Shame on you!

[CND1st]

November 11 is a day set aside to honour and remember those who have fought and some of whom have died to defend our lives, our freedom, and our way of life.

November 11 is an almost sacred hallowed day, a very special day.

I attended the Remembrance Day ceremony at the Convention Centre at which time I experienced some strange and appalling things. I listened to the Legion President completely botch her speech by ending it with 'Least We Forget, Least We Forget'.
Please Ms. Potter, learn from your mistakes and understand the words are 'Lest We Forget, Lest We Forget'. Shame on you!

The Legion then proceeded to completely ignore the Penticton Elks Branch 51, the Boy Scouts and the Girl Guides by not calling them to lay their wreaths, yet were able to remember to call Bloomfield mayoral candidate to lay his wreath, which in my opinion was simply a blatant political maneuver. President Potter and Legion Branch 40, shame on you!

After the ceremony, I left the Convention Centre only to discover that Gary Leaman had placed a political flyer on my windshield and all of the windshields in the parking lot. Mr. Leaman, shame on you!

After removing the flyer, I continued on to the Legion Branch #40 which is my own tradition on Remembrance Day, only to discover Helena Konanz and her husband wearing political name tags and buttons while handing out her campaign brochures. Campaigning at the Legion on Remembrance Day, Mrs.Konanz?? Double shame on you!!!!

Lest We Forget, Remembrance Day is a special day set aside to remember the fallen, not to campaign, I would be hard-pressed to go to the polls and vote for people who place their own importance ahead of all who should never be forgotten.

[DblDwn11]

I totally agree!

Class-less move to campaign on a day for honouring our veterans.

Sad to say I am not surprised it was the candidates mentioned. Sounds a bit desperate. Especially Konanz. I even saw her at the Hospital Auxiliary Dinner wearing a Vote for Me t-shirt...I'll bet my vast fortune ($5 dollar bill and 2 twoonies) that she has never been to that dinner before and will not go again if not elected. I get that candidates have to campaign at events like this dinner but do it in a casual way. That was a little 'on the nose' for my taste.

[xyz]

You took the words straight out of my mouth Dbl-Dbl!

This is definitely not the first time Konanz has been accused of being disrespectful. Campaigning at Remembrance Day functions tarnishes the legacy of all those who sacrificed so much for our freedom. I wonder how many Remembrance Day ceremonies attended or wreaths Bloomfield has placed in the past years?

These aforementioned candidates have just solidified why I will NOT vote for any of them.......SHAME ON YOU!

[Julius Bloomfield]

Just to answer a few comments here, I have always attended remembrance services wherever I have lived, as a kid in the UK I played trumpet in the brass bands in parades down main street and played the hymns at the ceremony. As an adult my attandance has always been personal to me and several times I have attended on my own.
During this campaign I had a man suggest to me that I should make my views more public, since I am running for office and that if I truly supported the troops then I should show it. His inference was that just showing up at the ceremony was not enough. This is why I did with the wreath laying. I can confirm here that I meant no offence to anybody and if some has been taken then I apologise. I realise that not everyone is going to be happy with everything I do but I appreciate the opportunity to explain my actions on this forum. Thanks for reading.

[Michael Brydon]

November 11 is a day set aside to honour and remember those who have fought and some of whom have died to defend our lives, our freedom, and our way of life.

Different but related topic: On November 11th I was in a facility owned by the City of Penticton called "Memorial Arena" for my son's bantam hockey tournament. It was raining lightly outside and water from the leaky roof was running down the massive interior beams and pooling on the upper walkway. This has been going on for a couple of years. Teams from the coast and Washington State seemed amused by the puddles; I felt embarrassed for my town.

I know I am a free riding West Bencher, and appart from the many hundreds (thousands?) of dollars I pay each year in fees to Penticton Minor Hockey, I have no say in what goes on the the City of Penticton. But let's recognize the obvious folks: The decision to demolish Memorial Arena is being made right now. In a few years, the City of Penticton is going to point to the "advanced state of decay" of the beams and tear down a building dedicated to the memory of our veterans.

I never fought in WWII or Korea or Afganistan. But I did serve my country and I have my share of scars to prove it. It makes me sick that Memorial Arena is being treated with such indifference and contempt--this is not only an amazing facility for our children, it is a war memorial! Are we so poor a community, so short-sighted, that we cannot maintain our war memorials?

[twobits]

November 11 is a day set aside to honour and remember those who have fought and some of whom have died to defend our lives, our freedom, and our way of life.

Different but related topic: On November 11th I was in a facility owned by the City of Penticton called "Memorial Arena" for my son's bantam hockey tournament. It was raining lightly outside and water from the leaky roof was running down the massive interior beams and pooling on the upper walkway. This has been going on for a couple of years. Teams from the coast and Washington State seemed amused by the puddles; I felt embarrassed for my town.

I know I am a free riding West Bencher, and appart from the many hundreds (thousands?) of dollars I pay each year in fees to Penticton Minor Hockey, I have no say in what goes on the the City of Penticton. But let's recognize the obvious folks: The decision to demolish Memorial Arena is being made right now. In a few years, the City of Penticton is going to point to the "advanced state of decay" of the beams and tear down a building dedicated to the memory of our veterans.

I never fought in WWII or Korea or Afganistan. But I did serve my country and I have my share of scars to prove it. It makes me sick that Memorial Arena is being treated with such indifference and contempt--this is not only an amazing facility for our children, it is a war memorial! Are we so poor a community, so short-sighted, that we cannot maintain our war memorials?

Aside from the obvious contradiction in the highlighted phrases above, I don't think this is a fair critique of the building or the situation. Despite the fact that it is called Memorial Arena, do you seriously think that when it was first erected it was thought that it would be a war memorial in perpetuity? It's a building for god's sake not a cenotaph. Buildings get old and worn out and reach a point where it makes no economic sense to keep throwing money at them. Just because it was dedicated in memory does not mean taxpayers should forever pay to keep it standing. I think you would be hard pressed to find many Vets who would think it correct to do so. When the time comes for demolition, a suitable plaque or reminder can be accomodated.

As to the hundreds of dollars you pay to minor hockey for your son to play in a city facility, do you take comfort in the fact that those fee's don't even come close to covering the operating costs of the facility never mind structural repairs. Of the projected 1.5 mill operating deficit of the SOEC group of buildings, over 200k of it comes from Memorial Arena. Maybe we should just tear it down and your son can play hockey in the arena up on the West Bench that you pay for. Lucky for you it has zero operational costs and never needs repairs.

[beam-me-up-morrison]

On the other hand, veterans (World War II and the present mission in Afghanistan) fought for the right to vote.
Adolph wasn't big on elections.
We can thank our vets for the right to vote, something only 33 per cent of the population chose to do in Penticton in 2008.

[Jamesie]

Maybe we should just tear it down and your son can play hockey in the arena up on the West Bench that you pay for. Lucky for you it has zero operational costs and never needs repairs.

They have that cute little outdoor rink on Sandstone Crescent. Too bad 'outsiders' are not allowed to use it... so yes, they could play there. Pond hockey is so much fun, more fun than playing in the arena any day, unfortunately it's only open a few weeks a year

[hoot]

At the risk of being flamed.

Wasn't the point of all these individuals making the ultimate sacrifice, so that people can be free to express themselves (including taking part in Rememberance day observances) as they feel fit?

The fact their actions don't fit into someone else’s idea of appropriate behavior shouldn't enter in to it.

Each to their own.

[twobits]

At the risk of being flamed.

Wasn't the point of all these individuals making the ultimate sacrifice, so that people can be free to express themselves (including taking part in Rememberance day observances) as they feel fit?

The fact their actions don't fit into someone else’s idea of appropriate behavior shouldn't enter in to it.

Each to their own.

Can you just say it in plain english please. I have no idea what you are trying to say but suspect it was a backhanded remark that got lost with too much sarcasim.

[southy]

Twobits ... PLEASE give it a rest! Hoot is entitled to his opinion just as much as anyone else. I got what he was saying loud and clear and so did you. And he actaully might just have a valid point. I'm amazed how many individuals appear to be walking on eggshells while posting when you are lurking about! Tell ya something?? Take a break Twobits, it would appear you need time off from this site.

[twobits]

Twobits ... PLEASE give it a rest! Hoot is entitled to his opinion just as much as anyone else. I got what he was saying loud and clear and so did you. And he actaully might just have a valid point. I'm amazed how many individuals appear to be walking on eggshells while posting when you are lurking about! Tell ya something?? Take a break Twobits, it would appear you need time off from this site.

Sorry but it went right over my head and still does. Didn't attack, just questioned. Go away yourself southy. You are starting to fit the definition of stalker.

[hoot]

Sorry but it went right over my head and still does

Maybe this will simplify it for you:

Squabbling over how an individual or group partakes in the remembrance day ceremonies , is an affront to the men and women who gave their lives in order for us to have the freedom to express ourselves according to our own consciences.

“ I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.”
John Diefenbaker speaking about Remembrance day.

Got it now?...good.

[DblDwn11]

Sorry but it went right over my head and still does

Maybe this will simplify it for you:

Squabbling over how an individual or group partakes in the remembrance day ceremonies , is an affront to the men and women who gave their lives in order for us to have the freedom to express ourselves according to our own consciences.

“ I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.”
John Diefenbaker speaking about Remembrance day.

Got it now?...good.

I agree with you Hoot -- If a person wants to participate in a RDay ceremony and they happen to be a candidate in an election, they should be able to.

However, I don't think outright campaigning should be done at sombre events honouring our veterans. Handing out promotional material or wearing campaign clothing is not acceptable. It's classless and shows a lack of respect.

[twobits]

Got it now?...good.

Ok, I am on the same page now. Your post was referencing those running for office and campaigning at 11/11 events. I am just so used to you stalking and flaming me that I thought you were referencing my post and it made no sense to me.