Politics

[Typeing3]

Meh..politics. the people can never win against the establishment

[Rubus_Leucodermis]

Painting every single individual who attends the protest/occupation/whatever under the same brush with extremely divisive rhetoric - as the PM and most of the mainstream media has consistently done recently - is truly shameful. It's a gargantuan affront to ordinary folk who have sacrificed plenty, lost their jobs, lost their friends/family, lost their livelihoods, lost their dignity, lost some of their freedoms and been consistently scapegoated by the government and much of the media over the past two years.

They are occupying the centre of the national capitol and causing serious disruption for others, and have been doing so for weeks.

I have watched a livestream of the occupation (one aired by a sympathetic source) and the one thing that stuck out like a sore thumb was how right-wing disruptive protests get treated with kid gloves. Any left-wing protest that disrupted downtown Ottawa that much would have been dispersed by riot cops many days ago.

Far from getting bad treatment, they are getting extra special deferential treatment, and whining like entitled toddlers that that isn’t enough.

They have a right to their opinion but they don’t have a right to automatic respect for it, no matter what they do or believe. Opinions are a lot like *ssholes. Everyone has one.

[Typeing3]

Personally, I don't see it as a "right wing" protest (what even defines "right wing" anyways? Ask anyone and you'll get a different answer). If anything it's more of a libertarian one imo, standing up against aspects of authoritarianism that have crept into our society.

Especially in recent times, I've found it better to always try and look beyond everything as being solely either black or white (in this case classifying everything as either left or right). In most cases, there is always some common ground on some issues despite what the prevailing narrative propagated by those in power and what many may think.

I do agree that everyone has a right to an opinion which may not necessarily draw respect from everyone.

[Antares]

1) It isn't left, right, or any other partisan movement. All walks of life are there from your Albertan hillbillies, to your Quebecois lawyers, to your British Columbian new agey healing crystal types, and to just your average Joe on the street. Maybe the only ones who aren't there are your pajama-wearing WFH "upper" class.

Africans, Afghans, Jews, Euros, etc are all in the mix as well. Saw a girl from Mauritius there as well as many other immigrants. Good to see they care about Canada.

2) BLM protests were not dealt with severely in Canada. If at all. Certainly no negative media coverage on it.

3) Mandates, lockdowns, and other such measures have disrupted life FAR longer and far more severely than this demonstration.

edit: Also a HUUUUGE First Nations presence there as well. Surely you wouldn't take their voice away?

[Rubus_Leucodermis]

2) BLM protests were not dealt with severely in Canada. If at all. Certainly no negative media coverage on it.

No BLM protest shut down Ottawa for two weeks or the Ambassador Bridge for five days.

[Rubus_Leucodermis]

Personally, I don't see it as a "right wing" protest (what even defines "right wing" anyways? Ask anyone and you'll get a different answer). If anything it's more of a libertarian one imo, standing up against aspects of authoritarianism that have crept into our society.

It clearly leans to the political right, and cherry picking exceptions to the general rule doesn't prove much.

And given how many professed Libertarians have turned into full on Trumpers in my home country, it is pretty obvious that in practice Libertarianism is a right-wing ideology as well.

[Antares]

No BLM protest shut down Ottawa for two weeks or the Ambassador Bridge for five days.

BLM protests caused significant property and economic damage in the US. Not to mention all the leftist tantrums (riots) in Portland and Seattle.

[Rubus_Leucodermis]

BLM protests caused significant property and economic damage in the US. Not to mention all the leftist tantrums (riots) in Portland and Seattle.

Which were dealt with harshly, savagely even, by the police, in most cases almost as soon as they began getting disruptive, and in some cases even before then, and no such protest shut down a downtown for two weeks solid or blocked a major port of entry for nearly a week.

Thanks for helping to make my point.

[Rubus_Leucodermis]

This, in fact, is one of my chief worries at this stage.

As much as I can be no-holds-barred in my arguing style, I don’t want to see people, even people I strongly disagree with, get hurt or worse killed.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/end-to ... -1.6347861

[Typeing3]

It clearly leans to the political right, and cherry picking exceptions to the general rule doesn't prove much.

And given how many professed Libertarians have turned into full on Trumpers in my home country, it is pretty obvious that in practice Libertarianism is a right-wing ideology as well.

It mostly consists of working class people, that also leans on the libertarian side of things given the primary message been fighting against aspects of authoritarianism (lockdown restrictions and mandates).

Vilifying the entire movement because many people may lean to the political right could also be argued as cherry picking just to justify the said vilification. If anything, that kind of binary thinking highlights perhaps the most important issue many countries/societies face today; class solidarity being impossible as the common folk are too busy fighting a culture war amongst themselves.

[Typeing3]

No BLM protest shut down Ottawa for two weeks or the Ambassador Bridge for five days.

There was the CHAZ/CHOP in Seattle for over three weeks. Violent clashes between protesters and police from the get go and officers completely vacated the neighbourhood (including a police precinct) and did not return to all areas for weeks. There were also six separate shootings, including one that killed a 16-year old. People may brand the situation Ottawa with any names they wish but despite a much more peaceful outcome, much of the prevailing media narratives were far more positive/neutral regarding the Seattle situation, at least for the first couple weeks, whereas in Ottawa it's been negative, negative, negative right from the get go. There were bouncy castles and hay piles for the kids to play at last weekend. There was also tons of free food being handed out to all. People were also shoveling snow and ice off the sidewalks. But I suppose those are all things that racist, misogynistic, fringe, violent government overthrowing terrorists would do.

And then there's also this:

Screenshot_2022-02-05-14-12-14(1).png

[Rubus_Leucodermis]

There was the CHAZ/CHOP in Seattle for over three weeks. Violent clashes between protesters and police from the get go and officers completely vacated the neighbourhood (including a police precinct) and did not return to all areas for weeks. There were also six separate shootings, including one that killed a 16-year old. People may brand the situation Ottawa with any names they wish but despite a much more peaceful outcome, much of the prevailing media narratives were far more positive/neutral regarding the Seattle situation, at least for the first couple weeks, whereas in Ottawa it's been negative, negative, negative right from the get go. There were bouncy castles and hay piles for the kids to play at last weekend. There was also tons of free food being handed out to all. People were also shoveling snow and ice off the sidewalks. But I suppose those are all things that racist, misogynistic, fringe, violent government overthrowing terrorists would do.

And then there's also this:
Screenshot_2022-02-05-14-12-14(1).png

There were murders in Seattle that were just outside the zone in a no-man's land. Of course they were portrayed as happening inside it. And Seattle's Capitol Hill neighbourhood is not a vital trade corridor like the Ambassador Bridge is. And the police were much more aggressive in their response in Seattle. They eventually backed off only after days of confrontation with using teargas, rubber bullets, and flash-bangs.

Thankfully, thing seem to be ending at the Ambassador Bridge this morning, with no reports of violence so far. Let’s hope it stays that way.

[Rubus_Leucodermis]

It mostly consists of working class people, that also leans on the libertarian side of things given the primary message been fighting against aspects of authoritarianism (lockdown restrictions and mandates).

I have seen no data on the socioeconomic makeup of the Ottawa occupiers, and when the putschists who invaded the US Capitol were identified, many of them turned out to be surprisingly affluent. Sorry, not buying this “oppressed working-class people” rhetoric. Strongly suspect it is not generally the case in the way the movement’s sympathizers and adherents claim it to be.

[PortKells]

They are hurting working class people right now with the border blockades. I read that a woman couldn't cross the border go see her dying mother. There are livelihoods at stake in Ontario. They will risk losing support this way.

As for Ottawa. When I see videos of reporters being harassed, videos of non stop honking all day long, people being harassed for making their own choice of wearing a mask, including anecdotal reports of rape threats. people unable to access healthcare without harassment. someone trying to light an apartment on fire and shut the citizens inside (there is video evidence).

The citizens of Ottawa have done nothing to deserve this can't we agree on that? Or is it worth it for some sidewalk shovelling and PR friendly food giveaways?

I will add that an anti protester ran one over in Winnipeg and that person deserves jail time. I don't support violence on any side.

If they go home and wait a couple weeks, restrictions will ease as omicron burns out. Other than the border vaccine thing which is still impossible for the Canadian gov to resolve because the USA is mandating the same thing.

[Antares]

Powerful speech in NYC. Love that woman.
https://youtu.be/QOxKpCeJPRE