“When they came for the Jews, I was not a Jew, so I did not protest; When they came for the communists, I was not a communist, so I did not protest; When they came for the trade unionists, I was not a trade unionist, so I did not protest; When they came for me, there was nobody left to protest.” Pastor Martin Niemolle
Just because there is more than enough blame to go around does not mean that we as citizens should simply allow this issue to die a quiet death. What the various players did was wrong, from the actions of individual police officers to those in command. From the political leadership at the PMO and Premier's Office, to the Official Opposition for not pressing the point.
Democracy is not about coming out once every 4 or so years and marking a bit of paper. Democracy works only if individual citizens take a stand and get involved. Democracy is about asking questions and demanding answers. Democracy is about holding those in power responsible. Democracy is about getting involved in the system to either affect changes or even to try to change the system itself.
The use of violence by the thugs and Black Bloc was a useless and wasteful activity. One that should be punished by law. But the abuse of the law and of our civil rights is a far greater danger and tragedy, one that needs to be addressed and not simply swept under the carpet.
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good [people] do nothing."
Edmund Burke