You have just said something, and no sooner were the words out of your mouth do you realize you should not have said it. Perhaps you even come to this conclusion before you finish speaking. But it is too late. You proceed with the thought until its end. However, the damage is now done, and you know it.

Besides wishing almost immediately that your thoughts had remained unspoken, what else can you do? For one, you can apologize. Perhaps maybe no one really caught on. Or maybe, you might get a break and get away with pretending it didn’t happen.

But, what if you are not that lucky, as is so often the case? Suppose you were even more unfortunate and made damaging and critical comments without even realizing the ferocity of your speech?  Sure, that’s a lot of what ifs to digest — but I digress.  

Allow me to start from the beginning.

This past week as Americans read headlines of Obama’s gaffe on Jay Leno and some seemingly inappropriate referrals to his bowling game, Canadians were fuming about something else. This involved a ‘late-late night’ TV program, its host, and an appearing guest. 

It has caused and is continuing to bring much discord to our neighbors in the north. The show is the FOX News program “Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld”. Typically there is a panel debating current events as advanced by Gutfeld.

On March 17, this particular program aired a segment involving the degradation of the Canadian military. Then on March 20, as this was still filtering through the country, news broke regarding the deaths of four more soldiers slain in Afghanistan. Talk about adding fuel to a fire.

The comments as reported by Canadian newspaper, the Globe & Mail, involved many slanderous remarks including those from Californian comedian, and guest, Greg Benson.

The segment was introduced by Gutfeld. “Once their Afghan mission winds down some time in 2011, certain members of the Canadian military are looking to take a much-deserved break… meaning, the Canadian military wants to take a breather to do some yoga, paint landscapes, and run on the beach in gorgeous white Capri pants.”

He then turned to Benson, saying “Doug, I want you to take this seriously, isn’t this the perfect time to invade this ridiculous country? They have no army.”

Benson responded “I didn’t even know they were in the war. I thought that’s where you go when you don’t want to fight. Go chill in Canada.” Gutfeld then suggests that this is year-long break is only possible because Canada can bask in the protection of the “most powerful country in the universe”.

“That will be their selling point — we’re not in the war for a year. Come on by and catch us while we nap.” The mocking then continued into other ravages of Canadian culture. An apology was only offered through publicists after having been requested by the Canadian government.   

Being Canadian, I also cannot help feeling offended.  

Of course the timing was poor given the sequential deaths of more military personnel. Granted that Canadian headlines don’t make a lot of news down here, so I’ll inform you we have been involved in Afghanistan since early 2002. But ignorance is no excuse.

Personally, I would never dream of slandering your military — not here or in any other venue. I understand that this was supposed to be satirical and I can appreciate good comedy, but this is a subject near and dear to our hearts, just as it is to yours.

Your soldiers are dying in Iraq and ours in Afghanistan; surely that should be above the butt of a joke. Many of these people are my age; some are even younger. Children of their own are now without a parent. There are a million other things to talk and laugh about. Clearly, Mr. Gutfeld lacked all decorum and decency in launching a tirade such a topic.

Canadians are very supportive of their military and it is a tragedy when lives are lost, yet it is an ultimate inevitability in the course of war.   

Our deceased are sent home in military aircraft to the base from which they departed where grieving friends and family wait. There are dignitaries in attendance — their presence representative of the entire country, seen as the mourning of all Canadians. Often, it is broadcast on national television.

The funeral procession makes its way down what become the “Highways of Heroes”. In large military cities like Edmonton, sometimes yellow ribbons line the way in acknowledgement of the sacrifices made. 

Regardless of rank, duty length, or foreign tour, this service is the same for all the deceased.

Although it may not seem like it to those at FOX, the Canadian military is helping to make the world a better place. Our efforts, successes, and similarly our losses, are equally as deserving of your respect just as yours are of ours. 

Erin Mastre is a graduate student in landscape architecture from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.