Good Samaritan’s death is troubling

Re Paramedic service to be reviewed in fatal shooting, Dec. 5

I hope the fate of the Good Samaritan who lost his life trying to stop two men from harassing an older man will not deter others from intervening when someone is being wronged.

My deepest condolences to the family of Yosif Al- Hasnawi. Instead of mourning his death, they should celebrate his life and the legacy he left behind in encouraging others to not look the other way when someone is in danger.

What has troubled me the most in this story is the witness account of paramedics who failed to act swiftly to save a life. I hope this matter will be thoroughly investigated.

I hope the paramedics’ lack of helping the victim was not influenced by Trump’s doctrine of trying to “make America great again.”

Poisonous ideas of right-wing extremists have succeeded in driving us apart and looking down upon those who don’t look “pure Canadians.”

If we don’t unite and confront such hatred, we are doomed to be complicit in taking away the greatness of this country.

I hope all Canadians will stand with the family, support them through this agony and unite against violence, division and those whose sole purpose is to divide us in order to conquer.

As a member of a minority group, I am worried about the future

of Canada and what type of environment our children will face. I am deeply worried that these poisonous ideas will reach the public-service layers of society, such as judges, juries, police and medical providers. I really hope that Canada, as a country, will be mature enough to reject such ideas.

I have deep respect to those who put their lives on the lines to save lives, including paramedics and police officers.

But back home in Africa, when I see a police officer, I feel scared and threatened.

I know he will give me a hard time if I don’t dig deep into my pocket. Police terrorize the weak and the vulnerable in those countries.

On the other hand, when I see police officers in Canada, I feel safe. They represent safety and security.

Let us unite against hate and division.

Abubakar N. Kasim, Toronto