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Thousands turn out for soldier's funeral

BILL GRAVELAND

THE CANADIAN PRESS

Latest comment posted at 9:35 PM EDT 16/05/08

‘He was a person of love,' says Father Robert Rocheleau, who delivered the homily at the funeral of Cpl. Michael Starker ...Read the full article

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  1. Biggest Redneck from Somewhere, United States writes: Rest in peace brave soldier
  2. Dennis sinneD from Calgary, Canada writes:

    Thank you.
  3. Bill Thompson from Calgary, Canada writes: My condolences to the family of this brave man; a true Canadian through and through. Thank you for your service and sacrifice, soldier. Perseverance.
  4. rik smith from Los Angeles, United States writes: To Cpl Starker....Thank you for your courage, bravery and ultimate sacrifice...to his family.. my deepest regrets and heart felt admiration.
  5. S Boatright from Canada writes: Rest in peace Cpl. Michael Starker. Thank you for you sacrifice. I will not forget.
  6. Richard Soley from writes: As a family with sons serving Aghanistan we extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of Corporal Starker. A man of his time with the courage to serve. We as a nation owe Micheal a debt of gratitude we can never repay. Rest well Soldier!
  7. Yogie Bear from The Forest, Canada writes: God's speed to all soldiers.
  8. V ADS from Canada writes: Another Canadian hero.
  9. Hunteroffortune Alberta from Canada writes: God Speed fine sir, God speed!
  10. P Jones from NB, Canada writes: May he RIP ... thoughts and prayers to his family.
  11. Yogie Bear from The Forest, Canada writes: doug burt there is a time and place for your point of view and I'm sure many will agree with you but this is not the time nor place.

    Give your respect for Cpl Starker as he has bravely given more than anyone should be asked to.

    He is a hero.
  12. James P from Spruce Grove, Canada writes: He choose immolate his life to protect ours, what a hero. Can't say I've done anything close to that in my life, yet. His and others
    courage is an inspiration.
  13. doug burt from writes: I do give me regrets and my prayers but it just makes me mad as its just a pointless loss of life....
  14. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: I drove by a squadron of soldiers that were marching in the streets of Halifax today, and it finally dawned on me that we don't have to look that far away for our heroes in this country...

    They walk amongst us.

    RIP -- Thank you for all that you do.
  15. V ADS from Canada writes: Doug Burt: No life lost to a greater good is ever 'pointless.'

    The saddest thing is to live a life that means nothing.
  16. charlie brown from Canada writes: doug. you just don't get it do you? pity
  17. doug burt from writes: get what...that we are sending are young men and women to die in a battle that the Soviets even gave up on years ago...we are fighting tribes,we are fighting a 'war' we can't and won't win, as evidenced today by a child suicide bomber...so I don't get what...what are you alluding to, I suggest you go and talk to Lucy in her booth as its you that doesn't get it, and just ask the parents of the sons,daughters lost in 'battle' ...wake up and get your head out of your butt....
  18. James P from Spruce Grove, Canada writes: doug burt from writes: I do give me regrets and my prayers but it just makes me mad as its just a pointless loss of life....

    -------------
    A pointless loss of life is having your child killed by a drunk driver..Having a soilder die protecting people that aren't even his own countrymen is heroic, noble and just. He obviously felt that way being there and all.
  19. charlie brown from Canada writes: James P. You get it. Unfortunately, the likes of doug, and his ilk, never will.
  20. doug burt from writes: at least having your child killed by a drunk driver you have a target to vent towards....who do his parents have to vent on...a pointless war??,politicians??, rhetoric??.. yea that is a noble end, give me a break...talk to the veterans from Iraq, from Vietnam, from this mess in Afghanistan ...their is no nobility and if you believe their is then man your the ones not getting it...
  21. doug burt from writes: my i'ilk' waht is that...like a elk...or someone that doesn't see your point of view, can see things for what they are...if I am not of your 'ilk' then thanks for the compliment.....we will continue this 'discussion' when are next 'brave soul' dies in action....
  22. S Boatright from Canada writes: agree with charlie brown

    I'm thankful that there are still some who DO get it.

    Sadly - doug doesn't understand that it is BECAUSE of heros like Cpl Starker that he has the privilege of judging Afghanistan as a lost cause - when the reality is that if there were no Cpl Starkers in the world - and intead they were all dougs - we would very likely be a lost cause ourselves.
  23. James P from Spruce Grove, Canada writes: Doug..I understand..You don't like this war, but I take exception for all the soilders in Afganistan when you equate it to Iraq or Vietnam. It isn't. It really isn't Buses war there. They went to stop the government(Taliban) to stop allowing ppl who like to kill innocent people, ie flying planes into building, train bombs, ect.. from using the country as a free for all training ground. Now that they have scattered the cowards off to the hills they still need to be there to protect the people and us from those pointless cowards from coming backi. What don't you get about that?
  24. doug burt from writes: oh come on ....give it a rest yea the afghanistans are a real threat to world order, if they were why is Osama allowed to still wonder around and the Canada has to beg the U.N nations to help in this "mission" oh yea I also forgot to mention that they were and are armed by the CIA and the U.S. weapon factories....yea thanks for the lecture or the clarification, pathetic....I feel safer walking to 7/11....do you guys think for yourselves or are you from the Stepford wives....
  25. James P from Spruce Grove, Canada writes: Really Doug? You'd be ok with a country that allows ppl to train and execute attacks against only civilians? Thats ok with you? We should just have allowed them to continue, really? It ok for ppl to have a religious war against the west but to stop it is just pointless and wrong. Or are you one of those 9/11 was an inside job types? I am wondering myself who is the programmed one...
  26. doug burt from writes: it is not that I don't get it James P its the opposite I do get it, Russia walked away from this battle years ago for the simple reason that they realized they are what they are.....it's a losing battle especially as you say they head to the "hills", those are "their hills" they will not be caught or denied just as in Vietnam those were "their jungles" are we going to "win" no...not at all.....last time i looked Oklahama bombing was done by two inviduals from upper Michigan have we declared war on Michigan....no....fantics etc. come from everywhere.....
  27. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: doug burt:

    You should have a read of Oliver Wendall Homes Jr.'s speech "The Soldier's Faith..." Pay particular attention to the following lines:

    "Behind every scheme to make the world over, lies the question, "What kind of world do you want?"

    "I do not know what is true. I do not know the meaning of the universe. But in the midst of doubt, in the collapse of creeds, there is one thing I do not doubt, that no man who lives in the same world with most of us can doubt, and that is that the faith is true and adorable which leads a soldier to throw away his life in obedience to a blindly accepted duty, in a cause which he little understands, in a plan of campaign of which he has little notion, under tactics of which he does not see the use."

    This thread is to praise Cpl. Michael Starker and his contributions to our country. There are a number of other threads where it would be more appropriate for your questions regarding the Afghanistan mission.

    Sorry for the length of this post.

    Cheers.
  28. doug burt from writes: how do you stop it???? tell me that...this isn't going to stop it and if you think it is your wrong we now have 10 year old suicide bombers have we made progress, look at the facts, and lay off the rhetoric...tell me how are we going to stop it....tell em when we have another soldier being driven down the "highway of heroes" does that make you feel wee making progress, if it does then thats just sad....
  29. bill johnson from Quebec, Canada writes: Doug why don't you run down to Starbucks and soothe your pain in a yuppy drink?
  30. S Boatright from Canada writes: ok people - if you have any respect, please ignore doug - he's had his anti-war rant, but it's not the right place to do this, and its pointless to keep trying to convince him to look at it another way. It only gives him another opportunity to post another rant.

    doug - show a little respect. Whether you agree with this particular war or not, respect the fact that Cpl Starker and others like him have the courage and the compassion to sacrifice themselves for us and our country - without question and without regret as to what we ask of them.

    Your freedoms are BECAUSE of that - so if nothing else, show respect for what you've received in freedoms, thanks to soldiers of my grandfather's era.

    If you want to get back on your soapbox - then perhaps you could have enough grace to do it another time and on another thread.
  31. mech eng from Canada writes: the reason canada has to beg nato for assistance is because there are too many people like doug burt

    RIP Cpl Starker
  32. James P from Spruce Grove, Canada writes: Doug..How do you stop murder? Rape? Do we just tell the cops to go home because it's pointless? Come on...I've seen much improvement in the lives of the Afganistan ppl and that has alot to do with ppl like Cpl. Michael Starker. There is a thousands of ppl in Afganistan who owe their new life to him.
  33. doug burt from writes: never been to Starbucks or been confused with a yuppie....I drive a Jeep and hunt so what is your point???....oh i see I must be a lefty pinko to think like this....sorry to disappoint..but you know facts are facts...we will be in Afghanistan for 20 more years and nothing will change..oh wait something will change the fatality list and the heroin crop will ...those two are givens....
  34. John Smith from Alberta, Canada writes: Bertie (Doug Burt), keep talking because the more you do it, the more you honour the memory of fallen Canadian soldiers. By having the freedom to express your disdain for the messiness of war, you are taking for granted the right that the blood of the fallen won for you. And ever more do you show us a hypocrisy you are too opaque to appreciate.
  35. J Law from Canada writes: doug burt. A number of people have respectfully asked you to go to another thread to beat your drum. So unless you are of the lowest form of troll, I would suggest that this is not the place and all you are doing is sending people over to your opponents side of your argument. Good night!
  36. John Smith from Alberta, Canada writes: Dougie, I would never want to place my life in your hands. I'd just as soon die once than have to endure your thousand deaths.
  37. doug burt from writes: what I never showed respect by sayin i feel for him and his family ...maybe I show more respect for him then you guys do and just hanging your heads and waving your flags saying he gave his life for the good of the country...think dam it, he gave his life for political reasons, and not for you and me.....so don't tell me how to grieve or how to show respect, where and how......maybe if more people had passion, and never just lived vicariously through are soldiers something could be done about this fiasco....
  38. A. Greene from Canada writes: Stop feeding the troll. He's had his say. He's never going to understand. He's being a contrarian and distracting us all from the point of this piece - someone gave their life for another. Let's not forget. Thank you, Cpl Starker.
  39. John Smith from Alberta, Canada writes: Dougie: blah blah blah I'm right notice how right I am blah blah blah blah why don't you see I'm right blah blah blah
  40. doug burt from writes: he gave his life for another and who is that other??....you, me, my ability to write this, my freedoms I enjoy...yea right...thanks for enlightning me....my brother is in Afghanistan does he want to be there no, does he care about the battle no, as does no one in his regiment well almost no one....so give it a rest yuo guys are just blind and believe me when i say rest in peace....but I don't have my head in my butt....
  41. Brendan Caron from vancouver, Canada writes: Still. Another, again... Cheers.
  42. Brendan Caron from vancouver, Canada writes: Yuh ain't gonna like the goofs.
  43. M Poland from Calgary, Canada writes: Doug Burt asks how we can measure any progress in Afghanistan--Doug, one measure of progress is many little Afghani girls can now go to school and receive an education that was denied them until we and our allies came to save them from the 8th century. Can you deny this? You write of thinking for yourself and yet you demonstrate little of it--when questioned you resort to insults; rather than proffer any sort of cogent argument. We are in Afghanistan because their previous regime sheltered and encouraged Osama bin Laden and others of their ilk to train to kill many, many innocent people, including 24 of your Canadian brethren. This may not matter to you, but as the father of 2 wee girls I can assure you that I thank God every day for the valour, courage and conviction of people like Michael Starker and Nathan Hornburg.
  44. Brendan Caron from vancouver, Canada writes: The Goofs? They're the guys that dislike cocaine. They are the reason that Toronto isn't the loser place that all the other people in the world want themselves to think about themselves as being. Go figger? Hey? Brother Steve. Remember this is bendoin.
  45. Brendan Caron from vancouver, Canada writes: Thank you.
  46. Yogie Bear from The Forest, Canada writes: doug burt from writes:

    I do give me regrets and my prayers but it just makes me mad as its just a pointless loss of life....

    Posted 16/05/08 at 10:31 PM EDT
    -------------------------------------

    I understand
  47. Yogie Bear from The Forest, Canada writes: S Boatright from Canada

    so many words and such little substance
  48. Yogie Bear from The Forest, Canada writes: M Poland from Calgary do you have 'any' idea of what you speak of?
  49. r b from Calgary, Canada writes: There is a time and a place for poltics, political arguments and lampooning.

    These types of stories are not that time, not that place.

    Shame on many of you posters.
  50. Freddie Fender from Canada writes: Posters will political agendas take your rants elsewhere.

    Cpl Starker RIP.
  51. Freddie Fender from Canada writes: That should read "posters with political agendas take your rants elsewhere."
  52. Don Portz from Trochu AB, Canada writes: To doug burt - Do you feel lonely?? Have you read all the posts that that commend and support your views?? Did you convert the masses to your ideology?? You are entitled to your opinions just as well as the other posters but why rant on about it when you are so much inthe minority.

    Cpl Starker may you Rest in Peace.
  53. Don Bryant from Calgary, Canada writes: Doug Burt, you're a gutless piece of sh*t and are an embarrasement to all real Canadians.
  54. M Poland from Calgary, Canada writes: Yes, Yogie, I do indeed. You, I think not.

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