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Rumor has it, June 15th, 2011, there were some lost souls determined to cause destruction in the streets of Vancouver, BC.
It appears that a few well known to police anarchist groups used the final game between the Vancouver Canucks and the Boston Bruins as yet another excuse to trample the downtown streets of Vancouver as unruly children in a playpen.
The members of these 'anarchist groups' lives must be so depleted of meaning, that they somehow derive pleasure in targeting any event in which they they can throw their temper tantrums in, courageously hiding their identities with bandannas covering their faces.
But let's not use the anarchist groups as scapegoats here. We are all aware of the "upstanding" college kids who also participated in this madness, of their own will.
Spoiled kids privileged with numerous opportunities most in this world could only ever dream of having, looting merchandise (that I am certain most could afford to pay for anyway), and setting cars ablaze, not having the foresight to see their silver spoon fed futures go up in the same flames set by their own 'pure', protected and coddled hands.
Any public apologies made by these privileged children are likely instigated by their high status parents, as reputations and family businesses are at stake here.
A prime example, Nathan Kotylak.
“Nathan’s behaviour that night does not reflect his true character,” Dr. Kotylak (Nathan's father, told Global B.C."
No, it reflects his lack of character Dr. Kotylak.
If you children want to prove any real regret, you're going to have to do better than that.
If you want to make a difference why don't you gather together and visit ALL of the highs schools in the lower mainland to discuss with the students how your actions were reprehensible and not to be admired. Explain to them how idiotic you were and for them to not use you as role models.
Only then, if such pro active attempts are made, will anyone, in my opinion, be able to took at you under a different light.
Aside from the rioters taking a pro active stance,
- I strongly urge for there to be speakers to visit ALL of the lower mainland high schools to discuss the riot.
I feel it is VITAL to address this, as we can use what happened as a tool to teach the young about what REAL integrity, courage and respect really means.
Please forward this idea on to others, I would love to see this happen.
It's one thing to bust the perpetrators of these crimes, but even equally as important, we need to take measures to prevent this from happening again - and not by means of more police, but by means of EDUCATING the young.
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Another relevant part of the equation to this riot were the hundreds of onlookers who made the choice to stay and watch "the show", getting in the way of, and essentially outnumbering the police, rather than going home, as they should have done.
The spectators were a blow torch to the fires already lit.
They gave the delinquents an audience to further encourage the destruction throughout the downtown streets of Vancouver.
Had the onlookers left the scene, as many people did do when they immediately saw things were about to get out of hand, maybe the police would have been able to stop the criminals from lighting cars on fire, smashing store front windows, looting millions of dollars of merchandise and worst of all, they may have been able to prevent the courageous men and women who tried to stop the delinquents from their barbaric acts, from being seriously injured and hospitalized.
In fact, had the spectators gone home from the start, there would have likely been no need for brave citizens to endanger themselves against a young idiotic crowd, as police would have been able to apprehend the criminals, without being so outnumbered.
I offer you no leeway onlookers, you played a very integral part in this disgraceful act, and I hope you realize and are sorry for what you propelled.
I am astonished by the young looters obvious glee and pride in stealing merchandise from stores, like little children running free in an unrestricted Charlie and the Chocolate Factory fantasy land.
As if their actions will bear no repercussions.
Hopefully all the 'sweets' they gathered on their unabashed rampage will last them long enough through their deserved jail time.
Paradoxically, by way of their own hampered IQ levels, their own bragging rights 'trophy photos' have landed into police hands aside from spreading across the web like wild fire.
Another great example showing that thieves have never been reputed of their intelligence levels.
In regards to the young female looters and property bashers - What is wrong with you?
Where is your true feminine strength and honor? Why do you choose to mimic barbaric male aggression and violence over the beauty and honor of your higher selves?
Why are you seeking 'power' and 'pleasure' in violence? I urge you to ask yourselves that.
Through your mindless and shameful tirade, you better thank whomever you pray to at night, that nobody was killed by your foolish and detestable actions.
People were severely injured and attacked by these thugs, including one heroic man, Robert Mackay, who bravely stood alone in front of the Bay department store windows, trying to ward away the unruly criminals from causing further destruction. He was eventually dragged to the street and beaten by a disgusting mob of young, spoiled and ignorant boys.
And I refer to them as 'boys' because that is all they are. They are certainly not real men.
They know nothing of dignity or of honor or courage or sacrifice. They are disgraceful and the only way for them to begin to redeem themselves now is to personally apologize to everyone they hurt.
Face up to it and do the right thing.
Maybe one day a mob will treat them the way they treated Robert MacKay, whether one was involved in beating him, or to those who stood by and watched, maybe one day the same will happen to them and only then will they understand the deep shame they should now be feeling.
For anyone who participated in this dishonorable act, I make a plea to you to contact the brave citizens you either beat or turned your back on to ask for forgiveness.
For anyone who participated in this riot, whether or not they had petrol or broken glass on their hands, or whether they cheered and applauded the animal house show, I make a plea for you to also apologize to those whom were injured and to the city of Vancouver.
I also urge you to do some honest soul searching.
As to why or how anyone would take pleasure in participating or witnessing these acts, is beyond comprehension.
The rioters shamed our city by their low life acts.
Rioters: Smarten up, get a life, make a conscience effort to contribute in a positive way to this world and to our community.
You might want to actually read some of those books you stole from the Chapters bookstore.
If these acts are how you define yourselves and if this is what makes you proud of yourselves, I certainly wish we could send you all to a prison somewhere in a less developed country.
My first suggestions would either be to a Turkish prison, or how about the infamous "Bangkok Hilton", and for at least a few months to hopefully give you an understanding of the gratitude you should feel for what privileges and freedoms you have in this country. You spoiled and ungrateful fools.
And if you still don't understand, I'd say let them keep you there.
June 19th, 2011
Tatum Wulff
"The wise are instructed by reason, average minds by experience, the stupid by necessity and the brute by instinct."
-Marcus Tullius Cicero
ANOTHER HERO I JUST READ ABOUT IN THE PROVINCE NEWSPAPER - Bert Easterbrook
Some captures from the "Wall of Hope", where Vancouver residents express their pain and anguish over how the rioters disgraced our beautiful city.
(At the Bay department store, on Granville and Georgia street, and other surrounding buildings nearby, in the heart of the downtown core. The boards replaced the windows smashed during the riots.)
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8 comments:
Well said, this should be in all the newspapers.
Tony montana
Gee it's amazing how these acts of contrition only seem to come about when they realize they've been caught in the act on dozens of cell phones. Too bad they didn't think of that before they decided to vandalize thousands of dollars worth of property. I hope every citizen turns in their videos to help catch these imbeciles.
Please post this here as well: http://riot2011frontlines.tumblr.com/
This was an incredible post.
You've done a fine job of documenting the confusion and remorse Van citizens are proclaiming post-riot.
Your own frustration is clear in the 'Bangkok Hilton' idea you propose for convicted participants.
Can you look a little deeper into the origins of this disgraceful display? Licia Corbella wrote a fine article in the Calgary Herald about growing up in Vancouver, and the seedier side of the Van we never see on postcards.
Can you explore the lack of individuality that exists because of a society that identifies each of us primarily as members of a particular group? Perhaps that is part of the reason for the mob behavior of the kind we saw that night.
Can you investigate why the 'privileged students' of UBC were so involved when they certainly 'should know better', and the value of having a citizen-led online 'vigorous public discourse' to hold the leaders in police and local government accountable for their part in this riot?
Who didn't have some idea this riot was coming? Only the liberal left - the psuedo intellectuals and ivory tower educators - who consistently see Van through a rose colored windscreen as they drive around East Hastings on their way to another discussion of global climate change and human rights complaints - ignoring the monster their policies are creating right in their own backyard.
Yes, I wrote a note on Facebook about Nathan K's public apology. I do belive his apology is sincere but I stated that I think he (along with the other rioters and looters) should do community service, involving standing up in front of the youth of BC, and even Canada, that their not thinking things through before acting had many negative consequences, not just for themselves but for their families, people they know who respected them, and fellow citizens. They've embarrassed Canada, Vancouver, and true Hockey fans in front of the world after we received so much praise when we hosted the Olympics. They are responsible for making Canada/US relations even more difficult than before!
Sioban Ethier
Thank you everyone for your wonderful feedback thus far.
@Don Sharpe - Yes, Don, I fully agree with your suggestion to investigate and discuss more deeply the underlying root causes of why this riot occurred.
I was in fact considering that after posting this write up, as I had reflected on the fact that during my 10+ years in Japan, I find it almost impossible to imagine such a chaotic and violent occurrence transpiring there.
I feel there are some underlying societal issues or characteristics which may explain why this has happened, and I will post my thoughts in regards to that after further exploration.
Thank you for your insightful feedback and suggestions, they are greatly appreciated.
I believe for all involved, were the rioters to take a public stand by visiting the schools of the lower mainland, very meaningful lessons would be learned by all. This suggestion is not motivated by any desire to further their shame in what they have done, but it's a genuine suggestion so that our community will come out of this stronger and closer than ever before.
Thank you again for all of your thoughts, please do continue to offer your opinions and responses, they are always most welcome.
Kind Regards,
Tatum Wulff
Tatum I am finally composing my own words for how I feel about this whole sad sad incident. I would love to link back to your blog so that my friends can see your wonderful pictures. Please let me know if this is ok with you.
for the cause of the riot, you have to be willing to seek the truth at all costs. maybe a good question to ask is what was the internet chatter like before and after?
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