Something every Canadian should watch

[lookingforitallthetime]

Especially those who deny the impact the Canadian military has had in forming the Canadian identity.

http://www.history.ca/ontv/titledetails.aspx?titleid=103246

I know I will be watching.

 

[danmand]

I'll pass.

 

[lookingforitallthetime]

I'll pass.

I'm not surprised. You obviously have bigger issues to consider such as the transfat content in Danish bread.

 

[danmand]

I'm not surprised. You obviously have bigger issues to consider such as the transfat content in Danish bread.

If Canada adopted the danish rule for transfat content in food, about
2,500 canadians would be saved from dying of a heart attack every year.

Methink that is better than watching people killing each other.

 

[lookingforitallthetime]

If Canada adopted the danish rule for transfat content in food, about
2,500 canadians would be saved from dying of a heart attack every year.

Methink that is better than watching people killing each other.

War, like eating, can be a messy business.

 

[danmand]

War, like eating, can be a messy business.

Fortunately, I have been able to limit the mess to eating. Both my grandfathers
were forced to be soldiers for a cause they hated, and they were not in favour of war.
That influenced me some.

 

[someone]

Especially those who deny the impact the Canadian military has had in forming the Canadian identity.

http://www.history.ca/ontv/titledetails.aspx?titleid=103246

I know I will be watching.

I heard about that. If I had cable I’d also watch it (I suspect one of the other channels will re-air it soon). I’ve always wondered to what extent Canada’s outlook on the world differs from Australia and New Zealand because the battle that started us thinking of ourselves as Canadian rather than British subjects was a great victory and their battle as a defeat (Likewise, with Newfoundland whose big WW1 battle was a defeat).

 

[Aardvark154]

Both my grandfathers were forced to be soldiers for a cause they hated, and they were not in favour of war.

That's quite the damn statement. I've known plenty of veterans who were appalled by the bloodshed and destruction of war, and a fair number who had a cordial loathing for the military. But very few from the 1914 - 1960 generations who felt that “their war(s)” “was for a cause they hated.” I hasten to add that I'm not speaking of those conscripted into the Wehrmacht.

 

[papasmerf]

Fortunately, I have been able to limit the mess to eating. Both my grandfathers
were forced to be soldiers for a cause they hated, and they were not in favour of war.
That influenced me some.

Did you think less of your grand fathers for serving?

 

[papasmerf]

Neither his gramps or any vet needs belittling.
We're not the ones that make the decisions.
We're the ones that have to live with the
consequences.

Don, my question for demand was what he thought. I dare say you are correct.

 

[lookingforitallthetime]

Change 'messy' to 'evil' and I agree.
No need to be civil when dealing
with war.

I admit 'messy' was too flipant. Still, I think Patton summed war up best.

On a less serious note, If you find eating 'hell' or 'evil' I suggest you find a new restaurant.

 

[danmand]

Did you think less of your grand fathers for serving?

They did not have any choice. The area I come from, was occupied by Germany from 1864 to 1920. My grandfathers hated the germans but were conscripted. If anything, the area I am from was more closely aligned with the british, and to fight on the german side was absurd for them. They tried as best they could to avoid fighting, in a soldier Sweik kind of way.

But my grandfather always told me that even the proper german soldiers would rather stay home and did not really want to fight. Nobody had high opinions of the generals.

DQ and Papa may be able to imagine to have to go to war on the enemy's side.

 

[papasmerf]

DQ and Papa may be able to imagine to have to go to war on the enemy's side.

I think I speak for Don when I say better to die then to spend a lifetime as a slave.

We would leave or die trying.

 

[Aardvark154]

They did not have any choice. The area I come from, was occupied by Germany from 1864 to 1920. My grandfathers hated the germans but were conscripted. If anything, the area I am from was more closely aligned with the british, and to fight on the german side was absurd for them. They tried as best they could to avoid fighting, in a soldier Sweik kind of way.

But my grandfather always told me that even the proper german soldiers would rather stay home and did not really want to fight. Nobody had high opinions of the generals.

It's a hell of a postion to be in.

I would have understood your post better on first read if it had been clear that you were not speaking of the Canadian Military.

 

[danmand]

I think I speak for Don when I say better to die then to spend a lifetime as a slave.

We would leave or die trying.

Well, you would think so, wouldn't you, and about 60% of all men between 18 and 60 left for north america when the war was about to start. But in every family, someone had to stay behind to keep the claim to the land. The germans were trying their best to germanize the area by moving germans onto the land. If everybody had left, the area would have been german today.
A plebescite was held in 1920, and the area returned to Denmark, so you may say that it was worth it.
From what I understand, the "danish" soldiers caused a lot of trouble for the german army, I know especially one of my grandfathers story, and I don't think any of them shot at any british or french soldiers.

The experience thoroughly turned them off soldiering.

 

[papasmerf]

Well, you would think so, wouldn't you, and about 60% of all men between 18 and 60 left for north america when the war was about to start. But in every family, someone had to stay behind to keep the claim to the land. The germans were trying their best to germanize the area by moving germans onto the land. If everybody had left, the area would have been german today.
After WWII a plebescite was held, and the area returned to Denmark.

From what I understand, the "danish" soldiers caused a lot of trouble for the german army, I know especially one of my grandfathers story, and I don't think any of them shot at any british or french soldiers.

The experience thoroughly turned them off soldiering.

what hey had to.

Your grand father deserve respect for doing

 

[Aardvark154]

I admit 'messy' was too flipant. Still, I think Patton summed war up best.

General William T. Sherman, USA put it best in an address in 1879 to a military secondary school "There is many a boy here today who looks on war as all glory, but boys, it is all hell."

 

[lookingforitallthetime]

General William T. Sherman, USA put it best in an address in 1879 to a military secondary school "There is many a boy here today who looks on war as all glory, but boys, it is all hell."

Yes, my mistake. Thank you. It was Sherman who said "War is hell", not Patton.

 

[basketcase]

That's quite the damn statement. I've known plenty of veterans who were appalled by the bloodshed and destruction of war, and a fair number who had a cordial loathing for the military. But very few from the 1914 - 1960 generations who felt that “their war(s)” “was for a cause they hated.” I hasten to add that I'm not speaking of those conscripted into the Wehrmacht.

Many Francophones and the Irish in Canada weren't that keen about fighting for King and Empire.

 

[Aardvark154]

Many Francophones and the Irish in Canada weren't that keen about fighting for King and Empire.

True enough. Than again a great many did.

Also in the case of Québec particularly in the Second World War I'm not sure how much of that was resentment for "a cause they hated,” and how much was about the philosophical concept of conscription.