Can it be that for the first time ever I agree with gnu, and then he withdraws it?

Parading around in uniforms is for banana republics. Among the best traditions of parliamentary democracies was a real healthy fear of the military (mostly because the poor were dragooned away, I guess), so people never, ever, wore their uniforms in daily life, the way they have started to, and parade around their medals, etc.   The last two Governors General had the right idea -- drop the pomp.   But we are starting to go the other way again, simply because the Conservatives (like neo-cons everywhere) believe that governments should only be supporting defence and not much else.   The Americans are the classic example: everyone is screaming about the high costs of creating health care, while a trillion dollars is spent on the military and not a peep out of the oh-so-concerned about the deficit Republicans. Absurd.

On a related note, I see that Obama has started attending the funerals of the military, and having his picture taken with dead soldiers.   It was one of GWB's more disgusting decisions to ban all that. However, Obama saluted, which is another sign of creeping militarism.

yours,

Peter T.