Canadian Army recruiting at the CNE!? U.S. F22 Raptor at show also!

ok, so I've been going to the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition) pretty much every year for the past 15 years or so and this is the first time I've seen a military presence!

As soon as you enter the grounds through the Prince's Gates... they are right there! Military people, vehicles, etc... all complimented by the 'Air Show' that's taking place tomorrow through Monday.

Earlier today as I was opening up shop, I honestly thought my soul was ripping in half due to this magnificent screech in the sky, I look up to see a stealth bomber fly overhead. Incredible.

How much of our tax dollars are spent on fueling these machines? How much of our tax dollars are spent transporting these machines? How can a military afford to have these machines 'out of service' ?

The whole thing felt very 'American'. I've never felt so subjected to patriotism before, LOL. Families rushing over taking pictures with their infants on tanks, jeeps, etc...

I think it would be far more educational if those military people discussed and/or explained the amount of innocent lives lost each and every year due to those 'magnificent war machines'.

"That's right folks.... oohhh and ahhhh.... that plane right there kills X-Amount of innocent civilians EACH AND EVERY YEAR!"

*applause*




Tomorrow, they have an American F22 Raptor making its first appearance (non-military speaking) outside the US. Gee, hopefully it does a bunch of fancy tricks that are beyond impressive. *rolls eyes*

I admit, these planes are impressive.... until you remember what they're used for.

I dunno... I just don't think that a fair is the place for this type of thing.

I am making a correction... the plane that ripped my soul in half was infact a F117 Nighthawk.


Other planes at the show this year:

F22 Raptor


CF18 Hornet


CP140 Aurora


Mopar T34


CF104 Starfighter


F16 Viper


F15 Eagle


F86 Sabre


B25


B1B Lancer


C17 Globemaster

The Forces have been stepping up recruitment, hardcore. Since they have the funding, they're updating the entire force- weapons have been purchased, at long last. Now, they just need to fill all thems purdy new boots. I've noticed that the forces have ads running on yahoo.ca as well, for the record.

And I don't mind any one bit. total regular personel, all forces, is 64,000 men and women. That's miserable. That's pathetic. Even with all the reserves, we're totalling in under 100,000 people in the military, all branches and services, in a nation of 32 million. We need those men and women, badly. If you don't want to join a neccesary part of our government, that's fine. But don't begrudge them for what they do.

DE

I just found it odd that they had such a strong presence at the CNE, that's all.

[edit on 1-9-2006 by fattyp]

Christ, they picked me up at college. I really took offence to following:

"I think it would be far more educational if those military people discussed and/or explained the amount of innocent lives lost each and every year due to those 'magnificent war machines'."

Now, that's a low blow, and kind of hypocritical considering the kind of aircraft-porn you followed it with. The Forces must expand, and that's the be-all and the end-all. They can't exactly do that in the middle of an industrial park, can they?

DE

no, they probably could not.

I didn't mean to offend you, can you explain how the images I added were 'hypocritical' ? Can I not be fascinated with the machines themselves and not what they are infact capable of doing in war scenarios?

I'm not a fan of war-induced fatalities, srry.

edit: Isn't the F16 called the Fighting Falcon? Or is the Viper a special variant of it?

[edit on 1-9-2006 by fattyp]

Yeh, well no one's terribly fond of war-induced casualties. I find it hypocrytical that you offhandedly slander the machines keeping the nation sovereign (among others), decry their intent and purpose - to wage war as effectively as possible - and their turn around and post glamor shots of said machines. It's like slapping your girlfriend before kissing her.

On one hand, you cry foul over the fact that we have military machines on display. On the other, you display a wack of them yourself.

DE

sorry for enjoying things that are 'esthetically' pleasing.

I think Ann Coulter is pretty too... but uhhh...

"it's like slapping your girlfriend before kissing her!"

... wow... that's the most intelligent thing I've read all week, kudos.

[edit on 1-9-2006 by fattyp]

As mentioned the Canadian military has been stepping up their recruiting. You see it plastered on news websites and TV campaigns. While I agree that the money could be better spent elsewhere at least its not like the US where they basically recruit at the high school level.

source: usliberals.about.com...

brill



[edit on 1-9-2006 by brill]