Everyone's trying to ascribe blame. Maybe that will make us feel better to think that it's Justin Trudeau's fault, or Islam's fault, or guns, or the shitty mental health system ... but even if there is a reason this happened, there is no changing it. And there is no way to prevent it happening again.
What can we learn from it? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
The smaller the world becomes, and the bigger the city gets, the more crazies, radicals, gangs -- whatever -- will be in our midst. This time it was a Muslim. All summer it's been gangs. In April it was an incel. The weapons differ, but the end results are the same. The only ones to blame are the ones doing the killing.
What's bothering me this time, is the rush to humanize this killer.
The van killer was a radical incel loser... we learned that right away. Needn't even go into the profile of the gang killers if they're caught... they're criminal degenerates. But this guy... CBC quotes someone as recalling his *million dollar smile*, then a slick press release from the family describes a lifetime of mental illness that was so bad it led to this... but not bad enough that they ever thought it might lead to this... reports of a sister, dead in a car accident, a brother in a coma, a father in and out of hospital with health problems, an impoverished neighbourhood... and finally a nice photo released of an ordinary looking guy, so incongruent with the cold-blooded maniac who walked along the Danforth assassinating people.
It almost seems like that's the picture we're supposed to hold in our heads, instead of the one from the video, calculating and evil. All this when one of the dead had yet to be named, and with so many of the victims still in hospital.
When the dust has settled and the city resumes its regular rhythm, the politicians and pundits will still be discussing gun control and maybe terrorism, and probably male violence and the lack of adequate mental health services -- that's all fine -- it won't help, but people need to find ways to process this kind of tragedy. Coming up with lame *solutions* helps with that. Makes people feel like they're doing something and in the aftermath of a tragedy, we grasp at whatever might give us comfort, no matter how specious.
I'm tired of listening to the blame, but I get it. I get the need to find reasons. What I don't get, is some media trying to make us feel for the murderer. When this happens again, I don't want to know his tragic life story. I don't want to see a prettied up photo of the guy next door. Whether it's radical Islam, toxic masculinity, mental illness or gangs -- don't try to make me sympathize or identify with anyone who aims a weapon at another human being and pulls the trigger. He is not the victim. Do not try to lend humanity to someone with no soul.
canadianna
8 comments:
amen sister
abolish islam.
What is also disturbing is the public outpouring of grief every time such tragedies happen. The public display of grief & "solidarity" may be a boon for florists and sellers of teddy bears but what kind of effective solution is ever offered?
-- Gabby in QC
Thanks, Gerry.
Anonymous, I do understand how people feel the need to lash out way and I'm not going to tell you you're wrong, but we live in a very diverse country. Personally, I live in a heavily Muslim area. I walked out my door Monday morning, and my neighbours are still my neighbours. I don't fear them for their religion and they are polite about my dogs. It works here. And even if this guy was an Islamist, it doesn't matter. History shows there are always going to be people who do this shit. Sometimes they have a cause and sometimes they don't. In the end, it changes nothing. Those girls are dead and our city is worse off for this but what would we abolish with van-guy? Rentals? There is no getting into someone's head and stopping this from happening. Sadly, most of the troubling aspects of Islam are played out within families and their own community. They don't need outsiders being hostile about things that the vast, vast majority of them would never do and don't condone. They shouldn't have to wear this any more than you or I should wear Timothy McVey.
Gabby, in a sense I understand the desire to connect, but maybe it's age, or being jaded, I could never participate. I know people who bring flowers and tokens of respect, they don't mean it as maudlin. It's part of the grieving and the processing of it all but I do find it off-putting and not really helpful. It's well-intentioned though.
before accepting any follower of islam I will suggest a reading of the koran, hadiths and sira. there is no way to even think about accepting someone who's religion tells them they have to kill or enslave un-believers and that is exactly what it says.
Most people just want to live their lives, no ulterior motives. I'm not going to impute evil where it does not exist. There are places in the world where people live to their religious books, and most of the people coming to the West are doing so to free themselves from that.
My religion calls on me to love my neighbour and forgive people when they wrong me, and not to judge their choices and behavior. I'm expected to do unto others as I want done to me, and for me, that means be kind .... I *try* to live this for the most part, which means that while I expect my government to ensure our borders and to vet our newcomers, I will not look on anyone with suspicion or hostility simply because of *their* religion.
sorry Canadianna, the evil is there, it is inbred and the koran makes sure it stays there.
Even if you're right, anonymous, we are where we are. Regardless of what the book might say, most people choose to live peaceably within our society. As a Christian and as a Canadian, I'm not going to pre-judge someone based on faith, and if I follow the tenets of my own faith, I have to work to serve as an example of love and charity.
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