They serve the same Queen, fight the same foe and lay down their lives with equal valour and sacrifice. But when the fallen heroes of Canada and Britain come home, the welcome is very different.
In Canada, roads are cleared and police stand to attention to welcome home fallen heroes.
In Britain, hearses carrying their war dead routinely get stuck in traffic without even so much as a police escort
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I disagree with the title; it promotes a smug self-satisfaction with our country. The perceived lesser support for the British troops did not come from everyday Britons, but red tape. And Canada has bureaucrats too…
We can love our country without putting down others!
I’ve been enjoying this site for a few months now and finally felt I should add a comment here.
I greatly resonate with this article and am so thankful to be a Canadian. My brother was killed in Afghanistan last year and my family experienced this first hand. On what was one of the darkest days of our lives (for the first time seeing the flag draped box that held my brother and following the herse back to Toronto), the respect and honor being shown to him by everyone who not only stopped their cars to let us by, but also stood beside their car out of respect. Every overpass and exitramp/onramp which had EMS vehicles (Fire, Police and Ambulance) stopped and standing at attention. To every citizen who was standing on overpasses waving their Canadian flag to show support. In this moment of deep grief I had never been prouder to be a Canadian and to be part of these amazing people.
It was truly something that will touch my life forever.
A Canadian Soildiers sister.
Britain has alot more casualties than Canada. I am a Canadian and I have never seen them close down anything for a war hero. The only thing I have ever seen is Parliament refusing to lower the flags for each individual soldier.
This is the second time I have read this and I got teary each time. Soldier in the UK can’t even go out in public with out getting taunted or beaten. In Afghanistan a lot of my friends were Brits and they were amazed at the banners and letters of support and sent to the troops as they would never get that support where there from.
People in Canada may have opposing views on the conflict in Afghanistan however they do have the same view on support for the men and women there and that is the connection that that shows here at home and overseas!!!!
You smug asshole – change that title! No one is better than the other! Patriotism has nothing to do with red tape – have you ever been to Britian? The roads are horridly clogged, you couldn’t block traffic without a distaster happening. Canada we have like one car pass every minute at most.
YOU SICKENING PERSON. HOW DARE YOU MOCK THE BRITISH PEOPLE.
No one on THIS site is mockng the british- it was news article for general interest. If you have something to say may I suggest you contact the original reporter 🙂
I live close to the 401 where the heroes are taken from Trenton to Toronto. I get goosebumps and eyes well up with tears everytime I see people standing in respect and grief for our fallen soldiers. It is very sad, maybe other countries could stop for 15 minutes to pay respect to the heroes that have fought in battle-forget the redtape-whatever your beliefs are about the war-they chose to go and should be respected for it. I for one am grateful.
~~If you dont stand behind our troops……..
Please feel free to stand in front of them~~
HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHETHER OR NOT WE RESPECT THE DEAD.
SAYING CANADA IS BETTER THAN THE UK IS ARROGANT AND WAR-LIKE IN ITSELF.
HYPOCRITES!!!
LONG LIVE THE UNITED KINGDOM! GOD BLESS THE QUEEN!
What a great photo! We should all be very proud of our soldiers doing humanitarian and nation-building work in Afghanistan. When I meet soldiers, I shake their hand and tell them how proud I am to be Canadian. Canada is making the world a better place.
I’m not sure if Canada is better than Britain; that might be stretching it. Maybe if it were something obviously correct, like western democracy is better than the autocratic middle east.
@Anon:
Warlike? In which way? In case you can’t tell, we have freedom of speech, just like you. Hypocrite would also apply to you since your caps could be considered ‘warlike’.
As for your cars comment, we have just as bad traffic as Britain if not worse. After all, there are more Canadians then British, and the highways can get just as jammed if not worse. We do it out of kindness and caring, and just because Britain does not do this, it doesn’t make use better.
I admit, the title does imply different, but titles aren’t everything. After all, people have many titles from plumber to cashier to nerd and more, but we are still people.
Does anyone know what happens in the United States?
Just wondering.
I hope everyone keeps their cool. I think alot of us love Canada and our British/French & aboriginal roots. There are good people everywhere (and some bad also).
Take care
Alex
I have to say this seems very off-topic for this site and also an unnecessarily inflammatory title. Also the linked story is one of the worst tabloids in the UK so hardly unbiased reporting.
@ Young Freebie, in what way are there more Canadians? The population of the UK is almost twice that of Canada (60 million in the UK to 33million in Canada) This corrolates to a population density more than 80 times greater than Canada’s (246 people/ sq km versus 3 people/sq Km in Canada) (Granted there are large areas of Canada not populated but still…)
Inappropriate and offensive topic for this web site.
Why is it offensive?? Just because it shows that we honour our fallen in an appropriate way???
It is the soldier that gave you freedom of speech
Not the reporter……
Wow! I don’t understand why some of you are so mad? I didn’t say Britain’s bad! I actually love Britain!
I’m just stating the fact that we treat our fallen heroes with more respect and we should be proud of it.
And yes Anon, I’ve been to Britain loads of times. Lived in Southampton for a while and I think it’s a beautiful city.
you dont understand why people are mad? probably this: “why canada’s better than britain.” maybe you don’t realize how many canadians have british parents or are so themselves? i’ve spent so much time there i can’t legally donate blood, so i believe i’m at liberty to say canada isn’t exactly any better.
it will take more than a few photoshopped pics in a daily mail (awful newspaper, btw) article to change my mind.
there are easier way to rack up website hits, if thats what you’re looking for.
sd, I just came across the article on digg and thought it was interesting and something we should be proud of. Sorry if the title offended you. I’ll change it.
No, don’t change the title please. Don’t cave in to what some whackos think. If they don’t like it, they can go elsewhere to find their deals. (Which is really why we’re all here, ain’t it?)
Britain is actually becoming a more dangerous country due to their liberal immigration policies. Whether ‘Britain’ will exist in 60 years is questionable due to birthrates in certain demographics. Ever been to London? It’s like being in Riyadh. For these reasons alone, Canada is a better country.
I really think that this web site should avoid posting any contovertial material that may offend some people. Freebies, deals, coupons – Yes. Being also a community, sharing interesting information and even posting jokes (recently the jokes here were more offending then funny) is good too but be respectful to all mambers.
I really find this article completely inappropriate
@ Boo, thank you I appreciate you changing the title, as a British person living in BC I resented the suggestion one country is better than the other- both have many flaws and many good points.
@ John- seriously what a load of nonsense- immigration is not making Britain dangerous, no more than Canada- here in BC I can frequently be the only white person in a store or on the bus, and I think that can be a good thing. Canada and Britain have great opportunities to become truly diverse multicultural societies, scaremongering will do nothing to help.
As much as we love the country, this is not a gauge to measure whether a country is better or have more respect for the dead. I agree with Anon that it sounds arrogant, but I think Boo doesn’t mean it. It’s just a fun trivia for us to share.
I have no experience in traffic control, so I can’t comment on the level of difficulties in clearing traffics. However, Young Freebie is wrong. There are almost TWICE as many Britons as Canadians. There is also more land area in Canada than in the UK – 40 times more. The density and urban scale are very different. It is silly to compare Ottawa to London.
The point for the troops is to ensure our way of life. Stopping traffic, which can cost setbacks in economy is probably not the best way to honor the very souls who die fighting for it.
Also, clearing the road will cost problems for ambulance. The dead can wait, but what if someone needs to be rushed to the hospital?
Who decides who are heroes anyways? How about local police officers, coast guards, fire fighters or even teachers and security guards? Don’t get me wrong, I think the troops are fine brave people. I just don’t know where do you draw the line for someone to have a traffic clearing burial.
Anyway, stopping traffic is just a SOP in Canada. Frankly, it is more of a show for us than for the dead. I’d like to know how the countries are taking care of their families. I think that would mean a whole lot more than the rituals and our little useless debate here.
“I really think that this web site should avoid posting any contovertial material that may offend some people. Freebies, deals, coupons – Yes”~Someone above
It is my opinion that since this website deals with retailers and manufacturers of consumer goods, it should be controvertial in respect to those areas.
Cheap prices are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what is happening to Canadian consumers who we must also remember are also Canadian citizens.
I welcome those who go beyond the surface, and look at real issues when it comes to our factory to sales floor consumer goods and services.
Take care
Alex
HOLY!!! When I read that article nowhere did I see written by Boo Radley. Are you all missing the point? Who cares if it is the worst tabloid…he is just saying what happens and how these soldiers are treated, that is the WHOLE point to the article I didn’t find it offensive if anything it made me feel very sad for those soldiers and their loved ones. So he made a poor choice in the title…WHO CARES the bottom line we as Canadians treat our fallen soldiers and their families with love and respect and we should all be proud of that…not saying ” I am so offended by the link and the title.” Boo Hoo Get over yourselves.
maybe you guys should write Peter Almond and tell him to change HIS TITLE too 🙂
After all he IS saying Britain treats fallen heroes “SHABBY”
I think those who do not find the previous title offensive WOULD SEEM TO ENJOY BEING AT HITLER’S SIDE. It is the next step – one country is better, well, why not kill the other country? Call me what you will, “boo hoo”, crazy, whatever, but I know, I am from a country that has seen WAR IN THE FACE (Rwanda), I know how easy it is to change suddenly from peace to anger. I have been through this. The World is a community let us not pit favorites one against the other, especially our British brothers. I have family there. They are equals.
Mr. Boo did not write thinking it fully through. Had he done this he would post in a more politically correct manner and avoided the frustration he caused.
All I can say is turn away from your wicked WAR-LIKE comments in the future, and those who may see that Boo did nothing wrong, you are THE NEXT STEP TO THE FACISM! Until you see a river of blood at your feet, then you will understand how these types of ethnic slurs will cause chaos in the future of our World. I know this is hard for a Canadian born and raised to understand but WE ARE NOT SO DIFFERENT at the ends of the day. THis is the first step to chaos.
LONG LIVE THE WORLD’S PEOPLES. PEACE TO ALL.
Anon, what the hell is you problem. So what if you grew up in Rwanda, you should be proud to be a Canadian. But , no, we let loosers in our country to diss our own people. And so what, I live in a ethnocentric country and this article has no relation with people shooting AK47’s in from of my door and the killing of people. I dont believe that this post promotes hate in any way especially with it’s new title.
Why are people so scared of being politically correct all the time. Freedom of expression exists and if Boo read an article and he is proud to be Canadian and want’s to share it with his friends then more power to him.
And NO, YOU @#$#$%, BOO RADLEY DID NOT WRITE THE ARTICLE.
And what frustration did this cause. I was humbled and really proud to ba a canadian reading this article.
and what kind of idiot signs his name: ANON.
And I quote: “smug asshole” “YOU SICKENING PERSON.” “HYPOCRITES!!!” “HITLER’S SIDE” “FACISM” perhaps I am not reading the comments right but who is promoting hate???
My name is Anon, why you ask me why I sign my name this way? Why do you sign your name Joel?
I promote peace and love. No hate.
I can see JOEL you are by Hitler’s side too. MARCH ON MARCH ON.
EVIL PEOPLE.
How can you even call yourselves CANADIAN!
Why are the Canadian soldiers even there? They are to defend Canadian interests not to fight for the US. This has nothing to do with terrorism since we know it can and will not be eradicated by simply going into Afghanistan. Terrorism needs to eradicated by way of destroying the ideology of terrorism; institutions which promote such ideas of destruction.
Canada needs to adopt the foreign policy mantra used by the US: only do things that are in the best interest of CANADA only. Only CANADA matters.
@ Aron the title has nothing to do about the comparing of britian or canada. They are just saying that Canadians are greatful to the men and woman who served to protect us and bring peace to the world. Britian does the same but most of the britian roads/ highways only are 2 lanes, and canada has alot of bigger highways. And saying “Hitlers side” to people is a discrace to Canadians and against the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. So watch what u are premoting to people. Say the wrong thing and u might be in jail for it.