Amputee loses parking spot

Toronto Sun ^ | 2007-07-30 | Joe Warmington

[Clive]

The murderous Taliban robbed Master Cpl. Jody Mitic of his legs but we won't be able to blame them for taking his parking spot.

If it happens, that second atrocity is courtesy of someone right here in Canada.

It kind of reminds one of what military and international affairs columnist Stephen Brown often says: "Don't volunteer to be a hero in Canada because you might be disappointed with the results."

To be honest with you, I have never heard of a disabled person's vehicle being towed before. But that's what just might happen today.

If a letter the veteran received Friday from his condominium manager is true, his custom-made motorcycle, made with love from a community trying to get him back on his artificial legs and feet that were blown off by the Taliban, will be towed.

Some heavy stuff happens in Afghanistan. Some pretty stupid stuff happens in Canada.

Mitic, 30, of Brampton, knows all too well about the realities of both. This might be the craziest case of insensitive bureaucracy gone mad since some on Toronto city council tried to get the yellow ribbons removed from the fire trucks.

While it is true there is one Canadian who won't let a war amputee park his motorcycle in a condominium underground -- citing rules-are-rules -- it is also true there are hundreds of Canadians out there who will. In fact, my phone has been ringing off the hook with offers. And my e-mail file is piling up.

Now it's important to say that Jody Mitic didn't ask to be wounded and he didn't ask for the bike. Both happened. The reason they happened is because of something for which he did ask -- to serve his country in uniform and go over to Afghanistan to help liberate the Afghan people from the horrors of the ruthless Taliban.

He did that without hesitation. In fact, on Sept. 10 he'll move back to his base in CFB Petawawa and start getting ready to move on with his military career, which could include a return trip to the war zone. We are hoping someone in his rented condo building at Yonge St. and Sheppard Ave. will cut him a break and let him keep the donated bike parked there for a few more weeks.

If not, loads of GTAers have come forward with a solution.

"This guy has paid enough of a price," said Jim Brown, one of many who have offered a spot in his garage. "My grandfather fought in WWI and my father in WWII. This is no way to treat a veteran."

"It's abuse," added talkshow host Roy Green. "And it's vicious."

Cory Wickham, the very person who spearheaded the drive to build the bike, was appalled.

"If you're going to complain about something a soldier has done or needs, or won't "bend the rules," kiss your wife or husband, girlfriend, boyfriend, children and the rest of your family goodbye, grab a gun and go defend this beautiful country," Wickham said.

Doubtful that will happen since the person behind this decision has not even called me or Mitic back for an explanation. There is a bumper sticker that says, "If you don't stand behind our troops, then stand in front of them."

Nowhere does it say, "Pick on them."

At 1 p.m. today, we will find out if the city will place a ticket on this bike that will allow a tow truck to remove it. It may very well happen. Sure they can take away his legs and even his parking spot.

But when it comes to Master Cpl. Jody Mitic and all of the other fine Canadian soldiers, they are never going to take away a majority of Canadians' respect.

[Clive]

This expands Joe Warmington's column of 2007-07-29, posted here:

The Taliban took Jody Mitic's legs. Then strangers gave him a custom motorbike. ...

[Clive]

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[fanfan]

[laotzu]

I few weeks back, I caught one of those wheel-chair types parking in one of our parking spaces. I kicked her butt.

[stylin19a]

I just want to see if they could make an exception for a few more weeks or at least until I can make some other arrangements," he said.

Here's a guy willing to play by the rules, all he's asking for is a little more time.

[Clive]

It was his own parking spot. and the vehicle is not a wheelchair, it is a motorcycle.

The issue is his right to use his parking space to park a duly licensed motorcycle.

Here is a picture of Cpl Mitic astride the vehicle in question.

[laotzu]

The trouble with the straight & narrow is that there’s no place to park.

[twonie]

If that motorcycle were owned and ridden by a terrorists in Toronto, his parking spot would made into a city shrine and he would have that space until time immemorial - plus he would be given a continuing small part in Little Mosque on the Prairie by the CB&C. Not kidding here, folks, there is such a show, on the government TV network. I don’t make this stuff up.