Right in the centre - It’s hard not to get angry
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- Published on Monday, September 17, 2018
By Ken Waddell
Neepawa Banner & Press
As stories swirl and reveal the events of the past few weeks, it is hard not to get angry.
It seems there is an increasing number of crimes out there in rural Manitoba. Some of them are very serious in nature. The Onanole thefts that resulted in the shooting of an RCMP officer is but one in a string of bad events.
A few people, and I emphasize, it is a few, seem to have no sense and no shame. For people to commit crimes of theft, vandalism and now, attempted murder, is beyond reason or need. These types of crimes bring shame to their communities and to their families. The acts of violence should bring a sense of shame to the criminals but instead they seem to be badge of honour.
It seems that police resources are stretched to the limit and cannot possibly respond to all the events that are happening. As a result, just about everyone is re-thinking how to prevent a repeat of recent weeks’ actions. Houses were robbed at Onanole and Wellwood. Stuff was wrecked and stolen. People have been scared and as noted above, a policeman was shot and wounded.
So what is happening to prevent future similar events? I can tell you with certainty, and I am not alone, I wish I had not let my gun permit lapse. I wish I still had my shotgun. I wonder if every homeowner in rural and remote areas is reminding themselves and family members as to where the guns are stored and how to use them. There are second and third hand rumours about intruders being scared off by means of gunshots. I am sure there will be more such stories springing up. People are just fed up with the relatively small group of thieves who have no shame and no restraint. I may as well say it, somebody is going to get killed and it will be no surprise.
It isn’t poverty that is driving this crime wave. It isn’t hunger. It may be booze or drugs, but in Manitoba today, it isn’t a lack of food. The very sad fact is that most of the roving thieves can be identified in a number of ways. Often their home or community and ethnic background can be readily identified. Neither a person’s home or community, nor a person’s ethnic background should be blamed for the criminal acts. Individuals are responsible for their own actions.
As the late Bill Brydges, a well-known rural veterinarian, used to say, “If the crooks would put as much effort into real work as they do into crime, they would be well off.”
On a less serious note, but just as stupid and nearly as disgusting, some nut case decided to tear up the ball diamonds at Neepawa and Gladstone by doing power turns on the grass. It will take a lot of time and money to fix that damage. I don’t care if the people who did this were poor, high, drunk or feeling lonely. They were stupid and deserve little sympathy.
Why do people steal and destroy? I have never figured that out. We are made in God’s image and God is God, the Creator. Most of us strive to be creators, not destroyers, so one has to assume that the destroyers are about as far out of God’s will as they can get.
It’s unfortunate that to put a stop to the destruction may incite destruction of someone’s life. Be it victim or criminal, it is only a matter of time and there will be blood shed.
Disclaimer: The writer serves as a volunteer president of the Manitoba Community Newspaper Association. The views expressed in this column are the writer’s personal views and are not to be taken as being the view of the MCNA board or Banner & Press staff.
