It’s tough to swallow the fact that Canada suffered a terrorist attack last week in Ottawa.
So tough in fact, that many Canadians refuse to concede to the ‘terrorist attack’ contention put forth by authorities such as the RCMP and federal government.
Many prefer to point to the shooting suspect, Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, and say he was crazy, because that scenario is much easier to deal with than to admit that he was radicalized by religious extremists and made the decision to carry out the heinous act of gunning down a Canadian Forces reservist and presumably – considering his storming of the Parliament Building with a loaded weapon – target more Canadians, be they Members of Parliament, staff or otherwise.
The RCMP now say that Zehaf-Bibeau made a video prior to his attack in Ottawa that indicates he was driven by ideological and political motives.
Attacks like the one on Parliament Hill have been happening all over the world for decades, and the one in Ottawa was no different other than for one very simple yet profound fact…it happened in Canada.
Ottawa is a long way away from Cochrane, but it doesn’t matter…it happened in Canada.
Aside from the attacks of 9-11, which had a worldwide effect on many considering its scale, terrorist shootings and bombings don’t feel real when they’re seen on television, until, however, it’s being broadcast on your local news station, like the CBC and Global.
Many people in Cochrane and area know people who live in the Ottawa area, or perhaps have lived or are from our nation’s capital, making the incident hit home even harder.
The world has changed since our grandfathers and great-grandfathers went to war in far-off places and there were actual rules of engagement. It seems, with the way the world is now – not to be overly dramatic, but videos and pictures of aid workers being beheaded by extremists are posted online to evoke fear, and that’s just becoming common news – that it was only a matter of time before something like last week’s Parliament shooting happened in our country.
Many would like to point at our military recently getting involved in the battle against ISIS as the reason for this threat, but Canada has been taking part in the fight against terrorists for some time now, and participated in a combat role in Afghanistan from October 2001 until 2011 against Al-Qaeda.
Canadian authorities, as well as several around the world, have managed to stop a slew of terrorist plots over the years – for example the 2006 Ontario terrorism plot that resulted in the arrest of the Toronto 18 – but when law enforcement manages to thwart these attacks, many tend to slough it off, like it was no big deal and was just blown out of proportion. It’s easy to do this when the attack never happens, but not so easy for authorities to ensure a ‘happy ending.’
Two days after the Ottawa attack, a mosque was vandalized in Cold Lake, with messages of ‘go home’ spray painted on its façade.
That community came together and showed its true character when residents, including members of the Canadian military, worked to clean the graffiti and repair the damage, spreading a more mature message of compassion – ‘love your neighbour’ and ‘you are home.’
With what could only be nothing but good intentions, Cochrane councillor Mary Lou Davis brought forward a notice of motion Oct. 27 asking council to support her plan to stop people from speeding.
On the positive side, her plan would certainly work.
On the negative side, the plan is an unsafe plan that could result in injuries, damage to vehicles and punishing those who do not speed at all.
Davis would like to place removable speed bumps in various locations around town where she said ‘invited speeders.’
This plan would certainly work, because if motorists did not slow down they would be putting not only their vehicles at risk, but also those inside the vehicle.
You cannot punish drivers who drive the legally-posted speed limit by putting in speed bumps, which at 50 km/hr are nothing more than a hazard.
And what would happen to traffic in town?
Davis said there are several roads in Cochrane with lengthy straight-stretches that invite speeders, which is true. Glenbow and Quigley Dr. are two examples, and each have a speed limit of 50 km/hr. You can’t put speed bumps on Glenbow or Quigley Dr…it would be dangerous, unfair to law-abiding motorists, cause even more traffic congestion…preposterous.
Speed bumps belong on roads with high-density housing, considerable amounts of children and/or pedestrians and narrow streets, where there is a higher chance of a collision and no need to be travelling at 50 km/hr.
Again, Davis’ intentions are good, but if you would like an alternative idea, see the Eagle’s Oct. 16 editorial.
