Robert Hall, featured on the right, played a detective
Yesterday, I learned that Robert Hall was executed by a terrorist group in the Phillipines. They represent an evil I do not understand. They killed l a decent man whose only crime was being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
I first met Robert Hall, when he was cast as a detective in Cipher, a short film my grandson, Michael Stevantoni, directed and I produced over five years ago. He was a local amateur actor who responded to an ad we’d placed in the community. Though my grandson was only fourteen at the time, Robert Hall was courteous, responsible, and respectful to Michael.
Robert showed talent and I recall encouraging him to pursue a professional path. He contacted me a half year later to tell me he was in a low-budget feature shot in Alberta. After sending me the Facebook link for the film, I didn’t hear from him again.
So it was with great shock that I learned that Robert had been kidnapped last fall by terrorists in the Phillipines who were demanding a ransom for his release. Remembering a kind and gentle man, we both broke down and cried. Once we got more news from the media, we had quite a debate over whether we should write something about him or not. What could we do to show him our support? Wouldn’t he want to know that people cared and were doing what they could to get his release?
I knew our Canadian government’s policy was not to negotiate with terrorists, but wasn’t there something that could be done? His family were advised not to talk about Robert’s capture on social media. That talking about him in public would embolden the terrorists. They were told that whatever could be done was being done. I also asked about Amnesty International. Again, I was told that they were involved. I relayed this all back to my grandson who was not convinced that doing nothing was the answer.
And so we waited and hoped that Robert could feel our support, even though there was no communication between us. I kept thinking no news is good news. At the time, I heard an interview with a terrorist specialist on CBC who said, that after the first Canadian had been decapitated, Robert was probably safe for the time being. I also thought that Robert, being neither rich, famous, nor powerful in any way, was someone that the captors would eventually let go. That they would realize that kidnapping doesn’t pay and that given the sweet nature of the man they had in captivity, they’d want to release him. I was so wrong. When you are dealing with men who are disturbed, there is no way you can expect a reasonable outcome.
My thoughts and prayers are now with Robert’s friends and family. I know my grandson feels the same.
This does not make any sense! Our own US government sometimes chooses to ignore these kidnappings and killings. Thank you for sharing this for otherwise we in the US would probably not know about it. My heart goes out to the family. Crazy world! Thank you for sharing!
You’re welcome, Jo. Life is strange. So crazy that a good person, like Robert Hall, found himself in such dire circumstances. His family wrote an open letter agreeing with our government’s position. As our prime minister said, to give in to the terrorists’ demands would make every Canadian vulnerable to kidnapping. If all the Western powers would adopt this approach, there would be no gain to those who choose kidnapping and killings to fund their terrorist activities.
I’m so sorry to hear this, Diana. My condolences to the family, and to those, like you and your grandson, who knew him. The world is worse off for his absence.
Jo-Anne, thank you for your thoughts. And so true, Robert was the kind of man we need more of. It’s a tragedy for all.
Dearest Diana,
I am sitting here in Berlin, having just read your post about Robert. I am simply dumbfounded that this has happened to not only a Canadian, but this dear, gentle man you and Michael knew. My deepest condolences.
I understand that our government doesn’t negotiate with terrorists, but when such devastation hits so close to home, it is very difficult to accept that it appears that not enough was done. How would we each feel if it was one of our own??
I am so sorry for all who knew and loved Robert Hall. Wishing you and his other friends and family, peace.
Karen, Robert’s family was very involved with any negotiations that our government was involved with. There are some in depth articles in Maclean’s and I believe The National Post that detail why the government would not and will not pay ransom. They don’t want to encourage terrorists to kidnap innocent people. Robert’s family wrote an open letter agreeing with the government’s position. A horrific time for them all.
There’s no way to like this post. These people are evil incarnate. I’m so sorry for him and for his family and for all the victims of terrorism.
Oh Julia, I can’t imagine what poor Robert and his family went through. As you say, these people are evil incarnate.