The Reality of Donald Trump

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Has Defence of Canada turned to so much Confetti?


Blog story by Norm Richards




Yes, I worked in aerospace manufacturing in the late seventies and early eighties. That job enlightened me and probably gave me the best work experience I'll ever have in large manufacturing enterprise. In my life and family early on, many family members were part of the military in past wars. They defended our country as well as the whole commonwealth, as we called ourselves then. The Queen of England had some say in us then. As I grew up I became aware of the brave family members who went away to fight to keep us free. It made me proud and I wanted to be a part of it. In the days I went to early grade school I knew all these things. I watched anything that demonstrated military might. I cared. I wanted to be strong and stand free too. I never knew how I'd do it until one day, I heard there was a call for kids to join air cadets.

A light bulb went off in my brain and I began to shine from within. I went to the local Elks Hall recruitment with the strongest intentions and smile a mile long. I just knew I would fit in. It was in my blood. It may have been that same night I was handed out a uniform and told to show up the next week for parade. I was so excited when I showed my mom how I looked in uniform. Since it was peace time I think she rested a bit that I would not be sent off to war anytime soon. I was only 13 years old after all. I was tall and always looked older so I imagine if there was a real war I would have tried to join up prematurely. No, being tall simply gave me a leg up in the cadet ranks in my small northern town. Maybe my movements were a bit more exaggerated over the others but I really wanted to be there. When the Flight Sargent gave orders to make us march, when we didn't show marching skill, we were culled from the herd and cited for infractions. It didn't happen to me. I looked and behaved every bit a soldier who smelt it and wanted it to be. Perhaps in time, these things were recognized in me and I rose through the ranks. I learned discipline and respect for others. I learned to be somebody better. In summer camps at Trenton, Ontario I came in touch with city kids who played in the marching bands. I loved the drums and I loved marching to the music they played. It was comfort food for my musical brain. As I got older I thought I wanted to fly jets but I'd have to learn the basics of flying and development of my education side which was beginning to suffer. So the higher expectations the air cadet movement had of me would never go over the top. I topped out in the ranks, enjoyed my stay and went on in my life with other eventual interests. Music took over. Interest in girls was taking hold. But through all this I never forgot the influence military life and training brought me.

Throughout the sixties and early seventies, the culture and growth of the county's youth, peace movements, music and the drug culture all seemed to me a mixed bag of misdirection. How do you have peace, if you are not willing to fight for it? I thought. I quietly knew what was right and what was wrong. I thought it was fun to be growing through the time I did, don't get me wrong and I wasn't political or swayed to one side or the other on issues through out time. No, I knew what's best, most of the time. I had priorities and personal development to take care of regardless of what anything and anyone thought. I look back now and I'm fine with the way my career and the direction my life has taken. I've had a great deal of experience even if I would never reach great heights through education. The practical had dominated my life. I've made my way best I can. What skills I've possessed has made me. I like story and I like to write because I can.
I think you do things with the foundation you've possessed all along.

In that light, I bring this point of view. I wonder how safe the country I live in is to remain free. The present government has pretty much halted any expansion of the country's military and future defence capabilities in this current budget. We may have free trade with the United States of America but what's next, open house? In many areas of the economy we are simply America's bitch. We want to ship oil sands product through a south route and it makes sense to do so. The current US government and it's President appears to disagree. Is this high stakes poker gone wrong? Jets for oil? Big manufacturing and the American military machine has always had a strong lobby in Washington. Could we be trading ourselves into a corner by default? Yes, we need to balance the budget and save our children's future from monetary ruin. But we also have to come to some reasonable state of mind when it comes to developing our resources, military and future promise or lack of it in high tech education and training to say nothing about being a free and a less dependent country. Can we remain a country called Canada like we celebrate today at the Sochi Olympics or is take over of this country in the cards in the near future? I wonder. I'm not sure I could defend who we are today and mean it. Words may fail us even if we top the medal count in Sochi.

Update

The uprising in the Ukraine makes me wonder even more about the need for improving Canada's air force.

       

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