OT: Suspected Terrorist on my street

[SandraC]

Hello All ~ Not sure exactly how I'm feeling right now. One of the suspected terrorists arrested last week lives on my street. Our neighbourhood is lovely...rich in many culturals...filled with love. I adore living here. I'm not frightened...but I am sad. Blessings, S

 

[Scratch42]

Sandra, you have no reason to be frightened, they were caught!

But I know how you feel, 'cause reading that their "camp" was not to far where DD was at summer camp last year!

j

 

[Tantor]

I think we are all a little sad about this being in our area. I guess we never thought that anything like this would happen so close to home. And it gets weirder but the moment.
to you, Sandra.

 

[tone.def]

Sorry to hear about that!

If It was my street, I'd want the family to move... like yesterday.

It feels like my backyard too as one of the targets is where I work.

 

[F4disneyfan]

oops double post...

 

[F4disneyfan]

Don't worry about it Sandra IMHO the media is making way more out of this than really needs to be made but that is the nature of the beast now isn't it. I would bake a cake or some cookies and go over and have tea with the family to let them know they are not outcasts because of this and hopefully they will feel they are still welcome remember one bad seed doesn't have to spoil the whole bunch as far as I am concerned. We live next door to a Mosque and absolutlely love all teh people that attend the place they are all so great with our kids and our neighbourhood trying to make it a better place for all of us remember it isn't the religion or the population it is a few extremists and we can't let that cloud our judgement and feelings about a religion or group of people or it makes us no better than the rest. I abhour the people thatr were vandalizing the mosque in Toronto they are no better than the people arrested it is just another form of terrorism being carried out by those that did the vandalism and as the saying goes violence begets violence.

 

[mom22belles]

I know how you feel Sandra ! We live one block away from one of the suspects. And although I hate to pass on rumours the word on the street is a former tenant( not the terriost suspect) of that house was murdered. You may remember the case she was an " adult film actress" who went to the US for a photo shoot and was murdered by the photographer.

I also agree about not being frightened just sad .

The residents on that strret are also getting quite upset with all the media!

Nancy

 

[SandraC]

Thanks all. DD is in 7th grade...she's supposed to be going to the same high school the suspected young offender's attend. I was never a huge fan of the school and considered asking for flex boundries for another school before all this happened. Again...just all confused and sad. I love living in this neighbourhood. We are rich with culture and diversity...all embraced! It's surreal in a way. Blessings, S

 

[Joyful19]

Probably a lot of what you are feeling is fear. Your neighbourhood was safe and now because a terrorist was living among you, your home no longer feels safe. This feeling will pass but it will take a while. You need to make yourself and especially your children feel safe again. I have had bad things happen and have wished to move but eventually I start to feel better, more positive (less stressed and depressed). Good luck I hope you feel better soon.

 

[Joyful19]

Oops double post

 

[digskat]

3 times the fertilizer used to blow up the Government building in Oklahoma. Special made incendary devices, built to use a cellphone to detonate. Several planning meetings...the funds, materials, and intention. An extremist leader that was turned in by fellow members...............yeah, the media has been blowing this out of proportion.

This was a serious threat. Serious enough to bring increased security in Ottawa, to bring Provincial response teams to full alert, serious enough to increase security at nuclear power plants.
Were the idiots that vandalized the mosque right? No, 99% of the members were innocent, and did not deserve the damage. But comparing smashing a few windows to plotting the death of Thousands of tourists and employees of a few buildings..... come on.

 

[karenr518]

I know how you feel Sandra ! We live one block away from one of the suspects. And although I hate to pass on rumours the word on the street is a former tenant( not the terriost suspect) of that house was murdered. You may remember the case she was an " adult film actress" who went to the US for a photo shoot and was murdered by the photographer.

I also agree about not being frightened just sad .

The residents on that strret are also getting quite upset with all the media!

Nancy

I know what you mean about media coverage. I live in Caledonia, where the native blockade is. The media is constantly here, in our little town, and it's comical at times what they report. A lot of the coverage is accurate, but not all of it.....as I'm sure we'll see with this issue as well.

 

[DisFan2]

3 times the fertilizer used to blow up the Government building in Oklahoma. Special made incendary devices, built to use a cellphone to detonate. Several planning meetings...the funds, materials, and intention. An extremist leader that was turned in by fellow members...............yeah, the media has been blowing this out of proportion.

Indeed.

And I have to question the logic that imposes the moral obligation on Sandra to go visit the family of an alleged terrorist, if only to reassure them that everything's still OK between us. Shouldn't they be the ones reaching out to the community their son was (allegedly) trying to destroy? Really, who should be more concerned right now?

Having said that, this sort of reasoning is not new. Shortly after 9/11, most of the major political leaders in the US (yes, including GWB) tripped over themselves getting to the nearest mosque to let them know we didn't view them as the enemy. (HT: Mark Steyn)

Here's my advice, FWIW;

Save your culinary efforts for the families of the military and law enforcement (and anyone else for that matter), who protect us from these radical zealots.

Whoops, sorry. "Alleged" radical zealots.

On a "lighter" note....

 

[SandraC]

Thank you again for your responses. I believe this event needs discussion and your thoughtful comments are appreciated.

My children know little about what's going on in our neighbourhood. Our community is at least 50% new Canadian's and we love them all. I have been to several homes for visits, birthdays, seeing photos after they return from a vacation home and even to an Eid celebration. Every single family is filled with love and devotion. I am not afraid of the family's I know and they are not afraid of me. However, I do fear the unknown. I usually don't have to deal with fear, so this is new for me.

I do appreciate this thread and the forum it gives me to express my feelings. Blessings, Sandra

 

[F4disneyfan]

3 times the fertilizer used to blow up the Government building in Oklahoma. Special made incendary devices, built to use a cellphone to detonate. Several planning meetings...the funds, materials, and intention. An extremist leader that was turned in by fellow members...............yeah, the media has been blowing this out of proportion.

This was a serious threat. Serious enough to bring increased security in Ottawa, to bring Provincial response teams to full alert, serious enough to increase security at nuclear power plants.
Were the idiots that vandalized the mosque right? No, 99% of the members were innocent, and did not deserve the damage. But comparing smashing a few windows to plotting the death of Thousands of tourists and employees of a few buildings..... come on.

Another all hail the media speech they are reporting it all so it sounds from what you say in your post. No flaming here but did you ever stop to think that Canada and the US and Britian and any other country in Afganistan are also being viewed as terrorists mmhhmm you got it. Oh we are over there to get the BAD guys but what about all teh innocent peole we have killed ya ya I know an inherent cost of war blah blah so we blow up supposed instalations and attack supposed terror cells and kill them how about the poor innocent people over there that are being killed by the hundreds or thousands every month nope that doesn't matter to us we are here in Canada it isn't happening in our country and we are there fighting for the greater good but I ask the greater good of what. The people that plan these things are not the run of the mill Islamics no more than saying well the Irish are all about killing people and causing Terror because look they have the IRA. By vandalising the mosque in TO it shows a lack of forethought and an act of cowardace on our part and yes it makes us no better than those extremists thatr plan large scale terror attacks an attack is an attack large or small and is no better and makes us no better than the people we are trying to stop.

 

[mousy_in_canada]

Another all hail the media speech they are reporting it all so it sounds from what you say in your post. No flaming here but did you ever stop to think that Canada and the US and Britian and any other country in Afganistan are also being viewed as terrorists mmhhmm you got it. Oh we are over there to get the BAD guys but what about all teh innocent peole we have killed ya ya I know an inherent cost of war blah blah so we blow up supposed instalations and attack supposed terror cells and kill them how about the poor innocent people over there that are being killed by the hundreds or thousands every month nope that doesn't matter to us we are here in Canada it isn't happening in our country and we are there fighting for the greater good but I ask the greater good of what. The people that plan these things are not the run of the mill Islamics no more than saying well the Irish are all about killing people and causing Terror because look they have the IRA. By vandalising the mosque in TO it shows a lack of forethought and an act of cowardace on our part and yes it makes us no better than those extremists thatr plan large scale terror attacks an attack is an attack large or small and is no better and makes us no better than the people we are trying to stop.

What you wrote listed above should be prefaced by "in my opinion" you are more than welcome to have your opinion, we do live in FREE country and many have lost their lives to make it and keep it just that way FREE. Many countries don't have this freedom to express their opinion. I am proud of our country and I am very proud of our police that caught this act before it happened! IMO opinion the people that vandalised the mosque were just acting out of fear and anger, is it right? no it is not, but I can understand their fear and I hope that they have calmed down enough to not do it again. Is this act the same as the people who blow up buildings or talk of taking the head of our PM not at all I don't feel that the 2 can be compared. They are totally different things one is murdering people and one is breaking a window and damaging a building, nothing the same. There is a respect for life that should be there but it is not.

 

[F4disneyfan]

What you wrote listed above should be prefaced by "in my opinion" you are more than welcome to have your opinion, we do live in FREE country and many have lost their lives to make it and keep it just that way FREE. Many countries don't have this freedom to express their opinion. I am proud of our country and I am very proud of our police that caught this act before it happened! IMO opinion the people that vandalised the mosque were just acting out of fear and anger, is it right? no it is not, but I can understand their fear and I hope that they have calmed down enough to not do it again. Is this act the same as the people who blow up buildings or talk of taking the head of our PM not at all I don't feel that the 2 can be compared. They are totally different things one is murdering people and one is breaking a window and damaging a building, nothing the same. There is a respect for life that should be there but it is not.

I agree and IMHO they are here to get the BAD guys that would be us just as we are over there to get the bad guys it is a vicious circle that is not soon to end and IMHO we just feel better about it because it is our military that is doing the dirty work not us. As for the people living with the young fellow who was arrested on Sandra's street does anyone know for certain that the parents knew about it because I can honestly tell you at that age my parents didn't know everyone I hung out with or all the things I was involved in. We give our children freedoms and hope they make good choices sometimes they do sometimes they don't as is the case with that young fellow. I know no one said his parents knew but the insinuation that the family of the boy should be out doesn't fly could you imagine the riddicule they must be feeling they are probably scared to death to be out knowing full well how people feel about them because of their childs actions. So yes the mob mentality we seem to produce in vandalizing a place of worship wether it be a mosque or a catholic church see the IRA reference is IMHO as bad and cowardly IMHO take it to the people not the place they worship in for those that go to church could you imagine how you would feel if your church were vandalized and such because you were Irish and the IRA was just caught plannig to blow up something here hey you aren't a member of the IRA but the mob mentality is you are Irish so we will persacute you the same as if you were one of the people planning the attack. Again it is a vicious circle and we perpetuate the cycle day after day.

 

[disneykid4ever]

I am an American living in Ottawa. My husband works for the U.S. Navy and is stationed in Ottawa, working with Canadian Forces. I must tell you that it is dangerous to assume that the media is blowing things out of proportion when reporting about attempted terrorist actions. These are very scary times and because of this it is important for everyone, Canadian and American alike, to be watchful of our surroundings and the people we come in contact with. I don't believe in racial profiling at all because anyone can harbor ill will and anyone can be a terrorist. But, we all have to watch out for ourselves and our children and be mindful of unusual behavior or situations. Take the media reports seriously, know that the possibility of a terrorist attack is real . . . don't say it could never happen to us. Don't just bury your head in the sand.

 

[F4disneyfan]

I am an American living in Ottawa. My husband works for the U.S. Navy and is stationed in Ottawa, working with Canadian Forces. I must tell you that it is dangerous to assume that the media is blowing things out of proportion when reporting about attempted terrorist actions. These are very scary times and because of this it is important for everyone, Canadian and American alike, to be watchful of our surroundings and the people we come in contact with. I don't believe in racial profiling at all because anyone can harbor ill will and anyone can be a terrorist. But, we all have to watch out for ourselves and our children and be mindful of unusual behavior or situations. Take the media reports seriously, know that the possibility of a terrorist attack is real . . . don't say it could never happen to us. Don't just bury your head in the sand.

I don't think anyone is saying it can't happen as it could happen anyplace my problem with teh media is they tend to sensationalize everything to play on peoples fears etc to drive home a point and drive up rateings moreso in the US media than in Canada but none the less it tends to be overhyped in many cases. Fear and smear as many of my friends in the states call it and that is what keeps viewers tuning in and selling newspapers. BTW how do you like living in Ottawa and moreso Canada?

 

[mousy_in_canada]

I am an American living in Ottawa. My husband works for the U.S. Navy and is stationed in Ottawa, working with Canadian Forces. I must tell you that it is dangerous to assume that the media is blowing things out of proportion when reporting about attempted terrorist actions. These are very scary times and because of this it is important for everyone, Canadian and American alike, to be watchful of our surroundings and the people we come in contact with. I don't believe in racial profiling at all because anyone can harbor ill will and anyone can be a terrorist. But, we all have to watch out for ourselves and our children and be mindful of unusual behavior or situations. Take the media reports seriously, know that the possibility of a terrorist attack is real . . . don't say it could never happen to us. Don't just bury your head in the sand.

Very well said!