It has a tragic week around our World. In Canada, A Soldier was killed by what we can only describe as a lowlife scum of the Earth at the Canadian National War Memorial and thereafter wrecked havoc on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. From the reports we reviewed here @ "Outsiders", Parliament was in session and the Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, was immediately taken to safety as Parliament went under lock down as the lowlife was shot by the House of Commons Sergeant at Arms:
The Leader of the Opposition, Tom Mulcair, spoke for all when he reminded Canadians and the World of the sentiment as Canada came to terms with this tragic day:
My fellow Canadians,
Today, the peace of our nation’s capital was shattered by an act of hatred and brutality. A cowardly act, designed to strike at the very heart of our democracy — at the heart of who we are.
It was carried out on the very ground where we come together to exchange ideas with the knowledge that whatever our differences we will always resolve them peacefully.
It was intended to make us more fearful of our neighbours and less confident in ourselves. But it has failed.
Today’s events have instead only succeeded in drawing us closer, in making us stronger.
To the brave women and men of law enforcement, our security services and our Canadian Forces: Your determination, your professionalism and indeed your heroism today will not soon be forgotten.
Just as we have all borne witness to these horrific acts, we have watched in awe your acts of courage — now an abiding emblem of Canadian strength, values and valour.
The thoughts and prayers of 35 million Canadians are with the family and loved ones of Corporal Nathan Cirillo — the Canadian Forces member from Hamilton, Ontario who lost his life this morning, the second in just a few days.
In this moment, Canadians are united in grief, and stricken with disbelief. Canada is shaken today, but we shall not waver.
We woke up this morning in a country blessed by love, diversity and peace, and tomorrow we will do the same.
These acts were driven by hatred, but also designed to drive us to hate. They will not. We will stand up, and we will stand together. We will persevere, and we will prevail.
Beyond Canada, there is again the Middle East that continues to burn ever more. A Palestinian rammed his car into a train station in Jerusalem which resulted in the killing of a small child. As the World was transfixed on Operations Protective Edge in Gaza, the tensions in Jerusalem has continued ever more especially as Jewish settlers continue their inroads with "purchases" of Palestinian properties using questionable tactics that is resulting in Palestinians being made homeless in many instances. This is also as settlement activity is continuing despite admonitions from the World including the United States. The Economy Minister, Bennett, who made waves by attacking John Kerry, noted that the attack underscored the need to step up settlement activity and to respond with an iron fist. It is still amazing to observe how there are still brave voices within Israel who speak out against Israeli Government Policy as exemplified by the Israel Member of the Knesset, Haneen Zoabi--who spoke out against the war in Gaza and has angered elements on the Israeli Right calling for her expulsion from the Israeli Knesset or even the country. It will be interesting to see the moves the Israeli Prime Minister will be making.
The daily suffering of the People of Syria and Iraq continues with no end in sight. We here @ "outsiders" have been ever so amazed at the power of the Syrian Kurds as they continue fight against Dayesh. As the Iraqi Prime Minister has been in Tehran visiting Iranian Government Leaders, bombings continue on a daily basis. It was an interesting development to see Turkish approval to approve Iraqi Kurdish Fighters cross through Turkish Territory to join the defenders of Kobane. This is as air drops were initiated by the US. The official US narrative was that the supplies were from the Kurdish Government--which was a roundabout way of noting that the United States had stepped up further efforts. It was also of profound concern as we went to press on disturbing developments out of Tunisia as terror suspects were battling Tunisian security forces on the eve of Parliamentary elections in Tunis. It is also of profound concern to note that Libya continues its never ending descent into Chaos as it is only a country in name only. The perceived "Arab" leader, Egypt, is also ever so challenged as Mr. Sisi tries to impose his will on the Country. Two Israeli Soldiers were shot and wounded at the border--according to reports reviewed here @ "Outsiders", it was supposedly a fight with Drug Smugglers. Sinai is basically a "no man's land" that is yet to be brought under some semblance of control after Sisi took charge as President. This is as Democracy continues to be practiced in name only as exemplified by the plight of the Al Jazeera staffers who continue to be in detention. We here @ Outsiders have lent our voice to the need to insure that they are released immediately.
Beyond Egypt, there is Iran. The Acid attacks on young women has been horrific and the pictures have been too heart-wrenching as it was reviewed. As we went to press here @ "outsiders", it was a welcome development to see the direct intervention of the Minister of Health:
وزیر بهداشت خطاب به دختر قربانی اسیدپاشی: همینطور قوی باش
دکتر «سیدحسن هاشمی» ، با معاینه چشمان سهیلا جورکش در درمانگاه شهید شوریده گفت: چشمان او نیاز به عمل اورژانسی دارد. رگ های خون رسانی به چشم از بین رفته اند و با توجه به حساسیت چشم باید فورا عمل شود. شست وشوی چشمان باید در همان لحظه اولیه اتفاق می افتد و مردم باید روی آن آب می گرفتند .هر دو چشم سهیلا جورکش نیاز به عمل های متعدد دارد و روند درمانی نیز طولانی خواهد بود.
وزیر بهداشت در پایان هنگام انتقال سهیلا جورکش به بیمارستان فارابی برای انجام عمل چشم داخل آمبولانس شد و بار دیگر از او دلجویی کرد و گفت: نگران نباش، امشب برای نظارت خواهم آمد.
ایرنا#اسیدپاشی #اصفهان #اسید #اسیدپاشی_اصفهان
This report released on Facebook reflected the Minister in the Ambulance of one of the victims as she was being transported for further care and surgery to a major Medical Center. He told her to Stay strong and that he would be checking on her as surgeries were planned to help her.
This week also saw the dawn of a new era for Indonesia--the election of a new President. #Jokowi took charge as he begins being President of the World's most populous Muslim Nation. He has his share of challenges before him as he has to deal with a parliament that is dominated by his opponents led by the former son-in-law of the former dictator, Suharto who challenged #Jokowi's election. We here @ "Outsiders" will be assessing Indonesia as it enters the new era.
Despite all the challenges of our World, we end with a high note: Diwali. Diwali, the Indian Festival of Lights, is the dawn of the Indian new year. The Indian Prime Minister began his day visiting troops in the World Highest Battle Field as he wished his troops a Happy Diwali (Image Source; http://www.ndtv.com):
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PM Narendra Modi will soldiers at Siachen, the world's highest battlefield in Jammu and Kashmir
We here @ "outsiders' extend our best wishes to all Indians on this day as they celebrate the best of India which underscores a sense of hope despite all the challenges being faced in our World since as we went to press, we reviewed reports on Pakistan again shooting at Indian Border Posts once again violating the ceasefire.
