Protestors ‘for Peace’ Get Violent During U.S. President’s Visit

December 1, 2004

Finally. Canada and the United States cannot begin to solve the outstanding issues between our two countries unless we at first talk about them.

And that opportunity finally arrived this past Tuesday when U.S. President George W. Bush came to Canada on an official visit for the first time. I’m pleased the President accepted Prime Minister Paul Martin’s better-late-than-never invitation to visit. I’m even more pleased that Mr. Bush not only had some real “face-to-face” time with Mr. Martin, but also with Conservative Leader Stephen Harper, in a meeting that lasted nearly as long as the Prime Minister’s.

It’s no secret that not all Canadians were happy Mr. Bush paid us a visit, but for Canadian families whose everyday lives have been devastated by the softwood lumber dispute and the U.S. ban on our beef, it’s good news. The door has now been open to more conciliatory – and hopefully more successful - talks between Ottawa and Washington. A new start following the anti-American, anti-Bush rants emanating from the Liberal cabinet and backbenches.

As for those who opposed the U.S. president’s visit, I fully support their right to uphold and exercise the freedom of lawful assembly in ‘peaceful” protest. Yet once again, the actions of a few have denigrated the legitimate voice of the many!

It’s estimated that roughly 5,000 protesters gathered in downtown Ottawa during Mr. Bush’s visit. Among most protestors, there was a firm desire to avoid violence and confrontation. Unfortunately, there were a handful of troublemakers whose objective was to provoke police and incite violence.

Though police repeatedly refused to rise to the bait, patrolling simply in regular uniforms, demonstrators finally charged a barricade and were thrilled when it produced their intended result: police in riot gear showed up and demonstrators were arrested. These are the same anti-Bush protestors who claim to support peace and oppose conflict. They have a funny way of showing it!

While these violent protestors gave ‘newsworthy’ visuals to the television cameras, which relayed the footage throughout Canada and the United States, the media should give absolutely zero coverage to these hooligan’s antics.

I believe those resorting to violence (throwing rocks, picking fights with police, etc.) should be dealt with harshly. If they have so much energy to protest, hand them a shovel and sentence them to a winter of shovelling snow off the walk to our seniors’ homes!

Then there was the hypocrisy of Jack Layton and the NDP. He beseeched people to come out and protest, even through personal phone messages. Then he hurried off to join Mr. Bush for the state dinner, along with a number of his colleagues (I counted at least four). Then he whined about not getting a personal one-on-one meeting with the president … well, why should he?

Fortunately, the abhorrent actions of a few violent demonstrators did not interfere with the overall success of the U.S. president’s visit. We will never agree on all aspects of each others’ foreign, social and economic policies, but we are neighbours, allies and trading partners. And it’s in the best interests of Canada and Canadians that it remain that way.

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