"The Other Canada"
Over at his diary on NRO, David Frum highlights the differences between the Canada of old and the Canada in which we live today.
To be fair and balanced, there have clearly been many advances, both socially (not being institutionally racist) and economically (free trade is the ONLY thing that comes to mind here), but it's hard to dispute the virtues and pride that Canada gave up in order to pursue whatever it believed that it was pursuing.
For example, Frum cites a military historian's analysis and comparison between Canadian and American military deaths during the First World War... and the figures are astounding:
Being a Canadian, of course, Schreiber underscores his point with a final statistical comparison to the US forces in the Meuse-Argonne region on the southern portion of the Western front.
Troops engaged
Americans: 650,000
Canadians: 105,000
Duration of Operations
Americans: 47 days
Canadians: 100 days
Maximum Distance Advanced
Americans: 34 miles
Canadians: 86 miles
German Divisions Defeated(Out of a total of 200)
Americans: 46
Canadians: 47
Average Number of Casualties Suffered per German Division Defeated
Americans: 2,170
Canadians: 975
Total Casualties
Americans: 100,000
Canadians: 45,830
“The ultimate conclusion that must be drawn,” he sums up, “is that … the Canadian Corps was able to make a highly significant contribution to the defeat of the German army on the battlefield at precisely half the cost in terms of life and limb as the American army.”
Yet the over-rated General John Pershing is celebrated with a magnificent modern monument on Pennsylvania Avenue – and Arthur Currie’s name is utterly obliterated among his own people.
That's not actually true. I do remember hearing about Arthur Currie in an actual classroom, and I just searched for and found the text of a speech he gave to his forces during the Lys Offensive in the Spring of 1918.
Here it is:
Looking back with pride on the unbroken record of your glorious achievements, asking you to realize that today the fate of the British Empire hangs in the balance, I place my trust in the Canadian Corps, knowing that where Canadians are engaged there can be no giving way.
Under the orders of your devoted officers in the coming battle you will advance or fall where you stand facing the enemy.
To those who fall I say, "You will not die, but step into immortality. Your mothers will not lament your fate, but will have been proud to have borne such sons. Your names will be revered for ever and ever by your grateful country, and God will take you unto Himself."
Canadians, in this fateful hour I command you and I trust you to fight as you have ever fought, with all your strength, with all your determination, with all your tranquil courage. On many a hard-fought field of battle you have overcome this enemy. With God's help you shall achieve victory once more.
Pretty Amazing eh? "Happy Canada Day".
To be fair and balanced, there have clearly been many advances, both socially (not being institutionally racist) and economically (free trade is the ONLY thing that comes to mind here), but it's hard to dispute the virtues and pride that Canada gave up in order to pursue whatever it believed that it was pursuing.
For example, Frum cites a military historian's analysis and comparison between Canadian and American military deaths during the First World War... and the figures are astounding:
Being a Canadian, of course, Schreiber underscores his point with a final statistical comparison to the US forces in the Meuse-Argonne region on the southern portion of the Western front.
Troops engaged
Americans: 650,000
Canadians: 105,000
Duration of Operations
Americans: 47 days
Canadians: 100 days
Maximum Distance Advanced
Americans: 34 miles
Canadians: 86 miles
German Divisions Defeated(Out of a total of 200)
Americans: 46
Canadians: 47
Average Number of Casualties Suffered per German Division Defeated
Americans: 2,170
Canadians: 975
Total Casualties
Americans: 100,000
Canadians: 45,830
“The ultimate conclusion that must be drawn,” he sums up, “is that … the Canadian Corps was able to make a highly significant contribution to the defeat of the German army on the battlefield at precisely half the cost in terms of life and limb as the American army.”
Yet the over-rated General John Pershing is celebrated with a magnificent modern monument on Pennsylvania Avenue – and Arthur Currie’s name is utterly obliterated among his own people.
That's not actually true. I do remember hearing about Arthur Currie in an actual classroom, and I just searched for and found the text of a speech he gave to his forces during the Lys Offensive in the Spring of 1918.
Here it is:
Looking back with pride on the unbroken record of your glorious achievements, asking you to realize that today the fate of the British Empire hangs in the balance, I place my trust in the Canadian Corps, knowing that where Canadians are engaged there can be no giving way.
Under the orders of your devoted officers in the coming battle you will advance or fall where you stand facing the enemy.
To those who fall I say, "You will not die, but step into immortality. Your mothers will not lament your fate, but will have been proud to have borne such sons. Your names will be revered for ever and ever by your grateful country, and God will take you unto Himself."
Canadians, in this fateful hour I command you and I trust you to fight as you have ever fought, with all your strength, with all your determination, with all your tranquil courage. On many a hard-fought field of battle you have overcome this enemy. With God's help you shall achieve victory once more.
Pretty Amazing eh? "Happy Canada Day".
posted by Japnaam Singh at
8:40 PM
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