The Colonel was sneaky. He said that the military could not get involved in politics. And THEN points to the two men with him, citing their qualifications. He also threw in a snide remark about there being " few " objectors who might not even have attended the services at the Cenotaph. Now how would he know about the number of objectors or about their activities ? A politician for sure.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 3 December 2015 at 14:24
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He brought two fully uniformed soldiers who served in Afghanistan to the Council Chamber and publicly acknowledged ,as military, they could not engage in politics.Then proceeded to do exactly that.
The same rule applies to members of the Aurora Legion. It's understood they came too.
What was the Colonel thinking ? Or was he ?
Wearing an army uniform ,resplendent with shiny medals, pulling rank, making demands in a formal, public meeting of an elected Council.
Why did he do that?
Because he could, that's why. There was no-one to stop him.
Not only did he change the decision,he created the controversy .
He gathered additional forces and returned a second time to insist that a war machine be given pride of place where it is neither welcome nor appropriate.
He divides the community, whips the wretched Council members into sniveling curs and suggests absence from a memorial service adds substance to his argument.
I had the privilege of serving several Council terms with the late and former Councillor and Army Master Sergeant Norman Stewart .
Colonel Kirk Almighty Corkery would never have been permitted the podium in uniform then.
Another thing is certain, every name carved in stone on the Aurora Cenotaph and the Altar of Sacrifice will always be there. As long as the Memorial stands for the memory of sacrifice and loss endured by their families and community.
They will not be forgotten
That space is not up for barter.
It will not be divvied up by whoever thinks they otta get a piece.
If Colonel Kirk Corkery is a real soldier, entitled to wear that uniform, he should be placed on a charge
for even thinking it, let alone insisting.
We are all degraded by Council's shameful capitulation on this issue.
Febrile contrived excuses were embarrassing to read.
"he should be placed on a charge"
ReplyDeleteWhat exactly charging him with? Come on, "Politics is a game"... The military plays it all of the time.
I guess because the men with him did not participate verbally, he thought they were not being political.
ReplyDeleteMaybe someone should explain his error to him ?
But what's done is done. So he should be just fine with it.
Evelyn... were you there?
ReplyDeleteDid he make "demands" as you say?
HE did not divide the community. While I really doubt the "community" is divided in the first place, there are only some that seem to have a problem with this. But even a 5%/95% split is a divide (I am not saying that is the split, just an example).
No one is bartering for the cenotaph.
Me thinks you all protest too much. Get on with your life that has been provided thanks to those whose names are on the cenotaph as well as those in uniform in the council chambers. Stop being so full of yourselves.
I was at that council meeting and i would not consider what he was wearing was a uniform. He had a very persuasive argument, For one who only had read the criticism of it I got a complete new perspective and certainly support them.
ReplyDeleteBang on, 11:11.
ReplyDeleteWell I'll be, there is new information being shared with staff.
ReplyDeleteIt seems there are historic facts about the centotaph, the powers that be over - looked.
This is just in time for Christmas.
Thank you Santa, I believe again.
The " powers that be " generally over-look facts, particularly when they relate to history.
ReplyDelete