Recently, I wrote about those living among us who want to change things to suit themselves, as opposed to adapting to 'the Canadian way'. I suggested that perhaps we need to review our approach to something that's traditionally worked quite well but may now have developed some kinks...multiculturalism. So, this blog post is an offshoot of that because it asks the question: what happens when some of our own decide they don't like the way we do things; decide to leave the country for indoctrination and training in a different way of life; decide to re-enter Canada as Canadians (because they are) except with a new goal of radically changing our customs and laws?
Right now, there is a ceasefire in place between Israel and Hamas and we hope that this now takes the focus away from Gaza. We can hope, as well, that Israel remains at peace for an extended period and that Gazans will begin to build their own country. I'd have used the term "region" instead of naming two specific areas, but the Middle East is certainly not a region at peace. That said, now is the wrong time to take our eye off the ball...and the "ball" I'm referring to is ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria).
No one in our part of the world had heard of ISIS a year ago. Emerging from the chaos that was/is Syria and from the instability of Iraq plus surrounding failed states, we must now contend with a well-financed, highly organized, training-reliant, social media-savvy terror group and it isn't a great time to look away and disregard this new threat. Terrorists who instigate and create religious war in the name of their fundamentalist interpretation of Islam which, they suggest, motivates their quest for an all-Muslim world are a dime a dozen. We've met the Taliban, Hamas and Hezbollah, Al Quaeda, Al Shebab...and so many more. But now, we have become very concerned with ISIS. Why? Because they appear to like publicizing their actions (atrocities), all committed in the name of Allah. One can only assume it's because they can inspire fear by posting videos of their heinous acts on the internet for the rest of the world to see.
Recent questions have arisen on public panels in which I've participated and elsewhere about whether Canada should consider becoming involved, in the event western nations collaboratively conclude that ISIS needs attention. Well, it does need attention and quite urgently. So, I have gone on record as being in favour of some of my tax dollars being used to kill the snake. I feel strongly enough to say that, if it were required, they could raise my taxes to do it! I believe we need to act now and you should too.
ISIS is a growing organization and it is made up of 'in-situ' Muslim fanatics PLUS tens of thousands of the disaffected and crazy from all over the world, Canadians included. They are trained to kill and to show no mercy in using techniques designed to shock and revolt normal human beings...I draw this distinction because it is my belief that our views of the world are completely at odds and are non-negotiable. We see equality and human rights as a basic concept and they do not. No god figure in the history of human religious practice has ever called for the eradication of every non-believer the world over and, by the way, that includes the God of Islam, Allah. To suggest otherwise is to misinterpret, twisting words in order to make them fit with one's own agenda.
These people are just plain out of their minds, however, they should never be dismissed. Rather, they need to be dispatched. I have never proposed violent behaviour as justifiable in dealing with any group or person anywhere. In this case, however, ISIS needs to be totally eradicated -- eliminated from the planet, never to be be heard from again. If we do nothing and just watch, this scourge will surely come to us.
Imagine if it were the late 1990's and the world had been sensitized and was fully aware of camps used for training willing terrorist warriors in Afghanistan under the control of Osama bin Laden. What would we be doing? Back then, governments knew...but everyday people were oblivious. Governments made half-hearted attempts to derail bin Laden but we paid little or no attention. We woke up on September 11, 2001. That was the day we got to know Al Quaeda.
Let's remember the late 1990's example and apply what we know to today's situation. Al Quaeda was, by comparison, a group of fun-loving guys when measured against the perverse creatures now trying to set up a state or caliphate in what currently is the landmass known as Syria and Iraq. Both of these countries are unstable enough that, if left unchecked, it could actually happen. And ISIS is said to operate a number of serious training camps specifically designed to build bodies and minds, turning young believers into merciless killing machines to dispense their particular brand of jihad to men, women, and children not conforming to their lopsided view of what is right.
At least a hundred (and possibly more) Canadians are part of that group. There will come a time, not too far off, when they will attempt to begin their work here in Canada, the United States, the UK, and elsewhere. In fact, we have heard this week that a severe threat already exists in Britain as I write. ISIS will kidnap, will brutally murder, will destroy. Our complacency and silence now would be their enabler! We must be vigilant and we cannot stand idly by. The way to put a halt to their future plan is to seek them out where they are and to put an end what they do.
Extraordinary situations demand extraordinary action. This is not a group that limits itself in any way. There are no defined territorial lines, no specific religious targets, no one government in their focus...they want to create a caliphate/state in a defined geographic area and, at the same time, they believe in the supremacy of Islam and show complete intolerance towards anything or anyone else. Even within the Muslim world, they draw lines of distinction. The fact is that if you do not conform to their ways and are not of their background, you are not considered worthy of life and a brutal death is your eventual fate. Since ISIS views its mission as changing the world, I suggest it would be in the world's best interests to deal with that threat with appropriate haste. In a battle to the death, the choice is clear -- it's your opponent or you.
Peter
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