Quebec City, 2017

At least two-thirds of our miseries spring from human stupidity, human malice and those great motivators and justifiers of malice and stupidity: idealism, dogmatism and proselytizing zeal on behalf of religious or political ideas.
  - Aldous Huxley

What a horrible, tragic thing that happened this past weekend.  Six Canadians, all respectable members of the community, are shot to death because they had the temerity to be praying at their mosque.  What did the killer think he would accomplish with this act?  Did he want to start an ethnic war like the young man in South Carolina wanted to start a race war?  Did he think that the rising right wing movements gave him licence to carry out this act?  Or did he just want to play with guns?  We may never know the whole story.  If other factors point to his obvious guilt, then his motivation may never be questioned.

Man is a credulous animal, and must believe something; in the absence of good grounds for belief, he will be satisfied with bad ones.
  - Bertrand Russell

And then there was the totally stupid response from President Trump’s press secretary when he stated that this was proof that the order to stop all immigration from seven Muslim countries was the right move.  Did he not realize that the Muslims in this shooting were the victims, not the perpetrators?  Or was he saying that if there were no Muslims in the country, they could not be shot?  It is not that I can blame Mr. Trump for the tragedy, but I can certainly fault him and his staff for their reaction. 

The Constitution gives every American the inalienable right to make a damn fool of himself.
  - John Ciardi

 

And following on after the US reaction, there was our own version in Kellie Lietch trying to bolster her leadership campaign by pretty much saying that if we test people for “Canadian values” when they try and enter the country, this would never have happened.  Huh?  I am sure that if she ever did become PM and got to carry out her promise, the “values” she will espouse will be conservative values (consisting of what?).  In this case, as an immigrant myself, my parents might never have made it here.  My father was not a conservative in any way, shape or form.  Among other things, after spending over five years in China in the late 1930s, he thought that the Communist take-over could be the best thing that happened to the average Chinese.

Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.
  - Voltaire

As has been pointed out by various commentators, there has never been an incident of a Muslim refugee or immigrant ever carrying out shootings or terrorists attacks in Canada.  A few have tried, mainly disaffected young men.  And we have seen our share of “converts” go off to the Middle East to fight with terrorist organizations over there.  Many of them are dead or returned home disillusioned. But all of the “terrorist” type actions in Canada have been carried out by Canadians.  In large part, it is the same in the United States.

It raises once again the conflict between what is called the right and the left.  Although it is common practice to blame those on the left for many of the ills of the world or at least western society, it has almost exclusively been those on the right who have pulled the trigger or detonated the bomb.  The right are the most adamant about going to war, and with the rise of right wing governments, this is very troubling.  We already have China saying that war with the United States is almost inevitable. 

I'm glad I didn't have to fight in any war. I'm glad I didn't have to pick up a gun. I'm glad I didn't get killed or kill somebody. I hope my kids enjoy the same lack of manhood.
  - Tom Hanks

So what role should Canada play as still one of the most liberal governments of the day?  I think that we should continue to welcome refugees and immigrants from anywhere in the world (including the United States), and make them feel as welcome as possible.  Most of them could well end up as professors, professionals and shop owners just like the men who were taken from our society this past Sunday night.  We must work hard to maintain our sense of inclusiveness that made these men valued members of our community.  

 You can't shake hands with a clenched fist.
Mahatma Gandhi

I may get some negative reaction to this blog, but it is my blog wherein I express my ideas and opinions.  If you disagree with me, write your own reasoned arguments and ideas.

The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it.
  - Flannery O'Connor