On the way to work this morning, listening to my daily dose of talk radio, the news report and the morning host, John Oakley, on News 640, were hysterically discussing “reports” that two men had been seen yesterday with a video camera filming various parts of a Toronto subway station including the tracks, the station and inside one of the subway cars.  The entire news piece and the ensuing discussion irresponsibly noted only one possible conclusion:  that it was a couple of terrorists doing research to plan for an attack on the subway system in Toronto.  

Not once was any other scenario even discussed.  How about a couple of kids from a college film class doing a school project?  How about an amateur documentary film maker or a legitimate one?  What about a couple of transit buffs or tourists who were marveling at our subway?  Instead, the ensuing discussion noted how “vulnerable” and “complacent” Toronto is and has been toward a terrorist threat.  Toronto police had assigned a “detective to investigate” and, of course, it was added that the director of the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service had recently stated that Canada is a “likely terrorist target.” 

This is how it starts folks.  We are only a few steps away from the hysteria and paranoia that has so permeated the American population.  The US has gone from being the land of the free to the land of homeland security where any number of violations on personal liberty are easily excused with fear.  When the population gets lathered into frenzy by stupid news and commentary like this the government responds with onerous laws and infringements on rights that will do nothing to make Canadians any safer from a terrorist attack.  If this is what we have to look forward to, terrorist attack or not, Al Qaeda is winning.