Irony ...

I love Ed Hardy designs.


I bought a new vehicle recently.  My old truck had a steering wheel cover with the Ed Hardy "Goldfish" on it; I thought I would change it up this time.  This morning I went and looked at what was available, and I bought myself a new cover with the "Love Kills Slowly" graphic on it this time.


As I was in the line up to check out, I got a message from Red that The Wolf is in town for the holidays.


~~~ sigh ~~~


Since the last incident, the one that involved the police, the MP's, his CO, and the no contact order, I have maintained that if we made it through Christmas leave with no incident, then I would let myself start believing it was really over, that he had gotten the message.


I guess it is really going to the test.  Sebastian is convinced that the Wolf is not stupid enough to jeopardize his career over this, and I really hope he is right.  I am not convinced, however, of the rational influence of that threat on a person with PTSD and anger management issues who self medicates with whiskey.  But I've been wrong before.


The Wolf is trying to get Red to meet up with him for a drink.  Red, as it so happens, is the one he contacted back in May trying to get my address and other info; the one that alerted me that he was trying to find me, resulting in his CO being contacted the first time.  She is thinking she is going to be awfully busy for the next little while, too busy for a drink.


So in addition to all the holiday stress of being at my parents' place, seeing my dad's failing health, and my mom treating me like a consolation prize because my brother is not also home, I will be hyper vigilant on my 5's and 20's.


Thankfully, right now the plan is to head to Sebastian's place on boxing day; somewhere I can relax and feel safe and protected and forget about the bullshit and headgames for a while.  Other than the high population of tall men with high 'n' tights, which sometimes gets to me when I am "on alert".  I expect it to be a good visit.  Although the afore ranted about "crap" is still not resolved, he seems to be relaxing about it, and the last little while things have been really, really good.


Peace of the season to you all; and don't worry, I'll watch my 6 (or have a highly qualified person watch it for me).

"Lullabye For A Stormy Night"/"Leaving on a Jet Plane" performed b...

Thom over at SSS continues to inspire me to share some of my favorite songs.  Rain does indeed fall in every life, my friend. 

"Well now I am grown, and these years have shown that rain's a part of how life goes; but it's dark and it's late, so I'll hold you and wait, 'til your frightened eyes do close

and someday you'll know that nature is so the same rain that draws you near me falls on rivers and land, on forests and sand; makes the beautiful world that you'll seein the morning"

Red Friday ~ Fallen Soldier by Nathan Fair

A year ago yesterday my sweetie came home safe.  :o)  But I know he still remembers the ones who didn't.  There have been some hard times, some bad days, but we get through.

Hypocrites ... or just lazy?

Yes, those that saw it, this is what my FB status a few days ago was all about ...

http://boingboing.net/2011/12/03/canadas-secret-police-to-gov.html

This link was posted on the FaceBook page of a dance associate recently, and a number of outraged comments followed. I am not sure, but I strongly suspect that a number of the individuals who commented on the link read only the article's title - “Canada's secret police to government: we need torture to keep this country safe” or looked at the article's illustration, a woodcut of a crucifixion taken from creativecommons.org .

If you follow the links and read the supporting documents (including the original memo from 2008) you will see that CSIS is not saying they want to crucify people (as implied by the illustration), they are saying the wording of the amendment as proposed is to vague and open, is not in harmony with existing Canadian law, and they would like it clarified. CSIS is the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Canada's not so secret “police”. https://www.csis.gc.ca/index-eng.asp

For example under current Canadian law, if you want to accuse someone of something illegal, including torture, there is something called a “burden of proof” before they can be convicted. Under the amendment referenced in the article, the information just has to be “suspected” of being obtained through methods that qualify as torture as defined by section 269 of Canada's Criminal Code. No burden of proof to be met.

Under section 269, torture includes things like sleep deprivation, temperature manipulation, etc. Things which, as an aside, do reduce an individual's ability to control involuntary body language “tells” that let an interrogator judge their truthfulness. The amendment as originally proposed makes information obtained by such means inadmissible, even if later corroborated by information obtained through “legal” means.

For example: Our ally Great Britain obtains information from a member of extremist group that there will be an attack on the University of Toronto campus. Information is then gathered by CSIS through completely legal means, based on this tip, that indicates that the attack is indeed going to happen. Someone points out that GB uses sleep deprivation and temperature manipulation during interrogations, and that the original tip was likely obtained through such “torture”. They do not have to “prove” to Canadian standards that the information was obtained through torture, they just have to have a “reasonable suspicion”

Under the proposed amendment, CSIS would then not be allowed to act on ANY of the subsequently gathered information, and would be legally obligated remain uninvolved while the attack proceeded.

Can you see why they wanted the language clarified?

I have a few objections to what happened. Firstly, I believe that the headline and illustration chosen were inflammatory, bordering on irresponsible. Secondly, I believe, as I stated, that a number of people fired off comments without bothering to read what they were commenting on.

Most strongly, though, I believe that most of those that commented have never been in the situation where they have had to make a tough decision to save the life of someone they cared about (including strangers ... many people care about strangers). If it were the life of their child, their sibling, their spouse, their parent hanging in the balance ... would they be so quick to judge? So secure in their sanctimony?

If they had to look into the eyes of a child left orphaned by an act of terror – would they be so quick to judge the actions of those who strive to prevent it?

If they saw the devastation left in entire communities, would they object to the people responsible being made uncomfortable?

Unfortunately, for me, this dredged up memories of other people who have been quick to judge, including the lovely sales clerk who once asked me “How can you love someone who kills people for a living?”

‎"Men sleep peacefully in their beds at night because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."

Veni, Veni Emanuel - Mediaeval Baebes

For Thormoo - my favorite version. Enjoy, my friend.

~~~~~~~~~

Personally, I am not feeling the spirit of the season right now. I am mostly ignoring Christmas, and hoping it passes quickly.

Red Friday - Christmas Love

When filling out your holiday cards this year, take one card and send it to this address:

Any Canadian Forces Member
  Op Attention
  Kabul
  PO Box 5140 Stn Forces
  Belleville ON K8N 5W6

This will send to soldiers in Afghanistan. For other areas, change the location. See
http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/commun/message/addresses-eng.asp
If we pass this on and everyone sends one card, think of how many cards these wonderful, special people, who have sacrificed so much would get. 
       

Also share Homecoming stories and send Christmas wishes. See:

http://www.familyforce.ca/sites/Shilo/EN/Lists/Announcements/Attachments/23/Operation%20Wish%20-%20Sears%20Canada%20ENG.pdf

http://www.sears.ca/custom-content/operation-wish?extid=050211_ca_Vanity_EN_Unknown_Operationwish
or help fill packages and send electronic wisheshttp://www.cfpsa.com/en/psp/amenities/opsanta/santa.asp

Red Friday ~ The Peacekeepers

I have posted before about the importance of Peace Keeping Missions, and why the veterans of those missions deserve full honours.  I came across this article while researching something else, and thought I would share it as today's Red Friday offering.


The full article can be found at http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhr-ddhr/chc-tdh/chart-tableau-eng.asp?ref=DagHammarskjold 

The Dag Hammarskjöld Medal is presented by the United Nations to the families of those who gave their lives in the service of the United Nations.

With over one hundred medals, Canada is the country that has paid the highest price in human life in the service of the United Nations over the last 50 years of peacekeeping operations. The Secretary-General presented one symbolic medal to each of the ambassadors representing countries that have lost personnel on UN missions. For Canada, the Medal of Acting Brigadier Harry Herbert Angle, D.S.O., E.D. was presented to our Canadian Ambassador to the UN, Paul Heinbecker, on 29 April 2002. Brigadier Angle was the first Canadian to die while serving the UN, he was killed in an airplane accident on 17 July 1950 while serving as Chief Military Observer in Kashmir on the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP).

Following this initial presentation, the medals were forwarded to the Directorate of Honours and Recognition (DH&R) for presentation co-ordination. Nearly 80 medals have already been presented to families in ceremonies conducted across the country but DH&R is seeking assistance to locate recipient’s family members to complete the other presentations. If you know the whereabouts of any surviving relative of the following recipients, please contact DH&R toll free at 1-877-741-8332.

RANK	FIRST NAMES	SURNAME	DATE OF DEATH	MISSION
F/O	Richard Vaughan	EDWARDS	28 April 1966	UNEF
CPL	Joseph Paul Réal	HUDON	26 December 1985	UNDOF
PTE	Denis Auguste Joseph	LAMOTHE	16 March 1966	UNEF
MCPL	Joseph Raymond	LESSARD	01 December 1972	UNFICYP
CPL	Emanuel	OLIVIER	09 December 1961	UNEF
PTE	Joseph Lionel Gilbert	PERRON	06 August 1974	UNFICYP
F/O	Joseph M.L.P.	PICARD	30 April 1966	UNEF
TPR	Reginald James	WILEY	07 September 1961	UNEF

I am a hypocrite

If I tell people the only expectations they have to live up to are their own, then I have no right to feel hurt and betrayed when they don't live up to mine.


If I tell my friends in relationships that they have to make only themselves and their partner happy, and if someone else doesn't like their relationship, too bad, then I can't be disappointed when choices are made that put the relationship first, and me a far distant second.

~~~~~~~~~

Sounds good, doesn't it?


If only I could get my heart to agree.


I throw the above platitudes out, but it still hurts me when I see friends and family members making choices that I think are going to hurt them.  It interesting, my friend Karen posted THIS LINK today, and wow was it ever appropriate.  I have saved it to re-read, and will try to let the lessons sink in.


Strangely, that was my therapist's main message last week too - quit carrying other people's baggage, quit trying to fix other people's problems.


I can't fix my brother's marriage; I can't even diagnose it as broken.  I can just love and support him, and be the best sister I can be.


I can't fix what is going on with Sebastian; I can just love and support him and be the best ... me ... that I can be. Not his mom, not his advisor, not someone else telling him what to do ... just me.


I have other friends that I need to apply this same lesson too; one in particular that, since watching him walk the road he is on is so painful to me, that maybe it is time I let the "friendship" go.  He has severed it himself repeatedly, but always comes back ... and then the cycle repeats, and he leaves again.  Maybe this time I need to say no, that I care too much to be part of this any more, that I will not do it to myself.


It is time to sort my own bags out.


This is not the first time I have heard this lesson.  My Reiki master that I trained with told me the same thing, she said that many of the problems I chose to carry were not my own.  Since I spend so much time on the road, I used to have a sign in my car that said "OK, Everyone Out Of The Car!" (it used to freak out the occasional passenger I did have).  That was where I did most of my "stewing", while I was driving ~ I would worry about my parents, my brother, various friends, ... the list can get quite long.


Easy to say; much harder to do.


My homework from the first therapy session was to make a list of the bags I can put down.  I think its time to do my homework.

Red Friday

"But if I could ask one thing of all Canadians for Remembrance Day, it would be this: Spare not a thought for the fallen. Think instead of those left behind, the families. All soldiers join knowing the risks, and all soldiers deploy to wars even more aware of those risks, and are willing to take them, for themselves, for the challenge, or simply because it is expected. But no family freely offers their loved one up. No family truly thinks it could happen to their loved one. But in the end, it is they who pay the sacrifice long after their loved one is gone. Think of them, remember them, this November 11." 

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/Remembrance_Day/a-soldiers-request-think-not-of-the-fallen-but-of-their-families/article2227439/

Clarity ...

At least, a start.


The counsellor was ... mediocre.  I am willing to give her some more time, but there was certainly not an instant connection, and she certainly didn't reveal anything novel or earth shattering.  But then again, it was the first time she had met me, and I did lay quite a bit on her.  I do have some homework, but for now, I have to briefly discuss something else :

My dearest, beautiful CoffeyPot e-mailed me some advice, from the perspective of a warrior.  And I hear the angels sing ...


Sebastian is not "shutting me out", as I have been seeing it.  He is trying to protect me, but not because he thinks I am weak, that I can't handle what is going on, or that I don't deserve to know; and certainly not because he doesn't care.


This is a mission for him to complete, in his mind.  It is a battle.  You don't take civilians to battle with you; you don't take your girlfriend (at least, not since the days of Napoleon).  You don't take someone who might distract you from focusing on and successfully completing the mission objectives.


Some of you might read that and think "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?!?!?" but to me it makes perfect sense.  And all of a sudden, I was more OK with it than I have been in a long time.


In another strange twist of fate, one of Sebastian's friends, Tex, e-mailed me today and told me not to worry about anything, and basically said he was going to ride in from the east and save the day ... damn near a "Don't you fret, little lady, I'll look after this".  I could just imagine a ten gallon on his head and his thumbs caught in his holster ...


Boys are kinda cute, when they're not being dumb ...

Counselling ...

I made a counselling appointment for tomorrow.  Between the *crap*, and the fact I think I may have an unhealthy obsession with the possibly the the Wolf did not get the message last time, I need some help to find my focus again.


I am firmly of the opinion that counselling never hurts.  I can't afford to go back to the counsellor I worked with after the Wolf and I initially split, which is too bad (my work benefits only covered 1/2 his fee, and my benefits through the CF are long gone).


So you can expect some random brain dumps on here as I work through things.


Off to make a list of things I want to bring up with her.  Oh yes, this is going to be a new one for me - I have never worked with a female counsellor before.  I wonder if it will be any different.


Edit add:  I just went to the new counsellor's web site and read her bio - if I could have created a background and specialty "wish list", she would be it.  Thinking positively!

No words

Sometimes, its best to let others express what you're feeling.

It wasn't a mistake.  The "crap" is on again.

Sorry for the service interruption

Sorry for the brief service interruption, folks.  We now resume our regularly scheduled programming.

(If you don't know what I am talking about ... please just carry on)

:o)

Unbelievable

The stress? The crap?  The bullshit?


Ya, it's back on.


Damnit.


I don't know how S can deal with this; its like the bastards are trying to break him.  I'm worried about him; this is worse than just letting it run the first time; to dangle the relief in front of him and then slam him back down.


I don't understand it.  I can't make it better, and that kills me - I can't take this away.  And that door that had been opening for the last few days, the light that had been pouring in ... just slammed shut again.


When this is really over; I hope someone has to answer for their actions.  

Blog Blast For Peace, November 4th, 2011

I have never talked to a soldier who wouldn't prefer to be out of a job because they were no longer needed ...

So true.

Thank you, Thom, for reminding me of this, and thank you, my loving CoffeyPot, for sending me the graphic.  So much bloggy love out there in the 'verse.

Its OVER!

The crap that S has been dealing with since last summer, the crap the I knew had to come to a head soon ... is over.

Not the perfect outcome, but such a very close second that its not worth any tempering of the happiness at all.

Today, my friends, is a very, very good day.

On with LIFE!

You'd think I'd learn ...

... not to "read" tone of voice into innocent text messages.  Up and down day today, but ended up.

Sigh.

More to follow: but for now, I am off to dreamland.

Red Friday ~ Veteran's Week is coming up

This was what greeted me when I arrived at the office Thursday morning; as the Legion prepares to launch it's annual Poppy Campaign in advance of Veteran's week.


Sometimes, renting my office space from the Royal Canadian Legion brings a tear to my eye, and a lump to my throat.  I paused a moment, and reflected.

 

I lost my "suck it up" ...

I was supposed to go see S this weekend, but he is having a health issue and is on some pretty heavy meds.  We decided to re-schedule for a time we could actually have some quality time, vs me "sitting and watching him drool" (his words).


I talked to him a couple of times Friday morning, and then the meds kicked in ... and I haven't had so much as a text message since.  


And its killing me.


Mentally, I understand that he feels like crap, he is spending 23.5 out of 24 hours sleeping, and that's what he needs to do.  I understand that he's safe in his Q, not somewhere unpleasant sleeping on a rough bunk (or in an irrigation ditch).  I understand that when he feels better I get to go see him, and I don't have to wait months for that to happen.


I think it is worse because of the crap that has been going on the last few weeks, and some stress in my job too ... I was just looking so forward to seeing him in person, to feeling his arms around me, to looking in his eyes and getting a feel for how he is *really* coping with the stress.  I want to be able to make it better, even just for a little while, by being there.


 I have gotten so used to the regular contact through out the day, that I am really hurting with this.  I am obsessively checking my phone and e-mail ... and he's in country, for heaven's sake!  I honestly look back at last year, and can't find that mind set that got me through ...


I feel like such a whiner.  I have friends right now who's loved ones are away on deployments, and here I am whining about a cancelled weekend.  But my heart hurts.

Red Friday ~ Heroes Hockey Challenge

So very Canadian ...

http://en.heroeshockeychallenge.com/

Veterans Affairs to cut budget by $226M

From CBC.ca 


http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2011/10/14/veterans-affairs-cuts.html 

Veterans Affairs Canada plans to cut more than $226 million from its budget in the next two years in what's expected to be the first wave of reductions in the department, according federal documents.

The department's plans and priorities report, which lays out spending up to 2014, shows compensation and financial support for ex-soldiers will see the biggest reduction.
The budget adjustment is long planned and matches the dwindling population of Second World War veterans.

A spokeswoman for Veterans Affairs Minister Steven Blaney says the individual benefits, including new measures for the most seriously wounded, will continue without change or interruption, but the country will have fewer veterans overall.

"There will be no cuts to benefits for our veterans," said Codi Taylor in an email.
"The reduction in planned spending indicated in the Report on Plans and Priorities is due to the anticipated reduction in program uptake. The reduction is related to the sad reality that the number of Second World War and Korean War veterans and survivors of 'traditional' veterans is declining."

The department's budget is roughly $3.5 billion a year.

Royal Canadian Legion opposes cuts

But like other arms of the federal government, Veterans Affairs is looking for savings beyond the planned $226-million reduction. The Harper government's current program review wants to see existing spending in all departments and agencies slashed between five and 10 per cent.

The Royal Canadian Legion argued this week against any program review cuts, saying it accepts there will be fewer elderly veterans, but that the department is not taking into account the number of modern soldiers who will need services.

The most recently quarterly report from the Treasury Board, which tracks the federal budget, backs up the group's assessment. It shows compensation and financial support to veterans, in the current budget year, is running about seven per cent over what the department expected.

Veterans Affairs is forecast to spend $163.2 million more on disability awards and allowances because of a higher uptake in applications. The department is also expecting to hand out $10 million more in earnings-loss benefits than expected.

Taylor said if there are shortfalls in future, the department will ask the federal Treasury Board for a top up.

However, one of the things former veterans ombudsman Pat Stogran complained about last year was the reluctance of senior bureaucrats to ask the treasury for more money.
More money for memorials, monuments

Blaney himself recently acknowledged the need to cut expenses, but insisted former soldiers would not feel the impact and that reductions would be made through the unspecified elimination of red tape.

"What I hear [from] our veterans is that they're really seeking to simplify the process and I intend to address this issue very rapidly," Blaney said last week in restating the government's pledge to invest $2 billion in better benefits for soldiers over 50 years.
"What I can tell you is we're working to streamline the process and I'll be coming back to you with an update in the near future."

The budget planning report indicates the department will put more money toward memorials and monuments, but trim its outreach activities with veterans groups.
The Office of the Veterans Ombudsman will be spared the budget axe and the forecast doesn't anticipate any staffing reductions.

The Legion has called on the Harper government to exempt Veterans Affairs from the program review, the way the Obama administration has pledged not to touch its own programs in the U.S.

I expect you all can guess how I feel about this, but I'm a little too grumpy right now to put it into words.  I will be re-visiting this once I have let it percolate a bit; for now I just wanted to help spread the word.


If you are Canadian and you don't know how to contact your Member of Parliament (Federal), please follow this link to find out and express your opinion:
http://parl.gc.ca/parlinfo/Compilations/HouseOfCommons/MemberByPostalCode.aspx?Menu=HOC 


Please also send a copy of your comments to Steven Blaney, the Federal Minister responsible for Veterans' Affairs.

Mr Steven Blaney
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
Telephone: 613-992-7434
Fax: 613-995-6856
E-Mail: steven.blaney@parl.gc.ca


or his constituency office at


Mr Steven Blaney
115 President-Kennedy Road, Suite 101
Lévis, Quebec
G6V 6C8
Telephone: 418-830-0500Toll Free: 1-877-630-0500Fax: 418-830-0504E-Mail: blanes1@parl.gc.ca 

If you are not Canadian and would like to express your opinion, Steven Blaney is also the fellow to contact. 

Red Friday ~ The Soldiers with Robin Gibb - I've Gotta Get A Message To You [Official...

Seems its music week here at the Crow's Song.


This is the first release from "The Soldiers" new album, to be released October 26.


http://www.the-soldiers.co.uk/ for more details.


This single is the official single for the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal 2011.

http://www.redfridays.ca/index.htm

They can't take that away from me

One of the songs from my "WAG" playlist, for when I am in a sucky mood.

And ya, I'm in a sucky mood.  There is some crap going on, the same crap that has being going on for well over a year now, the crap that we thought would be cleared up in September.  More crap got added, with no end to the crap in sight.  Its not crap between us, but its crap that affects Sebastian's ability to move forward with his life.


And its crappy.

But no matter what ... they can't take us away from us.

Red Friday

I am spending Friday working at one of the local Fall Fairs, in the Support our Troops/Family Support Group booth.  It's great to spend the day interacting with the guys from the local reserve unit, and some older, retired veterans, and of course other families.  Hearing the messages of support from the folks that take a moment to stop and look at the displays, and actually talk to us or the guys, and ask questions.

Of course, I'll be wearing my red!

The disease called perfection (Single Dad Laughing re-post)

http://www.danoah.com/2010/09/disease-called-perfection.html

Go read this.  Now.  If its the only post you read today; it needs to be read.

Red Friday

Last Sunday I participated for the first time in the Canada Army Run in support of Soldier On and the Military Families Fund.


Let me tell you, an M-777 Howitzer as a starter's pistol - that gets your adrenaline going (and if anyone in downtown Ottawa was trying to sleep in Sunday morning - sorry about your luck!)








I am not a runner.  I will, in all honesty, likely never be a runner.  But I will be back next year.


When you are with people who have given their all in battle, running beside people with no legs, most poignantly, you suck it up and, well, ... Soldier On.


I am truly proud to have stood in such great company for a morning.

Out of the ashes ...

Two years ago today, I thought my world was falling apart.

I have now realized that sometimes you have to go through that fire to cleanse you and make you ready for a fresh start.

I have grown so much in the last 2 years; become more confident and comfortable with who I am.  I can't believe it has only been 2 years, so much in me, of who I perceive myself to be has changed.

I like me better now.  So truly, without sounding pompous, I do believe that the phoenix is taking shape and rising from the ashes.

Look out, world.

Congrats to our American neighbours

Thanks to Thormoo for this graphic.

Congrats to our American Allies on repealing a law that has been on the books there, in some form, since 1778.

Red Friday

Canada's commitment to Afghanistan had entered a new phase, with our dedication to training the Afghan people.


One aspect of that training is discussed in The Maple Leaf's interview with Major-General Michael Day, Deputy Commanding General – Army of the NTM-A forces and Canadian Contingent Commander.


One of the quotes in the article that stuck with me the most is:

About the Afghans, I’ve learned that they are unbelievably patient people. They have suffered for 30 years and yet they are still trying desperately to put their country on the right footing. That type of resilience is remarkable.How does that apply to the training mission? Well, the training mission is pretty simple. We have got to be patient because we are not going to get there overnight. 

Full text of the article can be found here: http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/commun/ml-fe/article-eng.asp?id=7114 

Support the troops/Support the Families - Reality

This past weekend was a rough one for many in the military community; not only the anniversary of the September 11 attack in 2001, but also near to the anniversaries of Medak Pocket (Croatia), of operation Medusa (Afghanistan, 3-06) and the blue-on-blue (friendly fire) incident the same tour.  September has been the highest month of the year for casualties throughout the Afghanistan war.


I spent a lot of time on the phone/video with S this weekend.  I should have tried harder to be there, and am beating myself up for not being there, letting other things get in the way. Not 100% sure he would have let me, but ... I should have tried harder.


He was tired and burnt out from a really rough week at work, was staying up late and getting up early; and continued this through the weekend, with the addition of whiskey and watching too many documentaries on TV.


Supporting veterans and soldiers includes being there for them when they are dealing with their own memories; allowing them to mourn friends; allowing them a safe place to vent their feelings.  Not judging them, or trying to make it better.  Just being there.


Supporting the families of troops is sometimes the same - not judging, not trying to fix, not telling them what they should or shouldn't do - just being there.  Listening.  Hugging.  being an ear.  


Sometimes, that's the best thing in the world.

Red Friday part 2

When it happened, the Medak Pocket Massacre and its aftermath was overshadowed in Canada by the Somalia affair, and now, the anniversary of this tragic event with far reaching consequences is now overshadowed by the anniversary of the incredible tragedy that is known by its date - 9/11.


But the Medak Pocket Massacre, September 9-17, 1993, remains an important event in Canadian Military History, mostly in learning from the mistakes that were made.  Everything from Canadian and UN Rules of Engagement to the way we deal with returning veterans and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can trace to the Medak Pocket Massacre.


I know I have quoted this passage before, but I think it bears repeating:

"Canadian peacekeepers in Medak Pocket, Croatia, found no peace to keep in September 1993. They engaged the forces of ethnic cleansing in a deadly firefight and drove them from the area under United Nations protection. The soldiers should have returned home as heroes. Instead, they arrived under a cloud of suspicion and silence.

In Medak Pocket, members of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry did exactly the job they were trained - and ordered - to do. When attacked by the Croat army they returned fire and fought back valiantly to protect Serbian civilians and to save the UN mandate in Croatia. Then they confronted the horrors of the offensive's aftermath - the annihilation by the Croat army of Serbian villages. The Canadians searched for survivors. There were none.

The soldiers came home haunted by these atrocities, but in the wake of the Somalia affair, Canada had no time for soldiers' stories of the horrific compromises of battle - the peacekeepers were silenced. In time, the dark secrets of Medak's horrors drove many of these soldiers to despair, to homelessness and even suicide."

From Carol Off's gripping account of one of the most scarring tragedies in the Croatian conflict, in The Ghosts Of Medak Pocket.

More information can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Medak_Pocket 

Blogroll update issue - solved?

Coffey, my love, you had mentioned missing some of my posts.  I had an ah-ha moment just now.

if I write something and post it right away, then it shows up in your (an other people's) blog roll (I think - I'm going to look in a minute.)  If I write in in advance and post date or schedule it (like I do with most of my Red Friday posts) then is doesn't seem to update in your blog roll.

I guess this doesn't really count as "solved", but at least I think I know what is going on now!  So I can tell the Blogger folks, and they may or may not care, or do anything about it.

Red Friday ~ A Creed for a Comrade

The above video was originally posted by Kanani at http://kitchendispatch.blogspot.com/

To get help for yourself or someone you care about, In Canada :


MAP (Member Assistance Program) 1-800-268-7708 
http://www.forces.gc.ca/health-sante/ps/map-pam/default-eng.asp 


OSISS  (Operational Stress Injury Social Support) through Veteran's Affairs at 1-866-522-2122 
http://www.osiss.ca/ 

Comments.

I can see from my tracking software that some of you are trying to leave comments, but those comments are not making it through.  I publish all comments that are not junk mail/spam type comments, even those that I don't agree with or find insulting.  Please don't ever think that I chose not to publish your comment.


I was unable to comment on other's blogs while using Internet Explorer; I had to switch to Google Chrome.


Please keep trying to leave your thoughts - I enjoy hearing them.


If you know of something I can do at my end to fix this problem, please let me know!


Thanks.


**edit - I changed so I have to approve everything, and now comments seem to get through.  odd.**