Wear a poppy

[Canada 02]

and don't be a cheap ####### by digging out an old one from your sock drawer. Make a donation and support our Veterans. Just nine days to Remembrance Day.

[Kybosh]

I just donated for a poppy when I was out for lunch. Then some homeless guy started grabbing my jacket's lapel and ranting about Vietnam and Cambodia. I would say that I'm pro poppy but con crazy people randomly grabbing me on the street. Maybe some of that money I donated can help that weirdo out?

[HELPNEEDED]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

and don't be a cheap ####### by digging out an old one from your sock drawer. Make a donation and support our Veterans. Just nine days to Remembrance Day.

I do wear a poppy and I am not cheap about it. But sometimes my morality is called into judgement. Not in a anti-war sense but for what happened to the Sikh servicemen in 1993 at the hands of the Canadian Legion.

[Jacks]

If you're not in a hurry some of the veterans sitting at the table have interesting stories about their service. They can remind you in a hurry just how good we all have it.

[Redliner]

Originally Posted by HELPNEEDED

I do wear a poppy and I am not cheap about it. But sometimes my morality is called into judgement. Not in a anti-war sense but for what happened to the Sikh servicemen in 1993 at the hands of the Canadian Legion.

Are you referring to the vote that prohibited Sikhs from wearing their turbans into Legion halls? As I recall that vote was not specific targeting Sikhs but in fact referred to any person wearing ANY kind of headgear into Legion halls - the Legion asks that it be removed as a symbol of respect for the dead.

That said - our veterans are just regular people with regular opinions and regular flaws just like anyone else and I (or you) am not always going to agree with everything they say and do. The fact remains that they have made tremendous sacrifices for our country and our freedom and those sacrifices should be acknowledged and respected.

Wear a poppy.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Jacks

If you're not in a hurry some of the veterans sitting at the table have interesting stories about their service. They can remind you in a hurry just how good we all have it.

It's not just "old men" that have stories about how good we all have it.

[YYC in LAX]

Great cause. Terrible OP.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

It's not just "old men" that have stories about how good we all have it.

He said veterans, not old men.

[HELPNEEDED]

Originally Posted by Redliner

Are you referring to the vote that prohibited Sikhs from wearing their turbans into Legion halls? As I recall that vote was not specific targeting Sikhs but in fact referred to any person wearing ANY kind of headgear into Legion halls - the Legion asks that it be removed as a symbol of respect for the dead.

That said - our veterans are just regular people with regular opinions and regular flaws just like anyone else and I (or you) am not always going to agree with everything they say and do. The fact remains that they have made tremendous sacrifices for our country and our freedom and those sacrifices should be acknowledged and respected.

Wear a poppy.

I think thats quite an igorant POV from the Legion with respect to Sikh Soldiers, or Sikh in general. The Dominion of Canada had no problems recruiting the likes of Buckam Singh, nor did the British Empire when they recruited enmasse the service of turbaned Sikhs.

-If my grandfather were alive and in Canada, this would have truley broken my heart. He served in Burma and then in Germany and was part of the liberating forces in France. He lost his brother along side him self in Burma and he himself was injured on three-seperate occasions. But regardless he would have died for his Turban to remain on his head.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

He said veterans, not old men.

point being......?

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by HELPNEEDED

I think thats quite an igorant POV from the Legion with respect to Sikh Soldiers, or Sikh in general. The Dominion of Canada had no problems recruiting the likes of Buckam Singh, nor did the British Empire when they recruited enmasse the service of turbaned Sikhs.

-If my grandfather were alive and in Canada, this would have truley broken my heart. He served in Burma and then in Germany and was part of the liberating forces in France. He lost his brother along side him self in Burma and he himself was injured on three-seperate occasions. But regardless he would have died for his Turban to remain on his head.

It is a tough topic to be sure. I believe that only serving or past serving members have earned the right to wear them in the legion/mess.

No doubt I will get attacked for that view.

You are right to be proud of you dad.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

point being......?

You used quotations like you were quoting him saying old men, and that's not what he said. That's my point. Very simple really.

[HELPNEEDED]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

It is a tough topic to be sure. I believe that only serving or past serving members have earned the right to wear them in the legion/mess.

No doubt I will get attacked for that view.

You are right to be proud of you dad.

Really? Thats a very hurtful thing to see, nearly makes me feel like we are still not an accepted part of Canada and its heritage. Considering Canada's first turbaned Soldier was in 1893.

Its even worse that nearlly all Sikh families lost atleast one male member to the war. Quick math: its estimated that through 1900-1940s there were approximatley 2,500,000 Sikhs, out of which 89,000 in active service during the wars plus anorhter 110,000 wounded. I'm wagering to bet that 3-4% of your population lost is the highest for active servicemen.

But regardless back to the topic:

Do our Vets (Canadian) recieve any post-war assistance from the feds?

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by HELPNEEDED

Really? Thats a very hurtful thing to see, nearly makes me feel like we are still not an accepted part of Canada and its heritage. Considering Canada's first turbaned Soldier was in 1893.

Its even worse that nearlly all Sikh families lost atleast one male member to the war. Quick math: its estimated that through 1900-1940s there were approximatley 2,500,000 Sikhs, out of which 89,000 in active service during the wars plus anorhter 110,000 wounded. I'm wagering to bet that 3-4% of your population lost is the highest for active servicemen.

But regardless back to the topic:

Do our Vets (Canadian) recieve any post-war assistance from the feds?

Regarding post-war asssitance:

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/p...r-compensation

It is an ongoing battle.

I am sorry you took my post as hurtful, that was not the intention. It was an honest response.

Where did you get your numbers. Are those for "The Empire"?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by HELPNEEDED

Really? Thats a very hurtful thing to see, nearly makes me feel like we are still not an accepted part of Canada and its heritage. Considering Canada's first turbaned Soldier was in 1893.

I don't think a lot of people realize that Sikhs from the British empire helped settle the province of British Columbia and were loyal to the British Empire at that time. It's a big reason why the west coast is part of Canada right now and not the United States. It was actually pretty close at one time. They also set up agricultural communities that made the colony self-sufficient. As far as western Canadian history goes, they were a big building block.

Sikhs have a long history of military service in Canada and the British Commonwealth in general.

[Fluffy Bunnies]

Everybody, even the Legion, need to keep with the times and join the 21st century. When are people going to realize that simply wearing a hat indoors is in no way a sign of disrespect for the dead? Considering military members wear and hold headwear in high esteem, this policy is ludicrous.

Both my grandfathers fought the Nazis so that we in this country could live free. Time to exercise that freedom.

Even though Im working Remembrance Day I hold it in high esteem, as I have several family and friends who have shed blood for this land.

[HELPNEEDED]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Regarding post-war asssitance:

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/p...r-compensation

It is an ongoing battle.

I am sorry you took my post as hurtful, that was not the intention. It was an honest response.

Where did you get your numbers. Are those for "The Empire"?

Wikipedia brother.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by HELPNEEDED

Wikipedia brother.

Sorry I meant are those number for Canada only or all the the British Empire?

I also don't believe that currently the Forces make up reflects the diversity on Canadian Society

[habernac]

I got a note from my aunt yesterday with some information about my grandfather when he was training to be a pilot in WW2. He was actually talked about in a book. Here's the excerpt:

I envied my classmate Paul, a young chap from a town in southern Saskatchewan. Paul never showed any interest in class, even though he had a very high IQ. He would always sit at the back of the room and be day dreaming, playing with his pencil, or doing anything but listening to the instructor. The instructor would inevitably ask him "Identify the plane" and surprisingly he could identify all the aircraft that they flashed across the screen. "Focke Wulf, German fighter" he'd shout. It was unbelievable how quickly he rattled off the correct answers. While we studied every night, he'd be down at the beer parlor. I just shook my head. His skills and brilliance were remarkable. The night before the navigational exam, Paul spent in the pub, and the next morning he wrote a nearly perfect paper, which was almost unheard of. I scored 75%.

I laugh at the similarities between us. My total lack of an attention span, my love for beer and billiards. He served as a Flight Lieutenant, piloted a Wellington bomber. He completed I don't know how many missions and managed to make it back to start a family in 1946. He died a decade ago and hardly a day passes that I don't think of him. We love you and miss you, grandpa. I proudly wear my poppy in honour of you and your brothers in arms.

[HELPNEEDED]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Sorry I meant are those number for Canada only or all the the British Empire?

No problem, those numbers are for the British Empire.