[fire_i]

On a side note which is both unrelated and humoristic, despite being located in France and being about a battle containing canadian soldiers, the Vimy memorial site's french writings are rigged with spelling, grammar and syntax mistakes. They read some of it on the news and I smiled and giggled all along.

I'll always remember the Wombat mine, which can be "blown into a road"...

[OnTheIce]

Canadaka Canadaka:

I don't think anyone looks good from this, Harper clearly should have invited the opposition leaders without having to be prodded and with due time, and at the same time, even short notice the opposition leaders should make the time to go.

The French PM isn't attending either.

This isn't a 3rd grade birthday party.

You don't need an invitation to acknowledge heros that fought for our Country.

[ridenrain]

Did anyone really expect anything better from layton or even Dion?
Paul Martin has enough trouble remembering where Canadians fought in WW2 so that shows how high membering Vimy is on the list.

The people who care already don't vote Liberal, and the people who do vote Liberal don't care. If they did, I'd expect them to make their leaders care, rather than asking what the big deal is.
If you knew abour it, you'd know what a big deal it was.

[Mr_Canada old]

Too busy?

Weren't Told? Hell, people've known for months, what the hell?

That little prick bastard!

Let me at 'em!

I would have jumped at a chance to visit Vimy.

[SprCForr]

The added impetus was the finishing of the refurbishment project.

[Wally_Sconce]

Didn't Harper refuse to go to a ceremony in France while in oppositon to prevent Liberals from pushing through legislation?

[icekarma2752]

OnTheIce OnTheIce:

Looks like Dion is just too busy to pay respect to the men who gave thier lives 90 years ago at Vimy.

This upcoming week is the 90th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge and Dion can't put poltics aside and stand with Harper at Vimy for this very important ceremony.

Partisan politics aside, it's embarassing that a man that wants to represent this Country (whether he's Conservative, Liberal or NDP), can't find the time to pay respect to the people that made this Country so great.

Shame on Dion.

youre forgetting just one little thing...dion is a total frenchy...they didnt appreciate our efforts in either of the world wars..better red than dead i guess

[inverted]

As Spr said, they just redid the entire memorial, from what I hear it is going to be an amazing site. People will actually be allowed in the trenches on top of the ridge and on some of the grass that was just cleared of UXO. Should give people a real idea of what it was like to be a soldier on the battlefield.

As for Dion not knowing this was happening I have to call BS. I've known about it for over a year and I'm just a low level Air Force type. Hell, The Queen will be attending so all the leaders of the parties would have known, it would have been included in their daily (or weekly, depending on who your dealing with) briefings.

Also, France is in the middle of a presidential election so I'm not surprised their Prime Minister or President won't being showing up. Plus Canada taking Vimy Ridge was a huge slap in the face for the French, they tried and failed, on their own land!! They probably still haven't gotten over that yet.

Cheers,

[Canadaka]

I really regret not getting out to Vimmy when I was in France, we tried, but when your tight on time and backpacking, Vimmy is not an easy place to get to, you need a car. We did make it as far as Lile though, which is the closest major city. I plan to go back and I must visit this time.

I did make it to normandy though, and had a private tour by car of the whole area, and the guide new all the Canadian history so tailoured the tour to that. I was amazed to see Canadian flags waving in the wind on many residences in the areas were the Canadians liberated.


I wonder, are there any British politicians going? Is the Queen going as the Queen of England or the Queen of Canada.

[Rihx]

This isnt surprising comming from a liberal leader. If you remember a couple years back, Paul Martin on the beaches of Normandy... Giving a speach about how our brave soldiers gave their lives on the beaches of Norway...

[Wullu]

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

Yeah, who came up with 90 years being such a big deal. I could understand if it was the 100 year memorial, but 90 years seems somewhat fabricated. Don't we dutifully assemble every November 11?

Because the Memorial is being rededicated this year after a two year restoration.

[Zipperfish]

Wullu Wullu:

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

Yeah, who came up with 90 years being such a big deal. I could understand if it was the 100 year memorial, but 90 years seems somewhat fabricated. Don't we dutifully assemble every November 11?

Because the Memorial is being rededicated this year after a two year restoration.

Oh. I didn't know that. It was a stupid thing for me to say anyway.

[Numure]

Who really cares? The average voter, doesnt.

[RUEZ]

Numure Numure:

Who really cares? The average voter, doesnt.

You're right they've pretty much already made up their minds on him.

[grainfedprairieboy]

Canadaka Canadaka:

I don't think anyone looks good from this, Harper clearly should have invited the opposition leaders without having to be prodded and with due time, and at the same time, even short notice the opposition leaders should make the time to go.

The French PM isn't attending either.

He isn't attending because he IS the French PM.

In case you missed it, the French openly have advocated for the breakup of Canada, have historically surrendered multiple times depending on boys like the ones buried at Vimy to liberate them, support the worlds dictators, hate the west and its culture (especially the United States)......I could go on but it is really little wonder that Dion rejected being a Canadian in favour of being a citizen of France.

Maybe he is not there because of orders from his country.

Correction. He attended.