Years ago while living
in Jerusalem a visit to Canada in 2003 during the second Gulf War coined the "war on terror" elicited
questions around the dinner table - Is this necessary? There isn't any real
threat for us here in Canada. The decision to sit this one “out” was loud and
clear from Canadians.
With several wars
and up close views of more terrorist attacks than one should ever bear witness
to my answer then was simple - the Middle East is a rough neighbourhood. Rife
with conflict for decades it's a cauldron of poverty, physical displacement,
religious fervor and political extremism. This 'hood operates in a constant
state of attempting disengagement that boils over every few years into
full-scale conflict as a means for survival not resolution. Sometimes it needs some help, sometimes it
doesn’t. Living in Canada then (and now) is a luxury we often take for granted.
The safety and security of a democracy with moderate values and a stable
economy means freedom to move and go where I want with ease.
Going to the
Eaton's Centre the next day the automatic readiness for my purse to be checked
as I entered the subway reminded me I wasn't in my Kansas of conflict anymore.
It was a sobering insight as to what one gets used to.
Well, this week
that changed – it’s a matter of if it’s a little or the beginning of a lot.
Instinct from
years of bus bombings meant brief text messages to friends in Ottawa - RU OK?
I know this
routine - I can do it in my sleep - check that everyone is okay and then follow
the headlines for the rest. And as the day's events unfolded I was relieved to
see that the Canadian way of addressing the heightened state of alert was not
with pounding music news intros and breathless reporters. It was dignified,
solemn, and for those reporting hats off it was accurate and - more importantly - calm.
So to my Canadian
friends and family as you begin to digest the events of the day and process
what this means - understand that what you are about to explore is the
possibility of living in a different kind of 'hood. In this one you may have
your bag checked when you get into a subway station or enter a public building
be it a government office or going to the movies. You'll want to travel lighter
to go through security checks as a general part of your day. You might wait in
line - at hockey games, and even at the mall to clear a metal detector. It
might become routine and sometimes necessary. It won't be a debate anymore to
figure out which security detail should check bags at the entrance to
Parliament Hill and how many meters away the perimeter should be because, it
will just get done.
I'll smile and
give you a nod as you struggle with the notion of security at home. I
understand that the thought of this is grating against the principles of
openness, freedom and democracy that as Canadians we hold dear. I get it - the
easy walk "going up the Hill" is something veteran Liberal MP John
McKay said is a loss we should lament. NDP Leader Tom Mulcair
worries about Frisbee players no longer hanging out on the lawn. However the
question of the day is how did an armed gunman get onto Parliament Hill and
into Centre Block? The answer is that in declaring to be resilient in the fight
against those who wish to elicit terror, things do have to change in how we
treat our public spaces. Not because the perpetrators dictate it, not because
we live in fear, but because safety comes first. Not because we are afraid but
because some things have changed in the 'hood whether we like it or not.
What won't change
if we choose it - is how we treat each other as Canadians. While you might have
to go through a few more security checks in the future it does not change the
multicultural and open society that embraces all of its citizens who in turn
also embrace those values. It does not change that we are a country with one of
the fastest growing immigrant populations in the world, with individuals
arriving from all over the globe. Only fear changes those views, not new
security barricades.
Over in that
democracy in the Middle East Israelis live in this reality all the time. But
the fact is that they LIVE with the security measures, they are not ruled by
them. As a democratic society with an open and often outdoor culture there are
festivals, public beaches, and the simple pleasure of sitting at patio cafes
even in January - Israelis enjoy life to the fullest (and in Tel Aviv around
the clock).
They are also
paying attention and recognize the need for cautious and at times even vigilant
measures. They go to the mall and to soccer
games. They go easily to City Hall, the Knesset and the Supreme Court. Israelis
are truly "out and about" in word and in action - equally outspoken
on both civil liberties and on the need for security. I won't deny that years
of conflict have given root to loud voices and actions that are extreme, racist
and yes even violent and destructive. However even in the face of that
adversity there are many Israelis from the political and social spheres who
hold out the hand for fairness and justice. They come together in adversity and
are open to try and embrace their 'hood and everyone who lives in it for
something better for themselves and for their children.
Sometimes cynical
and sometimes hopeful moderates over there do try to balance on the barriers
and hope to find a way to bring them down. I’ll be honest; it’s still an
elusive effort. This week while Jerusalemites gathered to hear Palestinian Mira
Awad and Israeli David Broza perform and share their vision of coexistence, a lone driver drove into a crowd of pedestrians
killing a 3-month old infant. It was the second vehicle attack in nearly as
many months. Nevertheless people are out
on the street and getting back to life. Terrorism does not have to change who
you are as an individual as a community or even as a nation.
Ottawa like
Jerusalem is a government town. Laden with the symbols of democracy and power
they are each as big in vision as they are small in how their residents come
together. Likened to a community, both
are not so much cities – but rather neighbourhoods of sorts, close knit and protective. As the nation’s
capital Ottawa is the place we turn to for answers and stability. How did this happen? Actually we're a nation
that has faced security challenges like this before, even at Centre Block, but
they are so few a far between we've forgotten them. The juxtaposition of this
week’s and last week's actions is nerve rattling. The global neighborhood is
changing and we undoubtedly need to look at that effect carefully at home, from
lone wolves and acts of violence to the messages of hate and racism that rise
out of extremism and glorifying conflict.
In all of this we
must also remember that as Canadians we’re not passive - we've been part of
fighting forces around the globe for over a century. We know when to keep the
peace and when to step up to fight for the values we hold dear. We’ve created a
national identity anchored in those beliefs. Then why now are we a nation
questioning whether or not to set up better barriers to protect our soldiers,
our children who visit the Hill and the politicians we elect to uphold our
democratic values? A metal detector further from the entrance won't change
that.
Jerusalem is a
town that knows intimately what acts of terror look and feel like. Ottawa
doesn’t. While we examine this week and what took place the question will be
was this an act of terror or a criminal one? There is no question that the actions in Ottawa and Montreal instilled fear and caused chaos while resulting in the tragic loss
of life.
It’s been nearly a
decade since I was asked that question of what is really necessary in facing
terrorism. Then the concern was abroad and not persuasive enough to fundamentally
change daily public life, even post 9/11. But before we go down that rabbit
hole called terrorism now, home grown or internationally influenced, let’s take
a step back and look at the facts. Mental health and isolation were root causes
of motivation here. In a world of global interconnectedness via the Web those
who are lonely and vulnerable can connect to extremist values and communities
in a new way that we are just beginning to consider the implications of. Instead
of knee jerk reactions and fear of what legislative measures and potential
charter violations we will or won’t tolerate, let’s examine models to see what
we need and what we don’t. Yes better security will be needed just as a general
practice. But the uncomfortable carrying out of intelligence gathering that
bend privacy violations to the reprecussions racial profiling is something that
will take a respectful and careful examination based on facts on the ground in
our home ‘hood, not out of fear but out of practical measures to uphold the
values we cherish.
So yes, this will
change things, but not the way you think.
No comments:
Post a Comment