Canada India Foundation (CIF).

As we prepare to celebrate the landmark of the end of a decade, we must also take a moment to remember the tragedy that terrorism has inflicted on countless innocents around the world over the past 10 years. In doing so, we must consider the role Canada can play in standing up against those who attack our fundamental values.

The last decade has seen numerous examples of terrorist barbarity: the Mumbai attacks of one year ago, the Madrid train bombings, the London Tube bombings, the hotel attacks in Indonesia, the Chechnya school assault, suicide bombers and terrorist missiles targeting innocent Israeli civilians, and the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York. The list of senseless carnage and heartbreak continues to grow as innocent men, women and children are victimized around the world, including in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The chilling 2009 terrorist-related convictions of members of the “Toronto 18” serve to remind us that Canadians are vulnerable to religious extremism, not just abroad, but at home.

Here in our very own streets, we have seen the flags of groups identified as terrorist organizations by the Canadian government being flown at rallies where racist, anti-Semitic and hate-filled threats are issued and where those who seek peace are vilified. For example, in January 2009, at anti-Israel rallies across Canada there were documented cases of shocking slurs including chants of “…the Jews are our dogs,” “burn, burn Israel,” “Down with NazIsrael and Zionism” and “Jewish child, you’re going to f---ing die, Hamas is coming for you.” There were flags featuring swastikas. Israeli flags were burned. Such displays taint our public spaces. These tactics sow the seeds of extremism, lend tacit official support to terrorists and are inconsistent with the commitment to civil debate and tolerance that most Canadians cherish.

Equally unacceptable is te April 2008 incident in Surrey, B.C., where terrorists were commemorated in what should have been a celebratory Vaisakhi parade worthy of the vital Sikh community. It was a profound insult to all of those present, including elected politicians and community leaders, who faced floats celebrating known terrorists, including those allegedly behind the barbaric Air India bombing. Such hijackings of spiritual and cultural events by extremists must not be tolerated.

By contrast, in November 2008, following the terrorist attack in Mumbai, Toronto’s Indo-Canadian and Jewish communities came together for a rally to commemorate the victims, and to reaffirm our commitment to peace and democracy. Children from both communities offered their wishes for a peaceful world free from terror. Prayers were spoken in English, Hebrew and Sanskrit. Collectively, our shared voices made a strong statement about the core values of Canadians. It strengthened the close relationship between our two communities, and together we also learned from one another. A community that remains stricken from the Air India bombing came together with a community that has endured unremitting terror for generations. The process of organizing the event gave us the opportunity to listen deeply, feel passionately and share our commitment to a world that is not torn apart with hatred, but sustained through a shared belief in democracy, decency and the celebration of diversity.

As community leaders and as participants in Toronto’s rich and vibrant cultural tapestry, we come together to urge all Canadians to reject calls for violence, the rhetoric of hate and campaigns of demonization, boycotts, ostracization and isolation. We ask that everyone, including our elected political representatives and spiritual and community leaders, remain vigilant against these threats.

We know that violence breeds violence. And that words matter. As we enter a new decade, we have the potential to show the world that people of diverse perspectives, cultures and religions can come together for a world without terror. Together, we can foster a commitment to peace, through dialogue and mutual respect.

We must commit ourselves to shaping a future free from hate, fuelled by a passion for peace, democracy and civil discourse. How we choose to engage politically speaks volumes about the moral principles that guide us. Please join us.

National Post

Ramesh Chotai is chair, Canada India Foundation. Alan Winer is chair, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto.

Read more: http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2009/12/24/ramesh-chotai-and-alan-winer-avoiding-another-decade-of-extremism.aspx#ixzz0cWRNqQJG