I have been trying to follow the news from home, which has been mostly limited to the Indian newspapers. It is shocking and horrifying, especially with two separate and apparently unrelated incidences so close together.
My heart is with the families and friends of the two soldiers killed. While we expect our soldiers to step in harms way while deployed, it seems particularly obscene to have it occur on home ground.
And yes I fully realize we Canadians have been blessed and naive in our relative isolation. Most of the rest of the world has never been so fortunate. I hope I can be forgiven for wanting to stay in that fortunate state. But I also wish more of the world could join us.
I am paraphrasing what a wise woman said, “I have always seen anger as strong and sadness as weak, but now sorrow seems stronger than fury. It is less likely to spread the energy of hate, an energy that must have consumed those men. By not giving into anger, then I become less like them; I can stop the cycle of hatred and violence.”
I hope that we, as strong Canadians can protect ourselves and keep the open hearts and minds for which we are known worldwide.
Shanti, shanti, shantih
Smith the Traveller
"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes." Marcel Proust
Smith the Traveller 
End of the Innocence! My son Ian was just in Ottawa in Sept. for the 100th anniversary of the Princess Patricia’s Light Infantry. He is a corporal in the Patricia’s and attended several functions as well as paraded in front of the parliament buildings. His grandfather P.J. must have been looking down on him and kept him safe that day.
Hi Kim
You have been in my thoughts after both the events Canada. Australia, as one, is also affected as I think we feel a bit related to Canada in some ways. We think your Seargent at Arms is a hero & mourn the loss of life & the loss of innocence as a result of the Parliament intrusion. It all could have been so more tragic as the intruder passed near the 2 caucus rooms that held both parties. It does not bear thinking about. Each time there has been an ‘incident’ it seems that the perpetrator has had drug& or criminal problems in the past – poss mental problems too. It seems to me this is a way some disaffected choose to hit out. (Others may choose a gun to reek havoc). We are all trying to make sense of it. Basically we all send our love & support to Canada & I am sending thoughts to you. Enjoy your trip Love Gillian PS the wedding looks amaZing!
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Thank you Gillian for your lovely words and support. I am really looking forward to catching up with you soon.
What does Shanti mean? I agree – the outpouring of sorrow here has been tangible – two soldiers dead and here in a land where it was horribly easy to do. Now there is more security, more looking sideways at people, more distrust. They brought the Ottawa soldier home to Hamilton down the Highway if Heroes with huge crowds watching and crying and saluting (the soldiers). I mourn with their families and for what we have lost with the two attacks. Sharon
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Shanti means peace, tranquility, calmness and so on. I saw a photo of all the cars pulled off the road and the people standing in respect and it made me cry….