Re: How 5 strangers tried to save fallen soldier, Oct. 24

The two military deaths this past week demonstrate how vulnerable all of us are. Canadians support all of our men and women in uniform both to protect as well as to keep the peace.

The politics of fear in our past has created some very unjust events. In 1914-1920 we interned over 6,000 Ukrainians and forced over 85,000 to register like common criminals. In 1923 the Chinese Exclusion Act kept Asians out of Canada for the next 24 years. During World War II we the politics of fear led to the internment of Japanese Canadians.

Stephen Harper’s decision to get involved in the Middle East may put this country at further risk. The commissioner of the RCMP says that the Ottawa shooter had no linkage to ISIS. This homeless kid from a privileged background was a petty thief and had mental health issues. The Harper government continues to call this a terrorist act. Does that mean, from here on in, every criminal act will be deemed a terrorist act?

Harper is using this to further erode our liberty with new legislation. Canadians do not agree that CSIS and RCMP need more power. We have the Security Act already in place to lock up terrorists and throw away the key.

Canadians all support our military and remember the fallen, lives sacrificed for our freedom. With Nov. 11 just around the corner, let us not forget the bloodshed to keep us free. Do not succumb to the politics of fear. Let us learn from our history.

Inky Mark, former MP, Dauphin, Man.

The more we know about the perpetrator, the more obvious it is that this tragic event, like other recent tragic events, is about mental illness, not radical Islam or terrorism. If we want to reduce the incidence of such tragic events, we should consider a greater focus on the early detection and treatment of mental illnesses.

The media and elected officials also need to be more careful to temper the tone and intensity of their response to this type of event to avoid encouraging copycats. The media don’t report on suicides in the Toronto subway system because they understand that this would encourage others to do the same thing.

We will have been lucky if the “over the top” response by both elected officials and the media to this event does not generate another tragedy.

Scott Heaslip, Stouffville

I’m glad for the reiterated calls for a calm, reasoned response when more is known, but I can’t help thinking that all of Stephen Harper’s decisions in foreign and domestic policy have brought us to this point — the chickens have come home to roost!

Unfortunately this will be used by Harper (what fortuitous timing) as justification for his bill to increase the government spy agencies’ incursions against citizen’s privacy with the increase of RCMP and CSIS powers for warrantless spying.

Barbara Sternberg, Toronto

How 5 strangers tried to save fallen soldier, Oct. 24

Of all the in-depth media coverage of the Parliament Hill attack, no words moved me as deeply as those spoken by Barbara Winters to Cpl. Nathan Cirillo. “We’re all so proud of you ... your family loves you, everybody here that’s working on you loves you.” These calm, peaceful words of compassion, gratitude and love admist the fear and violence of the situation so clearly reflect the fundamental values and spirit of Canada.

As a parent, believing that those were the final words that my beloved child heard would be a great source of comfort. My thanks to these five individuals for their skill, bravery and selflessness, and especially to Ms Winters for saying to Cpl. Cirillo what is in all of our hearts.

Bobbi MacDougall, Mississauga

I hope the five people — two women and three men — who, without fear or thought for their own lives, rushed to try to revive the wounded soldier who had guarded the National War Memorial, will be appropriately recognized for their bravery, compassion and desire to help. They are heroes and also should not be forgotten.

Norman D. Lawson, Cambridge

Crisis gives parlamentarians chance to change corrosive ways, Oct. 24

I wish I could agree with Chantal Hébert, but will Harper’s government invest more in health care including mental health care? Unlikely!

A larger investment health might have prevented both “terrorist” events last week, especially the one on Parliament Hill. But it hasn’t been shown to be in Harper’s DNA to take the route to a health cure when punishment is an option.

Terry Robert, Winnipeg

Opposition’s job in crisis to curb, not to hug, PM, Oct. 25

Don’t minimize the power of a hug Mr. Walkom. This was a defining moment at a time when Canadians desperately needed it — a sign of solidarity and compassion. I doubt very much that our politicians were using this tragedy to further their political agenda. I have full confidence that debate and disagreement will continue to be the basis of our democratic process and decision making.

Donald Cangiano, Oakville

Looking at Stephen Harper embracing Thomas Mulcair and Justin Trudeau, will he now finally refrain from approving the personal attack ads against the opposition leaders?

Assunta Marcolongo, Guelph

After Ottawa, let’s not forget who we are, Opinion Oct. 26

I completely agree with Noah Richler’s description of our Canadian spirit of fair mindedness and awareness of our good fortune and willingness to share it. As a retired teacher who has worked with new Canadian children and families, that core belief is the message that we attempted to reflect in our daily instructions and activities.

The constant emoting by the media, asking witnesses and experts, “How do you feel?” rather than the straight reporting of the facts is most annoying and exploitative and strictly non Canadian.

The heart of our democracy, as Mr. Richler states, is found not just in the houses of Parliament but in the daily struggles Canadians live with grace, intelligence and fair mindedness.

Sandra Halliday Kelly, Burlington

The end of the attack came in just a few minutes, Oct. 26

“Several rushed forward, upholstering weapons as they did.” Really? Sounds like a typically Canadian initiative to me.

Anna Lesiw, Mississauga

Fans unite to honour two fallen soldiers, Oct. 26

Don Cherry’s heart is always in the right place where the troops are concerned. But our troops are not charity cases. Ask them who has let them down. I think the fingers will point somewhere other than taxpaying citizens.

Sandra Hemming, Toronto

So Peter MacKay is set to bring in changes “to allow for more preventative action”? Perhaps we could start by examining the thought processes of the idiots who ended the gun registry.

Pat Lycett, Bowmanville

Each of the perpetrators of these acts had some mental health issues. With all the needed funds to increase security against these types of attacks would it not be wise to also increase spending on the treating of mental health issues and reopen our mental health hospitals instead of putting people with mental health issues out on the street and asking them to self medicate, where it so easy for them to fall prey to other addictive drugs and the issues this addiction brings?

Perhaps more focus on mental health issues might help stop this type of tragedy from happening again.

Bob Hunter, Cobourg

Canadian air forces, under the direction of the Conservative government, are bombing people on other countries. Their bombs kill women, children and some enemy fighters.

When a country drops bombs on other countries, it is a declaration of war. Hence if the Canadian armed forces are attacking other countries, we should not be surprised if the other country/people fight back, that is the nature of war.

Marco Perez, Kitchener

Following the brutal murders of two members of Canada’s military, and the shooting deaths of several RCMP officers recently, perhaps it is time for the various police services in the GTA to revisit the practice of assigning one officer only to a patrol car.

In today’s environment, a single officer response to a call is an invitation to a potentially lethal situation. Two officers per vehicle offers greater protection to the individual officer and a more effective deterrent to those who would do our first responders harm.

Ken C. Price, Oakville

The bravest little boy, Oct. 29

The emotion felt and expressed by the country and the community over the tragic loss of Cpl. Cirillo will surround our hearts for years to come. Your paper captured in a photograph at the private funeral his young son flanked by two majestic and powerful horses. It was hard not to see the symbolism. They were calm, protective, kind, loyal and unwavering in their duty.

Just like his father.

Peter Simmons, Oakville

A beautiful photo – a face captured in a single moment, the essence of a saddened and bewildered son, reflecting the mourning and grief our of nation. Brilliant shot! Deserving of the front page.

Sheila Frechette, Oshawa

True martyrs are recognized by the exemplary life they lead.

Martin Rouleau and Michael Zehaf-Bibeau wanted to be martyrs. However, by committing such brutal acts, they secured the true martyrdoms of Patrice Vincent and Nathan Cirillo while barring their own.

Muneer Ahmad Khan, Ottawa

They call a terrorist who acts alone a “lone wolf.” I think this term is giving wolves a bad name.

Kenneth L. Zimmerman, Huntington Beach, CA

Let me be the first to offer Prime Minister Harper the hearty congratulations of Al Qaeda, ISIS and Al-Shabaab for abolishing the long-gun registry.

With any luck, we will never know where last week’s murderer got his weapon.

Tom Needham, Haliburton

During 9/11 Air Force One was the means of flying for President George W. Bush. During the crisis in Ottawa, it appears that Stephen Harper was attempting to fly off on a broomstick. Only in Canada.

Tanja Akbarali, Mississauga

The unknown soldier now has a name. He is Cpl. Nathan Cirillo and he will forever be etched in our minds.

Tom Scanlan, Toronto

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