(http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/02/13/bc-vancouver-olympic-protest.html)
I heard about the riot for the first time while I was at the airport, while waiting for our youngest to claim her luggage. Our oldest had called, cautioning us about driving through downtown Vancouver on our way home. He called again a few minutes later, giving us the thumbs up, saying all was clear. But as we drove through, several groups of blue clad police officers with wooden batons hanging from their waist were still there, standing alert, waiting, just in case another violent incident arose.
I caught the interview of the anti-Olympic leader on the news the day before, and she claimed that their intent was to have a peaceful rally. To my surprise, I was quite upset about the riot and when I returned home, I googled the event to see and understand what was really going on. As if she had given me her personal promise, I remember repeatedly telling the Father that the leader promised it would be peaceful and yet violence broke out. Why? As I examined a site, I came across the following…
What should we bring?
* A Nalgene or bottle of water
* Sharpies
* Band aids
* Money to take a cab”
So, was the inner motive truly intended to be peaceful? Then why the sharpies (permanent ink felt tipped pens) and band-aids? It makes you think twice, doesn’t it?
In today’s Vancouver Province, reporter Michael Smyth began his article with… “‘I couldn’t see the face of the guy in the ski mask, but I sure could see the hate burning in his eyes.’ And that’s all you needed to see to understand what Saturday’s downtown mayhem was all about… They were just hateful morons who wanted a confrontation with the cops. Period.” His article ended with…”And it’s all such a shabby cynical game. I interviewed protest leader Harsha Walia last week and put it to her directly that many in her group actually desire a confrontation with police. ‘I can’t deny that’, she said. A rare admission – and that explains better than anything what you saw on TV screens last night.”
As I begin this paragraph, more than a week has passed and the fan-fare, excitement, and the Olympic celebration has overshadowed the riot that took place. I scratch my head in puzzlement as to why I still sense a need to continue with this reflection. The 2010 Olympics will come to an end in 2 days, and yet the The Vancouver Province has once again mentioned the riot in today’s paper. I’m glad I am not the only one still reflecting on this.
Not too long ago, I came across Mark Gungor’s Fighting Fair chapter from his book, Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage. I share in point form…