A pro-Hamas rally in Calgary this Wednesday and similar recent events in Toronto, Mississauga, Toronto and Montreal are very much in tune with anti-Semitic protests in Paris, Berlin, and Turkey and a rising tide of anti-Semitism around the world.
As shocking as these anti-Semitic and un-Canadian events are equally shocking is the apathy demonstrated by people we expect more of. The apathy of the Calgary Mayor and police at the Calgary rally is most disturbing. No arrests were made even though violence and obvious law-breaking were obvious. No charges were laid even though five people who were peacefully supporting Israel were hospitalized. Similar violence against Jews recently in Montreal, Toronto, and other places in Canada are receiving scant attention from the mainstream media as only a handful have the courage to speak out.
Peaceful protests are allowed in Canada but rallies in support of terrorist organizations such as Hamas are illegal and not welcome and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. The "ISIS" mentality demonstrated in Calgary and other cities should shock every Canadian. This is Canada, not Syria. A small group of Jewish and non-Jewish activists were protesting legally and peacefully and were met with unlawful violence. Canadians can never remain silent when we witness events very reminiscent of the horrors of Nazi Germany right here in Canada.
While the Canadian Government has made it crystal clear that Canada views Hamas as an international terrorist organization bent on the destruction of Israel there is a clear ambiguity on just where the opposition parties stand on the issue. Israel clearly has the right to defend itself yet Justin Trudeau and the Liberals call for "restraint" and an "immediate ceasefire." If Trudeau is such a staunch supporter of Israel as he would have us believe why is he not concerned about Mississauga Liberal candidate Omar Alghabras' Facebook remarks calling Israel "blind and cruel." Does it not concern Trudeau that another Liberal candidate Darshan King was a key speaker at the violent rally in Calgary? His silence speaks volumes.
There can be no ambiguity or waffling on the growing scourge of terrorism. It must be rejected by all peace-loving people in Canada and around the world. This is not time for "moral relativism."
