Rolling Thunder Convoy

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by Fading Isle

My wife and I lived in Centretown at the time and by week three we had barely slept and were losing it. We booked and room in Smiths Falls for the last 5 days, because we just couldn't take it anymore. If anyone says, "oh it can't have been that bad", "protests happen in Ottawa all the time" or "whatabout xyz?", I have zero respect for them, because that shows zero respect for me, my wife or the people of Ottawa. The merits of a group deliberately targeting residential neighbourhoods for sustained harassment is not a subject I want to hear any amount of debate on.

I am somewhat more sympathetic to convoy than most here but clearly this was not like any other protest in any way.

That said while whataboutism isn't always helpful but many actually violent protests have been condoned and given their way in Canada. One where people and property were attacked with axes during these protests. I'm fine with the new precedent though predict there will be a lot of people on both sides arguing against similar treatment by the next Con government of environmental or aboriginal illegal protests.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

As for backing Ford. He refused to participate in meetings and claimed it should be left the the police so essentially ran away. Yes the convoy is very unpopular so he can seem all bipartisan and given distance to an election it is a bit magnanimous but he's not the hero of this for sure.

Agreed. Ford didn't actually do anything to help. But he also did not oppose the Feds when they decided to do something about it.

Meanwhile, the Federal Conservatives complained that the Feds weren't doing anything (while supporting the occupiers). When the Feds enacted the Emergencies Act, the Federal Conservatives complained. When Trudeau ended the Emergencies Act, surprise surprise, the Federal Conservatives complained. Federal Conservatives and most other Provincial Conservatives go against the Federal Libs at every turn, even if it goes against their own beliefs. Kind of like Republicans in the U.S.

I don't like Ford as a Premier, but at least he's able to put partisanry aside and remain civil.

[Fading Isle]

Originally Posted by stolenottawa

Don't read the youtube comments. (That's a good general life rule, but especially in this case.)

The amount of spamming in the replies to every single social media post about the public inquiry and the convoy is disturbing. The same replies over and over and trend spamming on Twitter, all of which is from clearly fake accounts. It seems like someone is spending serious money on this nonsense.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Agreed. Ford didn't actually do anything to help. But he also did not oppose the Feds when they decided to do something about it.

Meanwhile, the Federal Conservatives complained that the Feds weren't doing anything (while supporting the occupiers). When the Feds enacted the Emergencies Act, the Federal Conservatives complained. When Trudeau ended the Emergencies Act, surprise surprise, the Federal Conservatives complained. Federal Conservatives and most other Provincial Conservatives go against the Federal Libs at every turn, even if it goes against their own beliefs. Kind of like Republicans in the U.S.

I don't like Ford as a Premier, but at least he's able to put partisanry aside and remain civil.

He was afraid of a provincial protest and if it happened interesting to think if it would have fractured the provincial party the way it did federal cons. He moved quickly to remove restrictions as convoy grew as did Quebec. So interesting in Ontario protesters blamed Trudeau for masks and other provincial issues wheras F Legault signs were on some days a majority yet they still drove from Montreal to protest on parliament.

[Scrappy McSchitz]

Why are freedumb supporters given a platform? Why do we let far-right conspiracy theorists who don't believe in science speak? All the do is spread disinformation and threaten democracy. We shouldn't let fascists and neo-nazis threaten our future. Canadians focus on keeping everyone safe and tackling climate change. These MAGA radicals need to be stopped.

[Harley613]

Originally Posted by Scrappy McSchitz

Why are freedumb supporters given a platform? Why do we let far-right conspiracy theorists who don't believe in science speak? All the do is spread disinformation and threaten democracy. We shouldn't let fascists and neo-nazis threaten our future. Canadians focus on keeping everyone safe and tackling climate change. These MAGA radicals need to be stopped.

Slippery slope. Remember, we are dealing with the least intelligent people in our society here. Most of them truly believe they are in the right, and don't have the mental capacity to recognize their own idiocy. Dunning-Kreuger runs rampant in this group. Take away their voice entirely, though, and they become more radicalized.

[ponyboycurtis]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

This will likely not come up in the inquiry. One of the biggest reason why they implemented the Emergencies Act, was that the public was about to take matters into their own hands, and that could have led to violent confrontations.

We saw the spur of the moment protest at Billings Bridge the Sunday before the Emergencies Act was enacted. This was going to explode the following weekend if the Act was not enacted. The hundreds in the Billings Bridge protest would have grown to thousands and who knows what would have happened. I know that I was planning to participate in the 'next' anti-convoy protest. I was fed up with how the convoy had held the city hostage. The Monday following the first weekend, the mandates were already being loosened as planned, so what was the point?

I'm glad I left for Toronto as this was occurring. I would have been right there with you. I was around for the first couple days, but I planned my departure around the date restaurants/bars opened up again which I believe was Feb 7th? I felt awful for all the spots in that area that had to remain closed after being in a 3 week lockdown or whatever it was.

Because I am a total shit disturber.. I had to go down there on the initial Saturday and see what all was going on. I made a hat. You know those newspaper triangle shaped hats like you would see in a cartoon? I made one of those out of tinfoil.

So I head down to Rideau/Sussex area with my new chapeau. I tells ya... none of these people got it. "wooo.. yaaa.. love your hat bro!!!". I feel like perhaps one person got what I was trying to convey. Not the brightest folks.

It was also the first time I saw a full size pickup truck doing a massive burnout in an intersection while the police just looked on.

The city and police practically welcomed them with open arms... it's no wonder they got sassy. If they would have just left after that first weekend of pandemonium I probably would have been fine with the whole situation. It was kind of amusing that first day to be honest. I was walking around with a beer yelling about No More Open Container Mandates!! with my ridiculous tinfoil hat.

*quick edit... I was wearing a mask haha

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Fading Isle

The amount of spamming in the replies to every single social media post about the public inquiry and the convoy is disturbing. The same replies over and over and trend spamming on Twitter, all of which is from clearly fake accounts. It seems like someone is spending serious money on this nonsense.

I'm glad someone else noticed.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

It wasn't innocent at all. Fleury obviously being purposely obtuse. He speaks English better than French.

I don't have any skin in this game at all but this is most definitely true.

If Fleury had donned a headset to better understand the questions in English, the interpreter would have translated "a microagression" to... "une microagression"... just for him.

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by Scrappy McSchitz

Canadians focus on keeping everyone safe and tackling climate change. These MAGA radicals need to be stopped.

So anyone who opposes covid restrictions or criticizes climate policy is a "MAGA radical" who "needs to be stopped" and shouldn't be allowed to speak?

Sounds like you're the fascist.

[harls]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

I'm glad someone else noticed.

I make myself a game with Facebook comments on Canadian political news articles. See how many replies it takes to find the word 'turdeau'. Usually it's about 3 or 4.

[AuxTown]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

This will likely not come up in the inquiry. One of the biggest reason why they implemented the Emergencies Act, was that the public was about to take matters into their own hands, and that could have led to violent confrontations.

I had to walk my nurses from my Centretown clinic to the LRT everyday because they were being harassed by the "convoy". People were telling my Asian-Canadian nurses to "go back where they came from" and being very intimidating. I was beyond angry as the nurses in question are some of the hardest working people I know and I GUARANTEE work harder than any of those idiots day in day out. The first time I walked them through the protest area I thought I was going to say something....give them "a piece of my mind". Then I realized that the majority of the convoy was made up of massive dudes in Skidoo suits. No way I was gonna get my ass beaten by a bunch of unemployed anti-vaxxers who claim to be truckers so I just kept my mouth shut.

[Scrappy McSchitz]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

So anyone who opposes covid restrictions or criticizes climate policy is a "MAGA radical" who "needs to be stopped" and shouldn't be allowed to speak?

Sounds like you're the fascist.

I joined this forum because it's a safe space for liberal ideas. Why are you here? To spew right wing hate?

[Richard Eade]

To my mind, the ‘Protestors’ quickly morphed into ‘Terrorists’.
Definition:

Terrorism: In Canada, section 83.01 of the Criminal Code defines terrorism as an act committed “in whole or in part for a political, religious or ideological purpose, objective or cause” with the intention of intimidating the public “…with regard to its security, including its economic security, or compelling a person, a government or a domestic or an international organization to do or to refrain from doing any act.”

(from https://terrorvictimresponse.ca/legislation-in-canada/)

As for virtually every other protest, there should have been a strong police presents from before the group’s arrival, and a ‘low’ tolerance for scofflaw behaviour.

This entire episode was a massive failure on the part of this city’s police and municipal government. The fact that the Mayor is now complaining that the Province didn’t come riding in on a white horse to save us is very telling. I’m so glad that the current Mayor is not running for re-election.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by Richard Eade

To my mind, the ‘Protestors’ quickly morphed into ‘Terrorists’.
Definition:

(from https://terrorvictimresponse.ca/legislation-in-canada/)

As for virtually every other protest, there should have been a strong police presents from before the group’s arrival, and a ‘low’ tolerance for scofflaw behaviour.

This entire episode was a massive failure on the part of this city’s police and municipal government. The fact that the Mayor is now complaining that the Province didn’t come riding in on a white horse to save us is very telling. I’m so glad that the current Mayor is not running for re-election.

These characterizations get more and more over the top. Terrorism is scoffaw behavior? Which takes place in many protests which all have political goals.

This took place at the same time as the convoy. It exceeds convoy micro aggressions in every way:

https://www.coastalgaslink.com/whats-new...nk-worker-recounts-terror-of-axe-attack/

If your argument is yes but their goals are justified you are very thin ice in your definition of terrorism.

[Dengler Avenue]

Any evidence that Russia was behind any of this?

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by Dengler Avenue

Any evidence that Russia was behind any of this?

Likely they were stoking the anti vax talk. Actual Convoy less clear. In February their A team was certainly otherwise occupied though.

[Admiral Nelson]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

These characterizations get more and more over the top. Terrorism is scoffaw behavior? Which takes place in many protests which all have political goals.

This took place at the same time as the convoy. It exceeds convoy micro aggressions in every way:

https://www.coastalgaslink.com/whats-new...nk-worker-recounts-terror-of-axe-attack/

If your argument is yes but their goals are justified you are very thin ice in your definition of terrorism.

Using the word terrorist sounds apropos. In what sense does holding a community hostage to extort political demands, depriving at once thousands of persons' enjoyment of peace in their own dwellings, not fit the definition?

Setting aside questions of legitimacy of their cause, no Indigenous group or environmental group has done anything comparable before. Yes, there are instances of ecoterrorism affecting pipelines and the like. No one here is defending or downplaying those actions in this discussion. And while Indigenous groups have engaged in rail or road blockades, this is literally on land that is theirs. Neither has taken a city hostage for a month.

[Richard Eade]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

These characterizations get more and more over the top. Terrorism is scoffaw behavior? Which takes place in many protests which all have political goals.

This took place at the same time as the convoy. It exceeds convoy micro aggressions in every way:

https://www.coastalgaslink.com/whats-new...nk-worker-recounts-terror-of-axe-attack/

If your argument is yes but their goals are justified you are very thin ice in your definition of terrorism.

How do you jump to the conclusions that you do? That is some Olympic grade maneuver.

The scofflaw behaviour is the 'little' things (like urinating on the War Memorial, or dancing on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier) that were done at the beginning that were clearly against the law. By-laws should have been strictly enforced, too. They were not. This led to an escalation of behaviour into the realm of, what amounted to, Terrorism.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by Admiral Nelson

Using the word terrorist sounds apropos. In what sense does holding a community hostage to extort political demands, depriving at once thousands of persons' enjoyment of peace in their own dwellings, not fit the definition?

Setting aside questions of legitimacy of their cause, no Indigenous group or environmental group has done anything comparable before. Yes, there are instances of ecoterrorism affecting pipelines and the like. No one here is defending or downplaying those actions in this discussion. And while Indigenous groups have engaged in rail or road blockades, this is literally on land that is theirs. Neither has taken a city hostage for a month.

You don't need to protest and block residents from travelling to work for months on land that is definitively yours.

Read about the Grand River Land dispute it was 15 years ago but well beyond anything that took place here. Yes these mostly impacted rural people who don't matter but Caledonia was held hostage for more than a year. The result of land they had previously sold (granted under duress) was bought out by the provincial government. We could have paid the convoy people their salaries for the 6 months when they actually needed to be vaccinated for much cheaper. (sure many were anti trudeau nuts who couldn't be reasoned with).


Protest even illegal to get your way is not terrorism. It is what brought down the government in Ukraine and what the brave people of Iran are doing now. Many in Iran probably think enforcing hijab wearing is as important as we think enforcing vaccine mandates was. Actually we now know the vaccine mandate was all political because those of us who got vaccinated were happy to see them punished for extending the pandemic though the only thing that ended the pandemic was 60-70% of us finally getting Covid as many said in the beginning.