They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.
The week of October 20, 2014. A week in our history Canadians will never forget.
Two Canadian soldiers murdered. Not on the field of battle but in their own country while quietly and peacefully going about their duty in the service of the Nation, our country. Each murdered by a deranged, fanatical lunatic — mental health issues notwithstanding — embracing, it is alleged, the world of Islam. Not only do these senseless slayings shock and anger us, but, I am sure, also shock and anger the greater Muslim world community that such atrocities are being committed by a barbaric, rabid sect or sects who have perverted the religion of Islam for their own warped, evil, uncivilized, disgusting gratification.
Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent: targeted, undoubtedly because of the uniform he was wearing, then viciously run down and killed by a deranged driver in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.
Corporal Nathan Cirillo: standing honour-guard on holy ground, at one of our Nation’s most sacred sites, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Ottawa, shot and killed by a crazed coward
Then Cpl. Cirillo’s despicable killer defiles the “People’s House” by entering the Parliament buildings and goes on a shooting spree in the Centre Block only to be shot and killed by the defending Parliamentary Sergeant-At-Arms Kevin Vickers.
This seemingly world-wide gross evil, this stain of hate that exudes from a perverted intolerance of one human being for another — either singularly or a social grouping – by cowardly, masked barbarians huddled under the perverted banner of a religion, has now spilled onto our land. And we are now forever changed.
But their deaths shall not be in vain. Canadians are slow to anger. And history has shown, when angered, Canadians are a formidable fighting force. The very freedoms that we have come to expect and enjoy are those same freedoms that now seem in current times to be working against us. Freedom of Speech. Freedom of Religion. Freedom, freedom, freedom. Valid freedoms do indeed come with a price.
Separation of Church and State, secularism, if practiced by a Nation such as ourselves must be defended. The right to freedom of religion is indeed a right under our Charter of Rights and Freedoms. But so long as that freedom does not infringe on the rights of others.
Religious doctrine? Remember Matthew 7:12 in the Bible, Book of the Christian faith? To paraphrase: “In all things do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Rather the perfect rule for a balanced life in all respects don’t you think, regardless of what religion you profess to follow. It transcends all religions.
Freedom of Speech is a two-edged sword. As in Newton’s Third Law, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. One of the greatest boons to mankind has been the Internet, and one of the most despicable evils ever foisted upon mankind is also the Internet. Freedom of speech allows vile hate and detestable doctrine to pervade the Internet, to corrupt the gullible without let or hindrance.
Two Canadian soldiers murdered. Not on the field of battle but in their own country while quietly and peacefully going about their duty in the service of their country, our country. But here deaths are not in vain.
Without ever expecting to be, Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent and Cpl. Nathan Cirillo have become Canadian martyrs. Their untimely deaths should now galvanize a hitherto somewhat complacent citizenry into concerted action. We are the True North Strong and Free!
Complacent no longer. O’ Canada we stand on guard for thee.
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