Do you think societal safety is going to the wolves and that boggy men are everywhere waiting to jump you and ravage you mercilessly? Is this something new, a phenomenon of violence? Nope, not at all folks.
People with mental health issues acting out, violence with no apparent reason why it’s happening, young and old people lashing out at others, knives, guns, and beatings bringing our society to a state of fear and frenzied anticipation of what’s going to happen next. Parents are afraid of letting their kids onto the transit system or walking about alone. Adults are filled with fear and dread of what can happen. Candidates running for the mayoral race in Toronto talk about nothing else but how terrified Torontonians are presently and what they will do to stop this violence. Amazing stuff, is it not? The media talks about little else but Torontonian’s inability to live in an urban center free of the stress and tension presented to them by the media each time someone is assaulted or hurt. Millions of people think they may be next.
I feel for Torontonians but do realize they are a bunch of bubble-wrapped self-centered individuals with no concept of how to defend themselves and use logic as a tool that could solve their problems. Since the time memorial women, men, and the elderly traveled together for safety and personal/group protection. If someone is going to snap, they will have to deal with more than one person right? Wrong, not in Toronto or most urban centers. Urbanites worry about themselves, and should something happen before them, will likely take photos or make a video of the event but not assist someone in need. In rural settings, when a person is in need, they get help from a bye standard, but in Toronto, a City with a reputation that emits cold self-interest before a helping hand, those in need will have to fend for themselves and wait for those paid to help them. New Yorkers are more helpful to their fellow citizens than Torontonians, really!
Traditionally urbanites rely upon the police for protection, but with changing public attitudes towards the men and women in blue, citizens may need to rely upon themselves to observe and respond to any threat before them. Many of the Torontonians who shout for taking revenue from the police budget may need to rethink their methodology, as they may feel threatened themselves.
Toronto has become an International Center, something the elites have wanted for a long time, and while the elites have protection from the criminal and unsavory elements, most Torontonians do not.
What to do?
1. Self-defense classes. Get fit and learn how to defend yourself. No weapons are needed, just a good swift kick between the legs, and any a**hole will fall.
2. Do not place yourself in a situation where danger-violence can present itself. Violence can happen anywhere, but be aware of your environment, and those about you, and look where you going(away from the screen of your phone), and where you can go if you need to retreat. Also, be aware of the police or security’s location in that environment.
3. Only you can prevent bad things from happening to you or your loved ones. Police cannot be everywhere, and politicians…well politicians promise the world and in fact deliver very little.
4. Educate yourself as to what sections of your city are in trouble zones, areas where the feared may travel and carry out their business. Educate your loved ones, and keep in touch with them throughout the day.
5. Beware of politicians who run a near Bankrupt City, while promising you the world, sun, and beyond. Hot air floats, as do many of their plans, methodology, and public practices. The public authorities have no idea how to deal with drug dealers, addicts, the homeless, and mental health candidates. These same public authorities are as afraid of dealing with an addict or mentally challenged person as are you.
6. Demand that all sectors of the public authorities, that are directly involved with those who frighten you daily, be properly trained to deal with these challenges. Police, social workers, and medics receive little training in dealing with these people, and the solutions they find often end up involving violence themselves.
7. Each threat to you is specific, so learn how to respond in kind. Rapists, habitual assault fiends, and mentally ill individuals act in particularly identifiable ways, and their playgrounds are easy to identify. Rapists like to be hidden, while assault fiends often like the limelight…they like to feel superior to their victims and those around them. The mentally ill are often as fearful of you as you may be of them. It all falls into the way you can identify those that may challenge you each day.
8. Pay higher Land Taxes so you can hire more security. Low-taxed neighborhoods have higher crime rates.
Torontonians need to realize that the crime and violence they are hearing about from the media have happened many times before. Nothing special, except you hear more about each event and more often. Remember hearing about violence a lot, will make you think about violence a great deal, and you will probably center yourself upon the violence you have heard about from the media. Social Media will often twist and stretch the truth as well, possibly creating a situation where you believe a plague of violence is upon your city. Woo to your victimhood. Victimhood culture makes it hard to avoid wrongdoing.
Prepare yourselves for whatever comes your way. Today is a new day, don’t let history interfere with your destiny and mindset.
Steven Kaszab
Bradford, Ontario
[email protected]
