letter to the Editor of the "Star"

Here's the letter published this morning in the "Star." I'd heard that we were 10,000 strong. Some have since estimated up to 30,000, though I've also read 4,000. So let's stay in the middle. The "Star" edited and printed it with a grammatical error which is not mine. Phooey!

To the Editor:

An estimated ten thousand idealistic people marched peacefully in Toronto on Saturday, yet the media showed barely a picture of those from Greenpeace, Amnesty, unions, church groups, all kinds of worthy causes. Only endless shots of something much more exciting, a small group of lawless hooligans.

Everyone knew the people in black were there specifically to fight. Why, knowing they would certainly erupt, were none of the hundreds of police assigned to the event posted to keep an eye specifically on them? Why were none of those hundreds of police anywhere near Yonge Street when the window smashing started? Why were police cars abandoned, empty of gas, in the middle of downtown city streets, ready to be set so picturesquely aflame?

Is it possible that the violence, the stream of pictures of vandals in black smashing windows and igniting cars, is the answer to Mr. Harper’s prayers? If nothing had happened, our country’s citizens might have remained appalled at the profligate billion dollars and more on security. Whereas now, because this well-known and highly visible anarchist band somehow managed to roam freely until much damage was done, we all realize just how lucky we were that all that money was spent.

Yours,