All letters to the editor published by KelownaNow reflect only the opinions of the readers who submit them, and not necessarily those of KelownaNow or its staff. Letters can be submitted to news@kelownanow.com
Dear Editor,
During the trucker convoy protest in Ottawa, and still to this day, many Canadians thought that those pesky truckers "got what they deserved" with the Emergencies Act, the frozen bank accounts, and the trials which are still ongoing.
Same goes for the BC health care workers who were suspended, and remain so, for having the audacity to resist Dr. Bonnie Henry's admonishment for not being vaccinated. "How dare they?"
Justin Trudeau has advanced legislation in Ottawa that allegedly will "keep us all safe" from online hatred and hate speech. However, many prominent Canadians have denounced his proposals claiming, quite rightly in my opinion, that he only wants to censor language that does not support his party and his policies.
Most of Canada, however, seems more interested in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
When Putin invaded Crimea ten years ago, many Canadians just shrugged.
Two years ago when he accelerated his murderous invasion to include all of Ukraine, many Canadians complained that we should not get involved in "someone else's war." In spite of the stories coming out of the war zone, many Canadians, Americans, and even Europeans (those virtually on the front line) have forced the Ukrainian leader to basically beg even for meagre amounts of military assistance.
Now, after the atrocities committed by Hamas in Israel on October 7, again many Canadians (along with the rest of the Western world) are wailing about "genocide" and "war crimes" that they claim are being committed by Israeli forces while conveniently ignoring the facts – that the vast majority of Palestinians support Hamas, that Gaza civilians get caught in the crossfire because Hamas purposefully puts them there, that hundreds of innocent Israelis were brutally slaughtered on October 7, and that many hundreds are still being held hostage.
Again, some say that we should concentrate on problems at home rather than support our allies in the face of terrorism from Hamas and from Iran. Many, including our dear prime minister, believe that Israel should turn the other cheek.
Perhaps this is a perfect time to remember the words of Lutheran Pastor Martin Niemoller after he spent eight years in Nazi concentration camps, which he barely survived:
"First they came for the socialists and I did not speak out – because I was not a socialist.
"Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out – because I was not a trade unionist.
"Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out – because I was not a Jew.
"Then they came for me – and there was no one left to speak for me."
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