Letter to National Post - Oxt 26th - Soupcoff

Playing favourites or playing stupid

Marni Soupcoff is playing the equivalency game this morning. The usual game says that Israel must use an equivalent amount of force in defending itself from the rockets of Hamas or Hesbullah. For some reason this theory has not been applied to other nations except in restricting the use of nuclear weapons on an enemy. Now Marni has brought this false concept to our streets and law courts. Why shouldn’t a shopkeeper like Mr. Chen be able to defend himself, not only within his business premises, but outside them as well? Why shouldn't he be able to protect himself and nearby shopkeepers from repeated thefts? This is the action of a man taking a responsible and courageous action on behalf of himself and his community. What message are we sending when we say he should be punished for acting as a concerned citizen? Marni is correct in that what he did was against the letter of the law. However the law also says that the police should protect our citizens – but in this case they have not done so. The law is also supposed to be exercised with intelligence and discretion, so as not to look foolish and out of touch with reality - but in this case they have not done so. People continually speak of other rights, but isn't the right to protect oneself a fundamental right? Surely there is a right to reasonably defend yourself and your neighbours when the police can do nothing.

Burke said that evil exists when good men do nothing. Chen acted to defeat evil. Marni’s adherence to the letter of the law would have evil be triumphant.