The question should not be whether Hamas and Hezbollah need to be disarmed, but how best to achieve this. While I condemn any act of terror or violence, I have
also to be against using this as a reason and justification to do anything in the name of it.
For example, Palestinian militants attacked military targets and captured a soldier. Hezbollah militants attacked military combatants and captured soldiers. Israel targetted civilian infrastructure, bombing a Palestinian power plant that supplies power to over 70% of the population in the region, leaving civilian population without power for up to 6 months! Over 50 Palestinian civilians have died in the invasion into Palestine territory. Israel also attacked civilian infrastructure in Lebanon, destroying their international airport and devastating an economy driven by tourism. 28 member nations of the UN voted unanimously in support of a resolution calling for an end to the Israel incursion, however USA VOTO'd it. But that is no surprise, as USA government provides $3. BILLION annually in foreign aid to Israel.
Bush has declared that Israel has the right to do this because two soldiers were kidnapped. It is bsolutely absurd to make an entire country pay the price for Hezbollah. Lebanon is full of peaceful people of all faiths who are caught in the middle.
Isreal is overreacting on an extreme scale...the death of this many people over 2 soldiers abductions!?They also have the stronger military and claim to have the moral highground, if that were the case they would be wise to show restraint. What are they teaching to other countries in similiar situations? That if they have the bigger gun they should use it?? This is not how the modern world should act. Have they not learned the lessons of WWII? To tempt fate towards a mid-east war is insane!
We are now seeing Canada take Isreals side against the Muslim people who have had their lands occupied and their resistance demonized. Harper should not be standing beside their decision. Bush's support for Israel has nothing to do with right and wrong. Our Prime Minister is sending the message that Canada is no longer free thinking nor peaceful. Gone are our days as a U.N. peacekeeping nation. Now, under Stephen Harper, we seem to be a lapdog serving the war policies of U.S. President George Bush. Canadians are being bombed and killed and Prime Minister Harper seems to have no problem whatsover with this.
Why are world leaders and the world media so silent about the abuse of power that Israel is displaying in Lebanon?
With deep regret, this is but just another sorry chapter in this drama that has played itself out for centuries. This will not be the last one either. It seems that these two cultures are just inherently pre-determined to squabble with one another. Regrettably, there does not appear to be any end in site. Even more regrettable, no outside party will help with a neutral state of mind.
Later,
Kenaz
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Granpa Gilbert Bells cabinet
In yesterdays post I stated that my Grandpa Gilbert Bell was a carpenter by trade. These are a couple of pictures of a cabinet that he hand crafted. It was handed down first to my mother and then to my sister after she passed away. Its quite a beautiful piece, very traditional yet goes with any modern furniture.Thanks to my sister for sending me these pictures. Click on the thumbnails for a better view.
Later,
Kenaz
Later,
Kenaz
Grandpa Gilbert Bell's WW1 Papers
Tonight I did a search for my Grandpa Gib Bell's World War 1 service record at Collection Canada's online library. I already knew he was part of the Canadian Over Seas Expeditionary Force but I didn't know what regamend he served with. This I found to be the 122 Over Seas Battalion.
Attestation Paper
Medical History Sheet
Discharge Papers
This a copy of my Grandpa Gib Bells World War I military record as part of the Canadian Expenditionary Force from 1916-1919.
I have written for more information on the 122 I will update if I receive anything in the mean time I found this painting depicting the men of this unit leaving for duty in Gravenhurst.
Gravenhurst Company 122 Battalion Departing-by Andrew Miles
*Update July 19,2006
I received some information from the reference liabrary that was of great help to understanding the movements of my Grand Fathers Battalion. Here is what I have learned.
From "A guide to sources relating to units of the Canadian Expeditionary Force" compiled by Barbara Wilson provides an outline and sources of archival information about this battalion.
Organized in October 1915 under the command of Lt-Col. D.M. Grant
Authorization published in G.O. 151 of 22 December 1915
Mobilized at Huntsville, moved to Galt on 13 October 1916
Recruited in the Muskoka District beginning 1 December 1915
Left Halifax 2 June 1917 aboard the "Olympic"
Arrived in England 9 June 1917. Strength: 20 Officers, 686 O.R.'s (Other
Ranks)
Absorbed by Canadian Forestry Corps, Sunningdale, Berks., in June 1917
Disbanded by P.C 2342 of 1 September 1917
Band
Colours presented by ladies of Muskoka District at North Toronto Station on
26 April 1917. Deposited in Court House, Bracebridge in May 1921
Perpetuated by the Northern Pioneers which, in 1936, was absorbed by the
Algonquin Regiment.
As you can see, once the battalion arrived overseas, the 122nd battalion
became part of the Canadian Forestry Corps. From the start of the First
World War, Canadian Expeditionary Force units were required to maintain a
daily account of their 'Actions in the Field'. These logs were called War
Diaries and they are a historical record of a unit's administration,
operations and activities during the First World War.
From "The Official History of the Canadian Army in WW1"- COLONEL GWL NICHOLSON
The Canadian Forestry Corps
Canadian forestry units are said to have "helped to defeat the submarine ... more
surely than a fleet of ships". So enthusiastic a claim might be hard to substantiate, but the statement contains a considerable amount of truth.
British pre-war timber imported chiefly from Russia, Scandinavia and North America was valued at some forty million pounds sterling each year. The war brought an
increased demand for lumber, but, because of U-boat sinkings, there was a steadily
diminishing merchant fleet to carry it. The prior demands of munitions, food, forage and other essentials upon the depleted shipping made it impossible for Britain to continue to import Canadian timber on a sufficiently large scale to meet her war requirements. It was necessary therefore to begin felling English forests and converting them into lumber. A British inquiry, in January 1916, whether Canada could supply expert timbermen to produce lumber in the United Kingdom68 was followed a month later by an urgent request from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Governor General for 1500 skilled lumbermen. The War Office suggested that Canada might enlist in the C.E.F. a battalion of lumbermen, to be dispatched to the United Kingdom in small companies.
Note: My Grandfather was a carpenter by trade as stated on his Attestation Papers. More interestingly, after the war he continued in the trade making caskets.
The Muskoka Heritage Place in Huntsville, Ontario currently has an exhibit that runs until this fall called "Muskoka at War 1914-1918".
The curator of the exhibition said the following in an article entitled:
"Recalling the war to end all wars : Men, women, and even a horse from
Muskoka travelled overseas to do their part in the First World War":
"Muskoka had an important role to play with its own Battalion, the 122nd,"
said Bev Easton, curator of a new exhibit at Huntsville's Muskoka Heritage
Place. "Before this battalion formed, a number of Muskoka men did go and
fight overseas under many different regiments and battalions."
Later,
Kenaz
Attestation Paper
Medical History Sheet
Discharge Papers
This a copy of my Grandpa Gib Bells World War I military record as part of the Canadian Expenditionary Force from 1916-1919.
I have written for more information on the 122 I will update if I receive anything in the mean time I found this painting depicting the men of this unit leaving for duty in Gravenhurst.
Gravenhurst Company 122 Battalion Departing-by Andrew Miles
*Update July 19,2006
I received some information from the reference liabrary that was of great help to understanding the movements of my Grand Fathers Battalion. Here is what I have learned.
From "A guide to sources relating to units of the Canadian Expeditionary Force" compiled by Barbara Wilson provides an outline and sources of archival information about this battalion.
Organized in October 1915 under the command of Lt-Col. D.M. Grant
Authorization published in G.O. 151 of 22 December 1915
Mobilized at Huntsville, moved to Galt on 13 October 1916
Recruited in the Muskoka District beginning 1 December 1915
Left Halifax 2 June 1917 aboard the "Olympic"
Arrived in England 9 June 1917. Strength: 20 Officers, 686 O.R.'s (Other
Ranks)
Absorbed by Canadian Forestry Corps, Sunningdale, Berks., in June 1917
Disbanded by P.C 2342 of 1 September 1917
Band
Colours presented by ladies of Muskoka District at North Toronto Station on
26 April 1917. Deposited in Court House, Bracebridge in May 1921
Perpetuated by the Northern Pioneers which, in 1936, was absorbed by the
Algonquin Regiment.
As you can see, once the battalion arrived overseas, the 122nd battalion
became part of the Canadian Forestry Corps. From the start of the First
World War, Canadian Expeditionary Force units were required to maintain a
daily account of their 'Actions in the Field'. These logs were called War
Diaries and they are a historical record of a unit's administration,
operations and activities during the First World War.
From "The Official History of the Canadian Army in WW1"- COLONEL GWL NICHOLSON
The Canadian Forestry Corps
Canadian forestry units are said to have "helped to defeat the submarine ... more
surely than a fleet of ships". So enthusiastic a claim might be hard to substantiate, but the statement contains a considerable amount of truth.
British pre-war timber imported chiefly from Russia, Scandinavia and North America was valued at some forty million pounds sterling each year. The war brought an
increased demand for lumber, but, because of U-boat sinkings, there was a steadily
diminishing merchant fleet to carry it. The prior demands of munitions, food, forage and other essentials upon the depleted shipping made it impossible for Britain to continue to import Canadian timber on a sufficiently large scale to meet her war requirements. It was necessary therefore to begin felling English forests and converting them into lumber. A British inquiry, in January 1916, whether Canada could supply expert timbermen to produce lumber in the United Kingdom68 was followed a month later by an urgent request from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Governor General for 1500 skilled lumbermen. The War Office suggested that Canada might enlist in the C.E.F. a battalion of lumbermen, to be dispatched to the United Kingdom in small companies.
Note: My Grandfather was a carpenter by trade as stated on his Attestation Papers. More interestingly, after the war he continued in the trade making caskets.
The Muskoka Heritage Place in Huntsville, Ontario currently has an exhibit that runs until this fall called "Muskoka at War 1914-1918".
The curator of the exhibition said the following in an article entitled:
"Recalling the war to end all wars : Men, women, and even a horse from
Muskoka travelled overseas to do their part in the First World War":
"Muskoka had an important role to play with its own Battalion, the 122nd,"
said Bev Easton, curator of a new exhibit at Huntsville's Muskoka Heritage
Place. "Before this battalion formed, a number of Muskoka men did go and
fight overseas under many different regiments and battalions."
Later,
Kenaz
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