History is a great teacher

My mind has been obsessed for some time now with how people see the same thing differently. More specifically, it pains me to see how Canadians have differing opinions on whether our troops should be in Afghanistan or not. Let's face it, we all would rather have our troops at home, but when you analyze all the facts, it's the right thing to fight the enemy over there instead of here. I don't understand the debate.

History can be a great teacher if we pay attention. After the beginning of World War II, Americans believed they were insulated by an ocean and isolated from the battle in Europe. They resisted getting involved because their opinion was determined by their point of reference; isolated and safe. After the First World War, the British began dismantling their war machine because the conventional wisdom was that there would be no more wars. Only a few knew differently, because they had more information than the average voter.

During World War II, British Intelligence kept secrets from the Monarchy as the King's brother was sympathetic to Germany. In Canada, the prime minister was not privy to all information. Because of his point of reference, he never knew about Camp X. If it wasn't for American technology, Canadian science, British persistence and the ability to keep secrets, we would all be under Nazi rule today.

Imagine, one man in jail after WW1 was able to plan world domination and later was responsible for tens of millions of deaths in WW2. Hitler was able to convince so many to follow his ideology and the outcome is almost unbelievable. A lot of people west of the Atlantic believe that the Taliban only want to grow poppies and shoot women who anger them. What effect would they have over here except a bigger supply of drugs? On Iraq, the Sunnis and Shiites would settle their differences without an effect on North America? I don't think so!

Genocide occurred in Rwanda because other countries stood by and let it happen. The same is true of Bosnia and today in Darfur. If terrorism came calling on Canada, do we think the U.S. or Britain would stand by and let it happen?

We can't forget what so few did to so many on 9/11 and let our guard down. Politicians tend to say what they believe the popular opinion to be. I respect those who do what's right in spite of it adversely affecting their popularity. Evil has to be fought wherever it is found. Our politicians need to study history before they debate how quickly we are to abandon our role in Afghanistan.

Don Norris

Bolton