You know, the thread concerning the plight of those poor folks up in Churchill, Manitoba? The place that’s hanging on by a thread because of a washed-out rail line, their only contact (aside from air and ship) with the outside world being the rail line that brings in all the things that make life possible?
The thread that led to some spirited and very passionate discussion?
The thread covering news from Canada that the American mainline media never sees fit to report on?
I’ve learned quite a lot from that thread. Haven’t we all?
So then, what happened? It’s gone like what the late great Lucius Beebe used to call “The snows of yesteryear.”
Looks like the moderators wiped it, my posts to it have disappeared from my account history too.
Must have gotten too political, but it is difficult to have a non-political discussion about such topics. Perhaps the forum rules should be amended to allow for some political discussion in cases such as these.
Wrote this a bit earlier on the Independence Day thread by Firelock:
Also…I see my Churchill thread has been taken down. What a dirty shame.
Perhaps all threads about Amtrak should be removed because its government and people actually have opinions. Anyone who passes judgement on life in the Canadian North and the welfare of Native communities far far from here need to think before they shoot their mouths off. There are Rat Finks and there are Cat Finks.
Yeah maybe all Amtrak and VIA threads should come down as it’s impossible to discuss those without talking government and politics. It’s the nature of the beast.
Can’t speak about government entities without bringing up politics lads, that’s just the way it is. And Amtrak and VIA certainly are government entities, any way you look at it.
Does anyone find it kind of ironic that a post all about railroading and a severe crisis caused by a damaged line was taken down during your celebration of Independence Day.
Real nice example of free speech there …of which none of it was offensive or off topic.
I suspect that if the discussion is in general terms, it’s probably OK. (ie, the government this, the government that)
If someone is naming names (and possibly even parties), I’m guessing that starts crossing the line. You probably don’t want to be calling Snuffy Smith of the Wagon Wheel party a lowdown dirty crook.
The lingering odor of “Political Correctness”. It tends to hang in the air, much like the odor of a road-killed polecat . Reminding every passing person of its presence. [:'(]
It was an interesting conversation, among adults. Surprising, how it managed to drift South? Not even stopping at the 49th parallel.
“Political correctness” is a buzzphrase usually used by the radical right to complain about expectations of common courtesy and decency in public discourse.
The Churchill post wasn’t the only one censored. My response that factually corrected a blatantly political on the Adios Coal thread was deleted, but not the original post. So not all the censorship is of right wing posts, as some would contend.
Now me lads, suppose we return to the issue that’s really important, that is, what’s going to happen to all those good folks in Churchill if someone doesn’t quit fooling around and gets down to the business of saving that rail line?
And be gentlemen, gentlemen.
And since it’s just too good to be deleted, here’s a second round of that Newfoundland song about the heartache of resettlement and the loss of home.
Remember, it’s real people we’re talking about here, not abstract numbers.
We left off with the Federal Government and Omnitrax in court and the Native groups negotiating the purchse of the line have been unsuccessful and have been stonewalled so walked away for now.
This weeks Lotto Max ( Canadian Lottery) jackpot is 55 million. The line costs 40 million to fix.
National Soverienty of Arctic Waters is at stake.
Dozens of small Native communities are left stranded.
It is freezing in Churchill and the 900 residents are sitting in their homes with mittens and touques on.
But people in the greater Toronto area pass judgement and say abonden the whole thing and its not worth it.
This goes way beyond any kind of for profit and it must be abandoned mentality.
It would be as if the USA wants everyone out of Anchorage Alaska because it’s not cost effective.
You could say the US allowed something similar to happen when Barrow changed its name to its traditional Iñupiaq name, Utqiaġvik - a name that those in the other 49 state can’t even begin to pronounce, let alone spell. I don’t know how the Northernmost city in the USA can be considered cost effective.
You know Miningman, it strikes me those folks in Toronto and Ottawa might apply the same name to the Northern territories that the east and west coast “elites” here in the US apply to the area between New York and Los Angeles. I’m sure you’ve heard of it.
“Flyover Country.” You know, it’s just to be traversed as quickly as possible and of no consequence otherwise.
Balt, how’s this grab you? “Oot-kiag-vik.” How’d I do?
And considering how much money governments everywhere throw away, (none of them are guiltless, by the way) the money spent to restore that rail line should be just a paltry drop in the bucket.
Thanks Cotton Belt, makes me glad I started it. That’s very gratifying.
I haven’t even looked at the Doon derailment thread, I didn’t notice it until it was well along and too late to jump in, but 267 posts on a derailment?
No disrespect to anyone, by any means, but how much is there to be said about a derailment?