A selection of articles (see below) on the Montreal Massacre (20 years ago today, Dec 6, 1989) represent just a fraction of the many perspectives on this tragedy. Have We Forgotten the Dead focuses on various murders and atrocities across Canada, including the killings at Montreal in 1989, ending with a message about violence and the necessity of gun control, although the comments take on a much wider scope than the original subject matter. ‘A Slap in the Face’ for Victims also emphasizes the importance of the firearms registry, which some feminists see as the one tangible legacy of the Montreal Massacre. Once again the comments on this article provide much to reflect on, from people interested in this subject of gun control and concerned about the rationale behind it. In Lessons of the Montreal Massacre, the story is told of one of the survivors of the Montreal Massacre, Nathalie Provost, who speaks to us about choice, and taken-for-granted opportunities for fulfilment in life. She and her children are living in a different world than most of us. The fact that Marc Lépine attempted to get the world to see how feminism has created a wider division in society between those who have and those who do not, seems to be lost on her. If her children, and all children, had to rely on one person’s views only – hers – about the lessons of the Montreal Massacre, the world would be in trouble indeed. Western News, from the University of Western Ontario, announced its 2009 remembrance ceremonies, one in Engineering, the other at Brescia College to honour the loss of the 14 women killed on Dec 6, 1989 at Montreal, and "the lives of all women that have been lost to gender-based violence," although I believe they are actually referring to women killed by men they know, mostly, and not the kind of killing Marc Lépine committed that day – meant to be a political act to draw attention to the harm feminism has caused in society. Marc Lépine lost his life that day also, though that is never acknowledged by heartless, narrow-minded, politically-oriented feminists. On Dec 6 1917, the explosion of the SS Mont-Blanc in Halifax Harbour left 2000 dead, injuring thousands of others. This is a sad day of remembrance.
Email s.a.mcpherson@sympatico.ca for a copy of my essay, Perspectives on the Montreal Masssacre: Canada’s Outrage Revisited (2005).
See also my website: http://www.montrealmassacre.net/
Jan 10, 2010
The article ‘Divorcing Tiger? You go, girl’ was added to the list below on Jan 10 2010. Marc Lepine and the Montreal Massacre became a part of the comments’ discussion with the online article. Tiger Woods seems to me to be the antithesis of Marc Lepine in many ways. They are opposites in terms of masculinity and career success.
Have We Forgotten the Dead
By Stevie Cameron
Globe and Mail
Thursday, Dec. 03, 2009
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/have-we-forgotten-the-dead/article1387826/
‘A Slap in the Face’ for Victims
By Ingrid Peritz
Globe and Mail
Saturday, Dec. 05, 2009
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/a-slap-in-the-face-for-victims/article1390008
Lessons of the Montreal Massacre
By Catherine Porter
Toronto Star
Saturday, Dec 5, 2009
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/734817--lessons-of-the-montreal-massacre
Montreal Remembrance Ceremony
Western News, p. 13
Thursday, Dec 3, 2009
http://communications.uwo.ca/western_news/PDF/WNews_Dec03_09.pdf
Montreal Massacre Death Cult (added Dec 10, 09)
By Margaret Wente
Globe and Mail
Monday, Dec. 07, 2009
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/montreal-massacre-death-cult/article1392013
Divorcing Tiger? You go, girl [added Jan 10, 2009]
By Judith Timson
Globe and Mail
Thursday, Dec. 17, 2009
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/family-and-relationships/divorcing-tiger-you-go-girl/article1404256/
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