austerity

Monday July 20, 2009

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Monday July 20, 2009

Astronauts call for mission to Mars

On the eve of the 40th anniversary of the man’s first steps on the moon on July 20, 1969, Buzz Aldrin said Mars should become the focus of renewed commitment to space travel.

The second man to walk on the lunar surface, he called for the United States to set a goal of reaching the planet by 2035: “To realise that dream we need a unified space vision. The greatest challenge for us is this: ‘Americans, do you still dream great dreams?’, ‘Do you still believe in yourselves, are you ready for a great national challenge?'”

Speaking at a commemorative event at Washington’s National Air and Space Museum, the 79-year-old called on the next generation and our political leaders to follow the president’s campaign slogan of “Yes we can!”

Neil Armstrong, the Apollo 11 commander and the first man on the moon, made a rare public appearance and offered tacit support for his former colleagues. Touting the benefits from the Cold War competition with the USSR to reach the moon, he said: “It was the ultimate peaceful competition. I won’t go as far as to say it prevented war, but it was a diversion, it allowed both sides to take the high road with objectives in science and engineering and provided an engine for cooperation.” (Source: Telegraph) 

 

Saturday May 20, 2006

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday May 20, 2006

Our troops: The Liberal message

On a day a female Canadian soldier was killed taking a courageous stand in Afghanistan, the Liberals that sent her there didn’t have the guts to make a stand in the House of Commons.

The Liberals refused as a party to support or oppose an extension of the mission by two years and allowed MPs to vote their conscience or lack of it. It was a calculating, cowardly move that gives the party room to wiggle in the future depending on how the winds of war shape public opinion.

The Bloc Quebecois and New Democratic Party voted against extending the mission, and while that sends a deflating message to the troops abroad, the stance of both parties was at least principled and firm. The Conservatives voted in favour of extending the mission and 24 Liberals, including interim leader Bill Graham and leadership hopefuls Michael Ignatieff and Scott Brison, joined them. The motion to extend the mission passed by a margin of 149-145.

Not only did the Liberals fail to take a position on this vital issue but several Grits, including former prime minister Paul Martin, didn’t even bother to show up for the vote. When Prime Minister Stephen Harper rose in Parliament to argue in favour of the extension, only 26 of 102 Liberals MPs were there to hear him. Martin led the Liberal party when it sent our troops to Afghanistan without a parliamentary vote. (Source: Windsor Star)