Green Lake 10

I take the microphone, "testing, hands up all who hear me. Good, let's talk statistics. Now if I told you I had one watermelon and three apricots, therefore I have four fruits, you'd say I was nuts. While it is the literal truth, it doesn't give any accurate picture of anything. Government stats are notorious for that sort of gaffe, usually by accident, sometimes to wilfully mislead. And yes we here in the good ole USA are just as bad as the rest."
Laughter.
"OK, y'all have seen some shocking murder stats. Let's consider different sorts of murder. Two friends or brothers or spouses are stinko, violent argument, one reaches for something. It may be gruesome, but it ain't ethnic violence. In 99% of such cases, it is between two members of the same tribe. Sad, regrettable, but not a peacekeeping matter, it's for the local police to sort.
"For a variety of reasons, tribal elders will order the execution of a malefactor. Sad, regrettable, but not ethnic violence, a matter for the Canadian justice system to sort out.
"Ethnic violence is our forte, so far, we've seen little of that. But we will stomp on it and now. As of the point Tribe A and B aren't shooting at each other, we've done our job. So, while there is a problem, it's nowhere near as big as we may imagine. Any questions, please speak through the mike so all can hear."
A Lt rises, "Col, would you hazard an opinion how the Canadian government got into this mess?"
"No, it's not up to us to criticize our loyal friends and allies. That's the sort of thing the Canadian voter will have to ask."
She persists, "ah sorry Col, came out wrong. I meant, see if it happened in Yemen or Congo, it would be oh so believable. But Canada, it just seems surreal, your comments please."
"Lt, before we throw stones at another, let's take a look at ourselves. I recently read a story on the New York Times site. Now imagine a glittering office tower, 100 stories, a zillion dollars worth of stock traded daily. Now imagine 50 yards away in an alley, two homeless men in a knife fight over an inch of liquor left in a bottle. One dies. You see, faraway violence does not shock. What shocks is when it hits close to home, geographically or emotionally."
I see looks of comprehension all around.
Lt replies, "I see your point Col. Lotta us got relatives across the line, hits close to home.
Tasmina takes the mike, "listen up y'all, you can take confidence in the Col's leadership. Recently awarded the Silver Star. Checked the record, last one was awarded 17 years ago. So we're talking exceptional bravery, not just garden-variety decoration."
Loud cheer.
I thumb the mike, "roll em, a zillion pine trees are awaiting."
Laughter.

And so, we find ourselves rumbling around the back roads north and east of Prince Albert. The predictable happens, our presence cools the temperature.
The Tribal Elders handle the whole thing beautifully. On each side, one man is banished from tribal lands for life and several for periods of years.
We chow down on bannock and buffalo in a public feast put on by both sides.
Everyone returns home happy, some even with email addresses of lovers. One injury, a broken arm in a vehicle accident. How's that for peacekeeping?
Two days after our return, the Canadian Parliament unanimously votes a unit citation to 318th Para.
But for me, it's not home, the CO remains ill.
Still I exchange a number of emails with Ariel. I like him, funny, intelligent.
When it turns out the CO is medically pensioned off, all of 318th signs a petition, asking me to remain. Well the Command structure ignores such petitions at their peril, so this is my new job. It's great being with my good friend Tasmina.