Canada is a nation known for its humanitarian nature. During our 143 years of existence, this country has participated in more humanitarian missions than wars. Canadian foreign policy is such that, as Rand Dyck, author of Canadian Politics: Critical Approaches puts it, “Canada sees itself as a ‘middle power’ that emphasizes multilateral approaches in global affairs.”
A key statement made by the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada is that “Humanitarian affairs is an important element of Canada’s foreign policy, and is linked directly with efforts to prevent or mitigate violent conflict and natural disasters.” So, when a concrete and steel wired wall was brought up during the G8 and G20 summits, there were many Canadians who were shocked about its presence.
I’ve been living in Canada for the past 10 years, and I have noticed something quite unique about Canadians, including many South Asians living in Canada. This is our tendency to say sorry for almost anything that goes wrong. For example, while heading to place weights on the rack at my local gym, a fellow gymnast just happened to come in my way. This was a meaningless situation that happens often in any gym, but nonetheless, the man apologized to me and stepped aside.
Even more, if a basketball is kept on the side at the court, it is not uncommon to find people asking people around them if it is their basketball, and if they could use it. These occurrences are quite common to people in Canada. Saying sorry or even making the extra effort to getting permission to use something is normal.
Given this, I am even further dumbfounded as to why a wall was brought up to keep Canadians from the summit area. While the riots and protests that took place downtown could justify such means, it could also be argued that putting up a fence just invited more trouble. After all, if we are told not to do something or stay away from somewhere, how many of us are tempted to disobey that law?
One could also say that the wall helped to save the downtown core from further violence and vandalism. But this was a city filled with police officers, Riot cops, the RCMP, and the further security brought in by the G20 leaders. Couldn’t the area surrounding the summit be soundly protected with security alone, rather than an additional wall?
For some of us, going downtown is as common as going home. It is where we work, play, and relax. Like a scene from George Orwell’s 1984, the wall represented an ominous presence. It was erected to help protect the world’s leaders. But, now that the summit has come and gone, the violence has passed, and the rioters are either arrested or gone away, we have to ask ourselves, was this wall really needed?
