The opinion of a loonieFEBRUARY 2, 2022Thought’s on the Freedom Convoy
BY KENN ORPHAN
To begin, I understand the frustration many people are feeling around the world after 2+ years of a global pandemic. It’s justified. I get the anger and fear for livelihoods many have. I get the concern for government mandates and many of Trudeau’s policies. But I decided to listen to several of the speakers at this so-called “Freedom Convoy” in Ottawa and I found that there is an undeniable slant toward far-right, xenophobic and anti-science conspiracy theories. There also appears to be a strain of white nationalism present among a large swath of the protesters. No matter how they spin this, it isn’t just a “few bad apples.” Fascist elements loom large in this group.
But the most important feature of this “movement” are its founders. The leaders of this convoy (and profiteers) include Tamara Lich (Alberta separatist, Wexit Party), Benjamin Dichter (far right People’s Party of Canada), Patrick King (white nationalist). Grifter and peddler of nonsense JP Sears and the weepy chauvinist Jordan Peterson have also thrown in their support. One important thing to note here: not ONE of them is a trucker.
Without a doubt, the far-right has been effective at harnessing the frustrations of the masses. Drumming up support and raising money thanks to a social media ecosystem which often rewards propaganda and disinformation, while disappearing voices of rational discourse. It gives the facade of solidarity, but relishes in manipulating people’s base fears and prejudices which usually leads to scapegoating or worse. We have seen this kind of thing before. In Australia, and Germany, and the UK. And at the US Capitol in Washington a year ago. Is it any surprise, then, that Donald Trump has come out to endorse it?
To be sure, none of this is about support for workers. There are no demands for fair wages for the working class. No demands for more protections or ICU beds. But it has garnered the support of millionaires and billionaires. Elon Musk, Ben Shapiro, Sean Hannity and several more. If that doesn’t speak volumes about the character of this counterrevolution, I don’t know what will.
If there is anything to be learned from this and other demonstrations around the world, it is that the far-right is gaining momentum from the exasperation of ordinary people. It is therefore more important than ever before for the left to come together and respond to it in a coherent way that endorses solidarity with the working class. If we don’t, we will only have ourselves to blame for what ends up happening.
and then proceeds to stereotype 100,000 people "far-right, xenophobic and anti-science conspiracy theories. white nationalism"But I decided to listen to several of the speakers at this so-called “Freedom Convoy” in Ottawa
I guess truckers are just not his type of "working class"more important than ever before for the left to come together and respond to it in a coherent way that endorses solidarity with the working class
Thanks for this. Signed right away.There is a petition started this morning to give OPS a message to end this ASAP and is up to almost 7500 signatures with little publicity.
https://www.change.org/p/ottawa-pol...-police-must-evict-freedom-convoy?signed=true
Good thing I am not as vindictive as you, thenNo, just you. LOL
You already saw them. Please don’t play games. They were front page news.Once again show me the pictures..........
PS :The protests are about Canadian policyGood thing I am not as vindictive as you, then
PS: In Europe trucks have a "black box" instead of the log book truckers here have to maintain.
OMG, look at that!! Someone call the Pope to come over and reconsecrate.View attachment 119903
Had the flag not been upside down, I would have called it a nothing burger. But I remember when the Marines made that “mistake” during a World Series game. It’s a big deal.
upside down flag = no big dealO
OMG, look at that!! Someone call the Pope to come over and reconsecrate.
One is a demonstration, the other a football game.upside down flag = no big deal
black player quietly kneels during the national anthem, get that son Of a bitch out of the league.
btw, interesting take here
I am with you on this one. The American hysteria about flags are idiotic. It is a piece of cheap cloth fercrissakes.O
OMG, look at that!! Someone call the Pope to come over and reconsecrate.
it’s a shame mental gymnastics isn’t an Olympic sport because I have seen some gold medal worthy performances from defenders of this protest.One is a demonstration, the other a football game.
You're more concerned with punishing those you disagree with than you are about resolving supply chaim issues and controlling inflation. That's the difference. This protest is about problems that ALL OF US are facing, not some pet issue.it’s a shame mental gymnastics isn’t an Olympic sport because I have seen some gold medal worthy performances from defenders of this protest.
but why doesn’t your same logic to football players apply to truck drivers? I am unaware of any truck drivers with a gun to their heads to keep that career. There are other jobs for unvaccinated.
You can drive coast to coast within Canada unvaccinated.it’s a shame mental gymnastics isn’t an Olympic sport because some of you defending the protest would be serious contenders for gold.
but why doesn’t your same logic to football players apply to truck drivers? I am unaware of any truck drivers with a gun to their heads to keep that career. There are other jobs for unvaccinated.
Over 1700 new signatures in an hour.Thanks for this. Signed right away.
I am not looking to punish unvaccinated, I am not even trying to punish jcpro or anyone else who disagrees with me here on terb. I favour taking away priveleges for unvaccinated because we need all hands on deck to fight covid and I don't appreciate someone along for the payoff but not contributing any of the work.You're more concerned with punishing those you disagree with than you are about resolving supply chaim issues and controlling inflation. That's the difference. This protest is about problems that ALL OF US are facing, not some pet issue.