Be Thankful
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Fri Mar 11, 2005 8:47 am

This is a skincare Forum, and as moderators, both Mabsy and I have become pretty ruthless about what is acceptable on the Forum. ("Spammers, beware!") I, for one, really like The Lounge, as we are able to discuss share more personal insight to our lives, what effects us, humour (admittedly, my own sometimes rude or off-colour Anxious

), and what touches our lives.

Some of us have made friends and/or international contacts. As international friends, sometimes, we enlighten each other about our own countries - things that we didn't know about each others' countries, diffusing stereotypes, and enhancing our knowledge about our global village. (As I sit in my igloo, munching on whale blubber, my dog-sled team is gearing up to take me to work today. Eh?

)

Yesterday was a very sad day for my country. A national day of mourning, reflection, show of patriotism, and for some, anger. As I'd mentioned in a thread last week, four of Canada's finest were killed last Thursday. They were all very young, rookie members of the RCMP, sent to a farm in rural Alberta, to deal with a madman with a marijuana grow-op. on his property. These young men lost their lives in the line of duty, and the man responsible for their deaths also took his own life.

This should never have happened, and a tragedy such as this is unprecedented in Canada! We have very strict gun-control laws, and live our lives in a very safe, peaceful nation. We do not have capital punishment in Canada; it was abolished many years ago, and the last excution (by hanging) was carried out in 1962. Personally, I have very mixed feelings about this, especially in times such as these. I do not believe that "two wrongs make a right". In the select states of the U.S. that do have capital punishment, I also don't see it having deturred crimes from being committed. (no malice implied) Heinous crimes are still committed, while prisoners sit waiting on death row, incapable of rehabilitation, while the government spends tax-payers' money. Our scrotes of the world, here in Canada, will sit forever in their cells, some serving life sentences. Some, I believe, should be cast-out amongst general prison population, and let the other inmates take care of them (if you know what I mean)! For my fellow Canucks who are reading this thread: I'm sure many of us would like to see this happen to monsters such as Paul Bernardo, Karla Holmolka-Teale, and Clifford Olson. (you all know what I'm talking about). I'd rather see our tax dollars injected into our wavering health-care system, and towards education.

I also feel very strongly about imposing harsher penalties to young offenders. They get off far too easily in this country. I say, "Committ an adult crime, be treated like an adult." They must be accountable for their actions.

In the instance of members of our national police force being shot: it is heart-breaking. Yesterday, I sat in the office at work, listening to the memorial service on CBC Radio. The eulogies were well spoken, poignant, and gave our country insight to the personal lives of the slain officers. We have lost some very fine men! Law enforcers, husbands, fiances, fathers, sons, nephews, uncles, god-sons, and friends. The youngest was only 25, and the eldest, 32. A mere two years older than myself! He'd only been married for a few months. Constable Gordon left behind a young son, and a young, expectant wife. Peoples' and families' lives have been forever altered, ruined by a moment of violence. And why?

I feel that these men were let down by our politicians, who are responsible for making our laws. That madman was known to police, and should not have been walking-free in the first place! He, as a known criminal, was protected by the law - laws which have been legislated by the Canadian government! I also think that the RCMP and the mens' superior officers let them down. Those officers should never have been there without supervision or more-experienced, senior officers. Constable Myrol had only graduated from RCMP training recently, and had been on the job for about a week. What was he doing there?

These were members of our national police force. We have our own city police forces too, and the RCMP works in smaller communities, as well as in the law-enforcement areas of terrorism-prevention, drug-trafficking, customs/excising, international policing, etc. They do not ride horses, nor are they Dudley Do-Rights. Let's break that silly, Canadian sterotype! These are the cream of the crop: men and women who must have university degrees, college educations, many of whom are bilingual or speak more than one language, upstanding members of society (as are their families), and they are carefully chosen for their honorable positions. Many apply, but those who are Members are the best, brightest, and bravest that Canada has to offer. We take great pride in our national police force. And so we should.

In closing, I want all of us to think of these men, and be thankful for men such as these everywhere in the World. We are all so very fortunate to have men and women who work in professions such as policing, fire-fighting, paramedic/ambulance attendants, and military. I feel that we often forget this, and these people go unacknowledged for their work. I refer to people such as my own father, friends, and those who I do not know. Everywhere. Pause, and take a moment to reflect on how very lucky and blessed we are to have such fine members of our communties, country, and amongst us internationally. This is my request for all of you this weekend.

Thank you.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/03/10/rcmp-memorial050310.html

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1110419693812_12/?hub=Canada

http://www.canada.com/edmonton/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=5262c212-d6ab-41de-a349-b237441a04da

http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=78d8d435-afc2-4bd7-a837-0ff6056e3e71

http://www.rcmp.ca/news/n_0506_e.htm[/i]

free skin care · Fri Mar 11, 2005 2:58 pm

Thanks Caspers Mum for an emotional and heart felt post. May God look upon their families and guide them through the very sad times ahead. Im sat at home in the U.K. watching Comic Relief, which is a charity for lots of children and homeless around the world and for the poor and starving people of Africa. Each time they show us where our money has helped in the past, and I see these poor little children I count my blessings for the things we so readily take for granted. 26p a day feeds a child for a day in Africa. Can you imagine that. Be thankful indeed.

free skin care · Fri Mar 11, 2005 3:36 pm

i also wanted to say thankyou for your thoughts. hope the dogsled is going ok.

i agree with many of your ideas, but what stood out for me were your thoughts on young people needing to be punished as adults. I have just finished up a two-year path as a youth counsellor/worker. very difficult!

thanks again. i hope everybody has found this as good as we did. it is important to think about these things. take care and you also have a lovely (and thankful) weekend!

maddy

free skin care · Sat Mar 12, 2005 2:06 pm

CM - thank you for the poignant reminder about what so many of us do take for granted.

It is tragic that our freedom, sense of security and way of life often come with such a high cost - the deaths of our police officers or members of our armed forces. We really must be grateful for their sacrifices and those of the surviving families.

All I have to do is go for a 10 minute drive to be reminded how lucky I am to have been born in Canada. Down here we're living in a wild west atmosphere, there is no police force to speak of on this island. The locals are poor and armed, the gringos are rich and armed - people get shot. We're on our own as far as firefighting and emergency medical services too.

I've been living in what tourists call paradise (I have a different word for it) for over 10 years and the longer I'm away from home, the more I appreciate it. I have a home in Florida and I'm looking for one in BC so when I retire I can be a snowbird and live in first world paradise.

Liz

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