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Harper Faces Strong Criticism Over Media Blackout of Returning Coffins of 4 Canadian Soldiers

Is it just my imagination, or is Harper's Canada beginning to look more and more like Bush's U.S. of A.? Harper's decision not to lower the flags to half-mast was disrespectful enough. Today, the coffins bringing our four soliders killed in Afghanistan are not allowed to be shown by the media. Why not? Does it perhaps have something to do with our government's worry that more Canadians may become opposed to our Afghan mission if they view these images? This is not the time for politics!

Canadians may have divergent viewpoints about our role in Afghanistan but that must not deter us from showing respect to those who have fallen. Meanwhile, the family members who were unable to attend the private ceremony were deprived and feel angry, rightly so.

TORONTO (AP) - The Conservative government banned the media from showing live images of the flag-draped coffins of four Canadian soldiers when their bodies were returned Tuesday from Afghanistan, provoking anger among political opponents and some family members.

This is one family member who was very upset about the media ban and the lack of lowered flags:

...The uncle of Dinning told the CBC that the family believes the government is trying to cover up the growing casualties in Afghanistan and was disturbed that family members were not informed of the unilateral decision by the government to cancel a public ceremony.

And this is where Harper's stance mirrors the Bush Administration's:

The media were banned from the evening ceremony, a move that mirrors U.S. policy that generally bars coverage of returning U.S. coffins since the beginning of the Iraq war in 2003.

Read full article here.

(I shudder to think what Harper will copy next from Bush's textbook!)

posted by Annamarie at 8:48 PM