The Canadian Maple Leaf means more to former infantryman Brock Blaszczyk than the unity, tolerance, and peace it symbolizes..It offers Canadians something people in countless countries long for, but have been denied, or have had, then lost..“The idea of the Maple Leaf to me, it represents a dream. A dream and hope. But this dream and hope is so fragile that even a whisper can destroy it,” said Blaszczyk, 32, who served with Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI)..“Of course, I celebrate Canada Day. I’m very proud that I had the Maple Leaf on my shoulder. I’m very proud that I come from a country, for the most part, where people can live the lives they want to live, as long as they ain’t hurting anybody,” he said..“The idea of the Maple Leaf is to always do better.”.Blaszczyk fought to free people in Afghanistan from cruelty and oppression under the Taliban. .It cost him a lot..In 2010, five months into his mission, then 20-year-old Blaszczyk stepped on an improvised-explosive device (IED). His left leg was partially amputated. His right foot suffered severe tissue damage..Like the 158 Canadian soldiers who died, and the thousands more who suffered physical injuries or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during Canada’s military mission in Afghanistan from 2001-2014, Blaszczyk would have gone unnoticed but for a February 2018 town hall event in Edmonton..One man, heroic Blaszczyk, stood proud on his remaining injured leg..The other, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, perched comfortably on a stool..Their exchange caught global attention..Arriving home, Afghan veterans faced another fight –getting financial and medical help and decent pensions. .They eventually took the federal government to court. Trudeau slashed $1.8 billion in pension funding for disabled veterans after vowing to increase it while campaigning in 2015. .Blaszczyk reminded Trudeau of his broken promise that “no veteran will be forced to fight their own government for the support and compensation.” .Many veterans and serving members were deceived into voting Liberal..“Yet you are still currently in a legal battle with veterans regarding equal support and compensation to their peers. You have ISIS members coming into a reintegration program. You did a backdoor deal with Omar Khadr without even stepping into a courtroom,” Blaszczyk said..Trudeau awarded Khdar $10.5 million despite his guilty plea for the murder of a U.S. army sergeant..“I was prepared to be injured in the line of duty when I joined the military…I was prepared to be killed in action. What I wasn’t prepared for, Mr. Prime Minister, is Canada turning its back on me.”.Trudeau’s disgraceful response about why he was fighting veterans in court?.“Because they’re asking for more than we’re able to give right now,” he said. .The disgusted crowd booed..Blaszczyk recalls his personal reaction..“I wanted to throw my medals at him,” said Blaszczyk, who earned the South-West Asia Service Medal and the Sacrifice Medal. .“I’m happy I didn’t do it. But at the time I was shocked and hurt by what he said. Especially because of what the country asked of me and my brothers and my sisters.” .Although the Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal of the Afghan veterans’ case, Blaszczyk succeeded in raising public awareness. .“After it happened there was a lot of talk about how veterans are treated in Canada. It’s been a recurring topic since then,” he said. .“They created a medical pension.” .Still, veterans, including Blaszczyk, must maneuver through complicated red tape to get what they’re entitled. .Despite his injuries, Blaszczyk, who “retired” from the military in 2015 and has since gotten married, has no regrets about serving in Afghanistan. .“Occupational hazard. It came with that territory. Honestly, I’m thankful I was able to serve. For me, it was a very spiritual awakening. I’m quite happy I did it and I’m proud I went where not a lot of people were going to go,” he said..“It didn’t matter what our background was, it didn’t matter if you came from a home of privilege or not. It was about everybody just working together to try to give a group of people a better way of life.”.In 2014 Canadian troops were pulled out of Afghanistan. The U.S. plans a full withdrawal this September..“What was it for at the end of the day? We just broke our promises to the Afghan people. We’re leaving the people to just be oppressed, just walking away. The thousands of interpreters that worked with us, that we promised if things go south, they’d be able to come to Canada, were just left there,” he said..“I feel bad. The little girls really affected me, knowing that these gorgeous little girls, at some point in their life they’re just going to be treated like cattle.”.They’re forced to don burkas once they reach puberty, sentenced to a lifetime of wearing the stifling full-length coverings. Freedom disappears overnight..It always starts with seemingly small things..Currently, Canadians are being crushed and held hostage by cancel culture and woke extremism..Canadians must be on guard against whispers – getting louder under the Trudeau regime – that stealthily crush fragile freedoms. .Slobodian is a Western Standard columnist based in Manitoba
