Air Show: Too traumatic for refugees!

[xchox]

https://www.thestar.com/opinion/comment ... d-war.html

[DanWEC]

I wonder if they do this as some sort of provocative joke- Some columnist does this every year in Toronto.

[ahramin]

While the column is complete nonsense, the idea is a valid one.

It always amazes me at Oshkosh when they simulate bombing runs with explosions on the ground and "wall of flame" effects and no one seems to stop to consider that these lovely technologies are used to burn real people to death, children included.

[fleet16b]

The article is just complete tripe
Just one more idiotic writer trying to stir up this new generation and their over the top, nimby , overly sensitive, treat everyone with kid gloves BULLSHIT !!!
This crap has gone on waaaay too long. The new generation needs to get over itself and realize the world in not a perfect place and never will be .
The majority of the people in this country have no problems with airshows and if a small group along the water front think its a nuisance , then tough . Its just one weekend get over it .
It never ceases to amaze me the things that now bother people that never did in the past .

[TheStig]

What nonsense, I hope when this PhD candidate submits his thesis he actually includes some facts. This article doesn't actually provide any examples of refugees that find airshows traumatic. If anything we should consider closing all Parks in Toronto and Pearson Airport, given the PTSD examples given in the article.

[MCB]

I pretty much gave up on the Toronto Star once the whole Rob Ford debacle was underway.

If this writer actually cared, why wouldn't he consider some counter points? Why don't they consider how many young children are inspired to pursue a career in aviation? How about giving our young cadets and opportunity to perform on a large stage? Inspiring confidence and renewed respect for our military?

Weak article.

[Moose47]

G'day

What a bunch of 100% Grade A bullshit!

This left wing puke can thank those of us who served to protect his right to spew such mindless drivel.

Cheers...Chris

[Moose47]

"It always amazes me at Oshkosh when they simulate bombing runs with explosions on the ground and "wall of flame" effects and no one seems to stop to consider that these lovely technologies are used to burn real people to death, children included"

They are re-creating true historical events. There are enough people out there already trying to re-write history to suit there ideological and political agendas.

Cheers...Chris

[7ECA]

Not necessarily in regard to airshows, but something I've heard from time to time around Halloween and occasionally around Canada Day/Fourth of July, is consider the effect these sort of things can have on veterans. There are a lot of former service members out there with PTSD and other related conditions that can be deeply effected by the sound of explosions.

[Gannet167]

I love airshows. They are an orgy of noise, speed, dramatic displays of raw power and celebrate the very pinnacle of all human technological and scientific achievement, while paying tribute to our heritage and a good deal of history that was profound in the story of western civilization. This is all done by a consummate group of professionals that display some of the very highest skill, representing decades of extremely dedicated training and experience.

I get that it's a bit disruptive, so is most any major public event. If Toronto ever has a Stanley Cup game - they'd perhaps know that's at least as problematic. If you choose to live near an airport - suck it up. If you choose to live in an urban center, you're going to have indy races, air shows, concerts, political summits, Toronto even hosted the Pope for World Youth Day a few years ago. If you don't like these major events while living in urban Toronto, perhaps move to a cabin in the woods. This comes with the territory.

To anyone who finds the display of firepower traumatizing, they ought to consider this: while this may remind someone of a conflict they left or frighten those more gentle souls in our midst - it's a display of our own military - you know - the good guys, the people Canadian population looks to (thankfully not often) to play a vital role in allowing us all to live so well. They're the guys who fight the bad people. I like seeing their professionalism and knowing that they can do the job. That very mild wall of flame that gets lit while a Hornet does a fly past is pretty tame. Would victims of a crime find it scary to see the police show their equipment? I'd hope that they'd find it comforting. Would people who've had their house burn down be uncomfortable seeing the fire department show off their fire truck?

Anyone who left Syria to come to Canada and sees our very professional, highly trained military members should feel comforted, secure and glad that they live in a country where the military protects the public good as loyal servants. If they feel uncomfortable, it should be because our clapped out, 30+ year old, leaky jets are getting a little long in the tooth.

[Gannet167]

He says "Welcoming refugees into our communities implies a responsibility to provide a safe environment for rehabilitation and integration." The air show should be understood as a display of our ability to keep the country a 'safe environment'.

He goes on "it is insulting, invasive, and violent." I'd like him to elaborate on how it's insulting. Who is insulted? Why are they insulted? Our war vets - insulted by the tribute an airshow pays to the RCAF's proud history? Insulting to people who are victims of war? Funny because in fire bombed England those victims of war couldn't get enough allied aircrew. The sweet, sweet sound of supercharged Merlin V12 meant that you might be saved from Nazi bombers approaching.

Is the air show actually violent? Dramatic, sure, but violence implies that someone actually has harm done to them. By that logic, all professional sports games should be immediately stopped as well. Gosh golly, even hitting a ball with a stick and then sliding onto home plate - that's just scary. Never mind a rugby scrum, or God forbid the Hanson brothers on the ice. If there's anything approaching violence at the air show, it's the display of ability to use force - mostly the display of a fighter to go fast, turn hard and get behind another (bad guy) fighter. This is a display of the use of force against the bad guys. It's not an ostentatious threat to the Canadian population; rather, it's a show of what can be done if need be to protect the Canadian population - refugees included.

He prognosticates "Now imagine these kids’ reaction to the Snowbirds (“Canada’s National Pride in the Skies”) making passes over their new homes. I am sickened by the notion that children with acute PTSD will face three days of harassment in their place of refuge." The Snowbirds are a national treasure, some of the finest skill and professionalism in the country. They're training aircraft - they aren't even capable of firing a single bullet. Those kids should see the little red and white trainer aircraft and think "I want to be an air force pilot."

[trey kule]

Any of you writing the Star, or sending in letters to the editor? Or just bitching on here as Canadians love to do.

I would suggest a solution, but I am fairly certain I would be branded a extreme racist and subject to the scorn of my fellow Canadians in their quest to make Canada more like a middle east Kingdom...with our own bare chested King..

[YYZSaabGuy]

I wouldn't line my bird's cage (if I owned one) with the Toronto Star, much less waste my time and energy writing to its editor or contributing to its op-ed page.....if there's a bigger waste of paper, ink and electrons on the Canadian journalism scene, I'd like to see it.

[cgzro]

Pride parade will be next on the hit list... give it a year.

[CID]

1. Newspapers are dying and they struggle to remain popular if not relevant.
2. Airshows are the largely military masturbation with a side of recruitment and the risk isn't worth the fuss. Any impressive noise usually comes from the US air-force, the ultimate in military masturbation cloaked in phony patriotism.
3. I can understand how someone who lived in a war zone could be sensitive to this sort of thing. If you haven't done it yourself, don't judge.
4. Rob Ford was a complete POS that gets zero respect from me. He and his "legacy" deserve everything they get from the media although it would be nice if they stuck to the facts. There is far more than enough "truth" to expose Rob Ford as a brown smudge on the underwear of humanity that the media doesn't have to speculate or invent.

[photofly]

Toronto should have fewer parades, fun runs, serious runs, marathons, bike days, fun runs, marches and fun runs - all of which happen down the Lakeshore Boulevard and stop me from the important task of getting to the airport.

[ctmorawetz]

Any of you writing the Star, or sending in letters to the editor? Or just bitching on here as Canadians love to do.

I would suggest a solution, but I am fairly certain I would be branded a extreme racist and subject to the scorn of my fellow Canadians in their quest to make Canada more like a middle east Kingdom...with our own bare chested King..

I wrote a letter to the editor about it. I don't think it got published but here it is for anyone that wants to read it.

"I feel compelled to respond to this article after seeing the quote, "I have yet to encounter a neighbour with an even remotely positive opinion of warplanes making low altitude passes for days on end." As a resident of the waterfront, I look forward to the air show every year and welcome it to town. Air shows entertain millions of people every year throughout the world and provide inspiration for children who dream of becoming pilots themselves one day. I encourage Mr. Smith to consider seeing the Air Cadets or the Hercules demonstration, an aircraft that provides humanitarian aid to people all over the world, including the places that many refugees would come from. Perhaps, the refugees might reflect on the aircraft and heroes that saved them in their time of need or the people who serve to provide us the freedom to pen articles such as this one."

[trey kule]

Good on you.
I hope others will do similar things.
Unless you are a minority, one letter is not enough, but if others would do the same, maybe some would get published.

[Glasnost]

I'm pretty sure nobody who is whining about these overly PC pussified left wing individuals has EVER even been close to being completely unarmed and bombed by an opposing airforce.

So... shut the @#$! up.

[Shiny Side Up]

I'm pretty sure nobody who is whining about these overly PC pussified left wing individuals has EVER even been close to being completely unarmed and bombed by an opposing airforce.

So... shut the @#$! up.

Actually, part of the problem with the article is that the author doesn't have said experience either, nor gave any actual evidence that refugees in this country actually are traumatized by airplane noises, and sights that airshows generate. The article was him, with a bias against airplanes, noise andprobably the military imagining how said refugees must feel.

It has all the stink of another NIMBY making up aproblem to support his ultimate goal of stopping something that annoys him.

[trey kule]

First this:

thanks for your letter. we will be publishing some negative responses to craig smith's article in Saturday's paper.
thanks, name deleted


From: Legaspi, Ofelia on behalf of Toronto Star, City Desk
Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2016 9:12 AM
To: Letters to the Editor
Subject: FW: Craig Smith


.........there is still time to put your thoughts in writing...

Glasnost...

You have absolutely no business telling myself, or other posters here who are, or were, serving members of our armed forces to shut the &$&$ up. It is through their efforts that people like the writer of the article, and people like yourself are able to give your opinions without fear of retribution or censorship. These are people who put their lives on the line when called. Not some professional student who wants to impose a minority position on their fellow Canadians or some anonoymous poster coming on here and telling others to shut up if they disagree..

Craig Smith can speak his mind. Why do you want to deny others the same privelege? Because you don't happen to agree with them?

[Old fella]

Well.... an article of this nature posted on this site is gonna elicit the usual predictable responses, no doubt about that. Understandable and I personally have no difficulty with either. Having said that, Toronto is a big city with the largest population in Canada, diversity is in abundance. I would say a sizeable portion of the city's citizens probably don't care either way about airplane noise generated by an air show, kinda ho-hum, a whatever. If this air demonstration stopped/cancelled next year, well no big deal as many wouldn't give that a second thought either, again whatever. I fit into that category as I don't care either way. Seen enough of them and a Jays game is where I would be heading, in lieu. Different type of noise

[fleet16b]

I'm pretty sure nobody who is whining about these overly PC pussified left wing individuals has EVER even been close to being completely unarmed and bombed by an opposing airforce.

So... shut the @#$! up.

TROLL ALERT

Go back and play in your crib little boy

[no name]

Almost guaranteed someone publishes an article crapping on the air show each year. I remember this one from 2007.
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/columni ... _show.html

If you google "ban the toronto airshow" there's quite a few articles...

[URC]

Is there a fund or something I can donate money to make the airshow BIGGER and LOUDER !? Get the Concorde out of retirement for a few LOW passes over the Island.