But we’ll damn well never break.

The following will have some adult language due to the subject nature so if you are easily offended, go no further.

Various horrifying occurrences in Canada have flummoxed me, and made it difficult to figure out what to post about. So I figured I’d do a post about what’s going on. Now, I in no way am an expert on the happenings, I do not have an inside source, hell I live on the other side of the country but I felt the need to speak on it – however briefly this might be.

Canadians are, by and large, known as a relatively peaceful nation. As long as you don’t steal our beer, we’re pretty laid back and mellow. Now, I’m in no way saying we don’t have shit that goes down. We do. We have crime rates – some pretty damn steep. We have car jackings, muggings, home invasions, burglaries, and we have murders. We do not claim to be a country that does not have it’s faults, some deeper than others, so don’t think I’m trying to claim that in any way, shape, or form. I am not. I’m saying that for the large majority of the country, we’re very easy going folks.

So when I hear in the news about members of the Canadian Armed Forces being targeted, I wonder just what the fuck is going on! I mean first the hit and run on two people from the military, a hit and run which occurred in Quebec. WTF! By someone the RCMP had already spoken with on an unrelated matter, and according to a news article appeared to be making strides “to change his life”. But he goes out and possibly “targeted” two military members killing one, and causing some minor injuries to the other. According to the article (which you can read here) he then proceeded to lead police on a bit of a chase before rolling his vehicle into a ditch. Upon exiting the vehicle he then went at the officers, with a knife, and was killed. Sounds like suicide by cop to me – maybe?

If this wasn’t bad enough the very next day, yesterday point of fact, another member of the Armed Forces was killed. This time though the soldier was unarmed, and standing guard duty over the War Memorial at the Tomb of the Unknown Solder on Capital Hill, outside of Parliament. Point blank range the gunman fatally shot Cpl. Nathan Cirillo for absolutely no reason, at all (one of the many articles covering that found here, and another here). The suspect then went off to do God only knows what while another gunman entered Parliament. Thankfully this gunman was stopped by sergeant-in-arms Kevin Vickers (an article about that incident is here) before he could get too far, and cause too much harm.

But I have to say it again, WHAT THE FUCK! I truly don’t know what to say except my thoughts are with Cpl. Cirillo’s family during this horrifying and agonizing time. This may have taken place at the other end of the country, but all Canadians are feeling the shock waves of these events. I only hope all those involved are found, and justice is appropriately meted out upon their heads.

In this ever increasingly insane world we live in absolutely nothing is guaranteed. Tell your loved ones how you feel, never let a day go by, for no one knows when “this” day will be their last.

That’s all I’ve got ~ Moira

The Halifax Chronicle Herald’s Editorial Cartoon by Bruce MacKinnon @ch_cartoon