unimaginative2
Senior Member
They voted unanaimously to keep the ribbons.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Do yellow ribbons show support for troops or support for war?
ANTHONY REINHART AND JENNIFER LEWINGTON
June 20, 2007
TORONTO -- There has been no shortage of debate around Canada's military mission in Afghanistan, whose stated intent - to rebuild the war-torn country and bring freedom to its people - has so far cost 57 soldiers their lives.
Meanwhile, back in Toronto, Western-style freedom looked something like this yesterday: city politicians arguing over whether fire trucks and ambulances should keep carrying Support Our Troops decals, while firefighters were ordered not to discuss the sudden controversy.
"I was just told this morning that everything with those yellow ribbons has to go through corporate communications [at city hall]," said Stephan Powell, a fire-department spokesman. "I'm just following orders."
Those same orders also trickled down to the city's fire halls yesterday, where several ex-soldiers and current reservists earn their living.
Print Edition - Section Front
Enlarge Image
More National Stories
'More than the loss of a resource'
Wife of crash victim calls for tougher laws
Liberals clear path to Commons for two of Dion's 'dream team'
Scientist's endorsement of bisphenol A under review
Fontaine warns possible lawbreakers
Do yellow ribbons show support for troops or support for war?
Go to the National section
Many expressed bemusement - on condition of anonymity - that a political furor would erupt around their small, simple tribute to those who, like them, face danger.
"That's all you've got to complain about is a little 10-by-four-inch sticker?" one long-time firefighter asked. "Homeless people on the street and kids getting killed, and they're worried about a sticker?"
The issue arose at city hall yesterday after a news report that the city, in response to complaints from people opposed to the Afghan mission, had ordered the decals removed from 170 fire trucks and a similar number of ambulances. The decals were installed last year, without council's involvement, after the firefighters' union paid $3,000 for the fire-truck stickers; emergency medical services dipped into its taxpayer-funded budget for a similar amount.
In fact, fire Chief William Stewart said there has been no order to remove them; rather, "there was never an intent to maintain them continuously," since the decals were part of a one-year program to be phased out starting in September. Similarly, EMS Chief Bruce Farr said the ambulance decals were to be temporary, and were "certainly not related to the Afghan mission," but a mere sign of support for "the men and women in the Canadian Forces."
But now that council is involved, the issue is destined for a vote today on a motion put forward yesterday by Councillor Frances Nunziata (Ward 11, York South-Weston).
Her motion not only calls for a repeal of the order to remove the decals in September but asks that they remain in place for the "duration of the Canadian troop involvement in Afghanistan."
Late yesterday, council Speaker Sandra Bussin gave the official explanation of the incident. When pressed by Councillor Case Ootes (Ward 29, Toronto-Danforth), she said there had been no city order not to renew the decals.
Ms. Nunziata said she received calls from veterans yesterday. "They were outraged and insulted," she said.
Councillor Brian Ashton (Ward 36, Scarborough Southwest) was similarly incensed.
"By taking them off you are giving a black eye to Canada's premier city," Mr. Ashton said. This put David Miller, the left-leaning mayor, in the delicate position of professing support for the troops while acknowledging sensitivities around the "powerful symbol" of the decals. In the end, Mr. Miller said he will not support Ms. Nunziata's motion to extend the ribbon display.
"There are people who see it as support for the troops," he said. But "there are people who see it as support for a war." He said the city had received calls from "people saying 'why are you expressing support for the war in Afghanistan?' "
At an east-end fire station, where firefighters arrived to work yesterday amid news that nine of their comrades had died in a South Carolina warehouse blaze, there was decidedly less debate. To them, it's a simple matter of respect for the soldiers' sacrifice.
"Nobody over there wants to go and kill people," said one firefighter in his late 20s, who serves in an army reserve unit and has friends who have fought in Afghanistan. "They want to help people, same as on our job."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Do yellow ribbons show support for troops or support for war?
ANTHONY REINHART AND JENNIFER LEWINGTON
June 20, 2007
TORONTO -- There has been no shortage of debate around Canada's military mission in Afghanistan, whose stated intent - to rebuild the war-torn country and bring freedom to its people - has so far cost 57 soldiers their lives.
Meanwhile, back in Toronto, Western-style freedom looked something like this yesterday: city politicians arguing over whether fire trucks and ambulances should keep carrying Support Our Troops decals, while firefighters were ordered not to discuss the sudden controversy.
"I was just told this morning that everything with those yellow ribbons has to go through corporate communications [at city hall]," said Stephan Powell, a fire-department spokesman. "I'm just following orders."
Those same orders also trickled down to the city's fire halls yesterday, where several ex-soldiers and current reservists earn their living.
Print Edition - Section Front
Enlarge Image
More National Stories
'More than the loss of a resource'
Wife of crash victim calls for tougher laws
Liberals clear path to Commons for two of Dion's 'dream team'
Scientist's endorsement of bisphenol A under review
Fontaine warns possible lawbreakers
Do yellow ribbons show support for troops or support for war?
Go to the National section
Many expressed bemusement - on condition of anonymity - that a political furor would erupt around their small, simple tribute to those who, like them, face danger.
"That's all you've got to complain about is a little 10-by-four-inch sticker?" one long-time firefighter asked. "Homeless people on the street and kids getting killed, and they're worried about a sticker?"
The issue arose at city hall yesterday after a news report that the city, in response to complaints from people opposed to the Afghan mission, had ordered the decals removed from 170 fire trucks and a similar number of ambulances. The decals were installed last year, without council's involvement, after the firefighters' union paid $3,000 for the fire-truck stickers; emergency medical services dipped into its taxpayer-funded budget for a similar amount.
In fact, fire Chief William Stewart said there has been no order to remove them; rather, "there was never an intent to maintain them continuously," since the decals were part of a one-year program to be phased out starting in September. Similarly, EMS Chief Bruce Farr said the ambulance decals were to be temporary, and were "certainly not related to the Afghan mission," but a mere sign of support for "the men and women in the Canadian Forces."
But now that council is involved, the issue is destined for a vote today on a motion put forward yesterday by Councillor Frances Nunziata (Ward 11, York South-Weston).
Her motion not only calls for a repeal of the order to remove the decals in September but asks that they remain in place for the "duration of the Canadian troop involvement in Afghanistan."
Late yesterday, council Speaker Sandra Bussin gave the official explanation of the incident. When pressed by Councillor Case Ootes (Ward 29, Toronto-Danforth), she said there had been no city order not to renew the decals.
Ms. Nunziata said she received calls from veterans yesterday. "They were outraged and insulted," she said.
Councillor Brian Ashton (Ward 36, Scarborough Southwest) was similarly incensed.
"By taking them off you are giving a black eye to Canada's premier city," Mr. Ashton said. This put David Miller, the left-leaning mayor, in the delicate position of professing support for the troops while acknowledging sensitivities around the "powerful symbol" of the decals. In the end, Mr. Miller said he will not support Ms. Nunziata's motion to extend the ribbon display.
"There are people who see it as support for the troops," he said. But "there are people who see it as support for a war." He said the city had received calls from "people saying 'why are you expressing support for the war in Afghanistan?' "
At an east-end fire station, where firefighters arrived to work yesterday amid news that nine of their comrades had died in a South Carolina warehouse blaze, there was decidedly less debate. To them, it's a simple matter of respect for the soldiers' sacrifice.
"Nobody over there wants to go and kill people," said one firefighter in his late 20s, who serves in an army reserve unit and has friends who have fought in Afghanistan. "They want to help people, same as on our job."
