Recent world events, involving the senseless killing of innocent people is troubling to all of us. We all want something done about it. It’s the “something done about it” that lends itself to vastly divergent opinions. Many want bans on immigration, some want war, some want swift and immediate reprisal, some want naqibs banned, some want certain religions wiped off the face of the earth. Many want governments “to do something.”
Our newly elected Prime Minister is being criticized for “looking shaky” at the press conference regarding the terrorist attacks in Paris. When he says, “It’s too early to jump to conclusions”, (mere minutes after becoming aware of the Paris tragedy) he’s taunted with disdainful and accusatory questions of, “Who do you think it is?” I think any human being would be a little shaky given these circumstances.
So with the media frenzy about all this, I can’t help but take a step back and ask myself what I would do if I was in a position where I had to ensure the protection of citizens and at the same time contribute to the aid of some of those innocent people (men, women and babies) in the rest of the world.
When I put myself in the position of a refugee, I wonder what I would do and how I would feel if I was trying to protect and save my family, especially if I had small defenceless children or grandchildren.
Trying to fight against people who have no qualms against killing themselves to achieve their goal (whatever that may be) is a challenge of the highest order. What deterrent action can you come up with that would stop such behaviour?
So far, we have tried bombing them – one by one – and at the same time killing whatever innocent people may be nearby. That doesn’t seem to be working too well, in my opinion. It only feeds into these radicals’ propaganda to recruit more of their kind.
I think, before I started bombing the crap out of everything and everybody, and risking the deaths of innocent people, I would do everything I could to gather as much intelligence as I could. Knowledge is power.
Also, intelligence gathering, in my mind, would be the most important step in protecting Canadians at home. Intelligence gathering when it comes to immigration and intelligence gathering abroad. Oh I know there are all kinds of arguments about privacy. I get that. But I’m willing to give up my privacy to stay alive and keep my family safe and for the collective good of everybody. I have nothing to hide, anyway. My two cents worth.
Now, have a listen to the words of my favourite song.
Life Unfolding 