Angry at the lot of them

I am saddened, frustrated, and most of all, really angry. And I find my anger is very widely directed.
Like you, I'm sure, I have been watching images from the G20 in Toronto, which continues today. More to the point, watching images of the violence that has destroyed some of the main streets of Toronto... which is also, we're told, likely to continue today.
I'm angry at the thugs and criminals who have seized the opportunity to go on a rampage. They may see some vague connection between terrorizing a city, destroying private property, burning police cars, and achieving world peace... but it is tough to make that connection, isn't it?
I suspect they really only accomplish one thing ­-- they turn moderate people into right-leaning people. They push many of us who would at least tolerate peaceful protest to become opponents of protest, because of the inherent dangers.
That's an entirely counter-productive result.
I'm also angry at our Prime Minister. He knew --­ everyone knew ­-- that events like the G20 now attract the lunatic fringe, and none the less he invited them to downtown Toronto. He and his advisors created a situation that has led to violence in the streets, destruction of property ­-- while thousands of Toronto residents hide behind locked doors in the apartments above those very streets.
I recognize that this is not entirely fair to Harper. If we simply re-order our lives to avoid thuggery, eventually we will have surrendered the streets to the thugs. None the less, this seems to have been a circumstance where the outcome was completely predictable, $2 billion for security or not.
It may also be that the $2 billion was focused on the security of the world leaders gathered at the G20 ­ and if things continue as they are this morning, that may be a resounding success. But at what other cost?
I am angry that the business people and residents of downtown Toronto are left completely to their own resources. It has been made clear that, while the feds could foster the situation that led to the violence, the feds will take no responsibility for the outcome. All those who have lost property are on their own ­-- it's up to them and their insurance companies.
I am angry with the media. I've been following the story in the media, of course -- ­ on TV, on line, in newspapers. I have noticed a couple of things. First, the live television coverage, a voracious consumer of images, keeps showing us the same video, time after time. I think I heard that four Toronto police cars have been burned; I have seen a Toronto police car burning at least two dozen times. The same images recur, and our concept of what is really happening is skewed by this.
But I am more angry at the attention given to those perpetrating the violence, and those who appear to protest for the sake of protesting. This past week, on particular protester managed to have his picture on the front page of the paper about three times.
This same person is notorious for throwing chocolate milk on Stockwell Day, surely a significant moment in Canadian political history. Or not.
I have long been involved with the Stratford Garden Festival; a few years ago, this fine event was to be visited by then-Prime Minister Paul Martin. That would have been a real feather in the caps of the organizers and all the volunteers and participants in an utterly non-political event.
The protester noted above showed up; I saw him walking through the show. He didn¹t look much like a gardener. Sure enough, when Martin's security people spotted him, the entire Prime Ministerial visit was cancelled.
Now there is a victory for the people, wouldn't you say? And that certainly justifies triple exposure on the cover page of our regional daily. No, it doesn't.
That's an inconsequential story, compared to what is happening in Toronto. But it does show the impact a few thoughtless rowdies --­ or worse --­ can have. They are certainly having an impact today ­ they're drowning out legitimate protest, they're
terrorizing citizens, they're damaging property, they're alienating every sane Canadian... and they're having no impact at all on the G20 itself.
Makes you angry, doesn't it?