'Trucks rolled into Canada’s capital Ottawa on Saturday to stage what police say will be a massive protest against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates in front of parliament on a frigid winter day. The so-called "Freedom Convoy" - coming from east and west - started out as a rally against a vaccine requirement for cross-border truckers here, but has turned into a demonstration against government overreach during the pandemic with a strong anti-vaccination streak. “It’s not just about the vaccines. It’s about stopping the public health mandates altogether,”' article continues.
At the end of the article, it states the Candian Trucking Alliance "opposes the demonstration and has said this is “not how disagreement with government policies should be expressed.”
Do you agree with this statement? why or why not?
I think I disagree with this comment by the Canadian Trucking Alliance because in a government system, it's tough to get anyone to listen to you. We saw this in Premonitions (chapter 4) where the language of government alone was enough to greatly slow pandemic planning being done by people IN the White House. I imagine this struggle is even larger for citizens protesting something; government processes are convoluted and confusing to the average person, so a big demonstration is a much quicker and easier way to get a government official's attention. Although I don't agree with the purpose of the rally, it posed minimal threat to citizens and employees, so I think it was a good example of how peaceful protesting should be carried out. Nice article, Curtis!
ReplyDeleteI think that peaceful protest may be exactly how disagreements with government policies should be expressed. Getting governments to listen to you often takes public awareness about the issue and subsequent public pressure for governments to act. Protests often attempt to do all of these things.
ReplyDeleteI do think that there is a certain responsibility of all parties in these situations. There's a responsibility for governments to hear citizens out and consider their concerns seriously. There's a responsibility of protestors to make sure they are getting the facts right and not promote misinformation. It's also the responsibility of the general public to consider arguments on all sides and check their sources before making snap judgements, no matter the issue.
Maria I completely agree with you. Protests must be peaceful to be effective. All parties have a responsibility. Personally, I have cousins that live in Canada right now. They are furious. They constantly post on their stories about how negatively affected their lives have been. They've been in lockdown for ages and now they are being mandated to get the vaccine. It seems like the public health officers in Canada do not care what their citizens want. I'm certainty pro vaccine and I believe everyone has an obligation to get the vaccine, but I can also say I'm glad I don't live in Canada.
DeletePeaceable protest are one thing, intimidation and implicit threats are another. I'm always nervous when angry people congregate not to discuss but to insist on their perspective. Mob mentality can ensue. But if the truckers are just there to express a view, they're entitled to do so. (But, see the Rousseau comment above.)
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