Paging forum members in the GWN-looking for perspective on the anti vax rallies

lousubcap

An article I have read among others about what is going on but I know there are some here who live in Ottawa and surrounding areas.  What say you?
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/07/ottawa-protests-explainer-vaccine-mandates-whats-next  

Botch

I'm not Canadian but I did eat poutine for most of a week.  Beau had an interesting take on the whole situation:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJzFo6-xO4Q
 
TL;DW:  He pointed out the irony of the Mango Mussolini's cult members screaming for years to secure the US's southern border, while now demanding free and unfettered access across the US's northern border.    

lousubcap

Thanks @Botch-

GrateEggspectations

As with most Ottawa residents, I have been watching the events unfold with surprise. Ottawa is generally deemed to be a relatively sleepy city of about 1300000 (in the greater area). While we do get our share of protests given Ottawa is the nation’s Capital and the seat of our federal government and political sphere, the smaller scale events we generally see feature lawful and peaceful rallies in our downtown core absent any drama or need for police intervention. 

I am not in the very heart of the action but am outside of the hotspot by a five minute drive. We do see some of the convoy members on the roads and in parking lots, and we’ll be likely to see many more with the current attempts to move the protests to a baseball field a few minutes closer to our place.  An employee on my team is in the thick of it, and has reported feeling very unsafe in her own home. Honking, fireworks, yelling, altercations, arson, etc. Coincidentally, I had a dream last week that I too lived in the thick of it. In my dream, it was the middle of the night and I was boarding up windows to try to keep my family safe from protestors trying to get in. Most disturbing recently was the setting of a fire to an apartment building whereby the perpetrators attempted to barricade some residents inside. 

I am someone who can accept and respect other people’s points of view, so I try not to judge others for holding beliefs that don’t align with my own. I know of a few personal acquaintances who have reportedly been out protesting. That being said, I think there is stark contrast between expressing one’s views in a peaceful manner and in using unlawful techniques such as intimidation and violence to push one’s agenda. I recognize that the current protests are a mix of these two approaches and I think the major failings in controlling the protests up to present have been the lack of this distinction.  Of course, it doesn’t help that all levels of government are pointing the finger at one another while they consider each party’s responsibility as a function of jurisdiction. Our police chief, Peter Sloly, has come under significant criticism for the handling of the protests thus far and I fully expect that his leadership will be rightly scrutinized for the decisions having been made, or those not having been made, up until now. 

Will be interesting to see what kind of turn this takes now that the police are upping their response. I hope for a peaceful resolution for all. 

nolaegghead

I did not see a MAGA infection in Canada coming.....

Canugghead

I feel for you folks @GrateEggspectations Toronto had the benefit of learning from what transpired a week earlier in Ottawa, police proactively blocked off truck access within about one block radius of the provincial legislature and several major hospitals nearby. It sort of fizzled out after the weekend.

Canugghead

Sad but not surprising that what started out as protest against requirement for unvaccinated truckers to quarantine after returning to Canada has morphed beyond recognition.

I suppose Wolverine has the birthright to interfere. How about working on removing US restrictions that deprive these truckers the freedom to enter US in the first place?
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ted-cruz-ottawa-vaccine-truckers-protest_n_6200985be4b0725faacbd834 

nolaegghead

Canugghead said:

Sad but not surprising that what started out as protest against requirement for unvaccinated truckers to quarantine after returning to Canada has morphed beyond recognition.

I suppose Wolverine has the birthright to interfere. How about working on removing US restrictions that deprive these truckers the freedom to enter US in the first place?
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ted-cruz-ottawa-vaccine-truckers-protest_n_6200985be4b0725faacbd834 

The Bearded Boy Blunder is such a tool....

This ultra right wing authoritarian movement is spreading all over the world.   Except maybe Belaruse, sice they are already there.

lousubcap

Here's that latest from the Washington Post:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/02/07/freedom-convoy-ottawa-canada-vaccine/  

JohnInCarolina

lousubcap said:

Here's that latest from the Washington Post:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/02/07/freedom-convoy-ottawa-canada-vaccine/  

This all seems like pretty awful behavior from a small minority of people who are overly upset about being told what to do in the interests of public health. I’m not sure honking horns throughout the night is a great way to get people to share your perspective…

nolaegghead

The honking does not foster sympathy, but the opposite.  They need a new marketing guy...maybe Alex Jones?

GrateEggspectations

Thanks, @Canugghead. Really, it hasn’t had much discernible impact for me personally. My wife and I don’t have to commute downtown at present. Honestly, the one tangible impact it has had on me is that I avoided going to the speciality coffee shop where I need to pick up a $1 o-ring for the steam wand on my espresso machine. It still works fine without the o-ring, but I don’t like knowing it’s missing. Doesn’t really even impact the finished product. 🙂 Otherwise, I’m just really seeing events unfold on the news the way the rest of you are, except that my tax dollars are being spent addressing the scenario (800000 Canuck bucks or so a day, the last time I heard). 

Now that the honking injunction is in place, I understand from a coworker that it’s much quieter in the downtown core. 

I feel like we should be printing dull grey (note the Canadian spelling) caps reading “Make Ottawa Boring Again.” Maybe a MOBA wave could help turn the tide. 

lousubcap

@GrateEggspectations and @Canugghead thanks for the above insights.  
And @GrateEggspectations, I grew up being told grEy was an across the pond spelling and grAy was American.  Canada is truly North American so I failed to recognize the historical world-wide impact of the Empire.
All, stay healthy and safe out there.

fishlessman

Canada's police are fining the truckers for "excessive honking," and yet Canada geese continue their lawless mayhem.

Canugghead

The geese sh!t everywhere too. 

Gulfcoastguy

I still say all Canadian truckers have to do to make their point is to park their trucks for a week. Maybe in Costco parking lots with signs on the side that say “ on strike” or maybe just at home. It’s a point that I disagree with but they will have Trudeau by the short and curlies.

fishlessman

the party would have been more fun in the summer,  who organized this

JohnInCarolina

fishlessman said:

the party would have been more fun in the summer,  who organized this

The financial backers are apparently some wealthy folks from the southern US who don’t think good.

Botch

According to CBS this morning, some of the big rigs are planning on blocking LA for Super Bowl Sunday.
This could get ugly.    

dmchicago

Botch said:

According to CBS this morning, some of the big rigs are planning on blocking LA for Super Bowl Sunday.
This could get ugly.    

Lots of alphabets involved with SB security. Super Bad idea. 

nolaegghead

Botch said:

According to CBS this morning, some of the big rigs are planning on blocking LA for Super Bowl Sunday.
This could get ugly.    

Maybe we could work out a deal where the gubment supplies, free of charge, an IV bag filled with virus for each trucker to hang in his cab....and a CD (or free download) of AC/DC's Highway to Hell.

JohnInCarolina

Botch said:

According to CBS this morning, some of the big rigs are planning on blocking LA for Super Bowl Sunday.
This could get ugly.    

"Hey guys, I know what will get the American public behind us, making a mess of the Super Bowl!!!" - said nobody, ever

dmchicago

JohnInCarolina said:

Botch said:

According to CBS this morning, some of the big rigs are planning on blocking LA for Super Bowl Sunday.
This could get ugly.    

"Hey guys, I know what will get the American public behind us, making a mess of the Super Bowl!!!" - said nobody, ever

A true FAAFO opportunity. 

StillH2OEgger

JohnInCarolina said:

Botch said:

According to CBS this morning, some of the big rigs are planning on blocking LA for Super Bowl Sunday.
This could get ugly.    

"Hey guys, I know what will get the American public behind us, making a mess of the Super Bowl!!!" - said nobody, ever

I thought the righteous majority already stopped watching football after Kaepernick's blatant treason.

HeavyG

Wondering what percentage of truck drivers participating in the blockade(s)  thought a year or so ago that the BLM protesters then marching in the highways and blocking traffic should be run over?

Botch

HeavyG said:

Wondering what percentage of truck drivers participating in the blockade(s)  thought a year or so ago that the BLM protesters then marching in the highways and blocking traffic should be run over?

The "ironies" have come fast and thick, these last few years.  

fishlessman

HeavyG said:

Wondering what percentage of truck drivers participating in the blockade(s)  thought a year or so ago that the BLM protesters then marching in the highways and blocking traffic should be run over?

im just waiting for the truck drivers to burn down the court houses

Canugghead

or police precincts

fishlessman

how dare these truckers bring their children to beep the horns.....we need more police says the county mountie 

nolaegghead

fishlessman said:

how dare these truckers bring their children to beep the horns.....we need more police says the county mountie 

fishlessman

after seeing what the truckers did,  russia brought their kids along for a ride.  oh, no, what are we going to do now