United in our Sorrow- Canada in Mourning

A reflection on the senseless deaths of Corporal Nathan Cirillo and Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent.

This week, Canada is in mourning. As we seek to cope with the senseless deaths of Corporal Nathan Cirillo and Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent at the hands of militant extremists, we are brought together as Canadians. Our sadness does not defeat us, or divide us, but  makes us more determined to stay true to the values that make us Canadian- things like inclusiveness, diversity, fairness, and a willingness to live and let live. We celebrate our freedoms in Canada, and this just makes us more determined to celebrate them and to protect them, if need be. Canada is not perfect- we have made many mistakes, but we are at least willing to admit those mistakes and try to make amends for them. And we will not allow terrorism to change who we are, or what we stand for. That is one of the things that, ultimately, makes us Canadian.