March 31, 2003
Have you been perplexed by the deafening silence of the Silent Majority on the War in Iraq?
Have you wondered where the pro-America voices have been?
Do the constant scenes of the die-ins and civil disobedience of the peace movement over major American news outlets like CNN worry and even annoy you?
Are you one of countless Canadian citizens who feel elected officials of the Canadian Government in Ottawa are wrong to insult Americans, who are fighting for freedom and democracy in Iraq?
Do you sometimes feel that the politically correct movement has turned our contemporary world upside down?
Then the ideals of courageous and plain spoken, Toronto real estate developer Richard Diamond may pick up your spirits. Diamond, along with Josh Cooper and Mark Waldman are the founding fathers of a cause whose time has come, Friends of America. The recently formed non-profit association, which has been gathering steam over the past week and a half, will host a Rally for America, at noon this Friday, April 4, at Nathan Phillips Square.
Faxes have been humming, telephones have been ringing as these average Canadians have spent their time on contacting others in planning the rally. They are out of pocket for advertisements in prominent daily newspapers.
They have been in touch with the publishers of CanadaFreePress.com, and this cover story is our response.
"We have heard from the protestors, the critics and our Government in Ottawa. Now is the time for the silent majority of Canadians to speak up to show that we love, respect and support our American friends," were the words of a Friends of America advertisement in Saturday’s National Post.
Faces hidden behind masks and bandanas will not be found at Friday’s rally. Average people waving Canadian and American flags will.
Rally for America will not create chaos and tie up traffic.
As organizers have planned it, "this will be a peaceful rally without any party, political, religious or corporate affiliations."
Its theme is as positive and hopeful as the yellow ribbons now tied around trees in many small-town American towns and cities. This is the long-awaited rally that gives average Canadians something to believe in.
Several prominent Canadians have expressed their support for the event and some of them will tell the audience why a message should be sent to our American friends and politicians in Ottawa, that millions of Canadians stand with them in their defense of freedom and democracy.
Dozens of discouraging polls showing that Canadians back their government’s stand on the war on Iraq cannot drown out the voices of millions of Canadians who stand in defense of freedom and democracy.
That voice is growing in volume and is reflected in a poll recently conducted by Pollara, the Liberal Party’s pollster that indicates a whopping 90 percent of Canadians want the government to improve relations with the United States.
Many of those Canadians reeled with distaste at the remarks of Canadian Liberal MPs like Carolyn Parrish and were heartsick to have the U.S. national anthem booed at a National Hockey League game between the Canadiens and the New York Islanders.
With young American soldiers risking their lives for our peace and freedom, this conduct flies in the face of decent citizens everywhere; decent citizens who do not take part in peace protests organized by unions and Marxist groups.
We’ve had our Prime Minister show a lack of moral leadership on the issue and who continues to allow the insulting anti-American remarks of his own staff and MPs go unchecked.
Now after a week of hiding from the issue, Canada’s prime-minister-in-waiting Paul Martin has made clear his position on Iraq. By voting against the Canadian Alliance opposition motion to support our friends in the U.S. and Great Britain, Martin sent a clear message that he too thinks this war is illegitimate.
Canadians deserve better leadership from a would-be Prime Minister. Our allies deserve better friendship from a would-be Prime Minister.
Time will prove that the words of politicians like Chretien, Parish and Martin are fleeting, but the bonds between the average people of two great countries are forever.
In these trying times, Richard Diamond, Josh Cooper and Mark Waldman are giving average Canadians something to hold on to, something to believe in.
Meanwhile, CFP will see you at the Rally for America, noon hour this Friday at Nathan Phillips Square.
Canada Free Press founding editor Most recent by Judi McLeod is an award-winning journalist with 30 years experience in the print media. Her work has appeared on Newsmax.com, Drudge Report, Foxnews.com, Glenn Beck. Judi can be reached at: judi@canadafreepress.com
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