Violence only begets more violence
We live in a world that is unrecognizable from pre-9/11 times. Extremists distort people’s commitment to faith and democracy to carry out mayhem in the name of what they regard as sacred, and the great majority find abhorrent.
The latest monstrosity in Paris must be condemned forcefully, but not allowed to justify a backlash against victims of violence escaping bloodshed, and trying to reach Europe and Canada. Our government should not be discouraged. As Canadians, we need to continue our humanitarian work with a balanced approach that will keep Canadians safe.
There are no adequate words to express the outrage over the killing of innocent people anywhere. But our outrage must not be selective. No one can justify taking innocent lives be it in Syria, Iraq, Libya, Israel, Palestine, Sinai, Africa, New York or Paris.
As Jews and Muslims we have seen both state and non-state terror and are committed to continue our joint efforts to ensure that “Never Again” is a promise kept. Declarations of war and revenge will only bring more hate, more killing, more war and the vicious circle will continue until we destroy our sense of personal security and our humanity with it. We call for healing and justice for victims of intolerance everywhere.
and Dr. Barbara Landau, co-chairs, Canadian Association of Jews and Muslims Perspectives on the Paris atrocity will be rampant: Why did it happen and what do we do now? Let’s try and get perspective before we get to detail.
First for Justin Trudeau, this reminder from Kipling, “If you can keep your head while all around you are losing theirs . . . you will be a man, my son.” So far, in contrast to many, Trudeau has indeed been a man and certainly has kept his head.
And second from history. Do we really think that by inserting ourselves and our Western allies in the middle of a 1,000-year plus civil-religious war raging throughout the Middle East, we are going to make things better? For them or for us?
Let’s keep in mind George W. Bush’s declared “war on terror” and ponder how that worked out. P.D. Brown, Orillia, Ont. Canada will be negatively affected by engaging in combat with ISIS. Our best role is to support the refugees fleeing this barbaric group of thugs and contribute to the intelligence gathering efforts to prevent terrorist attacks in the world.
This is not Canada’s war. It is an intra-religion conflict that we do not understand and where the main protagonists are best suited to resolve the issues themselves.
Imposing western values where they are not wanted is a form of terrorism, especially when bombs are involved. The way to keep Canada safer is to withdraw from the ISIS war. Stephen Little, Pickering I feel a great deal of sorrow about recent events in Paris, and also a great deal of frustration about the inequities of the world we live in. The world mourns the dead in Paris, but where were the hashtags, the public protests, the outrage when civilians died in Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, Iraq under French bombs? Are Muslims less capable of feeling terror? Do they not die like others do?
NATO and U.S.-led coalitions sow violence abroad, killing thousands of civilians with their drones and airstrikes. Why are we so shocked when the violence boomerangs our way? The extremism of ISIS and the suffering it inflicts are frightening to be sure, but neither will stop until we acknowledge the role we played, and continue to play, in bringing it about. Myriam Brulot, Vancouver ISIS is a blight that must be eradicated from the face of the planet. We must not be paralyzed into inaction by the mistake of the Iraq War. Prime Minister, now is not the time to withdraw our military contribution. Now is the time to show the world that a Canada that prides itself on peacemaking will never shy away from a just call to arms. Bob Wong, Richmond Hill As we all stand with those slain and those bereft in the wake of the carnage in Paris, the urge to react consumes us. And yet more than ever this is the moment for wisdom and courage. My heart cries with all Syrian refugees who have suffered this horror for almost five years. I join all Canadians in supporting our Liberal government in the decision to stand fast by using our resources in humanitarian aid and training.
The military response is not working. Maura McGrath, Montreal The vast majority of Muslims are peace loving. A tiny minority are extremists, maybe 1 per cent. Maybe only 0.1 per cent
But if we bring in 25,000 Muslims, that means between 25 and 250 will be extremists. It only took eight to cause the disaster in Paris. To ban all Muslims would be unfair to the majority. But do we want to be fair to Muslims, or should we be fair to Canada? Dr. John Cocker, Stouffville, Ont. And once again, the world has become a worse place to live thanks to people who subscribe to ancient Middle Eastern superstitions that do not stand up, even for five minutes, to the most rudimentary kind of rational analysis.
Either humanity will learn to get over its addiction to religion, or religion will be the end of humanity. Vittorio Frigerio, professor, department of French, Dalhousie University, Halifax The people behind such indiscriminate killing are the true infidels of this world. Marc Storjohann, Mississauga