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A telling double standard

Earlier this week, three females aid workers were killed by insurgents in Afghanistan. Among them were two Canadian citizens. The Globe and Mail dutifily reported the story, and closed the on-line version to comments.

Also earlier this week, two Canadian soldiers were killed by insurgents in Afghanistan. The Globe and Mail reported those stories too, but left the articles unlocked for "semi-moderated" comments. As usual, several hundred readers used the opportunity to voice their opinions on Canada's mission in Afghanistan. Predicatably, those with dissenting views far outnumbered those who fully understand and appreciate the reality of Canada's role -- that we are not, nor were we ever, there as peacekeepers.

Every time a Canadian soldier dies or is killed overseas, the Globe and Mail opens the article for comments, the majority of which have little positive to say about the job our troops are doing. I am not sure if irony is the correct word to use here. If it is, it is of the bitter variety indeed. Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan die in an effort to provide security and stability to the country, thereby allowing NGOs and aid workers better access to the people who need their support and care. Were we to listen to the majority of commenters on The Globe and Mail, we'd pull our troops out of Afghansitan... thus increasing the danger of the conditions that humanitarian organizations face, and increasing the likelihood of further aid workers becoming casualties.

I used to rely on The Globe and Mail for intelligent, accurate reporting. Now, however, they seem to enjoy stirring up controversy in their on-line forums, only opening for comment those articles they know will elicit argumentative responses. No one would dare post a negative comment about a dead aid worker (let alone three of them, and female at that), but many readers seem all too eager to speak ill of dead soldiers. I have read posts calling them everything from undisciplined to trigger-happy adrenaline junkies. It is disappointing, to say the least.