All extremists exploit tragedy

Re No matter the scale of suffering, it’s never enough for some, Paradkar, Oct. 3 No question this was an act perpetrated by an unspeakable monster and we all mourn for the victims and their loved ones.

However, you are politicizing a senseless tragedy of nearly unparalleled proportions. I believe your timing is disrespectful to those killed or injured and their families.

Of course people want to know who could conduct such an outrage against humanity, and will naturally compartmentalize the answers into boxes, which may or may not fit with their biases, depending on the facts. This is a common human trait by all races, religions and colours.

And yes, tragedies are exploited, by both the left and right to suit their agendas, especially the media. Far-right trolls? I’ve read at least as many horrid online comments from far-left trolls. Both groups are intolerable and their hateful comments and attitudes must be condemned. That you only identify the far-right as exploiting tragedy speaks to your own personal biases.

As for the “triple-threat” against Edmonton attacker Abdulahi Hasan Sharif in being Muslim, Black and a refugee, these are the facts. But it doesn’t cause me to wish for a ban on Muslim immigrants. (I notice, though, that you do not mention that Sharif had an ISIS flag in his vehicle.)

Although Anglo-Saxon Canadian born and raised, I have lived half my life in Africa in both Christian- and Islam-majority countries and, from my experience, I believe all races, religions, colours, nationalities, political and sexual persuasions host both good and bad people. That’s simply human nature.

But thankfully, humanity will also continue to encourage and nurture the good in all groups and discourage, condemn and weed out the bad in all groups. We humans are a work in progress; ultimately I believe that good will prevail over evil. Kevin Thomson, Toronto