To the editor;
The damage is done, clean up begins. From the streets to our reputations we will be trying to rebuild what was selfishly taken from us by those who forgot we live in the day and age of high tech.
People hurt – some severely.
Cars destroyed.
Businesses ransacked.
Minor damage.
Major damage.
Millions in damage.
Faces caught.
It will take some time but we will survive this. But right now, it stings like a million scorpions crawling inside my heart (and yes my heart is big enough to hold a million scorpions). The tears have flowed and continue to do so. My heart is broken.
I’m ashamed and embarrassed and yet I’m an innocent, hockey-loving bystander caught up in the B.S. caused by others who lack class, respect and a true love of the game.
Try as they might to justify it as heartache from the loss of a cup we all so desperately wanted in our city, there is nothing that is so important to destroy the city you claim to love and where your team plays – except for your freedom – which has now been forfeited.
We can try to blame it on alcohol, drugs, emotion, mob mentality as much as we like but in the cold, harsh, light of day it boils down to one thing – stupidity.
Without being afflicted with that disease people can control their alcohol consumption, their drug abuse, emotions and are self aware enough to know the actions that happened last week were just wrong.
All this over a cup? I hate that this has tarnished the game even more. I hate that it has tarnished our city. I hate that when it’s talked about it’s “Vancouver” did this, “Vancouver” did that. No, Vancouver didn’t. And I really hate that it has tarnished the win by a well deserving team who fought just as hard as ours did to earn the cup but indeed succeeded with the task.
Where is the shame? Whose shoulders should it be placed on?
On all the faces posted on the usual sites that the police and public will be poring over for weeks till those who are accountable are properly dealt with.
For myself, the tears will dry, the sniffling will stop, my heart will mend and I will continue to enjoy playoff hockey because I truly love the game no matter who tries to destroy it for me.
My heart goes out to those who suffered personal injury, emotional pain and financial damage caused by the rioters.
This too shall pass.
S. Kish
Surrey