How Canadians respond to the Syrian refugee crisis after the Paris killings will be a test.
The bloody Friday night in Paris has triggered an understandable climate of fear. Will we still be willing to welcome the desperate Syrian men, women and children who plead for a safe place to live?
ISIS is determined to do all it can to destroy western society - it’s as simple and as alarming as that. Sowing fear and distrust is one of its main tools. These are exactly the things that undermine the social fabric of our society.
In short, we are under threat for who we are much more than what we have done. If we react by turning our backs on people in a desperate situation we will be a lesser Canada - and they will win.
This is not to ignore the threat that a few ISIS members may try to come here with the 25,000 refugees. Security screening upon arrival can reduce this threat but not eliminate it entirely. Our security system needs the tools to be vigilant and Canadians need to be aware that we are, even now, not immune to ISIS actions, whoever carries them out.
Canada must pass the test of a tolerant multicultural society if we are to defeat ISIS.
Stuart Clark
Whitehorse