Enlightening Perspectives

"This was a despicable act of violence [motor-vehicle homicide of 53-year-old Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent] that strikes against not just this soldier and his colleagues but frankly against our very values as a civilized democracy."
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Tuesday, October 21, House of Commons

THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-PMO    Prime Minister Stephen Harper, shown in this screen grab from an online video from the PMO, making a statement on the attacks in Ottawa on Wednesday Oct. 22, 2014.

"I certainly hope that that's not what the prime minister of Canada is doing -- latching on to this kind of crisis to help himself. I know that Canadians deserve better than just that. They deserve full answers."
Leader of the Opposition, NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair

Mr. Mulcair took exception to the 'strong language' Prime Minister Harper used in speaking of the jihadist attack that took place the day before in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec causing the deliberate death of a Canadian Forces member of the military. He held it to be self-serving. To cause the public to support the Conservative-led initiative to toughen and tighten Canada's security laws to further protect the country and the public from terrorist attacks.

His complaint was that the Conservatives were too quick to label the attack by a self-radicalized Muslim convert as "clearly linked to terrorist ideology". As for the Liberal Leader, Justin Trudeau, he trod slightly more carefully, without too overtly indicating that he holds similar views to that of Mr. Mulcair: "I think that's a question that certainly members of the press gallery and Canadians can ask. But as an opposition politician, I'm very much focused on demonstrating that this should be beyond politics."

And then came Wednesday, when the gulf of suspicion must surely have threatened to tempt a leap. That's when, literally, all hell broke loose on Parliament Hill, and the doubting Thomases and Justins enjoyed their own very personal introduction to the unknown and the terror that lurks within. Beyond politics. When, with another attack, a loner, also a recent convert to Islam who clearly preferred the fanatical option, murdered a young Armed Forces reservist standing ceremonial guard at the National Cenotaph.

John Ivison, National Post

And then went on to hunt for further prospects in the hallowed ceremonial hall of honour in the Centre Block of the House of Commons. Where, as it happened, though the House wasn't sitting, it was busy with MPs at their various party caucuses. Had the armed intruder ventured a mite further he could have interrupted the Conservative caucus and there encountered Canada's Cabinet Ministers, the Prime Minister and other Members of Parliament.

However, and as good fortune had it, that opportunity was denied him, however belatedly, when the Sergeant-at-arms, Kevin Vickers, along with his security personnel let loose with a volley of shots that spread the stink of cordite in Parliament, and left the sole attacker a martyr, fulfilling his dream of aspiring to Paradise, there to be greeted by -- is it 72? -- virgins, awaiting his pleasure.

As they awaited rescue from the inevitable lockdown until security agents could be assured that there were no other terrorists lingering anywhere in the Parliamentary Precinct, there was ample time for the leaders, before they were expeditiously led to safety, to wonder what on Earth was happening to their world of normalcy and political jousting in the House of Commons.