The phobia of Canada going the way of our US neighbours is just plain paranoia. The US have a different awards system, and it is part of their military culture. We shoud not knock it or make fun of it.
I respectfully disagree. We
are going the way of the Americans, and I don't agree with it in 90% of cases. In the past year, we have developed an attitude towards H&A that reflects much more of a US mindset than anything else. This is because (IMHO) of a profound lack of education regarding the
Canadian honours system and by the pervasive influence of US-media and Americanized views of the military in general. The public still has a difficult time distinguishing between US tradition and Canadian history and we see all sorts of "bright ideas" - not just H&A related - pushed to the fore because of it. Witness:
- an obvious change in criteria for Meritorious Service Decorations, to the point where some tours have awarded them for
every sub-unit commander
- the so-called "Combat Action Badge" - a direct derivative of the US CIB and a (IMHO) tremendously flawed concept
- the so-called "Sacrifice Medal" - a direct derivative of the Purple Heart (indeed somewhere on this site is the original idea that equates it directly to the PH)
- a plethora of "double tap" medals that have resulted in two (or three! Op BRONZE Roto 0, anyone?) medals for one tour.
- an obvious change in criteria for CDS and Command-level commendations (take a look at the vast array of activities for which they've been awarded lately - some obviously deserving, others not so much)
- an increasing tendency towards commemoratives and Provincial medals that bear only oblique reference to military accomplishment or service
As for this specific idea, we don't need
two LS awards. Have one with clasps and be done with it. If this means you get your CD at four years, so be it.