This article started out as a series of four posts about the “Freedom” event in Ottawa that I offered up on my personal Facebook page just for my friends. After some thought, I decided that I would like to share this more broadly. I don’t think it begins as a “rant” per se, but you can be the judge of that.
For me it’s more of a statement about people being upset and wanting to have their voices heard. Unfortunately, from my perspective, that plan ended up being hijacked for ill by folks who don’t appear to understand the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms or even our Parliamentary system.
This piece will begin with a bit of an opinion statement and the sharing of a video of a pro-Ukraine march. This will be followed by a couple of sections presenting what I consider to be relevant articles from the Globe and Mail newspaper. It will end with a bit of humour – or an attempt at humour anyway. Again, you can be the judge. As you have probably figured out, I cannot do anything without adding a bit of humour.
Two Very Different Freedom Protests
I have been reflecting on the events in the Ukraine recently as I’m sure most of you have been. My thoughts on the matter steered off in another direction when a small anti-war protest took place outside our apartment building in the first week of March – of which, as you will see, we shot a short video clip.
It struck me at how incredibly ironic it was that a group of individuals, probably mostly of Ukrainian descent, were out literally wrapping themselves in the Ukrainian flag, crying out for freedom and the cessation of the murder of their fellow countrymen and countrywomen, yet, expressing their thoughts and feelings in a peaceful and non-threatening manner.
Meanwhile in Canada, a group of folks had also been wrapping themselves in the national flag and working hard at trying to connect their personal political agendas with a sense of nationalistic pride and purpose. What they ended up doing was holding a city and a couple of border crossings hostage; imposing a major negative impact on city residents and businesses, and damaging the economic and social reputation of the entire country.
The Ottawa protestors, too, were crying out for freedom – as well as the easing of health restrictions and restrictions on “their rights”. What were they trying to protect themselves and other likeminded individuals… and allegedly all Canadians from… a military invasion? No, basically, a mean man who was forcing them to get needles and wear very uncomfortable masks. Clearly, they had failed to notice that the health mandates were needed to prevent our national healthcare system from going into a death spiral, and to keep Canadians from dying from a terrible virus.
I truly believe that the convoy started out as an idea conceived by some ordinary Canadians who wanted to have the decision makers in government hear their voices. Unfortunately, it appears the whole affair was co-opted by individuals in the North America alt-right movement.
I’m sure many, if not most, of the folks outside the Parliament buildings were thinking that this was just them having their say and their chance to be heard. However, the protest bus got driven off a cliff by some misguided individuals, and their message got lost in the ignorance and chaos.
I think one of the things the protesters didn’t realize was that absolutely all Canadians are tired of the restrictions and mandated behaviors. Most of us, however, figure it out that this was a time in which we had to set aside our personal preferences and wants and contribute to the greater good. Others simply wanted to stomp their feet and pout and shout.
Throughout the event all sorts of things appeared on Facebook… of course. Lots of information and lots of disinformation. My favourite meme that appeared was this Twitter post by Dee Snyder of the band Twisted Sister. I end this first section with his quote
”People are asking me why I endorsed the use of “We’re Not Gonna Take It” for the Ukrainian people and did not for the anti-maskers. Well, one use is for a righteous battle against oppression; the other is a (sic) infantile feet stomping against an inconvenience.”
He did not say that specifically about the unrest in Ottawa, but, If “the glove fits.”
Enjoy this short video clip of a real freedom protest in action.
Not Knowing Your Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Second up is my suggestion that you read an op-ed piece in the Globe and Mail by Martha Jackman, a professor of constitutional law at the University of Ottawa.
In it she examines the rights of Canadians as provided in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. She compares the statement of “rights” in the Charter to those offered in the American Constitution, elements of which some of the arrested protesters mistakenly attempted to invoke… Oops!
Here it is folks, a general overview of Canadian’s rights as constitutionalized in the Charter. Click on the image to bring up the article in another tab or window. I do suggest that everyone read this. It is very important that all Canadians have a clear understanding of our rights and privileges … and their limits… and our responsibilities.
The Goofy Memorandum of Understanding
The third section is to draw your attention to a CBC article by Peter Zimonic. Mr. Zimonic also examines the “flawed understanding of the limits of constitutional freedoms” by the protest attendees but takes that discussion further by delving into the lack of understanding of our parliamentary system that was demonstrated by some of the leaders of the event.
As you will read, one of the groups organizing the convoy, Canada Unity, got people to sign on to a “memorandum of understanding”. As Mr. Zimonic points out, part of the MOU called on “the Governor General and the Senate of Canada to somehow form a new government with the protesters themselves”. All based on someone’s complete lack of understanding about how our political system operates and their own fantastical imagination, I suppose.
Organizers of the event probably had someone point out to them just how downright goofy, and perhaps how illegal, their demands to re-organize the Canadian government were. It was removed from their website.
Again, clicking on the image will bring up the article in a new tab or window.
Up Against the Wall…
Finally, part four, my attempt at humour… and a bit of a comment on the Canadian media. Every event needs a soundtrack. Apparently, Dee Snyder wasn’t interested in providing one, so I will. 🙂 But first!
The day we drove to Montreal to catch our flight to Malaga was the day the truckers were headed towards Ottawa. We were concerned that this might make for an extremely long drive to Montreal.
It did not work out that way. We did see an occasional tractor trailer headed the same way we were, but mostly, we saw many pick-up trucks. All were adorned with goofy political messages, flags and sayings like “save a truck, ride a camel” … was this meant to be a redneck racist provocation against the many South Asian truck drivers in this country??? The only thing that seemed to be missing was gun racks in the back windows.
I will have to admit that some of the media coverage got my attention for all the wrong reasons. While watching video clips and reading articles, it seemed that not all of it was being done in an objective, journalistic manner. I probably should add that this is how it appeared in the online media. That being the only thing we can access here in Spain. We did not get to see the full news coverage.
It appeared that videographers and still photographers were NOT looking to capture shots of thoughtful people quietly trying to get their message out. More frequently it seemed they were filming or photographing noisy individuals attired and groomed in a very individualistic way… occasionally shirtless. Not great journalism, boys and girls.
I may be overstating the facts, of course, but it did seem like every time there was a close-up shot of an individual it appeared as though they were intentionally choosing folks who may or may not have been representative of the whole crowd. As you can see, I have included a number here for your examination. It looked a whole lot like they were looking for people who had just stepped off the set of Duck Dynasty.
The number of pickup trucks we saw with a redneck sensibility about them, and the long-bearded Duck Dynasty-like images led me to think about the following tune penned by Ray Wiley Hubbard and sung by Jerry Jeff Walker. Ray Wiley and Jerry Jeff may “look like” rednecks themselves, but their allegiances and philosophies, I’m sure, skew closer to the outlaw country ideology. 🙂
With apologies to rednecks everywhere.
P.S. I am not anti pick-up truck per se. Our son drives one, and I once attempted to buy one, but the Love-goddess vetoed it because it was going to mean adding a third bay to the garage in the house we were building. 🙂
