Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - January 11, 2009, Winnipeg, Manitoba C m y k Page 10 v new Winnipeg free press est 1872 Winnipeg Tribune est 1890 vol 137 no 61 a 10 Winnipeg free press sunday january 11, 2009 Winnipeg repress. Com Winnipeg free press editorial Board members Are Margo Goodhand Gerald flood Catherine Mitchell Tom Oleson Dave Obrien cartoonist Dale Cummings six month View from the West Archive available online at Winnipeg repress. Com � 2008 Winnipeg free press a division of up Canadian newspapers limited partnership published seven Days a week at 1355 Mountain Avenue Winnipeg Manitoba r2x 3b6, pm 697 7000 Bob Cox / publisher Margo Goodhand / editor submissions to the View from the West Are Welcome. Contact comment editor Gerald flood 697 7269 Gerald. Flood free press. My. Ca t he Saga of a convicted drug dealer and three wounded cops takes the next step on wednesday. Lawyers will meet to discuss a motion to toss judge Doug Abrams guilty findings that last month convicted Daniell Anderson of attempting to murder det. Don Murray and wounding det. Curtis Penner. A third officer const. Jeremy cull was hit by Friendly fire. On dec. 8, 2006, i was retired from the Force and was awakened by an Early phone Call that told me three cops had been shot during a drug bust. I never expected to hear that one of them was Don Murray. He had been one of my Guys one of my Best Guys just a few years earlier. All the officers were in Hospital. Penners wound was severe but Murray was in the roughest shape. I Lay Back and let my thoughts run. I did not know cull other than by Good reputation but i had worked a murder with Penner and knew of his dedication and loyalty. My thoughts turned to Murray the comic and the time that he took care of some prowlers at my House. My wife Jean had called me at work. It was a warm weekend around two in the morning and she was panicking at the sounds of people fiddling at our front door. I knew i could depend on Murray and his Long time partner Darryl Lohmer. I sent them a priority message and they flew Over tripping a red Light camera along the Way. The prowlers turned out to be a couple of Tipsy Neighbours making their Way from House to House delivering invites for an upcoming Block party. Murray stood on my front Lawn and masked his giggles As he delivered Calm reassurance to Jean who was standing at a second floor window suddenly elated that her preparations for jumping had been for nothing. How could this have happened to these wonderfully decent men the Story emerged of a properly executed Jubilee Avenue drug raid and of Anderson hiding in the John armed with a Shotgun and slugs. Murray was leading the pack of officers and struggled to Force the bathroom door. As it opened Anderson pulled his guns trigger. It would have sounded like a Cannon and Murray recoiled taking the full blast. The stunning realization of such a hit was made worse As his mind raced knowing death was on the table. A five second War followed. Bullets flew and everybody got shot. Burned Gunpowder stunk up the place. Seriously wounded Penner charged and subdued Anderson. The prognoses were All Over the map. Cull returned to Active duty within weeks. Penners right Arm sustained extensive damage that May require future work. When i visited Murray in the ice two Days after the shooting his speech the swelling and extreme pain dulled by morphine were the signs of a Long Tough Road. His once Joyful eyes were characterized by despondency that was still evident just a few weeks ago. His series of surgeries has been far from a full fix. Andersons Legal motion is based on allegations of excessive police Force. In the context of the trial evidence the motion confounds the dictates of Ordinary conscience and looks like the old lipstick on a pig. When the court mulls things Over it should consider Public expectations of the police. As a last bastion we count on the police to be professional thoughtful and respectful. Sometimes we need them to be courageous in the face of extremes and Hope they perform without flaw. They must enforce the Law of the masses but recognize the Sanctity of the individual. We demand their service 24/ 7 and lets face it we All sleep a Little better knowing they Are willing to take out the trash. Murray Penner and cull surpassed the grand expectations. Andersons actions were despicable. In the cold Light of Day when the lipstick Falls from Anderson the picture that remains is one of a now convicted drug dealer and armed assailant who chose to open fire on police officers trying to kill one and seriously wounding another. Those injuries will be carried forever. If the Law is somehow unable to strongly denounce these crimes Justice will not easily recover. Some would see it As an affront to the Community and police everywhere. I would see it As a crushing defeat for my Brothers Jeremy cull Curtis Penner and Don Murray. Rm112800@ hot mail. Com Robert Marshall is a Security adviser and former Winnipeg police officer. Robert Marshall lipstick on a pig dear miss manners t he City of Winnipeg requests the pleasure of your company in our fair City during the third week of january. We would be pleased if your Busy schedule allows you to visit Winnipeg and to stay As our guest at a comfortable hotel situated Between City Hall and the Manitoba legislature. The reason for this invitation will be clearly evident from the enclosed year end interview that the mayor of Winnipeg Sam Katz gave to the Winnipeg free press and a letter to the editor from coun. Jenny Gerbasi. As you will see the Standard of tolerance the level of civility and the tone of discourse has fallen below acceptable Levels. It starts with the mayor and his office permeates to the floor of Council and even to the civil servants who take their Cue from their political masters and Are reportedly on occasion less than civil towards polite Well meaning citizens seeking information about their City. We would like to arrange for you to have afternoon Tea with the mayor preferably before the next Council meeting. We could then arrange for you to deliver the miss manners refresher for municipal leaders at City Council. This would be videotaped and reused As needed to remind future councils about the importance of manners. It would be appreciated if you could emphasize the Section on courteous treatment of members of the Public at Council and committee meetings. As you will see councillors get up wander about Chat to colleagues watch their computer screens As delegations come before them. I know their parents did their Best to instil Good manners but the culture has changed and they need your reminders. There has been a similar decline in manners at the Manitoba legislature As can be seen by watching Oral questions. The House does not sit very often but when it does the opposition parties and the government go at each with unproductive bar room Vigour. Nowadays teachers think twice about taking their pupils to watch Oral questions. Afterwards the childrens behaviour degenerates and the teachers face Days of remedial manners work. The speaker of the House would be delighted to see you. He does his Best to control unruly members but it is a tedious and thankless task. The minister of intergovernmental affairs has yet to acknowledge let alone reply to two letters sent months ago seeking a meeting. An hour of your time with each of the party leaders and the miss manners refresher for North american legislature members for everyone would do wonders. There Are one or two Manitoba members of parliament with Sharp elbows who would also Benefit from some time in your company. One used intemperate language to describe people who thought differently from him on an Issue. We can schedule that meeting nearer the time As there May be a Federal election Call. An election does wonders for candidates manners and shows that they do know How to behave when the Public is watching but they quickly regress once they Are elected and Back in the House. Incidentally Manitoba does have a human rights code that attempts to prevent discrimination on the basis of gender race age and political persuasion amongst other things. We know in theory How important it is to use respectful civil language and behave Well towards everyone. I can assure you that the majority of Winnipeg and Manitoban citizens Are Well Practised in manners and the courtesies that make daily life More agreeable. Despite the challenges of cold Winter weather we Are known for our friendliness and politeness. The Winnipeg free press still asks readers to please turn the Page. As one walks through the Parks and along boulevards Winni Eggers acknowledge the nods and greetings of fellow walkers. As you say it is the Small courtesies in life that make for a More pleasant world. Once my car broke Down. Before i could leave the vehicle a kind Winnipeg Ger appeared at the window to ask if he could assist. My in Laws from Ireland were with me at the time and have never forgotten this consideration. The incident happened in the Days when motor vehicle plates carried the motto Friendly Manitoba. The government of Manitoba has since changed the motto to Manitoba spirited Energy. It has become a bit too spirited for the worse for some of us. Please give this invitation your consideration. You can see How much you Are needed Here. We look Forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely Elizabeth Fleming Winnipeg enclosed mayor Weathers toughest year Winnipeg free press dec. 29 2008 coun. Gerbasi responds letter to the editor Winnipeg free press Jan. 2, 2009. A letter to miss manners t he pictures coming out of Gaza look familiar. Palestinians Are grieving for their family members lost to israeli bombs and Armour. In the so called International or War its no contest. Israel once again looks like Goliath and the people inhabiting one of the poorest places on Earth Gaza Are Davids. Israeli explanations for the military operation and for their deep respect for civilians and their strategy for minimizing civilian deaths All fall on deaf ears. The world does not hear explanations. They see pictures on to computer and Mobile phone screens. No amount of explanation offering context can compete in real time with the dead baby pictures. The Story is headlined on Many International news Sites As terror in Gaza. Words matter. If what is going on now in Gaza is identified As terror then Israel is seen As the terrorist. When Hamas succeeds in getting the International Media to identify the government of Israel As an agent of terror the Public relations Victory for Hamas is beyond our ability to quantify. Israel did not go into Gaza to win a Public relations War. The majority of israelis who support this Mission Are painfully aware that words and pictures matter and that they will be judged on the wrong Side of the current news Cycle. They feel that cannot afford the luxury of fighting and winning or wars. Israel could win that War simply by flipping one policy switch. It could open the Gates of Israel to Gaza and allow Hamas As much Access to jewish population centres As it would love to have so that they could Send their suicide bombers into Coffee houses buses hotels. Is there any doubt that Israel would gain worldwide sympathy israelis know their own history. Despite the ravings of Hamas Best Friend iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad facts Are facts. Millions of european jews were killed in an Effort by Hamas hero Adolf Hitler to extinguish the jewish people from the face of the Earth. The pictures that greeted the world after Auschwitz made worldwide jewry a David on the world stage. There was International consensus that it made sense for jews to have their own state and Israel the land of David was the obvious Choice. In 1948, Israel was invaded by the armies of its Arab Neighbours virtually at the same moment it was founded. While it was Able to miraculously repel those attacks and build a thriving democracy in a very Tough neighbourhood the Price of Progress was surrendering David status on the world stage. The Only Way for Israel to get it Back is to allow Hamas to meet its stated objectives the destruction of Israel. If Israel chose National suicide it could once again be David. While the Price of that prize is too High for Israel Isnit it Clear that is precisely the Price Hamas is willing to pay to win the news Cycle Public relations War by sending thousands of rockets into Israel Over the last eight years by inviting the israelis to Send in their Goliath machinery by starving their own people of economic Opportunity and any sense of personal or National Security a snot Hamas made it Crystal Clear that it is prepared to pay the Price for becoming David a snot Hamas made it obvious that suicide is the name of their game the same organization that targeted israelis for years with suicide bombings has turned Gaza into a target for bombings. When a Man takes children hostage in any country he is inviting the local swat team to do what is necessary. And sometimes it is necessary for the swat team to kill the hostage taker by lethal Force. Hundreds of thousands of people in Southern Israel have been hostages to the rocket fire of Hamas. The pictures from Gaza show dead innocents. The blood you dont see is on the hands of their hostage taker Hamas. Less than two weeks ago an american military camera in Afghanistan was Able to show with great accuracy the sight of 14 Little afghan children aged eight to 10, on their Way to their final Day of class. It was the Day they were to find out whether or not they were to be advanced to their next Grade. But they never did find out. The video showed a truck approaching within Only a few Yards of the children and there was a Flash of Light. For those children thatus when the lights of their lives were turned off by the ideological cousins of Hamas. The War being fought in Afghanistan by the americans and canadians and brits under the nato Banner is no different than the one being fought in Gaza by the israelis. Pictures deceive but the facts dont lie. Charles Adler is Host of Adler on line a weekday Call in show on the Corus radio network. Charles Adler pictures deceive but facts dont Hamas turns Gaza into bomb target Muhammed Muheisen / the associated press a palestinian girl eats bread As she carries a doll wrapped in a symbolic shroud during a demonstration against israelis military operation in Gaza in the West Bank Village of Bilin near Ramallal thursday. By Elizabeth Fleming a 10_ Jan 11 09. Ind a10 1/ 10/ 09 4 55 16 pm ;