CANADIANS SEE THROUGH
LIES
(The
following article is from
the January 1-15,
2008
issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles
can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in
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People's Voice Editorial, Jan. 1-15,
2008
Despite years of
corporate media
brainwashing, the majority of Canadians hold views more in line with
the anti-war movement than the Harper Conservative government. The
results of a new opinion survey show that 33% of Canadians think the
decision not to join the Iraq war was our country's greatest foreign
policy achievement, compared to just 10% who give that status to the
military mission in Afghanistan.
One thousand
Canadians were surveyed from Dec. 6-9 by the Strategic Counsel for The
Globe and Mail and CTV. Asked to name the biggest threat to the world
today, 36 per cent chose climate change, followed by the rich-poor gap
(14 per cent). "Terrorism" was picked by 11 per cent, US foreign policy
by 9 percent, and weapons of mass destruction by 4 percent.
Tellingly,
25% said the biggest influence on Canadian foreign policy was our
relationship with Washington, but just 5% said this relationship should
be primary. Thirty-nine percent said that Canadian foreign policy was
less independent than 50 years ago, while only 25 per cent said it was
more independent. When asked about Afghanistan, 37 per cent said that
Canada became involved "because the United States wants us there."
Right-wing
historian Jack Granatstein called the poll "dispiriting" proof that
Canadians "forget we live in a world of carnivores." What Prof.
Granatstein simply cannot comprehend is that millions of Canadians
realize that U.S. imperialism is the most dangerous carnivore, leading
a pack of ravenous corporate interests which are prepared to destroy
the planet in search of maximum profits.
For the
anti-war movement, this survey is welcome proof that the pro-war
propaganda drive has not shifted the underlying views of the people.
Now we must build on this high level of popular awareness to mobilize
tens of thousands of Canadians into the streets on the March 15 global
day of anti-war action.
Found
at:
http://www.peoplesvoice.ca/articleprint09/CANADIANS_SEE_THROUGH_LIES.html