While my disappointment over the Vancouver Canucks failure to win game seven and bring home the Stanley Cup has started to wane since last Wednesday, my anger and utter contempt for the post-game riot and those responsible continues to boil over - and I'm sure I'm not alone in those feelings.
What happened last Wednesday was a shocking display of stupidity on so many levels. While I agree with the Vancouver Police and Vancouver City Hall that the mayhem was started by anarchists intent on destruction win or lose (who goes to watch a hockey game with weapons and Molotov cocktails?), there were many more people, whom you would not consider anarchists, who are just as responsible. Many of these people have turned themselves in to police or have been outed by their family and friends on Facebook and other social network sites forcing them to turn themselves in to authorities.
Some have offered up tearful apologies, as is the case of the Maple Ridge teen, a star water polo player and possible future Canadian Olympian, who was caught on camera attempting to light a Vancouver Police Department (VPD) car on fire. While he has apologized and I can appreciate that, his actions and the actions of so many others who have been caught on camera and who are now regretting what they did are shameful. They should all be held accountable for their actions, be that through the court system or through the court of public opinion.
It was more than gratifying to see social media, Facebook and blog sites pop up after the riot with photos and so many people wishing to bring those responsible to justice. Nothing like being shammed on the Internet, eh?
It was gratifying to see the thousands of people in Vancouver last Thursday helping to clean up the damage. It was gratifying to see the spontaneous message boards that were posted in front of the Bay for days with messages of hope. It all contributed to the healing process.
I have to applaud The Province, the Vancouver Sun and the other Lower Mainland media outlets for publishing so many photos of the perpetrators and for keeping this issue in the forefront of the news coverage.
And now this week, word comes of an independent review that will look into all aspects of the riot, how it took place and what should have been done to prevent it.
I think the VPD, firefighters, paramedics and other first responders, not to mention the countless Good Samaritans who jumped in harm's way to quell the situation, all did a fabulous job.
The VPD were not given adequate resources to properly control this situation. Mayor Gregor Robertson can say that other celebrations held in downtown Vancouver brought together thousands of people and, in general, went off without a hitch, but when you bring 100,000 people together in a small, confined space, stir in booze and drugs and hundreds of trouble makers who went there with the intent of starting a riot, it all mixes up into a big cocktail of trouble. Robertson and city hall should be held responsible for what happened. And the findings of the investigation, which the province said would be made public, need to be put into action so something like this never happens again.
We all remember what happened in 1994. You would think lessons would have been learned, but I guess not. Here's hoping that lessons will be learned from this latest report and the politicians will put them into action.
As for justice, we'll just have to wait and see how far our court system will go. And after that, I say that ICBC, police and businesses should go one step further and file civil claims against the rioters. Why should honest, hard-working taxpayers be forced to foot the bill?
Justice will prevail here, and we will heal. There are too many good, hardworking and decent folks out there for us not to.
