The Honourable Jack Layton,
Member of Parliament
Leader, NDP,
Dear Mr. Layton,
Thank you for your stand on the matter of Harper’s extension of the mission in Afghanistan. I am appalled by the lack of opposition from the Official Opposition in this matter and in fact, on every matter since the Afghan Detainee crisis and the refusal of Stephen Harper and his Caucus to participate in the democratic process in our House. I cannot tell you how much this distresses me as a citizen of this country. As the mother of a soldier.
My only son left yesterday on pre-deployment training for Afghanistan. I cannot tell you the depths of my fear and misgiving about this mission. I do not trust that the Executive Branch of Government has been forthcoming on the rationale for this decision. I do not trust that they have appreciated the gravity of the lives that weigh in the balance, both Canadian and Afghan. I am appalled that they feel that announcing the seemingly miraculous conversion to a “training mission” is going to provide some kind of imaginary forcefield around our forces on the ground to suddenly make them safe. I suppose they won’t qualify for veterans status either, since it’s a “training” mission?
Afghan women have been vocal in their opposition to the NATO Occupation. Why is their voice given less weight than the Taliban if this is indeed about the women and children we are there to help? What has happened to Canada’s proud tradition of Diplomacy? Never mind, I know the answer to that question, more appropriately, how do we educate people about how far we have strayed from the path of a Peaceful and Peacekeeping Nation?
Please continue your vocal opposition to this, the media seems to have a very short attention span these days. I will do whatever I can, to call this astonishingly undemocratic government and their undeclared coalition with what used to be the Liberals. Apparently we have much work to do,
Sometimes I despair,
Kim Poirier
I have yet to hear from any of the leaders I wrote.
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I wrote tot he Liberal party. They had sent me a letter wanting support. Told them no and gave them many reasons why, the Afghan extension in particular. A rep responded saying that’s their stance on Afghanistan, that he couldn’t say much more because he’s only a rep, but that Ignatieff would get back to me.
Apparently, they are receiving thousands of e-mails and letters on that and on C-300.
Kim, again, I hope all goes well for your son. A dark day, I’m sure. We won’t go silent for his sake and others like him and their families.
Thank you so much for your thoughts and your excellent blog, it means alot to me.