Okay, that’s it…
Guess what? My patience has run out. I don’t hate them, but I can no longer stand by and hope things will improve. The latest Islamic attack in Edmonton on the Chief of Police along with the unbelievable support of the Mayor has brought me to this point.

To give you the background, in case you haven’t heard, the Chief of Police went to a world conference on improving policing and related security matters. The meeting was held in Israel. It is a regular kind of conference; it is an excellent opportunity to learn from other systems and to share potential improvements to law enforcement and community security. In other words, the kind of conference I would hope more police chiefs would attend.

So why am I upset? Well, he returns to Edmonton and the Islamic community goes ballistic about how he should never have gone, he has broken faith with them and he should be sanctioned. While that is bad enough, and I will address it further in the next paragraph, the Mayor of Edmonton stood in solidarity with them and is asking the Police Commission to figure out how to deal with this obviously bad Chief. My questions are simple: on what planet is this Mayor from? Does he wish that the Chief not continue to improve his knowledge and understanding of policing? Does he think that going to Israel automatically makes the trip sinister? Does he realize that the trip was not paid for by Edmonton tax-payers? There is an additional question, but I will ask it below.

To you of the Muslim faith. We share the story of Abraham. We actually share the Old Testament (along with the Jewish faith). You actually acknowledge the reality of Christ and have a high regard for his mother, Mary. So we all have a connection with the prophet Micah. In Chapter 6, verse 8 we find these words: What is good has been explained to you, man; this is what Yahweh asks of you: only this, to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with your God. Fairly simple instructions, I would say. So why can you not get it? Why can you not become part of the solution, instead of continuing to foment division and offer up cries of poor us? You wonder why people have trouble accepting you: you don’t accept us. The police chief has responsibility to protect all citizens, you included. Don’t you want him to be as knowledgeable and as insightful as possible? Put away the sword called islamaphobia, take on the mantle of being Canadian. Put away the instant whining of being hurt, take on the steps that can lead directly to peace and cohabitation.

I am not aware of any mainstream Jewish groups marching through your neighbourhoods chanting death to Islam. I am not aware of any mainstream Jewish Rabbis preaching violence against anyone. I am not aware of any mainstream Jewish groups asking for more than the right to live in peace and religious tranquillity. So what are you afraid of? You have been invited to come into our country to help make our community stronger and more interesting; you were not invited to try and transform us into a hateful, whining bunch of diverse segments, each trying to denigrate or even demolish another grouping. If you can’t accept that we are an accepting and more than simply tolerant nation, then I am afraid that this is not a country you want to live in.

That you are able to get the Mayor to side with your petulant cries for revenge, makes both the Mayor and you, hateful and anti-Canadian. It is you who should apologize. It is you who should be thanking the police chief. It is you who should be standing with the rest of us and calling out any example of hateful behaviour among members of your faith. In Canada we have much to thank the Jewish community for, not least a vibrant arts community. Without significant donations from Jewish business folk and philanthropists we would not have some of the great arts organizations that we have, including in Edmonton itself. Perhaps you aren’t into the arts; fine, so be it, but don’t try to destroy or disrupt those that do.

As for the Mayor – what was your motive for this despicable behaviour? You are to be the Mayor for all of us. You should apologize to the Police Chief, and to the Jewish community and take some time to memorize Micah 6:8. Let’s get back to leading a part of the country that has been built by many cultures, coming together in a Canadian context. All of us have experienced tough moments, but that doesn’t give us the right to whine and belittle. It does give us the right to be protected by the best policing we can get…

In reflection,
g.w.