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Canada, once described by a historian as a “peaceable
kingdom,” has been struck in the heart.
kingdom,” has been struck in the heart.
To their horror, Canadians experienced two terror attacks
this week. In the first, a soldier was killed in a hit and run. In the second,
a lone gunman killed a solider guarding the War Memorial in Ottawa, then fled
to the Parliament Buildings for a shootout. The connecting thread? Radical
Islam. An ideology of death perpetrated by Canadians on Canadian soil.
this week. In the first, a soldier was killed in a hit and run. In the second,
a lone gunman killed a solider guarding the War Memorial in Ottawa, then fled
to the Parliament Buildings for a shootout. The connecting thread? Radical
Islam. An ideology of death perpetrated by Canadians on Canadian soil.
The headline on The Globe & Mail’s Thursday edition
screamed ‘Attacked’ with huge letters pulsing in front of an image of the
Parliament buildings. News stations ran a constant update of the events. The
country was paralysed.
screamed ‘Attacked’ with huge letters pulsing in front of an image of the
Parliament buildings. News stations ran a constant update of the events. The
country was paralysed.
Having lived in Israel for nine years and being in Toronto
during both of these events, it really brought out the difference between
living in a shire and a cauldron. As an inhabitant of the cauldron, the boiling
waters seethe with threats, attempts to harm civilians and tragedy. The country
has adapted to this situation in order to protect civilians’ liberties and
lives.
during both of these events, it really brought out the difference between
living in a shire and a cauldron. As an inhabitant of the cauldron, the boiling
waters seethe with threats, attempts to harm civilians and tragedy. The country
has adapted to this situation in order to protect civilians’ liberties and
lives.
For example, there is security outside all shopping malls.
When you want to enter, an armed guard looks in your bags, wands you with a
metal detector and could ask you to pass through a machine that could detect
weapons. In public parking lots, guards look in the car for suspicious passengers
or baggage and open the trunk for an inspection. There is security at banks,
museums, airports, bus stations, train stations, concerts, city gatherings and
parks.
When you want to enter, an armed guard looks in your bags, wands you with a
metal detector and could ask you to pass through a machine that could detect
weapons. In public parking lots, guards look in the car for suspicious passengers
or baggage and open the trunk for an inspection. There is security at banks,
museums, airports, bus stations, train stations, concerts, city gatherings and
parks.
It is not an inconvenience and it is something I have
adapted to and am grateful for. It takes
one second to do a security check and it saves lives. When I come to the US and
Canada, I am often shocked by the lack of security and feel vulnerable in large
crowds, often looking suspiciously at the number of unattended parcels, bags
and strollers. If a distracted Israeli child were to leave his school backpack
on a street for half an hour, chances are it would be ‘sapped’ by a policeman’s
robot.
adapted to and am grateful for. It takes
one second to do a security check and it saves lives. When I come to the US and
Canada, I am often shocked by the lack of security and feel vulnerable in large
crowds, often looking suspiciously at the number of unattended parcels, bags
and strollers. If a distracted Israeli child were to leave his school backpack
on a street for half an hour, chances are it would be ‘sapped’ by a policeman’s
robot.
In Israel we do not take chances. In Israel we cannot afford
to. Yet despite this, Israelis do enjoy freedom and democracy and a high
quality of life. Just stroll down
Diezengoff Street in Tel Aviv, take in the surf on a Mediterranean beach or
enjoy a falafel on Jerusalem’s Jaffa
Road.
to. Yet despite this, Israelis do enjoy freedom and democracy and a high
quality of life. Just stroll down
Diezengoff Street in Tel Aviv, take in the surf on a Mediterranean beach or
enjoy a falafel on Jerusalem’s Jaffa
Road.
So when I hear alarmists cry that giving Canadian security forces
increased power is a breach of democracy, I bang my head on the wall. The Globe & Mail’s editor wrote that the
security changes they choose to make should be done “carefully and calmly, with
an understanding of the limited scale of the threat and the natures of
tradeoffs between freedom and security.” He goes on to say that these recent
tragedies pose “no threat whatsoever to
the survival of Canada.” True, they cannot and will not get their way. Canada
will remain strong and free just like Israel.
increased power is a breach of democracy, I bang my head on the wall. The Globe & Mail’s editor wrote that the
security changes they choose to make should be done “carefully and calmly, with
an understanding of the limited scale of the threat and the natures of
tradeoffs between freedom and security.” He goes on to say that these recent
tragedies pose “no threat whatsoever to
the survival of Canada.” True, they cannot and will not get their way. Canada
will remain strong and free just like Israel.
Yes, Canada, you have been attacked and it is an inside job.
Canadians should take these two events as a wake up call that radical Islam is
growing and is enmeshed inside Canada.
Canadians should take these two events as a wake up call that radical Islam is
growing and is enmeshed inside Canada.
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The logical solution is to take this threat seriously by
beefing up security and being aware. The soldier who gave his life while
guarding the war memorial in Ottawa was carrying a gun without bullets.
beefing up security and being aware. The soldier who gave his life while
guarding the war memorial in Ottawa was carrying a gun without bullets.
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Are security forces in Canada purely ‘for show?’ Please, Canada, oh shire, wake up, rub your sleepy eyes
and use your forces ‘to tell.’
and use your forces ‘to tell.’
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