Russell Brand: Harper's speech is just part of ongoing government plot to start wars

Advice from Russell Brand about comedy is probably valuable.

Advice from Russell Brand about the shooting tragedy in Ottawa? Not so much.

Brand took to YouTube Thursday to air his opinions on Wednesday’s violence on Parliament Hill in which Cpl. Nathan Cirillo was shot near the National War Memorial.

“On the bright side, some news out of Ottawa!” Brand quips while watching a France24 broadcast of the Wednesday’s events.

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Part of Brand’s YouTube series, The Trews: True News with Russell Brand, the UK comedian goes on to say that the shooting in Ottawa is being used by government officials in Canada and the U.S. to “advance the narrative” that allows them to launch wars abroad, advance corporate interests and “inhibit our freedoms.”

While critiquing Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s statement following Wednesday’s shootings, Brand consistently refers to him as “Steve,” and accuses the PM of having an “agenda” in his speech in which he told Canadians “how to think.”

“When these things happen it’s an attack on all of us,” Brand muses. “Is it? Is it really? Are those institutions protecting all of us? I know what you’re saying, but where’s the evidence?” he asks.

Brand’s commentary came a day after former U.S. shock jock Geraldo Rivera advocated tightening border security with Canada on his Facebook page.

“We should get over our obsession with penetrations by undocumented immigrants of the Mexican border and focus on the real threat from the Great White North,” Rivera wrote.

“The danger is from homeground (sic) or Canada-based terrorists, not from Juan and Maria who just want to wash dishes, mow lawns, baby sit or work in the fields to make a better life for their children.”

Just hours before, The View co-host Rosie O’Donnell kicked off a firestorm by using the events in Ottawa to promote her opinions on U.S. gun control and mental illness.

Indeed, it is tragic when events in Canada make headlines around the world. It’s worse when shallow celebrities use them to put the spotlight on themselves.