Quote:
Originally Posted by Overground
The random heroes aren't getting enough recognition compared to the thugs so I'll post a couple of stories to get their names out there. On the news I heard the authorities will be trying to find all these people and honour them. I wouldn't be surprised if some of these people get honoured by the both governments. Personally I think there could be a couple instances where the Cross of Valour(highest for civilians who've displayed bravery and conspicuous courage) is handed out. In fact, I'm going to email the Heritage Minister and suggest it.
Robert MacKay, originally from Kingston, Ont, was the guy that tried stopping thugs outside The Bay until he got beat up. Even when he was down and beaten some coward decided to spray bear repellent into his eyes. Heritage Minister James Moore is going to congratulate him.
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/artic...t-vancouver-s-mob-talks-to-the-star?bn=1
Chris Leveille suffered a crushed lung and other serious injuries when he tried to protect a Budget Car Rental. Dave Lamontagne, a volunteer first responder who happened to be in the crowd, rushed in to help the injured man.
http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local..._110617/20110617?hub=BritishColumbiaHome |
While I do think that people who stood up to the rioters were brave and trying their best to be noble, it still makes me a little worried. Some people decided to stand up to the thugs and got savagely beaten.
While they were brave to stand up to the crowd, it was also a bit foolish. Many people got hurt because they wanted to be a hero. Many people are lucky to be alive.
In the story above, Chris Leveille was brave but acted rather foolishly, putting his life on the line to save some windows. Dave Lamontagne, on the other hand saved a life, and he DOES deserve a medal.
And while these people decided to make a stand, at the same time they were in the way. Police were hesitant to use tear gas and stun grenades because of concerns for people there. What if while making a stand to save some windows or a car, police moved in. There is no way to really identify the difference between hero and villain in a scene like that on the ground, so police have to gas, beat, and chase everyone to try to disperse the crowd to regain order (and gas doesn't discriminate between people). How would you react if on the news if these "heroes" ended up beaten with a face full of pepperspray? Would we be claiming police brutality or wrong place wrong time? Police have a hard enough time as it is without extra people enlarging the mob and being in the way.
If they were not there, police might have had an easier time controlling the trouble makers. At the very least, if they had gone home instead of saving a window or two, they wouldn't have been hurt.
So to say at the least, I'm conflicted about this.
To draw a parallel, (as horrible as this sounds) it is a bit like my feelings towards Oskar Schindler. Yes, he is a hero (in my mind) for what he did to save that many Jews during the holocaust. BUT, the only reason he was in such a position in the first place was because he was a spy (that helped the invasion of Poland), a high ranking member of the Nazi party, and a factory owner that used bribes and rubbed elbows with the SS to acquire Jewish slave labor to build supplies for the Nazi war machine. After witnessing a raid on the Kraków Ghetto he changed his ways and ended his life as a hero by doing everything he could (include putting his life on the line) to save lives. But he got their by participating in the worst tragedy in human history.
These heroes at the riot acted bravely, but why were they there in the first place? Did they come out of the homes to make a stand? Did they come to downtown and stay after the game was well over to at least watch (if not be part of) the riot? Were they having a good time then noticed the folley of their ways and tried to make amends?
To sum up my feelings here is a picture.
This appears to be the guy that stood up to the crowd to stop a car from being lit on fire, only to be captured grinding a car on fire with his skateboard.
It's a fine line between hero and idiot. If more people had been smart before hand and had gone home after the game and riot broke out, I would feel a lot better about the intelligence of people in this city.
Though, I'll concede and say the people who stood up to the goons are heroes, if we can all agree that everyone else who was there, including the people who think of themselves as heroes for being there to take pictures, should be ashamed of their actions and inactions.
Prev
Absolutely no sympathy, that's what happens when you try and torch a police car.
Linear Mode
