Very timely piece. And Canadians should take note. We need to shore up our own northern and other defences… with some ‘steely determination’ of our own. The world is changing.
And a year of service in the military or other public service in a different portion of the country would be worth a discussion for our 17-19 year olds.
This might be a way to get Canadians and policymakers to better focus their attention on fixing the known problems in the military and getting it the money and support it needs to do so.
How though, as a country, do we even broach this subject with the younger set when, today, they're being perpetually fed the line that Canada is a "post-national country"? In other words, what would they be signing up for to serve and/or to defend?
I'd love nothing more for this country to do its own digging in as well. But if the enmity between fellow Canadians that is being displayed in our own public places with respect to a certain war being waged on the other side of the planet is anything to go by, well, I don't hold out much hope.
They're signing up as a duty of citizenship, and to learn about their country, to serve a greater good, to develop maturity, to earn money, to learn discipline and to meet people outside their usual circle. IMHO
Excellent piece Paul! And, timely as was said above. In an earlier time in my career I was involved in arctic shipping and Finland was the global leader in ice breaking research and development. Amazing those Finns!! I’m so pleased you are able and willing to do things like this trip!!
read about other perspectives from allied countries about how their governments, decision-makers, and citizens, are taking existential threats seriously. Thanks Paul. Always instructive.
Now get past your jet lag, and get ready to comment on productivity, growth, innovation, science, and all those topics stuck in our Canadian quagmire…or… let’s have some of your music thoughts!
All of the Scandinavian countries really. I wish we would cultivate stronger relationships with them. Unfortunately the one major time we tried via GG Clarkson, Canadian provincialism reared its petty head and that was the last we heard of it.
Thanks, Paul. I often feel that we're too far back from the front lines, not just physically but psychologically. Even the first Trump administration wasn't enough to shake our complacency.
I'm so impressed with how quickly Finland foresaw and is mobilizing against Russian aggression. They know Russia way better than we do, and have zero illusions. Also Europe (or at least Macron) finally recognizing they can no longer rely on the US to shore them up. The world is changing rapidly and Canada needs.to pivot fast from a peacetime, insular mindset to an international world-view. It's not a bad dream, this is happening.
They have been mobilized against Russian aggression since they got independence from the Russian Empire. Neighbours of Russia know better than to let their guard down, or they learn the hard way.
Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland all have mandatory military service. Several years ago I suggested that we should have mandatory service to give young people here a sense of citizenship and duty as several commenters have noted below. But my suggestions either fell on deaf ears or were ridiculed. Canadians tend to be too smug for their own good, and are rather ignorant of Russia's ongoing claims in the Arctic circle, claims that directly affect us.
Paul, great piece. Canadians and our government seem to be enjoying a long break from history with little thought to security matters or war preparation/prevention. Learning more about our new (and existing) allies and their thoughts and preparations is instructive.
I was 9 yrs old when my family escaped Communist Hungary in 1956. The lesson my parents taught me as long as they were alive is …the only thing Russians understand is strength!
Excellent article. Thank you, Paul. It's very good to hear from people on the front line with evil. Canadians should take note and get serious. Sacrifices are coming.
Very timely piece. And Canadians should take note. We need to shore up our own northern and other defences… with some ‘steely determination’ of our own. The world is changing.
And a year of service in the military or other public service in a different portion of the country would be worth a discussion for our 17-19 year olds.
This might be a way to get Canadians and policymakers to better focus their attention on fixing the known problems in the military and getting it the money and support it needs to do so.
How though, as a country, do we even broach this subject with the younger set when, today, they're being perpetually fed the line that Canada is a "post-national country"? In other words, what would they be signing up for to serve and/or to defend?
I'd love nothing more for this country to do its own digging in as well. But if the enmity between fellow Canadians that is being displayed in our own public places with respect to a certain war being waged on the other side of the planet is anything to go by, well, I don't hold out much hope.
They're signing up as a duty of citizenship, and to learn about their country, to serve a greater good, to develop maturity, to earn money, to learn discipline and to meet people outside their usual circle. IMHO
Excellent piece Paul! And, timely as was said above. In an earlier time in my career I was involved in arctic shipping and Finland was the global leader in ice breaking research and development. Amazing those Finns!! I’m so pleased you are able and willing to do things like this trip!!
Helpful to
read about other perspectives from allied countries about how their governments, decision-makers, and citizens, are taking existential threats seriously. Thanks Paul. Always instructive.
Now get past your jet lag, and get ready to comment on productivity, growth, innovation, science, and all those topics stuck in our Canadian quagmire…or… let’s have some of your music thoughts!
Great article Paul. We could learn much from the Finns.
All of the Scandinavian countries really. I wish we would cultivate stronger relationships with them. Unfortunately the one major time we tried via GG Clarkson, Canadian provincialism reared its petty head and that was the last we heard of it.
Excellent article; great to get the perspective of the Finns, living right next to the bear, as do we. This subscriber considers his funds well spent!
Thanks, Paul. I often feel that we're too far back from the front lines, not just physically but psychologically. Even the first Trump administration wasn't enough to shake our complacency.
Thank You Paul
This was a great article!
Thank you for this.
I'm so impressed with how quickly Finland foresaw and is mobilizing against Russian aggression. They know Russia way better than we do, and have zero illusions. Also Europe (or at least Macron) finally recognizing they can no longer rely on the US to shore them up. The world is changing rapidly and Canada needs.to pivot fast from a peacetime, insular mindset to an international world-view. It's not a bad dream, this is happening.
They have been mobilized against Russian aggression since they got independence from the Russian Empire. Neighbours of Russia know better than to let their guard down, or they learn the hard way.
As always, Sir, very well done.
I do like your Canadian political commentary and I also like your non-Canadian commentary. And, I like ....
So glad I have a subscription.
Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland all have mandatory military service. Several years ago I suggested that we should have mandatory service to give young people here a sense of citizenship and duty as several commenters have noted below. But my suggestions either fell on deaf ears or were ridiculed. Canadians tend to be too smug for their own good, and are rather ignorant of Russia's ongoing claims in the Arctic circle, claims that directly affect us.
Paul, great piece. Canadians and our government seem to be enjoying a long break from history with little thought to security matters or war preparation/prevention. Learning more about our new (and existing) allies and their thoughts and preparations is instructive.
I was 9 yrs old when my family escaped Communist Hungary in 1956. The lesson my parents taught me as long as they were alive is …the only thing Russians understand is strength!
Excellent article. Thank you, Paul. It's very good to hear from people on the front line with evil. Canadians should take note and get serious. Sacrifices are coming.
Let us hope they never have to make that forever decision.
NATO has encircled the Baltic and, with it, Russia’s Baltic fleet.