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N.B. group behind anti-yellow ribbon campaign
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CTV.ca News Staff
Date: Fri. Sep. 28 2007 3:00 PM ET
Fredericton's mayor is calling a peace coalition misguided as the group pressures local businesses to stop displaying yellow decals calling for support of Canadian troops in Afghanistan.
Mayor Brad Woodside says the group is focusing its criticism on local proprietors when it should be lobbying the government.
"When you ask people to take down the yellow ribbon that says support our troops, I think we're really going after the wrong people," Woodside told CTV Atlantic.
"If you have a problem with what the military is doing, then go after the politicians."
Tracey Glynn is a member of the Fredericton Peace Coalition and says that wearing a "Support Our Troops" yellow ribbon trumpets positive support for the war.
"I think by putting the yellow ribbon on or wearing the red shirt, you're being a cheerleader for the war," Glynn said.
Glynn says members of the coalition have threatened to withdraw support of local businesses if they continue to display the decals. The group's intention is to reignite the debate over the war in Afghanistan.
"We'll be launching a take down your ribbon campaign in October, just before the sixth anniversary of the invasion and occupation of Afghanistan," Glynn told CTV Atlantic.
Cathy Delong is responsible for the visible sea of yellow around Fredericton. After being inspired by the support of another New Brunswick town, Delong went door to door asking residents and business owners to display their support for Canadian troops.
"If (the coalition) doesn't want to support the troops and their families, leave the people alone who want to do it," Delong said.
The decision to show support for the Canadian Armed Forces with the decals has not been without controversy in other parts of the country.
In August, Ottawa police began displaying the yellow ribbons on their cruisers causing some civic politicians to vocally oppose the plan.
While in Vancouver, police allow the decals on their patrol cars, Calgary police have been prohibited from displaying the decals by the city.
In June, a similar backlash to the yellow ribbons occurred in Toronto when emergency personnel were ordered to take down decals on city-owned EMS, ambulance or fire vehicles.
City council voted unanimously on a motion to indefinitely extend the use of decals after concerned veterans voiced their complaints to city hall.
Canadian troops are in Afghanistan as part of NATO's International Security Assistance Force. Seventy-one Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have died since the combat mission began in 2002.
With a report from CTV Atlantic's Erin O'Halloran
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Perhaps they should look at reducing duties resellers must pay for products coming from the US to Canada in order to level the field? Then it would be prudent for the resellers to offer competitive pricing and good service to maintain a loyal customer base.
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John
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Graham
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Maybe the rest of us should create ribbons that say, "We don't support peace activist who don't really know what they're doing, but decide to act on a whim."
Louise
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Dan
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I also have a right under the same act to express my feelings. I will support all of the troops no matter how long they are over there. I will continue to proudly fly my support the troops yellow ribbon flag directly below my Canadian flag in my yard. I will continue to wear yellow or red on every Friday to show my fellow co-workers that I am a proud Canadian that hopes all the men and woman be they Canadian, Danish, German or American come home to see their own families again.
Glenda Hickey
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Martin
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I would think that every woman alive would support our troops.
Geoff from Fredericton
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I live in Fredericton and I must say, if I were serving overseas and saw the sea of yellow, it would be a comfort to know that though they may be out of sight, they are not out of our thoughts.
Jeff Langille
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I am from Fredericton, and CFB Gagetown is only about 20 minutes away. For the peace coalition to attack a yellow ribbon campaign is a quite hard slap in the face to the friends and families of these soldiers.
The leaders of the peace coalition should confront elected officials if they are displeased with Canada going to war. The yellow ribbon campaign is a symbol of respect for those who are putting their lives on the line. For me it is not a symbol in support of war.
Phil
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The only problem with the ribbons is that they are quintessentially American. Couldn't we have come up with a made-at-home way of supporting our troops?
Kaytlyn R
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Clayton
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Navy Lieutenant
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There are many people and groups in Canada that oppose our armed forces being involved in anything more than being an aide to civil power. Really, most Canadians who have a modicum of historical awareness don't give them the time of day.
Kris
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I believe the funds collected from the sale of yellow ribbons, red shirts, etc go to help support the families of our Canadian soldiers. Perhaps you should walk a mile in their shoes before criticizing attempts to show support.
Hope
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If you don't like the war, that is your business -- but you could at least have the decency to support our troops who are putting their lives on the line to hopefully improve conditions in Afghanisan!!!!!!
You also seem to have forgotten that our troops were sent to Afghanistan AT THE REQUEST of the United Nations.
Also, you should know (but apparently do not) that when you join the military you agree to go wherever your government sends you and to put you life on the line for your country!!
You have the right to voice your opinion, BUT you do not have the right to DICTATE to me as to where I shop, etc. or the right to tell me what decals that I put on my vehicle, etc.
Michael (CF member)
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Rick
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Jay
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"A yellow ribbon is a symbol with various meanings, mostly associated with those waiting for the return of a loved one or of military troops who are temporarily unable to come home"
No where in this quote does it mention supporting a war mission or its use as gov propaganda. I suggest this group get its facts straight before they cause further humilation to themselves. I am sure this group represents a small percentage of the population and the majority of Canadians support our brave men and women in uniform.
Cen
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Stephanie
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Jake
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Ed Montgomery
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Ken
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Carrol
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Cyndi
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Dwayne Moholitny - Edmonton
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Ray - London
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I have 2 vehicles and I keep proudly replacing the yellow ribbons after each repeatedly disappears. I will not stop showing my support for our heroic soldiers and their families. I refuse to submit to people whose rhetoric is woefully misinformed.
ance
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I hear it from both sides and I just don't get it.
I feel no ambiguity or confusion in either area. I find it easy to separate the two realities.
I support the troops 100% because they are are putting themselves in harms way and their intent is to help others and serve the people.
I support the war 0% because I feel it is a USA driven sham whose mask of helping is thinly drawn over some sinister political machinations in an inherently unstable area.
its a no brainer... support for troops vs support for war...they are two different things.
SBuck
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Who are these people to TRY and get businesses and others not to express their support?
AJ
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Peter Bannister
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michael mccormick
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Ed D.
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Phil
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Jason
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Stephen
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I don't agree with criticizing individuals who choose to display the ribbon, but the federal government itself bears a good deal of responsibility for conflating support for the troops with support for Canada's policy in Afghanistan.
rouquinne
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"Why is it (...)any group that thinks it has some sort of moral justification for telling people what they can and cant do and what they should and shouldn't do are tolerated?"
It's called "freedom of expression" and it's enshrined in our Charter of Rights.
Opinions like those of this "peace" group that confuse support for the military with support for war are tolerated because that's what we do in a democratic society. And, fortunately, those who disagree are allowed to freely offer their opinions too.
Steve
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CM
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Pauline
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Regardless of your opinions on the War...Support the Troops and their families. Until you can walk a day in our shoes you have no right to crisitize....
If you can't stand Behind our Troops.....PLEASE STAND INFRONT OF THEM!
Some Heroes Wear Capes....Mine wears Combat boots!
R. M. Levesque
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John
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Vanessa
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Bill
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However the federal government is using it to propagandize a war many people in Canada would rather see end soon.
I can see businesses displaying the ribbon, but It does not belong on public services. I did not vote for this war, and I believe the major of Canadians are not for it. It is just the vocal minority that want to support it. Ipsos Polls in March of last year showed a divided support for the war by November Polls showed that When citizens were asked if they would support the mission until 2009, 58 per cent of Canadians said "no" and 39 per cent said they "strongly oppose" the mission.
Personally I support the poor innocent military men and women that are fighting a war that politicians have foisted on Canada, not the war itself. I find it offensive that the government and hawks of all stripes have taken the yellow ribbon campaign and turned it into a pro war rallying point.
During the Vietnam war hawks wrapped themselves in the Flag , this time they are covered in ribbons of yellow. Peace types like Glyn should be promoting a Bring our troops home ribbon, which should also be yellow. The best way we can support our troops is to bring them home from Afghanistan.
Wendy P
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James
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Terry
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Caroline
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Mart
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Tracy
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Rod P.
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I wonder if Glynn knows where the 9/11 terrorists were trained and financed from? Does she and her group realize who started these acts of terrorism?
Jim
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Jay
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"If you do not want to stand behind our troops, feel free to stand in front of them."
Heidi
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kat
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sad!
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KP
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Josh
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kat
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Steve
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karen
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Darren Daigle
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Happy Canadian
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Aligning supporting troops with supporting war is a stretch.
DJ
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Annette
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Stephen B
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taylor
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