Sunday, September 25, 2005
The Toronto Sun's Peter Worthington Writes: "Still no justice for Stopford"
For those not quite in the know, there was once this Warrant Officer, Matt Stopford, who served in Croatia many years ago and came home with a slew of ailments.
A little while afterwards, an inquiry found out that a whole bunch of reservists tried to poion him because they viewed him as "too gung ho".
It was then that the Warrant decided to seek some sense of justice.
The problem with modern volunteer armies is that many new enlistees view their employment as glorified summer camp.
Take, for example, the reservists who tried to frag the Warrant. When they joined his regiment, the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI), what were they expecting? Were they expecting a romp in the forest in during the day, followed by a night of boozing and whoring? Or were they expecting a life-changing experience?
If you take away the Warrant's current struggles, what you're left with is a slowly growing malaise in this volunteer military service, with recruits confusing employment with commitment, and superiors desparate to enlist and retain anyone with a pulse and a smile at all costs, regardless of competance.
If you take away Matt's plight, you still have a group of cowards who have gotten away with murder, and a beaurocracy unwilling to pursue them for fear of a public relations backlash.
Being commited to military service includes accepting all the risks involved with the job, including getting killed or maimed - something that Cindy al-Shaheed refuse to accept, by the way. Anyone who thinks otherwise should consider another line of work, because this is the reality of warfare.
What Matt Stopford should've realised was that the charges who tried to kill should never have been put in uniform and sent out in the first place.
That is the saddest reality in this drama.
A little while afterwards, an inquiry found out that a whole bunch of reservists tried to poion him because they viewed him as "too gung ho".
It was then that the Warrant decided to seek some sense of justice.
"It's no longer a question of compensation, but one to expose wrongdoing," says Stopford, who in 1994 returned from UN duty in Croatia blind in one eye, with internal organs so damaged that even the Mayo Clinic could offer little help.
Six years later, the army informed Stopford that his own men had been trying to poison him. An investigation confirmed that some 30 people in the chain of command knew of the poison attempts, but no one told Stopford, or tried to stop it.
The problem with modern volunteer armies is that many new enlistees view their employment as glorified summer camp.
Take, for example, the reservists who tried to frag the Warrant. When they joined his regiment, the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI), what were they expecting? Were they expecting a romp in the forest in during the day, followed by a night of boozing and whoring? Or were they expecting a life-changing experience?
If you take away the Warrant's current struggles, what you're left with is a slowly growing malaise in this volunteer military service, with recruits confusing employment with commitment, and superiors desparate to enlist and retain anyone with a pulse and a smile at all costs, regardless of competance.
If you take away Matt's plight, you still have a group of cowards who have gotten away with murder, and a beaurocracy unwilling to pursue them for fear of a public relations backlash.
Being commited to military service includes accepting all the risks involved with the job, including getting killed or maimed - something that Cindy al-Shaheed refuse to accept, by the way. Anyone who thinks otherwise should consider another line of work, because this is the reality of warfare.
What Matt Stopford should've realised was that the charges who tried to kill should never have been put in uniform and sent out in the first place.
That is the saddest reality in this drama.
Saturday, September 24, 2005
The Sad Reality Of My Small World: Sympathies To Leading Seaman Kevin Teague
LS Kevin Teague was a NAV COMM from HMCS CARLETON in Ottawa who served on the Naval Reserve Co-Ordinated On-Job Training (NAVRES C-OJT) program here in Halifax. For a trade that is stressful and unforgiving, Kevin was the quiet, calm, collected guy in the communications control room (CCR). He eventually left the program to complete the Primary Leadership Qualification (PLQ) course with another fellow CAR NAV COMM, Cindy Beischer.
You're probably wondering why I'm writing about someone with whom I've only worked a few times prior to this past summer.
Jennifer Teague went missing on 8 Sep 05 after leaving work. Her remains were found 11 days later at an area park. At the time of her disappearance, I didn't know the connection between her and her brother, Kevin. At the same time I was hoping against hope for Alicia Ross; that one died a couple of days after Jennifer's discovery. It was one of those nagging questions... whether or not to let people know about her for Kevin's sake when she was first reported missing. Of course, I was going through some tumultuous times myself - looking for an apartment and a new job can wreak havoc on romantic procrastinators like myself - so I felt that encouraging one crusade for a missing young lady would be enough.
The tragic end to the disappearances of Jennifer and Alicia is unbearable. At least in Alicia's case, some freak turned himself in confessing to the crime. For Jennifer, someone is (or some people are) still running around, trying desperately to hide from the proverbial long arm of the law. But the walls will eventually close in, and soon there will be no escape. Maybe the demons that goaded the killer(s) will force surrender. Just like that fucker, Daniel Sylvester.
Or maybe people like you will probably remember something that happened on the night Kevin Teague's little sister disappeared. And if you do, call the police immediately. The family needs closure desperately, and not a moment too soon.
To you, "Teaguer", and your family, as well as those who loved, and are loved by, his sister: all my deepest sympathies and prayers in your time of great loss. Although I am not a religious person, I believe that the One God will look after you and yours in this time and for the days to come, and that sooner or later, we will all get to see Jennifer again, forever young and lively, in another time, another place.
Respect, always.
You're probably wondering why I'm writing about someone with whom I've only worked a few times prior to this past summer.
Jennifer Teague went missing on 8 Sep 05 after leaving work. Her remains were found 11 days later at an area park. At the time of her disappearance, I didn't know the connection between her and her brother, Kevin. At the same time I was hoping against hope for Alicia Ross; that one died a couple of days after Jennifer's discovery. It was one of those nagging questions... whether or not to let people know about her for Kevin's sake when she was first reported missing. Of course, I was going through some tumultuous times myself - looking for an apartment and a new job can wreak havoc on romantic procrastinators like myself - so I felt that encouraging one crusade for a missing young lady would be enough.The tragic end to the disappearances of Jennifer and Alicia is unbearable. At least in Alicia's case, some freak turned himself in confessing to the crime. For Jennifer, someone is (or some people are) still running around, trying desperately to hide from the proverbial long arm of the law. But the walls will eventually close in, and soon there will be no escape. Maybe the demons that goaded the killer(s) will force surrender. Just like that fucker, Daniel Sylvester.
Or maybe people like you will probably remember something that happened on the night Kevin Teague's little sister disappeared. And if you do, call the police immediately. The family needs closure desperately, and not a moment too soon.
To you, "Teaguer", and your family, as well as those who loved, and are loved by, his sister: all my deepest sympathies and prayers in your time of great loss. Although I am not a religious person, I believe that the One God will look after you and yours in this time and for the days to come, and that sooner or later, we will all get to see Jennifer again, forever young and lively, in another time, another place.
Respect, always.
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
WTF, blogger.com!!??!
WARNING - BAD LANGUAGE, GRAMMAR AND SPELLING ALERT!
So here I was putting the finishing touches of a heat-of-the-moment tirade against a pathetic lowlife pice of shit named Daniel Sylvester who has been charged with the murder of Alicia Ross.
Oh Man... was I on a fucking roll. Was I feeling good about venting my frustrations out on someone who has succeded in forfeiting his member ship in the human race.
And as soon as I was done, I hit the "Publish Post" button.
And then... nothing.
As far as I know, all this hard work has gone down the drain, as I received an "action not implemented" message. Truly a WTF moment, just like all other good projects.
"Ahhh... what the fuck?" I asked myself, knowing that there is always a "back" button to retrace a good portion of my steps. So I exploited it.
And thus came the message that the server was down for "planned maintenance".
PLANNED FUCKING MAINTENANCE? IN NORTH AMERICAN INTERNET PRIME-TIME?
What the fuck, blogger-dot-com? Is your server in Australia? Had I known I would've definitely held of on my written Jihad on this fucking refuse.
Had I known you'd be switching hamsters at around 20:00 - 20:15 (ADT) I would've cooled my heels, gone out for a cigarette and return to write something sad, resigned about the whole affair.
BUT YOU FUCKED UP, BLOGGER-DOT-COM. IN MY OPINION, YOU JUST RUINED A GOOD CHUNK OF MY EVENING!
AND WHAT ABOUT THE OTHERS WHO WERE TRYING TO POST EQUALLY PASSIONATE ITEMS WHEN YOU PULLED THE PLUG? HAVE THIS EVER ENTERED YOUR NARROW, LITTLE MINDS?
SO THANKS A WHOLE LOT FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR LETTING EVERYONE KNOW ABOUT THE PLANNED MAINTENANCE.
IF THIS EVER HAPPENS AGAIN, I (or someone more technically deviant) WILL GIVE YOU A REAL MAINTENANCE JOB TO DEAL WITH!
JUMPING. JESUS. FUCK.
If this keeps up, my website is going to start looking pretty damn good...
So here I was putting the finishing touches of a heat-of-the-moment tirade against a pathetic lowlife pice of shit named Daniel Sylvester who has been charged with the murder of Alicia Ross.
Oh Man... was I on a fucking roll. Was I feeling good about venting my frustrations out on someone who has succeded in forfeiting his member ship in the human race.
And as soon as I was done, I hit the "Publish Post" button.
And then... nothing.
As far as I know, all this hard work has gone down the drain, as I received an "action not implemented" message. Truly a WTF moment, just like all other good projects.
"Ahhh... what the fuck?" I asked myself, knowing that there is always a "back" button to retrace a good portion of my steps. So I exploited it.
And thus came the message that the server was down for "planned maintenance".
PLANNED FUCKING MAINTENANCE? IN NORTH AMERICAN INTERNET PRIME-TIME?
What the fuck, blogger-dot-com? Is your server in Australia? Had I known I would've definitely held of on my written Jihad on this fucking refuse.
Had I known you'd be switching hamsters at around 20:00 - 20:15 (ADT) I would've cooled my heels, gone out for a cigarette and return to write something sad, resigned about the whole affair.
BUT YOU FUCKED UP, BLOGGER-DOT-COM. IN MY OPINION, YOU JUST RUINED A GOOD CHUNK OF MY EVENING!
AND WHAT ABOUT THE OTHERS WHO WERE TRYING TO POST EQUALLY PASSIONATE ITEMS WHEN YOU PULLED THE PLUG? HAVE THIS EVER ENTERED YOUR NARROW, LITTLE MINDS?
SO THANKS A WHOLE LOT FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR LETTING EVERYONE KNOW ABOUT THE PLANNED MAINTENANCE.
IF THIS EVER HAPPENS AGAIN, I (or someone more technically deviant) WILL GIVE YOU A REAL MAINTENANCE JOB TO DEAL WITH!
JUMPING. JESUS. FUCK.
If this keeps up, my website is going to start looking pretty damn good...
Not Again!
Rita Gets PMS On Us
Right about now, Hurricane Rita has been upgraded to a Category 5 storm.
In plain English, that would mean that there's a potential for another New Orleans moment.
And since hurricanes love warm waters, expect Rita to do her damage around the Gulf of Mexico. By that time, New Orleans will really be sinking!
In plain English, that would mean that there's a potential for another New Orleans moment.
And since hurricanes love warm waters, expect Rita to do her damage around the Gulf of Mexico. By that time, New Orleans will really be sinking!
Bourbon blues on the street loose and completeIn the meantime, three of Her Canadian Majesty's Ships are heading back to Halifax after a nice little stay in Biloxi, Mississippi. Will they be needed for another Unison? Who knows?
Under skies all smoky blue-green
I can Forksake the dixie dead shake
So we dance the sidewalk clean
My memory is muddy what's this river I'm in
New Orleans is sinking and I don't want to swim
- Tragically Hip, "New Orleans is Sinking"
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