When most people hear of a loss that was meaningful to someone, they express empathy and say, “I’m sorry for your loss.”

A 5 year old little boy lost his father, and we Canadians lost someone that served in the Canadian Armed Forces for our protection. This moves us.

This affects us not only because someone who served for our country lost his life, but because it was also a threat to our sense of safety, as a result of an act of terrorism – spurned from anger and resentment.

How often have you had someone shoot his way into the White House and manage to be in such close proximity to one of the doors of the president? Not really a weekly event for you, either.

Our experiences, as a society, are supposed to make us empathetic with each other, as human beings.

If you told me about a traumatic experience you had, where someone you cared about was killed, I wouldn’t respond by coldly insisting that I’ve had more people killed in my environment than you….

Loss is significant, regardless of the numbers, and it hits us at the core. And add terrorism to it… It’s not just a typical Wednesday for us…but a traumatic event. Where’s your compassion?

 

Recent Posts:

Terrorism: All the More Reason We Need to be Supporting Each other

On October 22, a gunman fatally shot Canadian Forces soldier, Corporal Nathan Cirillo, who was standing guard at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, Canada. After he shot this soldier, he headed toward the Parliament Hill building, with his rifle in plain view, walked inside and managed to shoot and wound security personnel, before being killed by the Sergeant-at-Arms, Kevin Vickers.

Prime Minister, Steven Harper considers this a terrorist act, along with the killing of the Quebec soldier, Patrice Vincent, two days ago, which he referred to as “an Islamic State-inspired attack.” And even though he refuses that Canadians be intimidated and police indicate there isn’t a threat to the public, these incidents have some Canadians confused and anxious about our safety and where to go from here. …More

Let’s learn from Robin Williams: Pain doesn’t have to be our legacy

 “Confront the dark parts of yourself, and work to banish them with illumination and forgiveness. Your willingness to wrestle with your demons will cause your angels to sing.” — August Wilson

Robin Williams, a celebrity described as “kind” and “funny” and one of the nicest people you’d ever meet, took his life recently, at 63. How does someone so devoted to creating joy and laughter for others get to such a point where he feels his life is no longer worth living? …More