journal features

drama on the waterfront

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-eight years and a million words

Toronto, 2018.08.10

This afternoon I noticed a lot of sirens, and the presence on a number of helicopters. It turned out that a mother and child got into trouble while swimming around the rocks at the end of Woodbine beach. There's a strong littoral current off the shore, which sets up an "under tow". Five people jumped into the water to try to help the mother and child, and two of the five themselves got into trouble. One, a sixteen year old, was taken by the current and drowned.

What a tragedy! This is at least the third time I've heard of a drowning along the local strip of shoreline in the time we've been here.

rand()m quote

Naturally the common people don't want war: Neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.

—Hermann Goering