What is an act of terror? In Canada, it is any arbitrary violence and death done to innocent people who are simply doing their jobs and minding their own business.
Last week, Canada saw two separate terrorist attacks. The first occurred on Monday, Oct. 20, with two members of the Canadian Armed Forces being deliberately struck by a car. One was wounded and the other died.
This was followed by a shooting on Wednesday, Oct. 22, at the National War Memorial by a masked gunman who shot and killed the soldier guarding the memorial, Cpl. Nathan Cirillo. Further gunshots were reported inside the Centre Block of the Parliament Buildings.
Both incidents are acts of terrorism and have struck the nation. They are not to be taken lightly, but we cannot let it change our values as Canadians.
Last year in a speech by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, he noted that the arrests of two men conspiring to attack a VIA train in an act of terrorism was not the time to "commit sociology." Sociology being the study of the development, structure, and functioning of human society; ultimately it would be an attempt to understand why people turn to terrorism.
His comment a year ago makes sociology sound like a bad thing, but is it possible that it is necessary to understand why young men are turning to radicalism and terrorism. In fact I wrote about Harper's use of wording then because if terrorism is a threat then why would you not want to study sociology and why people do what they do in society?
Hopefully, Prime Minister Harper has changed his mind about "committing sociology" now that there have been further terrorist attacks.
The loss of these soldiers affected people across Canada bringing together a nation and Prime Minister Harper did provide strength in time of mourning: "This week's events are a grim reminder that Canada is not immune to the types of terrorist attacks we have seen elsewhere around the world."
"We are also reminded that attacks on our security personnel and on our institutions of governments are by their very nature attacks on our country, on our values, on our society, on us Canadians as a free and democratic people who embrace human dignity for all."
"But let there be no misunderstanding - we will not be intimidated. Canada will never be intimidated."
The tragedy, however, that brought together the nation was then trivialized by a talk show host from the U.S., Rosie O'Donnell. Ultimately she chalked up the incidents to being caused by mental illness. The attackers were possibly mentally ill, but they were still acts of terrorism that have affected not only those soldiers' families, but the entire country.
Her focus then fell from the Canadian attacks to her saying: "Eighty-six people a day are killed in America with guns, and you know what? That is terrorism here."
Yes, it is. But why would you marginalize an incident in Canada to bring attention to terrorist attacks in the United States. Surely they are all upsetting events that are to be acknowledged and not downgraded. We are different countries and are allowed to react to what happens within our country accordingly, however, it is in bad form to make thoughtless comments when a country is reeling over a tragedy.
The original comments O'Donnell was backing up was those of model, Crissy Teigen, saying "Active shooting in Canada, or as we call it in America, Wednesday."
Though her intentions were likely to draw the lack of acknowledgement of shootings in the United States to attention, she tweeted it during the attack, which was insensitive considering people were afraid and panicked by the attack. Was there more to come? A man just lost his life and there was uncertainty over the number of shooters in the area. For some of our neighbours south of the border to lack the empathy we give them in troubling times was quite surprising.
