It represents the blood that flows because of war.
It represents our brave Canadian troops who are right now fighting a war.
It's Toronto's Red Friday rally to support the troops.
Afghanistan is a long way away. But at Yonge-Dundas Square today at noon, a lot of people will let our troops know that we care.
And they will hear us.
AM 640 and CFRB 1010 radio stations will both carry the program live to our troops in the field.
That's right Toronto, thanks to modern technology, our support will be dropped right into the war zone. Our message will be taken directly to our soldiers in the field. We will talk directly to them.
For rally participants, says AM 640 national radio host Charles Adler, "the only cost of admission is your heart."
The bigger the crowd at the Yonge and Dundas Square, the bigger and louder cheer we will give our troops.
This is Toronto's challenge. We are up to that challenge.
Now, a lot of people are on the program, which was hastily put together last night and is still subject to change.
I must give a special thank you to co-organizers Justin Van Dette, from Councillor Bill Saundercook's office, and Louise Gray, a media expert with the Toronto Police Association.
They have worked around the clock for 48 straight hours to make sure that this great rally happens.
It is because of these two hard-working people, that some politicians have been putting aside their differences and are expected to be there, including Toronto police union boss Dave Wilson and his rival in the coming election, Mike McCormack.
The Guardian Angels will be there. And you know what a politically charged atmosphere there has been around them.
But there will be no battling today.
Today's message is solidarity.
Even bitter rivals agree on something we all agree on: We care about our soldiers. We support them.
There's no debate amongst these political foes about the welfare of our troops.
On the stage and in that crowd, there will be a lot of people who care.
It won't be easy listening to Sean McTeague talk about his son Michael being hit in a suicide bomber attack.
Thomasena Benson, the mother of Capt. John Benson, will also talk about what it is like to have a son at war.
But compared to what our soldiers have to face every day, it will be relatively easy.
Many celebrities have been invited.
But celebrity stature is not what this event is about.
This is about young men and women from our country who signed up to go to a foreign land and fight on our behalf.
What a sacrifice!
Just think about that. We don't have to do it because of them. We prosper because of people like them. In the heat of Afghanistan, they put their lives on the line without ever complaining.
I know many of you feel the same way as I do and you will be out there with me today.
Someone was teasing me about possible rain.
Our troops never abandon our interests because it rains.
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Not everything I post or say on foro are necesarily true facts. <- THAT is a fact! :blankstare:
Miel wrote: I thought u were opening this thread so everyone from Foro who s going to Ricky's performance on friday will dress in red ,. that way everyone will know who are the Foro members,..
now now... we're not kindergarden kids, I am sure we can manage to find each other without color coordinating everyone...
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Not everything I post or say on foro are necesarily true facts. <- THAT is a fact! :blankstare:
I thought u were opening this thread so everyone from Foro who s going to Ricky's performance on friday will dress in red ,. that way everyone will know who are the Foro members,..
I am inviting EVERYONE to dress in red THIS FRIDAY… here is why…
GET ON THE BUS AND SUPPORT OUR TROOPS
Like a Greyhound bus travelling all the way to Kabul, people are jumping on board a big rally for the troops.
I can't wait for Friday when, if yesterday was any indication, we are in for one heck of a turnout at Yonge-Dundas Square at noon.
One week after they did it on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, we'll have our own Red Friday in the Big Smoke. It will be an important message to the soldiers that this city is with them. All you have to do is wear red to show your support for the men and women over in Afghanistan.
It doesn't hurt to say thank you to them every once in a while. Toronto will do that Friday. The response has been incredible and it is shaping up to be a non-partisan event.
For example, AM640 Toronto Radio jumped all over it and had me on John Oakley's show and ran with regular news reports with Stephanie Smyth. Minutes later, Steve Kowch at CFRB 1010 e-mailed asking how they can help. Soon after, I was on with Paul and Carol Mott in the afternoon and I hear Spider Jones and Mark Elliott are supportive.
So are the cops.
"If it's for the troops, we are there 100%," said Chief Bill Blair, who provided us with some contacts.
Who says you can't get things done in this town?
So the big question is, what is going to happen and how are we going to make it happen? The logistics are mind-boggling. But we are keeping our eye on the main prize --which is to send a picture of a sea of red from Toronto to the soldiers. The more people who come, the better the picture.
After my Saturday column saying we were doing this, I received a call from an eager young special assistant to Councillor Bill Saundercook named Justin Van Dette. "I want to be involved," he said. "I am so proud to do something like this. I mean this is our country and this is patriotism at its best."
Glad to have you along for the ride, Justin. Get ready for a busy week. If you want to add something to this event, feel free to e-mail Justin at jvandet@toronto.ca.
Neat ideas
We are working on a program and have neat ideas but very little time. There are so many suggestions of how we can make this one of Toronto's finest hours. But there are roadblocks. Our troops, who never complain, overcome far worse every day.
One small problem we have is the square was already booked for a promotional event. The nice thing about a public square, though, is we will be able to share it.
Greyhound Canada has for months been scheduled to promote a "funky" new bus to attract young travellers and the actual bus and some dancers will be there. We are hoping they don't mind adding a few thousand people in red to their event.
We're pretty sure Greyhound won't mind because there's few companies who know this country, and its people, as well as they do.
I'll never forget when I went out west on Greyhound a few years back during the federal election. They travel everywhere. Small towns and big. The same kind of places the troops come from.
Something was in the works last night and I'll have more for you tomorrow and when I appear on Craig Bromell's show on AM640 today.
A press release tomorrow from Saundercook's office will also have more details. This, by the way, is an event that is sponsored by no one and will host no banners. Although I am a Toronto Sun guy, I really want to make sure the Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, National Post and all the TV stations and ethnic media feel they can get involved and cover it too.
This is everybody's story. The only gain on the agenda is the morale of our military people. "The only thing being promoted here are the troops and the Canadian flag," said Justin.
Well said.
Meanwhile, we are trying to get together a program. No matter what, it will be grassroots. Light on political speeches and more on ones from the heart. Everybody is invited, everybody can come. It's not about us. It's about them.
So get ready over there in Afghanistan because a bunch of Torontonians in red are about to get on the bus to support you Friday.
joe.warmington@tor.sunpub.com
Article by: Joe Warminton – The Toronto Sun – September 26, 2006
-- Edited by LGigolo at 10:53, 2006-09-29
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Not everything I post or say on foro are necesarily true facts. <- THAT is a fact! :blankstare:
