Some of you may know of recent events here in Canada.
On Wednesday, October 23, 2014, Canada was victimized by its
first terrorism attack**. Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, a reservist from Hamilton,
Ontario was killed. *
On Monday, October 21, 2014, there was another attack, but it
is not yet known whether this was related to Wednesday’s attack, or what the
motive was. Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent was killed
in that attack.
These attacks were devastating to many of us, not more so,
of course, to Cpl. Cirillo and Patrice Vincent’s families, but even today, as I
type this, I find myself crying again.
Rosie O’Donnell said, in part: “…I’m an American. I live
here. I see two people shot this week in Canada and the entire country of
Canada is in mourning. However, in America this happens on a daily basis and we
don’t even pay attention anymore.”
To Ms. O’Donnell, I say, that may be true; but our tragedy
is still a tragedy, and we still have every right to mourn.
I myself am still reeling, feeling over-sensitive and yes,
frightened. I’m not frightened by further attacks on us, but how this will and
has already changed who we are.
This news story has a feel-good ending, but many other stories of attacks on Muslim people and property do not.
And our Prime Minister has taken this tragedy and used it as
a way to further his agenda of militarizing Canada and pushing a right-wing agenda of inhibiting our freedoms and demonizing Muslims.
All of this has had a demoralizing and depressing affect on
me, and consequently, I have no heart for art.
Hopefully, we’ll talk soon.
xo
**Of course, our Native population would say that there have been terrorist attacks on Canadian soil for over 100 years, and they are right.