This is the type of pointless “gotcha politics” bullshit used to distract you from the efforts to privatize healthcare and destroy the country with capitalism.
It is super effective in the US, and it’s working great in the UK and Canada, etc.
Pal, we had a guy who was an active participant in genocide put in front of Parliament and applauded. We can take a moment to consider why that was a bad idea.
Is it impossible for you to focus on more than one issue at the same time?
Ok Karl
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we are supposed to believe that not one of them thought it might be prudent to remain in their seat and refuse to applaud a man who was self-evidently fighting in the Nazi cause?
We are supposed to believe that anyone cared? The people in attendance were almost certainly thinking about what they planned to have for dinner, or wondering about what their kids were doing, or pondering what they might do on the weekend – not listening to what some random nobody who means nothing did a lifetime ago. Not even the strongest-willed person alive would make it through that snooze fest without having their mind wander off.
“Name every soldier who fought in WW2.”
“The allies?”
“Everyone.”
“Oh you’re into military history? Name every soldier.”
Like, everyone’s name?
You just need to know who fought against the Russians in Ukrane during World War 2. Its not exactly a history degree. Even just assuming no one on the team had even a high-school level of history knowledge (already a bad sign), the fact that no one thought to actually look into the deeds they were praising him for is pathetic.
I don’t remember the particulars of what happened on the Eastern Front being taught in my high school history classes. The Canadian military was concentrated on the Western Front, so what little detail was covered was concentrated there as well.
Also, when I was in high school, the Ukraine was not an independent nation, but part of the USSR—I don’t think our classes even mentioned it had ever been separate. Actually, I’m not sure it was even once mentioned by name. This would be the case for the majority of the MPs as well, as I expect more of them than not were born before 1980.
The “in Ukraine” part was mostly for history nerds and those who’d want to play semantics. My point was that no one had the thought, “Hmmm. He fought against Russia, one of the Allies. That seems suspect.” I wouldn’t be shocked if a couple people missed it, but surely you’d have more than a couple people invlovled in planning this, and these are people for whom history is more relevant than most. Besides that, even if no one knew that Ukraine involved in the fight between Nazi Germany and the USSR, you’d hope there’d be someone to vet him who would at least find that out.
The fact that Rota’s entire team, who should have done the vetting, appear to have been asleep at the wheel, looks either negligent or malicious on someone’s part, yes. Doesn’t mean that the other MPs should automatically have known. The fact that Russia was one of the Allies didn’t get mentioned a hell of a lot during the Cold War years either, when they were The Enemy. Maybe they collectively should all have gone in for a refresher on eastern European history after the current war started, but I can understand why they might have had other priorities.
Yeah, I can understand those listening to the speech not immediately picking up the connection, considering there was only one chance (rather than the vetting process) and people probably weren’t paying much attention in the first place. I’d have hoped more would have, but its not that suprising. Its just the complete incompetence involved in those who vetted Hunka and who researched, wrote, and editted the speech that shockes me.
Yeah this is it for me. I’m not a liberal, but it’s very reasonable of every MP to think:
the speaker wouldn’t invite a Nazi to be celebrated in the HoC, this guy must have been in the underground or something
Or honestly if Rota had said something like:
In WW2 Hunka was indoctrinated by Nazi propaganda, and had his patriotism twisted to support the Nazi regime against the Soviets. He fought in the Nazi SS Galician division against the USSR, seeking an independent Ukraine. He is horrified by the atrocities and genocide the SS and others committed in service of Nazism. He renounced his oath to Hitler at the first opportunity, but never gave up his support for an independent Ukraine. He is proud of Ukrainians like Zelensky fighting for a Ukraine that embraces democracy and freedom.
I think it would have been okay.
I don’t believe I learnt about Finland fighting against the USSR in WW2.
Its stuff like that, that are why I specified, “In Ukraine.” I know theres more actual compelxity on the Eastern Front, but I don’t really expect people to know that much. I’m only really expecting people to know “Nazis vs Soviets on the Eastern Front” since thats about the depth of coverage in school. Even that should be enough raise some red flags somewhere in the vetting process and/or the speech writting.
“Soviets allied with Nazis on the Eastern Front” was very much a real thing.
And the parts that the USSR invaded are part of modern day Ukraine. Ukrainians literally fought a Soviet/Nazi invasion in WWII.
I mean, if they have that much knowledge of WW2, then they should understand the potential of Hunka being involved with the Nazis, and/or with the war crimes on the Eastern Front. My point is that you don’t even need to get to that level of depth or firmiliarity to see potential issues that could arise. Clearly they didn’t consider even the basic red flags that could come with an understanding of the depth, “Soviets vs Nazis on the Eastern Front.” No one involved in preparing the speech and inviting Hunka even thought to check which division he served in, nonetheless ensure he wasn’t a war criminal.
