illustrate to your readers my small-minded, vicious, nasty, narrow-minded, smug pov.
My issue with the evacuees was somewhat similar to the point that you were trying to get across to the us smug insensitive types -- that despite the hardship they had faced in the days before and during evacuation, there are others who have it worse still.
You believe that stress is a mitigating factor when it comes to hostility, and you might be right -- perhaps those who chose to seek out the cameras and complain about their lot in all this, will go home and cringe when they see how unthinking and uncompassionate they seemed in light of the many still left behind, and the bombs still dropping on the country they've escaped -- perhaps.
In the meantime, I'm glad that they're alive and on their way home, but I'll save my compassion for the people still trapped in the war zone.
Unfortunately, Anna, we are limited in this medium to commenting on what people choose to present to readership. If I missed postings in which you expressed your compassion for the Canadians under attack by Israel in Lebanon, please accept my deepest apologies.
Balbulican -- This will be the last I say on this because I think you're being deliberately obtuse. If it isn't deliberate, please accept my deepest apologies.
Your first comment here said: She (inadvertently, I'm sure) excised the entire preamble that set the context of my statement. You are concerned that people might not understand the context of your having called me narrow-minded, smug, nasty, indecent, vicious etc. And yet although you said in your 'Social Experiment' post that I am those things, you didn't bother to give even one quote from my post to give context to my statements or to illustrate my nastiness. I guess it's easier to have your readers bob their heads up and down and repeat 'right-wing bad' a few dozen times.
If I never, ever, in my whole life post the words I have compassion for the Lebanese people it doesn't mean that I don't, any more than the words in your posts mean that you actually do. We don't know what's in each other's hearts. Anyone can write posts that say 'my heartfelt sympathies to . . .' I don't do that. I find it maudlin.
The point is if I never express compassion for the Lebanese people it still doesn't mean that I am against the evacuation or that I want the evacuees to grovel so I can 'bask in their gratitude'. Your post implied that I did.
You read those sentiments into my post because you realised you were visiting a right wing blog with a 'support Israel' button.
Today you wrote in my comments section: If I missed postings in which you expressed your compassion for the Canadians under attack by Israel in Lebanon, please accept my deepest apologies.
Would it be okay with you if because I know you to be a left-wing blogger and because you did not also state that you have compassion for Israelis who are being bombed by Hizbollah, that you are anti-Semitic or that you think it's okay if Haifa? Would I be right to suggest that you think it's okay if Haifa gets blown into the Mediterranean because you only mention the violence by Israel and not the violence against? Or that you only have compassion for Lebanese people who are also Canadian because you phrased it Canadians under attack (...) in Lebanon? and did not include the non-Canadians in your statement?
But I wouldn't do that because it would be stupid and wrong to impute meanings to your statements based on the very little I know about you.
"Balbulican -- This will be the last I say on this because I think you're being deliberately obtuse. If it isn't deliberate, please accept my deepest apologies."
I accept them.
"Your first comment here said: She (inadvertently, I'm sure) excised the entire preamble that set the context of my statement. You are concerned that people might not understand the context of your having called me narrow-minded, smug, nasty, indecent, vicious etc. And yet although you said in your 'Social Experiment' post that I am those things, you didn't bother to give even one quote from my post to give context to my statements or to illustrate my nastiness. I guess it's easier to have your readers bob their heads up and down and repeat 'right-wing bad' a few dozen times."
"Indecent"?? Don't remember that one. However, I did provide a link back to your entire post. Since you felt excising the context and frame setting section of my post was justified because you "provided a link" to my post, I'm a bit puzzled by the aggrieved tone of this paragraph. I did you the same favour.
"If I never, ever, in my whole life post the words I have compassion for the Lebanese people it doesn't mean that I don't, any more than the words in your posts mean that you actually do. We don't know what's in each other's hearts. Anyone can write posts that say 'my heartfelt sympathies to . . .' I don't do that. I find it maudlin."
Ah. Well, then, consider my comments addressed purely to the persona who penned those dismissive and contemptous remarks about her fellow Canadians, and NOT to the deeply compassionate and empathic person who, for reasons unexplained, was AWOL when her evil twin wrote that post.
"The point is if I never express compassion for the Lebanese people it still doesn't mean that I am against the evacuation or that I want the evacuees to grovel so I can 'bask in their gratitude'."
I think perhaps if you read your own post with an open mind, you might see how perhaps I was misled. To my less-than-sensitive lefty eyes the deep compassion that no doubt infuses you was less evident than a rather mean spirit, which, since you assure me this is the case, was no doubt simply either a literary affectation or my own limited interprative skills.
"You read those sentiments into my post because you realised you were visiting a right wing blog with a 'support Israel' button."
Mmm...nope. I didn't notice the "Support Israel" button. I read a very nasty statement about my fellow Canadians into your post because, quite simply, it was there. For what it's worth, I support Israel to. They are a county under threat and under siege, in a hostile political environment, and I support their right to exist and to defend themselves. I do not, however, support their current incursion.
"Today you wrote in my comments section: If I missed postings in which you expressed your compassion for the Canadians under attack by Israel in Lebanon, please accept my deepest apologies.
Would it be okay with you if because I know you to be a left-wing blogger and because you did not also state that you have compassion for Israelis who are being bombed by Hizbollah, that you are anti-Semitic or that you think it's okay if Haifa? Would I be right to suggest that you think it's okay if Haifa gets blown into the Mediterranean because you only mention the violence by Israel and not the violence against? Or that you only have compassion for Lebanese people who are also Canadian because you phrased it Canadians under attack (...) in Lebanon? and did not include the non-Canadians in your statement?"
You are welcome to suggest anything you want. You would be wrong, of course, and I would challenge you on the basis of things I have actually said (as I invited you to do.)
Anyway, you seem like a nice, intelligent and articulate person. My point, I guess, is that too many nice, intelligent and articulate people these days are saying stupid, dogmatic shit without thinking about it. Continue to do so at your pleasure (it is, after all, your blog) - or step up a notch.
Bulbulican -- if in fact you come back here -- I do have to make an apology. I'm not great at the linking thing and I hadn't tested the link to your page to see where it led me; I just cut and pasted it from my browser window. After reading your most recent comment, I realised I must not have linked properly and tested it myself, and found myself on your comments page. I wasn't even aware that could be done. I didn't intend to misdirect readers.
You are right of course. I have reread my post dispassionately. It was written in a pique of anger right after a news broadcast and perhaps could have been more sensitive. If you knew me in person then you would know that there was no venom in my veins - just a sincere disbelief that some people (even in horrible circumstances) could forget that others were still left behind to suffer. My head was filled with thoughts of those people, watching others leave and having no means of escape.
Anyway, I call truce and promise that should you ever again do me the honour of insulting me in a post, I'll make sure I put in the proper link.
I'll also take a second look before my evil twin hits 'publish' next time.
It was good of you to come back as you have and keep the dialogue going.
"If you knew me in person then you would know that there was no venom in my veins."
Yes, I know that. It shows.
Canadi Anna: there is nothing that you have written, besides posting a "bad" link, that deserves your thumping by balbulican. He/she is nitpicking, attacking your decency, and confounding you with justification of visceral responses, as liberals like to do. Stick to the facts and logic and historical perspective. Not talking heads, media agenda, or current "in vogue" sentiments.
balbulican: we as Canadians have every right to question the loyalty of many Lebanese "Canadians" being evacuated at great expense to the resident Canadian taxpayer right now. Many of these evacuees have chosen to avail themselves of Canadian citizenship while allying themselves with another country, another ideology:
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=108434
Whilst realizing the inanity and agenda of the media, as trustonly mulder suggested, logic suggests: should Canada rush to the assistance of people with dual citizenship who have not contributed to Canada or accepted Canadian values and goals in any way? There is a piece in the news today that says that Canadian federal agencies are on the alert for known Lebanese-Canadian terrorists trying to slip back into Canada amidst the evacuees.
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=f8b05859-b49a-4756-b5c5-e5da6501bd9e
To "anonymous": where do you get the stats that "most of" 300,000 Lebanese Canadians voted for Stephen Harper?
Anna,
I am really impressed with your prose and your mature perspective. I can understand where you are coming from, and I think you explained yourself pretty well. I have heard some really grotesque comments from some media figures in the Right disapproving of the evacuations completely, and I cannot say I understand them. I have also read some gory posts in the blogosphere talking about how the UN observers deserved to die. I don't know what dark place this is all coming from in people. Your voice is a clear and lucid one, and I look forward to reading more of your thoughts.
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