A rchive Date
[ 08-06-2006 ]
Category
[ International Relations ]
sub-Categoy
[ Canada ]
|
[http://www.torontosun.com/News/Columnists/Worthington_Peter/2006/06/08/1620099.html
No escaping this fact
By PETER WORTHINGTON
Thu, June 8, 2006
The biggest concern about the 17 suspect "terrorists" taken into custody last weekend, is how come young guys (with one exception) were seduced into plotting to blow up things?
Whatever else, it gives lie to the idea that violence being unleashed around the world is a reaction to prejudice, mistreatment, persecution, poverty, lack of power - that sort of thing.
These alleged "homegrown" terrorists (nothing has yet been proven) were not targeted by Canadian society to be degraded and humiliated. Mostly - according to neighbours and friends - they were ordinary young people, comfortable in Canada.
Sure, some had problems and most were probably imbued with attitudes common to their backgrounds. But all had opportunities that others have.
In truth, they probably had it a lot better than many others, who never in their wildest moments, contemplated blowing up the stock exchange, CN Tower, or Parliament because they felt badly done by.
Too often, criminal or terrorist acts are justified because the perpetrators are assumed to be oppressed and have no other way of fighting back, and are motivated by feelings of frustration and helplessnes.
In England, Spain, Bali, wherever terror acts have occurred, those who commit these obscenities are often people who have not personally suffered as many others have.
To combat or defuse the appeal of terrorism, it's necessary to understand the motivations and reasoning behind these acts.
The RCMP observation that those arrested in Toronto "represented a broad strata of our community . . . it's hard to find a common denominator" was obvious nonsense. Why, one wonders, did they feel required to sugarcoat reality to the point where no one can accept what they say without skepticism?
Of course, the "common denominator" was not nationality, race, ethnic background, education, affluence or poverty, etc., but their religion.
Despite concerns of the CBC, Police Chief Blair, the Toronto Star of possible backlash or retribution (Lynch Law?) in the Toronto arrests, there's no escaping the fact that much homicidal, suicide violence around the world is done in the name of Islam. Perverted Islam.
Refusing to mention "Islam" changes nothing.
I'd even argue that such self-imposed censorship - understandable and well-motivated though it may be - is far more "racist" than acknowledging the problem and bending every effort to persuade loyal and reasonable Muslim Canadians to help find a solution.
An astonishing reality since 9/11 - nearly five years ago - is how decent, tolerant and understanding North American and British society have been. There've been incidents, yes, but damage to mosques smack more of vandalism than revenge - much like the desecration of graveyards and Jewish symbols.
Lawyers for the 17 accused are now echoing concerns that the arrests were a "sting" operation - as if that's a mitigating factor. Or that these guys were set-up by CSIS and the police. How do you frame a guy by urging him to blow up buildings and people?
We've since learned that one middle-aged adult member of a mosque, disseminated hate and lies about our soldiers in Afghanistan raping women, and that he may have influenced some of those arrested.
Who knows? But what stands out is that this guy continued to spiel hate in the mosque, which drew many complaints. Still, no effort seems to have been made to curb or shut him up. Does that not reveal a lack of leadership and resolve?
Toronto and Canada have had a narrow escape from terror, and the incident provides an opportunity for those in the Muslim community to co-operate and ensure we don't have a future incident with tragic consequences. Sure as hell, there are others out there planning and plotting right now
Have a letter for the editor? E-mail it to editor@tor.sunpub.com
Copyright © 2006, Canoe Inc. All rights reserved
 World Fact Book (CIA)]
|