Commentary: Seems Silly

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In some ways it’s a tough day to talk sports. Although, as they say, the show must go on.

I guarantee it’s the same in Canada as it is here in the USA; you can’t turn on a TV, radio or open your phone without seeing coverage of the assassination of right wing political activist Charlie Kirk on Wednesday.

The 31-year old founder of Turning Point USA, and the face of the right wing youth movement in America, was speaking on a campus in Utah when he was killed by a single shot. It seems to be dominating the news cycle in the Great White North as well.

As I produce this commentary, the shooter is still at large.

There’s nothing I can say in this 90 seconds that’ll make any of it make sense – because nothing will – but unlike Kirk’s millions of supporters, I’m not sitting here today condemning the left.

To be honest I don’t watch the political shows so as God is my witness, I’ve never seen a single second of Kirk’s commentary.

What I have seen is the photos and video of his wife and two young daughters who’ve been left behind. I’m also seeing plenty of people celebrating the events of Wednesday as they staunchly oppose Kirk’s views.

And, that’s on both sides of the border.

The fact is there’s hate and intolerance in both countries. The difference in Canada is that it generally only amounts to arguments – whether it be in-person or online – while in America it can be far more aggressive, or fatal, as we saw on Wednesday.

What do they say? “We have a right to our views but we are not immune to the consequences of them”?

The world may be changing, but that concept never will.

I also like the saying that says, “You may be right wing or left wing, but we’re all connected to the same bird.”

Moments like Wednesday make it seem silly to argue over the CFL vs NFL, who’s #1 in the power rankings, or does the Blue Jays bullpen have what it takes?

But it also seems silly to ask, “Can’t we all just get along?”

That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary

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