Says 'It's Time To End The Celebration Of Death'

Toronto Star columnist Joe Fiorito thinks the Canadian International Air Show, being held this weekend in Toronto, should be grounded.

His primary issue seems to be that many of the airshow performers are current or former military aircraft. Pulling quotes from a news release, he mentions the CF-18 Hornet scheduled to perform as being "an instrument of death" that he does not care to see, and can't determine why anyone else would either. Later in the column, he says that he and his neighbors on the Toronto waterfront where the show is staged should not be subjected to the "smoke and noise" of the airshow performers.

Other targets include the T-33 "Acemaker." Fiorito feels, rather strongly it would seem, that such aircraft which are designed to train pilots in combat situations should not be celebrated.

There's plenty more, and you can read the entire editorial at the link below. And while we fully support Mr. Fiorito's right to express his opinions, we also know that there are hundreds of thousands of people in the U.S. and Canada who very much look forward to such events each year. If we can offer an opposing view, it would be "More Airshows."

The comments from readers are mixed, with some in favor of the show and some agreeing with the writer.

(CF-18 Hornet pictured in US Navy image)

FMI: www.thestar.com/news/gta/2014/08/29/its_time_to_end_the_celebration_of_death_and_kill_the_airshow_fiorito.html