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Home My WebLink AboutClinton News Record, 2016-05-11, Page 44 News Record • Wednesday, May 11, 2016 www.clintonnewsrecord.com Clinton News Record PUBLISHED WEEKLY — EST. 1860 53 Albert St. P.O. 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A bet- ter word would be savages. Because only savages behead defenceless civilians, as the Islamist terrorist group Abu Sayyaf did in executing John Ridsdel of Calgary last month after its ransom demands weren't met. Ridsdel, 68, a former mining executive and journalist, was kidnapped from a tourist resort in the Philippines in September 2015, along with fellow Cana- dian Robert Hall, Hall's Filipino girlfriend, Marites Flor, and a Norwegian, Kjartan Sekkingstad. Speaking from a prepared statement in English and French, after which he took no questions, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed "outrage" over Rids- del's execution, calling it "an act of cold-blooded murder," the responsibility for which "rests squarely with the terrorist group who took him hostage." Abu Sayyaf, which earlier this month pledged loyalty to Islamic State, was formed in the early 1990s with funding and support from Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida. It claims its goal is an inde- pendent Islamic state in the Philippines, but its history has been one of violence, including bombings, kidnappings, assas- sinations, executions and extortion. Ridsdel was murdered after Abu Sayaff's demands for a ran- som payment of 300 million pesos, or $8.35 million Cdn., for the hostages weren't met. Given that the fate of the three other hostages who were kidnapped along with Ridsdel is unknown, we understand Trudeau's reluctance to com- ment further, for now. While the Canadian govern- ment has negotiated with ter- rorists making ransom demands in the past, directly or indi- rectly, we hope Trudeau stands firm in refusing to consider any ransom for these terrorists. Capitulating to their demands will only encourage them to do the same thing again, endan- gering more civilians. What this latest outrage by Abu Sayyaf -- identified by many countries, including Can- ada, as a terrorist organization -- illustrates, is that these are groups that cannot be negoti- ated with or reasoned with. They don't care what we think. Nothing we can do or say will satisfy them. Their dream of establishing a radical, Islamist caliphate that would be a hell on earth for Muslims and non -Muslims alike is not based on logic or reason. It's based on hatred of "the other," meaning all of us. And we cannot afford to be naive about what their real agenda is. Fire strategy needed Paul Leinweber St. Marys How about a national strategy on forest fire prevention? What's cheaper: spending millions of dollars on developing a strategy to cut fire gaps or losing to fires that ravage the countryside and destroy towns? If Prime Minister Justin Trudeau could stay at home and manage what is Canada instead of gallivanting around the world, maybe he would have time to smell the billions of dol- lars going up in smoke. Thoughts and prayers are with Fort McMurray Fort McMurray is on every- one's mind these days. It's liter- ally on fire. The pictures on the news are frightening and have been likened to the Apocalypse. People are fleeing their homes, driving through engulfing smoke and flames, while fire- balls bounce off their vehicles. Some are recording this horrify- ing, fiery escape with dash cam- corders. It's like we are there too, amidst the hell-bent conflagration. How can we really know their terror? This fire has a mind of its own and leaving their homes to save their lives and those of their family is paramount. What little they can salvage is all they may have left of life there as they know it. Talk about refu- gees! We in Canada hardly dis- cern the meaning of the word, except to bring them to our country when we can. I've heard some of our recent Syrian refugees have offered the furni- ture they were given on arrival to help their Canadian counter- parts. Welcome to Canada, dear What if one company could solve all your business needs? people. I just read a post on Facebook today by a young Father who stated that the only thing that was important to him was right beside him and that was his FAMILY. God bless him. You know, he's right, but it's hard to lose everything and have to start over. That fire is still blazing, lick- ing its angry flames at our brave firefighters from all over Can- ada; trying to pull airborne water bombers into its cruel blistering inferno, endangering more brave Canadians. Coura- geous people from all walks of life in many countries have journeyed to Fort McMurray to help with the safe evacuation of almost 80,000 inhabitants. Food, water, gas and other sup- plies have been donated from across our country and beyond. Towns along the way to Edmon- ton have opened up their hearts, their homes, and their community centres to house people that need rest, food and lodging. I just saw a post from a gentleman who owned safe houses nearby who was offering them to families who needed shelter - free, gratis. My daugh- ter-in-law, who has five young children, just came in and said she had donated $5 to the resi- dents of Fort Mac and if every family did it would help a lot. Bravo - our Lord would be pleased, I know I sure am. I believe the young father, who celebrated his family's safety and rejoiced, has the right idea. God bless him and all who are walking this path to safety. Marie A. Leavey Kelleher Campbellford * ! rp] POSTMEDIA We can connect all the pieces in more ways than ever before. 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