A thought about scare tactics, security & a way of life.
Follow me on the flip.
Dear fellow Canucks,
The terrorist attacks in London have shaken and disgusted us all... from left to right and centre... from Halifax to Vancouver. We rightly want those responsible brought to justice and for all peoples of this world to be safe.
But we must not go down the path of fear. We have been reminded in the past few days by American "security experts" that Canada was on the Al Qaeda list back in 2002 for our support of the war in Afghanistan and told that we are not safe from an attack. They may be right. But I prefer to live as a decent, peaceful, open and hopeful person, not living in fear of death and destruction.
Could I be a target living in Toronto (the best bet for a strike in the country... hello CN Tower, Bay Street, Skydome & Queen's Park...)? Probably. If a terrorist really wanted to blow our shit up then I'm positive he or she would find a way. Regardless of if we instituted a police state or ratted on our neighbours. Do I want a little bit more security in and around the country? Sure. Sounds like a good idea. But I certainly do not want to see people with machine guns at our airports or sporting events.
I love the fact that our politicians walk out amongst the crowds & that I'm not strip searched every time I go to a concert (as an example -- at the "Concert for Toronto" last year that AC/DC & The Stones headlined we had 500,000 people in one place and our security guards main concerns were if we were bringing food into the event. The cops wandered alone in the massive crowds and didn't give a damn if you were smoking a bit of grass... as Canadians are wont to do at concerts & cottages). I don't want to change any of that. I do not want to give in to fear.
Frankly, I do not want to be a part of the "us against them" mentality that Blair & Bush are foisting on us. I am not against Islam. I am not against Muslims. I am against extremists, murderers, fundamentalists & thugs of all shapes, religions and sizes. That includes the terror inflicted against Iraqi's and prisoners at Gitmo.
Canada is against those things too and that's I really don't think we are as big of a target as the "security experts" are trying to make us out to be. I haven't heard anyone threaten us since before the Iraq war that we were firmly against. The Aga Khan has spoken of Canada as an model of pluralism and peace and frankly us Canadians have developed a set of brass ones when it comes to speaking our minds about Bush, right wing wackery & religious fundamentalism emenating from south of the border.
Could we be hit? Sure. Anything is possible. I am not naive. But I prefer to keep on keepin' on, institute sane and non-intrusive security precautions and continue to value diversity, other cultures, and promote equality. If some fucker wants to bomb us for that then shame on them & we will follow the course of law to bring them to justice. But I ain't going down the road of fear & intolerance.
No way in hell. We would be handing them victory.
My thoughts, condolences and best wishes are with all victims of violence... let's continue to work for peace and sanity in this world.
~ spiderleaf
[Cross posted at Booman Trib]