When News Hits Too Close to Home

I’m sure a lot of people may have heard the latest news about a terrorist threat being shot and killed in Southwestern Ontario… A story that you hate hearing about and think “wow – things are hitting a little close to home.”

This story was even closer than that for me. It actually was close to home for me. In a house a couple blocks from where my parents live, just down the street from my grandparents, a few houses from the park I take my dog to, and across the road from Burns Variety  – the corner store I still buy stuff from when I’m there .

I still can’t believe I was seeing a place that close to my family on TV surrounded by police, swat teams and bomb squads as they went after terrorist threat. The story is that a 23 year old guy from Winnipeg named Aaron Driver – an ISIS sympathizer –  threatened to attack a major Canadian city using an explosive device.  Apparently he was holding up in this house in Strathroy Ontario – my home town – close to all those things I was talking about. Gunshots and explosions were reported and it’s since been released that this creep was killed before he could set off another explosive device.

I won’t lie, after I called and made sure my family and friends were okay (which they are thank god), my initial reaction was anger. – as it was for many people.  If you look at the Facebook posts you’ll see a lot of anti-Muslim sentiments, how could police let this happen, and all sorts of other hateful and hurtful garbage that has no value to repeat.

BUT I GET IT! My family is in that town. My sister walks by that exact house on her way to work. Of course you don’t want that to happen again. Of course we want things to be done. But instead of focusing on all the anger and hatred – something that brought this to our doorstep in the first place – let’s look at all the things to be thankful for: the police officers who contained the situation, the people who shared the story and let us know our families were okay, the people who figured this plot out before things got worse. I know it’s tough to do, but it’s better than the alternative.

Will things get better? I honestly don’t know. But my buddy Derek posted this message on Facebook and made
me snap out of my freak out earlier this evening… he said….

“Tomorrow morning when we wake up things will be different…
We’ll look over your shoulder when someone walks past… We’ll debate whether that extra trip to the store is necessary… we’ll think twice about letting our kids walk down the street alone…

But… the town will also be the same…
Full of unique and caring individuals…the kind that will check on your house and grab your mail when your away and ask nothing in return… people that will randomly pay for your morning timmies… Local businesses that know your name and always are happy to see you…  that won’t change”

So stand tall, and proud and let love rule over fear.
Stay strong Strathroy

Bergie — Some Guy from Strathroy.