This has been a painful week if you live in Canada. The nation's peace has been disturbed in a high profile way by the death of two soldiers, one off duty, the other, gun not loaded, guarding our War Memorial on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. What evil leads to this destruction of human life? What, or whose, cause is served? What good can possibly come of it?
It is not possible to think that the religion of Islam, a religion of peace, can be responsible. In both cases, it appears as if distressed young men, living failed lives at so many levels, sought in one desperate final act to attract some, any, attention and depart in a blaze of some sort.
Yesterday, quite by coincidence, we were driving along Highway 401, from the historic city of Kingston to the airport in Toronto. We became aware, as time progressed, that all of the overpasses were slowly filling with a mass of humanity, dressed often in red, quietly holding the Canadian flag. By the time we got close to Toronto, the crowds were thick, but quiet, reflective and dignified. Thousands had gone out of their way, stood for hours, determined to find a way to be part of a large and beautiful statement that might sound like this: we know that a horrible thing has happened in our midst. We seek only to return to peace. We are united in saying we don't hate anyone,we will help anyone, and we want to live in peace. This horror will pass sooner if we stick together. It cannot define who we are. Let's just stand together a while here as we wait for the funeral cortège to pass. Things will get better. We are strong and resilient. Peace will be reestablished.
It is not possible to think that the religion of Islam, a religion of peace, can be responsible. In both cases, it appears as if distressed young men, living failed lives at so many levels, sought in one desperate final act to attract some, any, attention and depart in a blaze of some sort.
Yesterday, quite by coincidence, we were driving along Highway 401, from the historic city of Kingston to the airport in Toronto. We became aware, as time progressed, that all of the overpasses were slowly filling with a mass of humanity, dressed often in red, quietly holding the Canadian flag. By the time we got close to Toronto, the crowds were thick, but quiet, reflective and dignified. Thousands had gone out of their way, stood for hours, determined to find a way to be part of a large and beautiful statement that might sound like this: we know that a horrible thing has happened in our midst. We seek only to return to peace. We are united in saying we don't hate anyone,we will help anyone, and we want to live in peace. This horror will pass sooner if we stick together. It cannot define who we are. Let's just stand together a while here as we wait for the funeral cortège to pass. Things will get better. We are strong and resilient. Peace will be reestablished.
Lovely, Nigel.
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