In a lawless corner of the universe, a small frigate-class starship skims through empty space
Welcome to the new world war |
Today, most of us will take time to remember the horrifying events of Sept. 11, 2001, and mourn the 2,974 deaths in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.
But it shouldn't end there.
Global terrorism really is the new world war. We must work together to fight it and the conditions that breed it.
While the 9/11 attacks were appalling and outrageous, they were -- and are -- part of a continuum.
There have been dozens of others, some before and many since: in Germany, Tanzania, Kenya, Nigeria, Egypt, India, Algeria, Israel, Sri Lanka, Lebanon, Russia, Jordan . . .
No part of the globe is immune:
In 2002 in Bali, Indonesia, 202 people died and 209 people were injured in bombings that rocked a tourist area.
In 2004 in Madrid, Spain, terrorist bombings killed 191 people and wounded 2,050.
In 2005 in London, England, 53 people were killed and almost 700 injured when suicide bombers attacked the underground.
It is not a hopeful picture.
For the war is far from over, and indeed it may just have begun. Demonstrators in Europe and elsewhere have warned that insults to Islam, even if unintended, will result in attacks that will make 9/11 pale in comparison. Indeed, they have stated that such attacks are inevitable.
Despite what you may think about the misguided and mismanaged invasion of Iraq, or the noble effort in Afghanistan, despite differences of opinion on how Canadians can best use their armed forces, certainly we can all agree on the need to better recognize and more effectively battle global terrorism.
Is it inspired by nationalism or religion? By the West's presence or absence abroad? By mental illness or poverty or social networks or a sense of injustice? Should we treat our own compatriots with suspicion or turn to them for help? Do we bomb them back? Or do we give these communities aid and infrastructure? Do we seek revenge or do we seek to understand the roots of the anger?
Despite decades of study, we don't have good answers to these questions -- or a clear plan. It's time we work together and look harder to find them.
It's Sunday afternoon and a semifinal soccer match is dissolving into screaming and shoving. A referee is accosted, a supporter punched, a police officer – who tries to intervene – scratched. Arrests are made and a embarrassed team is withdrawn from the tournament.
Think we're talking about World Cup play? Not even close. These histrionics took place at an "under-8" match for boys in Pickering on the weekend. The referee? A 14-year-old girl.
Now, an irate soccer mom who disagreed with the girl's officiating faces assault charges. Her husband is also charged.
"Incidents like this are very rare and sometime parents get heated or passionate about the game," said Shelly Augustin of the Pickering Soccer Club. "It's an incident and it's unfortunate that it happened but we had people on hand who were able to handle it quickly."
The outburst came during the dying moments of a semifinal match of the kids' tournament, in Diana, Princess of Wales Park near Kingston Rd. and Brock Rd., police said.
