She was 21 years old.
She was a year younger than my daughter, a couple of years older than my son.
http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/04/14/blais-ramp-ceremony-0414.html
Take a look at that if only for the picture--looks like a highschool yearbook shot, but in fatigues. A couple of errant locks of hair.
She was only in Afghanistan for two weeks, ran into a spot of bad luck on the road near Kandahar.
Now she's dead Canadian soldier #117. Only the second young woman we've lost in that faraway death trap. But the hundred and twentieth Canadian, I think, (the soldiers, one diplomat and two aid workers).
"She was dedicated to the mission", says the eulogizing general, like they've said of a hundred and sixteen before. He says she was a future leader in the military. I guess we'll never know, eh?
Dammit. I hate to see these young lives gone, mostly courageous and idealistic, adventurous young people who want to improve the world. What a great intention.
Remember Sen John Kerry, who didn't defeat Bush in 2004? I can't tell you a damn thing he said during his campaign, but his most enduring quote was made as a 27-year-old Vietnam veteran: "How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?"
I'd be so thrilled if there was any indication this kind of sacrifice could fix Afghanistan, but it just isn't working out.
We've been there seven years and things are worse than ever, enough that the most ardent militarist politicians are weasel-wording to escape consequences when we finally escape the impossible hellhole we signed our fine young people up to try to sort out.
Dammit.
http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/04/14/blais-ramp-ceremony-0414.html
Take a look at that if only for the picture--looks like a highschool yearbook shot, but in fatigues. A couple of errant locks of hair.
She was only in Afghanistan for two weeks, ran into a spot of bad luck on the road near Kandahar.
Now she's dead Canadian soldier #117. Only the second young woman we've lost in that faraway death trap. But the hundred and twentieth Canadian, I think, (the soldiers, one diplomat and two aid workers).
"She was dedicated to the mission", says the eulogizing general, like they've said of a hundred and sixteen before. He says she was a future leader in the military. I guess we'll never know, eh?
Dammit. I hate to see these young lives gone, mostly courageous and idealistic, adventurous young people who want to improve the world. What a great intention.
Remember Sen John Kerry, who didn't defeat Bush in 2004? I can't tell you a damn thing he said during his campaign, but his most enduring quote was made as a 27-year-old Vietnam veteran: "How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?"
I'd be so thrilled if there was any indication this kind of sacrifice could fix Afghanistan, but it just isn't working out.
We've been there seven years and things are worse than ever, enough that the most ardent militarist politicians are weasel-wording to escape consequences when we finally escape the impossible hellhole we signed our fine young people up to try to sort out.
Dammit.