In response to community members who are calling out Huntsville Council and Mayor for not calling Hamas a terrorist group and supporting Israel in their official statement, Huntsville Mayor Nancy Alcock contacted this publication to issue a further statement.
“I absolutely condemn the actions of Hamas in the recent attacks on Israel and have no problem calling them out for what they are .. a terrorist organization. Their actions are nothing short of unspeakable and have led to the unbelievable loss and suffering we are now seeing in the entire region.
I know I have full support from other members of council when I say this.”
According to Alcock, if she had her own website it would be easier to express her opinions. “It’s very difficult when you’re putting a post on a Town website and I can’t go into all the rationale or reasons… I don’t have a personal Mayor Nancy Alcock [site] where I could’ve posted that and so… I’ve always felt really angry with Hamas. It’s just I can’t explain why I wouldn’t have gone on record. Going on record, it’s a lot easier if I had had my own site…”
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For pity sake, even Premier Ford admonished that someone should “Stay in (their) own lane”.
So I find the Danielle Harper comment refreshing. And maybe worth Huntsville council’s attention. Especially the last bit: “The more people in charge……….. time consuming.” Maybe this statement can be printed, framed and hung in council chambers? Wallet cards with the statement issued to councilors. T-shirts may be a little over the top.
If an individual has an opinion, they are free to state it (usually), but a release made by council should be on town business. International politics is the domain of our Federal government.
C’mon council; stick to the business of the town. Leave those windmills alone.
“A mayor is responsible for making sure streets are paved, parks are clean, garbage gets picked up, neighbourhoods are safe, public transit runs, and so much more. These things are the fabric of our lives. Municipal government is an exceptionally important, deeply underappreciated job. It’s just that it doesn’t come with responsibility for Canada’s foreign policy.”
“The more the people in charge of making sure the garbage gets picked up devote themselves to other things, the less attention they’re going to pay to picking up the trash. Performative politics is very time consuming.”
Courtesy of the Globe & Mail.
I am responding to the reaction from some community members with regards to the statement made about the war against Hamas by our mayor on behalf of Huntsville.
I know that Canada is a country that celebrates free speech, but for goodness sake, it goes without saying that everyone is horrified by the attacks from a terrorist organization.
I know that Mayor Alcock and all councilors feel the same way.
Instead of ranting and raving and making vile accusations, do something constructive to help.
Write letters to political leaders, donate money, help collect items if there is a future shipment overseas to help the Israeli and Palestinian citizens to survive.
There are many peaceful ways to deal with horrific events in this world.
For example, over 50 years I have been writing letters on behalf of prisoners of conscience from around the world, including Canada, through Amnesty International.
You can make a difference. Every little bit helps to make our world more peaceful.
Be a good example by treating each other with respect.
I don’t think that Mayor Alcock’s addendum was necessary.
Martina Schroer
It is too late for an addedum aand I am appalled that you are playing politics with this horrific situation. I am assuming you and Council reviewed your first statement which was vile and cowardly. This also illustrates how you and council manage this Town with no clear plan except flipflop. We will remember at the next election.
Thank-you Ms Alcock for making a clear and direct statement against terrorism.
Hamas might as well have attacked Gaza.
Same resulting loss of life and suffering.
Hamas and Gaza will likely cease to exist now.
Gaza will likely become part of Israel or at least reoccupied for security reasons.
Hamas terrorists will be hunted down no matter where they hide in the world as Israel has done in the past.
And the US did with the terrorists responsible for 9/11.
What did Hamas think was immediately going to happen as a result of their atrocities?
No one can blame Israel for whatever their response is.
At least they are warning people to evacuate before they reduce Hamas neighbourhoods to rubble.
Zero warning was given to the women and children brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists. Or the tourists from around the world at the festival.