Omar Khadr

Day 3 or is it 4 of freedom for Omar today? When he entered into Guantanamo I was 27 years old. I am not 27 anymore nor is he 15. I have been following this story very closely for almost 10 years now. His detainment in Guantanamo, his transfer back to Canada. In my opinion Guantanamo is something that should never have been built, and after watching The National tonight I know that I am not the only person who feels this way.

The man who created it, and ran it for the first 90 days agrees. This is what I learned this evening while watching The National tonight with Peter Mansbridge.

I am almost at a loss for words. The thoughts and feelings that I have surrounding his time there, the hardships I know he endured as a youth, child really, and then his return to Canada, being introduced to our penal system here.

Family is family. I am sure he still loves his, but to love your family enough to be taken to places that cause a young man to lose 13 years of his life, and then to taste freedom and have a choice to pick your own path. The gift he is being given, and in my opinion so rightly deserves, leaves me speechless.

For the victim’s family, of the act of war, I am sorrowful. I feel sorrow for them not because Omar is free but because they lost their son, brother, uncle, and father. The important truth to recognise throughout this tragic situation is that the loss of life needs to be acknowledged and honoured.

War is a terrible thing, people die. I know this. We miss them. I know this as well. And those on both sides, I believe feel remorse for loss of lives in war. This is what I choose to believe.

Enough lives have been lost and I am sure more will be taken, but I am pleased that this young man is being given another chance. If only for the reason that so many others on both sides of this war will not be given that chance.

When we follow others, or are coerced into being a part of, to support a cause we may not even truly understand, bad things happen. Lives are lost, freedom is lost, and worst of all, slowly time slips away. Today someone has a choice, Omar, and the Canadian people. A choice of acceptance for the past and a choice to try to do differently, to forgive, let go and focus on a positive future for all of us.

When I was watching the news tonight, one of the men on the panel suggested that in 20 years we the public may be asking whatever happened to Omar Khadr. I hope not. By this I mean that I hope that the young man with so much future and time ahead of him, makes positive choices for the greater good, and shows the people not just of this country but of the world, that a life lived without regret is not worth living.

When we give our heart and soul to a cause, whatever that cause is, sometimes we are allowed, by the grace of the universe to take our heart and souls back. To invest in a gentler fashion, with learned wisdom. Wisdom does not come easily. I can only hope that the torturing, starvation, and time spent imprisoned has not bread bitterness in Omar, but has grown a wisdom that can be shared with his fellow Canadians. Enough wisdom to teach, teach us all a different way.

I feel that I have not earned the right to speak about this, but I choose to be brave and allow my fingers to once again dance across the keyboard. My life has been what it has, not every day a rainbow, but I was never waterboarded, nor was the child that I never doubted would outlive me, die.

I think that is all that I will share tonight. I have hope for Omar though, and I will be waiting to see the lessons he has to teach us. I am sure he feels the pressure. He should not. This story has already been written, with many different endings. It is up to him.

I would also like to say I have hope for Canadians as well and the lessons we can teach the world. We once were considered to be the Peace Keepers of this fine planet. Let us see together what we can do.

Good luck Omar! Here is to second chances. I wish you the best.

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