More Evidence
Thursday, January 10 2002
Posted by brockp

While driving around Port Moody today I noticed something that struck me kind of funny, sort of like the big "United We Stand" sign on the bus a few weeks ago. Yes, I am going to belabour this point because I think it is important enough.

Maybe I should reverse my habit of complaining first and ask a question instead: How often are Canadian flags painted on trains in the US ? Does Amtrak have red maple leafs on their engines ? If that is the case, well then please forgive my arrogance and xenophobia. Honestly, it would surprise me.

So I'm driving along Ioco Road and I see a big freight train passing. It strikes me as odd because beside the CP logo on the engine there is now a half maple leaf/half stars and stripes flag. Does anyone else find this kind of..um...strange ? Canadian Pacific Railway - US flag ? I know some of you might think I'm some weird hypersensitive guy or take offense that I admit this kind of thing bothers me. I don't intend to offend anyone, I'm just not happy about it.

I also heard on the radio today that a professor from some university announced a cumulative death toll of civilian Afghanisthanis to date which numbered over four thousand. Does this mean the fighting and killing will stop now ? Group A loses 3000+ innocent human beings, group B loses 4000+, call it a draw ?? I know this is morbid as hell but think about it. Is this a f&*%ing chess game ?

It was otherwise a very informative radio program. It interested me to know that colonialism/imperialism has been going on there for much longer than just a few months. Consider that the Taliban was financially supported by the US and the Northern Alliance originally supported by the USSR. Consider that Afghanisthan is a super strategic spot on the globe - overland passage to Indian subcontinent, very near to China (what used to be Tibet). Add the oil situation to that mix, and lets not forget the Brits attempts to control in the last century. It makes me feel sad for anyone who wanted to live a mundane life of farming in this land. But then I guess you would have to grow opium now...

I digress. Sorry.

Anyways, it may have only been a train, but the symbol is what disturbs me. It used to be that the United Nations stood for defense of the sovereignty of even the smallest and poorest country. In that spirit, who cares which flag is on a train ? Good for all nations to be in accord. Unfortunately, now it seems the UN security council has become simply another vehicle for forcing the will of the big powers on those poorer countries. I understand that in the UN some nations are more equal than others now. Why else would Iraq not be allowed to join if it wishes to do so in good faith ? In this context I see a half US/half Canada Flag as a very different symbol. The US flag alone is a symbol of the most powerful nation on earth. Does joining a Canadian flag to it imply Canada is a part of that nation ? Does it imply that Canada, who happens to be now sending troops to such a country in a non-peacekeeping type role, is positioning itself with Big World Power instead of Upholder Of Principle of all nations being equal ?