Removal of "Support our Troops" decals a Joke

Despite complaints the move is an insult to Canadian soldiers, Toronto's Mayor is backing plans to remove "Support our Troops" decals from fire trucks and ambulances, saying they could be construed as a city endorsement of the war in Afghanistan.

Mayor David Miller said yesterday the decals will be removed beginning in September, a year after they were first added to the backs of about 170 fire trucks and 175 ambulances.

"When you have families already living in anticipatory grief, it's a bit of a slap in the face," said Katherine Hodgson-McMahon, executive director of the Toronto Military Family Resource Centre.

Mr. Miller added, though, that the ribbons were controversial.

"The yellow ribbon, as you know, to many of us, means support for our troops. To some people it's a symbol of support for the war in Afghanistan and [EMS] Chief [Bruce] Farr and others in the city have received a number of calls from people who are concerned about the city expressing an opinion on the war. The program was always scheduled to last for a year. It will be wrapped up this fall."

Ms. Hodgson-McMahon said the ribbons are an important symbol to people with family members serving in Afghanistan.

"You can support the troops without supporting the mission," she said. "It is all about bringing your soldiers home safely. Family members tell me that when they are driving on the road and see a yellow ribbon, they say, 'Yay, someone believes in my kid.' "

More than 220 people in the Greater Toronto Area are next-of-kin to people deployed on the Afghanistan mission, she said.

"Leave the ribbons on. I think it's the worst thing our city has ever done," Ms. Nunziata said.

Mr. Miller said he would vote against it.

"I don't think, frankly, it's the job of city council to debate the war in Afghanistan," he said.

Mr. Miller, Emergency Medical Services Chief Bruce Farr and Bill Stewart, Toronto's fire chief, all told news conferences yesterday the decals would be peeled off over several weeks, beginning in September, as vehicles go into the shop for annual maintenance.

The EMS decals, which cost about $3,000, were paid for out of the taxpayer-funded EMS budget, Chief Farr said.

Toronto's firefighters union spearheaded and paid for the decals for the backs of fire trucks, with approval from Chief Stewart.

"We would prefer to keep them on our vehicles," said Scott Marks, president of the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters Association.

"It is not political. We did it to show support for the men and women in the military."

Brad Watters, president of the Toronto Paramedics Association, also said he is in favour of the ribbons staying put.

"Whether you support the war or not is not the issue," Mr. Watters said. He described the decals as "the least we can do" to express support for the military personnel in Afghanistan.

Ottawa, however, has yellow "Support Our Troops" ribbons on the backs of its fire trucks.

The decision last year followed a public suggestion by then-mayor Bob Chiarelli for city employees to show support for the troops by wearing red clothing to work on Fridays, explained Barre Campbell, a spokesman for the city.

The decals have remained on Ottawa fire vehicles without complaint, Mr. Campbell said.

God Bless America !!!!

Well sitting at my desk at work today I started thinking about an
event that occurred in my life a little over 6 years ago, 2 weeks
after the Infamous September 11th to be exact.

I was sitting at my computer on a day like any other playing Euchre
on Msn.com under the nickname "Tribute2Heroes" many people
would stop and ask me why I had chosen this name and my response
was the same to each one “I have chosen this name for two reasons
the first being that I lost a very close family friend on September 11th
(Out of respect for his family I have chosen to with hold his name.)

He was one of the bravest men I have ever had the honor of knowing.
He was one of the many courageous firemen who perished in the Twin
Towers at the hands of the cowardice Terrorists known as Al-Qaida

The second reason I chose this name was out of respect for any person
who has lost their life well in the line of duty.

After about 15 minutes of waiting for my Tourney to start this stupid
ass moron decides to come in to the chat lobby and make an ass of
himself, after over hearing my explanation of the personal reasoning
behind my choice of name he had the nerve to say “I feel no sympathy
for those stupid idiots, they deserved to die, knowing the tower could
collapse at any moment they made the stupid decision to still go and
enter it”.

This is where I lost it completely on this little piss ant I responded
“Are you a F**king Moron (please excuse the language but I was
really upset at the time) what right do you have to say and make
such idiotic and hurtful comments? Yes they knew that when they
agreed to take the job that of course risk was involved yet they
chose to do it.

Any job in the world has risk to some degree. Yes some are more
dangerous then others, a Police officer for instance could be shot
and killed well walking down the street or busting a criminal but
yet they still do their Job because that’s what they love to do, a
teller in a bank could be shot and killed during a robbery yet
they still show up 8 - 4 everyday, Something could go wrong with
a panicking victim and a lifeguard could drown well trying to
rescue him or her.

At this point I had calmed down a little and decided to ask him a
question I said seriously how would you feel if you came home and
found your home in flames? Knowing your family, girlfriend, wife,
son or daughter could be trapped inside? Then a few seconds after
the big red machines called fire trucks arrive on the scene they
decide that it’s a lost cause so they jump back on to the trucks
and drive away?

It was then that he told me to go to F**K myself that was the
only answer he had for me other then to go to hell. He then left
the chat with what I can only assume was his tale between his
legs. The sad thing I found out a short time later from one of his
friends was he was an American citizen.

How could he disrespect so many hard working people of his own
great nation? And at a time when the United States was hurting
and many different people from many different backgrounds, jobs,
economic standings came together under one common goal, to
help there fellow man or woman. It showed me how great a
country The USA truly is. God Bless America even if it has the
odd Jackass living in it.

The road to honour

Hundreds line Hwy. 401 bridges to bid goodbye to fallen troopers

In a brilliant and emotional show of support, a sea of red and white lined the overpasses east of the city last night in honour of the three soldiers who were killed in Afghanistan last week.

Hundreds of people stood on several overpasses from Northumberland County to Durham, most either wearing Canada's colours or waving a Canadian flag, as the convoy carrying the three fallen members of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry made its way along Hwy. 401.

In Northumberland County, where people been showing their support from the overpasses since the first Canadian soldiers were killed in Afghanistan, 200 people lined one bridge in Port Hope.

Every fire department in Northumberland County, as well as Northumberland County Paramedics and OPP, Cobourg and Port Hope Police, had bridges covered, saluting the procession as it went by.

Durham firefighters and paramedics also lined up with their vehicles.

The dead soldiers -- Cpl. Stephen Bouzane, 26, a Scarborough native, Pte. Joel Wiebe, 22, and Sgt. Christos Karigiannis -- arrived by plane at CFB Trenton, and after a ceremony at the base, the bodies were driven to the coroner's office in Toronto be examined before being released to their families.

"We don't like war, nobody does. But they are over there to help not to hurt,"

*This is dedicated to all those brave man and woman that serve in the Military and are fighting for the very peace that we at times take for granted. Wither Canadian, American, British or what ever country you are fighting for I thank you and "I salute you".*

Gold heist: Canada rally denied

A controversial offside call denied Canada a tying goal in its CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal, a 2-1 loss to the United States on Thursday.

Atiba Hutchinson put a shot past American keeper Kasey Keller in stoppage time, but Mexican referee Benito Archundia waved the goal off, Hutchinson was offside.

Replays showed the ball went off U.S. defender Oguchi Onyewu, and that Canadian attackers appeared to be even with the last American defender, meaning the goal should have counted. Canadian players were visibly irate, and they vehemently argued to no avail with Archundia, who seconds later blew the final whistle.

Canadian players and substitutes complained bitterly after the match. At one point, former Canadian Soccer Association chief operating officer Kevan Pipe -- who is running the Chicago venue for CONCACAF -- stepped in front of Canadian manager Morgan Quarry as he harangued the officials. Pipe was fired by the CSA last November.

It's not the first time Canada has been at odds with Archundia or members of his staff. The referee called two late fouls against Canada in a World Cup qualifier with Honduras on Sept. 4, 2004. Archundia awarded Honduras a late penalty kick which led to the game-tying goal. Then a potential go-ahead goal by Canadian forward Olivier Occean was negated by a second foul and the game ended 1-1. Canadian defender Mark Watson disputed both calls at the time.

After Frankie Hejduk and Landon Donovan scored to give the U.S. 2-0 lead, the Americans nearly nearly gave their spot in the final away. Canada was not only able to score a goal, its first in seven games against the Americans, but probably deserved another.

Iain Hume put a ball over the crossbar from 25 yards in the 75th minute. He was back to bother goalkeeper Kasey Keller a minute later. Dribbling into the box, he turned defender Carlos Bocanegra around and got the ball on his left foot. He took a hard shot to the far corner of the net, and Keller had no chance.

That goal will be little consolation to the Maple Leafs, especially after they thought they tied the game in the final minute of stoppage time.

The Americans can't have been happy with the finish, either. This was the second straight game they gave up a late goal -- Panama scored in the 84th minute in the quarter-finals.

After struggling to finish several chances -- a recurring theme for the Americans lately -- Hejduk finally got the offence on track in the 39th minute.

Pablo Mastroeni collected the ball on the right side of the field after a set piece by DaMarcus Beasley. He passed across the field to Donovan, who tapped the ball back to into Hejduk's path at the top of the box.

Michael Bradley, the son of U.S. coach Bob Bradley, would have been in Hejduk's way, but the youngster dropped to the ground and Hejduk took a solid shot with his right foot. The ball hit the left post and caromed into the goal past a diving Paul Onstad.

Hejduk will miss the final after picking up his second yellow card in as many games. Bradley, also will sit out the final after getting a red card in the 89th minute for a reckless tackle.

The defending champions, who are unbeaten in the tournament, play Mexico or Guadeloupe on Sunday.

With 33 goals, Donovan moved within one of Eric Wynalda's U.S. career record. Kasey Keller played his 100th international game, matching Tony Meola's American mark for goalkeepers.

It was the 32-year-old Hejduk's first goal since June 11, 2000, against Mexico, and it sent him on a mad dash across the field. He slapped hands with coach Bob Bradley and the players on the bench, pumping his fists as the rests of his teammates mobbed him.

Seven minutes later, the Americans were celebrating again.

Onstad, who was starting because No. 1 goalie Greg Sutton is still feeling the effects of a concussion, tripped up Beasley on a breakaway in front of the goal. He was given a yellow card, and the referees awarded the Americans a penalty kick.

Donovan connected on a perfect shot, nestling the ball behind a diving Onstad. The team ran over to Beasley, who was still being attended to on the sideline.

Canada hasn't beaten the United States since 1985, a run of futility that stretched to 13 matches with Thursday night's loss.

I am throughly disgusted with the Referee Mr Benito Archundia actions
so for this (Pulls a RED CARD from his upper shirt pocket and holds it up
in front of Mr Archundia)

You are banished from all future soccer games the reasoning behind that is because your an IDIOT ...so please now GET off my pitch and get a real job you MORON!!.

KidMecca's Rating of anger: 9* out of 10