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| July | 25 |
| 2006 |
It feels rather odd knowing that Canadians are now stronger in their support for a nation's right to stand up to terror than Brits.
Today's Guardian poll shows that
...only 22% of voters believe Israel has reacted proportionately to the kidnapping of soldiers and other attacks from militant groups in southern Lebanon.
A similar poll in Canada, on the other hand, finds that
...64% of Canadians believed Israel's action is either somewhat or completely justified.
(Although who would have predicted that, in the French speaking part of Canada, only 57 per cent of Quebecers would have said that the Israeli response is "not at all justified".)
That 22% finding in Britain is profoundly disturbing. Is it really the case that, were a terror group based in France to be murdering Brits in the UK using weapons supplied by Germany, with the French government refusing to take any action, and the group proudly declaring its intention of wiping Britain off the face of the map, a mere 22% of the country would want the British government to take action in response? Because that is, in effect, what happened in the Second World War.
So what explains the fact that only one in five are in favour today? Could it, perhaps, have something to do with the daily diet of poison fed by the BBC?
UPDATE: Oh dear, I ignored a fundamental rule: irony doesn't work in print. I was joking when I wrote: who would have predicted that, in the French speaking part of Canada, only 57 per cent of Quebecers would have said that the Israeli response is "not at all justified? The word 'French' is the giveaway.
MessageSpace
Don't tell me The Independent isn't telling the truth
http://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/article1188896.ece?service=imagePopUp&field=&version=a&pageNumber=1
You quote a Guardian poll, a paper you wouldn't use as toilet paper, Stephen? This figure is wildly inaccurate, based on comment in the other posts.
"Although who would have predicted that, in the French speaking part of Canada, only 57 per cent of Quebecers would have said that the Israeli response is "not at all justified"."
There has been a long history of virulent anti-Semitism in Quebec, and, unlike the rest of Canada, the Roman Catholic residents of that province haven't yet been totally cured of the malady. During the 1920s and 1930s there was much job discrimination, a couple of anti-Semitic riots and wide support for the Nazis (that old rogue Trudeau used to ride around Jewish neighbourhoods in Montreal on his motorcycle shouting Nazi slogans whilst bedecked in a Nazi helmet). Canada's disgraceful behaviour towards Jewish immigrants during the Holocaust (easily the worst in the Western world) was in large part down to pressure from Catholic Quebec.
Whatever her sins in the past though, it is easy to forgive Canada. She has more than redeemed herself in recent years (I wish I could say the same about the United Kingdom). And large swathes of her are achingly beautiful, and which red-blooded male can hold anything against a beautiful woman for very long (no pun intended)?
My favourite Canadian cities: Vancouver, Victoria, Ville de Québec and Montréal
My favourite Canadian place: Lake Louise
My favourite Canadian: Captain Kirk
My favourite Canadian politician: Stephen Joseph Harper
My favourite Canadian musician: Glenn Gould
My favourite Canadian writer: Mordecai Richler
"You quote a Guardian poll, a paper you wouldn't use as toilet paper, Stephen?"
LMAO. He actually thinks the poll was carried out by members of the Guardian staff.
"This figure is wildly inaccurate, based on comment in the other posts."
He is to statistical analysis what Ann Widdecombe is to modelling.
The poll is published in the Guardian but it's not conducted by them. It's done by ICM, a totally reliable firm.
I do wish you'd make your mind up, Joshua. A few days ago Great Britain was collaborator in chief during the holocaust. What was it? Oh here it is: " ... the sad truth that in many ways Britain was little different to Nazi Germany herself."
All of a sudden, the Canadians behaviour towards Jews was the worst. What with Nazi Germany, Great Britain and no doubt half the Empire at it I'm surprised so many Jews came out the other side.
So come on, make up your mind. Just tell us once and for all who gets to stand beside Nazi Germany as holocaust enablers in chief and stick to it.