Dear Editor,
Your editorial on October 25th, `Canada’s mature response to acts of terror’, was excellent. Canada did indeed react calmly and maturely to the attack on their War Memorial and Parliament. Countries are going to have to learn how to respond to home-grown terrorism firmly but without sacrificing hard-fought for norms of democracy
Something happened when the soldier was shot at the Canadian War Memorial which I think your readers would like to know about — it reflects very well on our common humanity. When the soldier was shot a bystander, Barbara Winters, instead of running away ran to the fallen man, dropped her briefcase and coffee, and began chest compressions and to comfort him. She tried her best. She was joined by four others who assisted in mouth to mouth respiration and trying to staunch the blood. They all tried their best, waiting for the ambulance. Strangers together helping in desperate compassion. They worked hard to save his life. Barbara Winters watched the young soldier’s face grow pale. Cradling his head in her arms — there is a picture of them — she told him: “You are loved. Your family loves you. You’re a good man “. She repeated: “Your parents love you. All the people love you, everybody loves you “. And when interviewed afterwards Barbara Winters said with tears in her eyes: “When you are dying you need to be told how loved you are “.
Yours faithfully,
Ian McDonald
