Toronto to remove 'Troops' decals from 350 vehicles - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Azure · 06-19-2007, 02:30 PM

Quote:

TORONTO -- Despite a huge uproar that the move is an insult to Canadian soldiers, Toronto Mayor David Miller is backing a plan by the city's fire and ambulance chiefs to remove yellow "Support our Troops" decals from the backs of nearly 350 vehicles.

"I think the way the chiefs have handled this is appropriate," Mr. Miller said.

"The yellow ribbon, as you know, to many of us, means support for our troops. To some people it's a symbol of support for the war in Afghanistan and [EMS] Chief [Bruce] Farr and others in the city have received a number of calls from people who are concerned about the city expressing an opinion on the war. The program was always scheduled to last for a year. It will be wrapped up this fall."

http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/n...9f6621&k=21866

WDF?

habernac · 06-19-2007, 02:31 PM

Another sad commentary on politically correct BS that owns our lives today.

peter12 · 06-19-2007, 02:32 PM

Oh wow... This country, sometimes...

I can't believe this.

Table 5 · 06-19-2007, 02:35 PM

nm

SeeGeeWhy · 06-19-2007, 02:40 PM

Finally! I was really waiting for people to stop showing their support and actually reminding us that we have people stationed in dangerous places doing other people's dirty work, now I get it. WHEW! I can go back to worrying about when Paris Hilton gets out of jail now.

Bobblehead · 06-19-2007, 02:44 PM

If this hadn't made the news, would anyone have noticed?

I support the troops (and the action in Afghanistan) but vehicles with stickers on them seems a pretty unimportant thing to get wound up about.

As long as news about our troops is always reported and people never forget that we have troops over there figting against the remains of a terrorist regime, then whether someone has a yellow sticker on their vehicle is of no consequence.

Azure · 06-19-2007, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

I support the troops (and the action in Afghanistan) but vehicles with stickers on them seems a pretty unimportant thing to get wound up about.

Which is exactly why this 'decision' is so stupid.

Agamemnon · 06-19-2007, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azure

Which is exactly why this 'decision' is so stupid.

What decision?

Quote:

The program was always scheduled to last for a year. It will be wrapped up this fall." Chief Farr echoed that, "It was never intended to be forever," he said.

Sounds to me like you guys are ticked that the city isn't extending the program... not because they're 'terminating' it, it was never meant to be forever as per the Chief.

Why not go pick on a cop service that doesn't have stickers at all? At least the TO cops did something...

Burninator · 06-19-2007, 03:10 PM

I am in a difficult position because I am for the war, but against the troops.

- Bill Hicks

Flame On · 06-19-2007, 03:13 PM

I don't mind this. To me little stickers are a way of actually not supporting troups but saying you do. It's really a very small show of support IMO. I mean wanna support them writhe letters, deliver packages etc.
I don't think we actually do much supporting but the stickers make us think we are.
I think they're pretty petty. I'm not a soldier though, maybe they mean a lot to them.
Perhaps there's a tax implication too. If tax dollars are contributing to the program and some people don't agree with the war as it stands, why should they have to pay for it? Just taking the devils advocate approach there.

Azure · 06-19-2007, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agamemnon

What decision?

Heh?

Quote:

Sounds to me like you guys are ticked that the city isn't extending the program... not because they're 'terminating' it, it was never meant to be forever as per the Chief.

Its the reason that pisses me off.

What about the other peace-keeping missions? Is having these stickers saying you support those too? Or is that another issue?

Azure · 06-19-2007, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flame On

I think they're pretty petty. I'm not a soldier though, maybe they mean a lot to them.

I like the stickers. I've also talked to a few military guys who have seen them in traffic, etc, etc....and appreciate just the smallest show of support.

Agamemnon · 06-19-2007, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azure

Heh?

?

Quote:

Its the reason that pisses me off.

The reason is the program was over. It had a start, middle, and end. You're witnessing the latter now. Unless the article is inaccurate and the program is being stopped for other reasons...

Chief Farr and his colleague, Fire Chief Bill Stewart, told a press conference today that neither city council, nor city staff ordered the stickers removed. Instead, the chiefs said the campaign to adorn about 170 fire trucks and 175 ambulances with yellow ribbon decals was done on their authority and would be ended on their authority, as planned, in the autumn.

So unless these guys are lying to our faces, this was always the plan.

Quote:

What about the other peace-keeping missions? Is having these stickers saying you support those too? Or is that another issue?

What about them? Do the stickers support all of them? Is it another issue? I don't know. What I do know is the TO services had an idea of how long they wanted to run this sticker, and that term is over. Its not like Canada is folding up the tents over there as well... its just a few stickers.

Do you support the troops any less now that these stickers will be gone? Do you think other people's support will wane because of this decision? Do you think anyone, anywhere will really allow these stickers to impact how much they support Canadian soldiers?

metallicat · 06-19-2007, 04:11 PM

I work for the city here, and while we don't have such stickers on our vehicles, if we did and they took them off, I'd put them right back on. That's a fight I'd love to get into.

Azure · 06-19-2007, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agamemnon

?

Why the heck would you ask 'what decision?'

Isn't it obvious what we're talking about?

Quote:

The reason is the program was over. It had a start, middle, and end. You're witnessing the latter now. Unless the article is inaccurate and the program is being stopped for other reasons...

Maybe they shouldn't have said...

Quote:

"The yellow ribbon, as you know, to many of us, means support for our troops. To some people it's a symbol of support for the war in Afghanistan and [EMS] Chief [Bruce] Farr and others in the city have received a number of calls from people who are concerned about the city expressing an opinion on the war. The program was always scheduled to last for a year. It will be wrapped up this fall."

Yeah...indeed saying the program is over.

Why did they start it in the first place? Surely the opinions didn't get in the way then, eh?

Quote:

What about them? Do the stickers support all of them? Is it another issue? I don't know.

Is it another issue?

They're talking about the city not wanting to express an opinion over the war with these stickers. Is it just the Afghan war? Or any war in particular? Maybe they shouldn't have started this in the first place.

I know the program was supposed to end...I read the article too. But the article also talks about public influence.

And don't try to tell me that influence didn't play a part in the program not being continued. Public influence means a lot to the Mayor.

Quote:

Do you support the troops any less now that these stickers will be gone? Do you think other people's support will wane because of this decision? Do you think anyone, anywhere will really allow these stickers to impact how much they support Canadian soldiers?

Since you already believe the stickers mean nothing, I guess not.

Just to add...if these stickers meant nothing...why the complaints from the public? In fact, why put them on in the first place?

Thing is...it might only be a small thing...but it publicly showcases support for the military, and any way you spin it, fact still remains that certain people do NOT support the military, REGARDLESS of the circumstance.

I posted an article a while back of idiots writing letters to the soldiers leaving for Afghanistan telling them that THEY were committing war crimes. Support the troops? Exactly what I mean.

So is it a big deal that the stickers are being taken off...in the bigger picture, no not really.

ricoFlame · 06-19-2007, 04:29 PM

who cares. you don't need a freaking sticker on your car to support the troops, just support them, it's not a contest. Don't complain if they're there. don't complain if they're not.

Now as far as people complaining about it goes, i just don't get that. there's more important things in life than worrying about stickers on city vehicles.

MelBridgeman · 06-19-2007, 07:58 PM

minority rules !
________
EASY VAPE VAPORIZER

guzzy · 06-19-2007, 08:01 PM

That is just a sad statement but should be expected from the lib-lefties over there. Whether or not you support the war or the efforts you should support the troops. I think the people that criticize our troops and their efforts should actually poll the troops and ask their feelings about the war. I am willing to bet that 95% of them support what they are doing and don't want to come back until they have achieved what they went there to do.

RougeUnderoos · 06-19-2007, 08:19 PM

Why didn't they just take the goddamn stickers off and not have a big story about it? People bitch about "political correctness" and fair enough, but it ain't any worse than the "bumper sticker patriotism" we are hearing about with this one.

If someone doesn't have a "Support Our Troops" sticker on their car I wonder if any of our pro-sticker crowd shake their fist at them because they don't support the troops?

Flame On · 06-19-2007, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

Why didn't they just take the goddamn stickers off and not have a big story about it? People bitch about "political correctness" and fair enough, but it ain't any worse than the "bumper sticker patriotism" we are hearing about with this one.

If someone doesn't have a "Support Our Troops" sticker on their car I wonder if any of our pro-sticker crowd shake their fist at them because they don't support the troops?

That's kind of where I was headed. It seems like the pro sticker group could give a crap abuot the troops but really just want to be seen with a sticker that they can then point to and tsk the other people who don't have one.
If what seperates someone from being a troop hater and troop lover is a 0.01cent sticker you put on the exhaust end of your vehicle then it's a pretty slim line.