2011年6月15日在温哥華街頭上演了一幕罕有之悲劇。當天是史丹利杯(Stanley Cup)冰上曲棍球大賽決賽的第七場，由美國波士頓棕熊隊(Bruins)對加拿大加人隊(Canucks)。兩個決賽隊伍在對上六場的比賽中打成平手，那天的比賽是決定勝負的一場。由於賽事在温哥華舉行，加拿大一方佔有地利，本國球迷抱着必勝的期望進場觀摩，買不到票的也留在場外，在預設之電視大屏幕前看球。場內場外喜氣洋洋，猶如一個盛大之嘉年華會正在進行中。殊不知由球賽開始到終結，主隊一直挨打，以四比零大敗於客隊。球迷大失所望，情緒由悲哀轉為憤怒。散場後聯群結隊衝出街頭搗亂：有人放火燒車、敲碎商店的窗橱、趁機搶掠、追打路人……現場一片混亂，失控。如非親眼目睹電視的新聞直播，難以相信在一個安定和注重守法的加拿大城市會發生這種騷動。
跟據事後報道：受傷人數一共有一百四十個，其中一人生命垂危、四人受利器刺傷、九名警員的身體受波及。一百零一人當場被捕，另十六人於次日被檢控。為了一場球賽之勝負付出這樣的代價，值得嗎？
事件並未就此了結，因為不少肇事者被途人用手機或其他攝錄儀拍了下來而不知，執法人員正利用這些記錄逐個緝拿歸案。據警方分析，疑犯中有預謀者和一些趁熱鬧而加入搗亂行列的無知少年。前者都把他們的面部蒙住，不易辨出其廬山真面目；後者因沒有作任何預謀，整個行動和樣子就被人一覽無遺。
執法人員對事件當然會依法辦理，社會各界對滋事份子亦多不能容忍，家長與老師對自己的兒女和學生除却婉惜之外，愛莫能助。對有預謀之搗亂份子嚴懲重罰是絕對正確的，肯定會受到公眾的支持；但對一些心智尚未成熟和一時魯莽之少年罪犯同等看待是否值得商榷呢？
聞說不少年輕疑犯是來自正當的家庭，以往從無任何犯罪紀錄，其中一些還屬於品學兼優的。只因一次之輕舉莽動，他們就失去了獎學金、升學和工作的機會。他們的家人更為了躲避鄰居之敵視而搬遷，苦不堪言。
網上曾廣泛流傳一個中國留學生因一次偷乘地鐵之不良記錄，令他日後求職處處踫壁。人誰無錯，何況是一些小錯。知錯能改，善莫大焉。社會之容忍度又何必收得這麽緊呢？須知當一個人走投無路時，他或會鋌而走險，對社會貽害更大。
今天罪案之多，不知是否由於社會變得過份冷漠而產生？
黄啟樟 2011/10/3 www.davidkcwong.blogspot.com
2011/10/13 加拿大商報
Hi Uncle David,
ReplyDeleteYes, I have been a fan of the Canucks since 1984. Although they have played three times (all losses) for Stanley Cup final in the franchise history, I do not remember any riot or social-disobedience from the previous two defeats. I was totally surprise to hear the news of the rioting and looting in Vancouver after their last loss. Vancouver? The slow and sleepy Vancouver? The people in Vancouver as I recall, young or old, was polite, patience, and friendly. I have expressed to Cynthia many times before that I had rarely heard a traffic honk for the seven years of driving in Vancouver. While driving a day in LA, on the other hand, one can see honking and finger-gesturing easily.
Yes, times have changed and so has Vancouver. Unfortunately, it has caught on the bad behaviors of other metropolitan. The riot tarnished its name and damaged its international reputation. I was disappointed and so are the majority of people who called Vancouver home. There is no place in this society for rioting and looting. The people who participated in the act of stealing, damaging, destroying others' property, and disobeying the authority, regardless of age or event (whether sporting or political), should be caught and punished accordingly.
Final note, at least the famous Rodney King's riot in LA in the early 1990s was racially motivated and not because of a sporting outcome.
Cheers
Jack