Depending upon you experiences growing up, this may or may not make sense to some: Nearly all fights, from the playground to street gangs to police beatings are all about perceived 'disrespect.' The particulars are irrelevant once it becomes about respect. Russia's attempt to increase its power/territory via illegal means is disrespectful to the superpower. Also, you don't stay a superpower by letting other nations become stronger and stronger--especially when they are ranked in the top 5 or so--all while approaching or exceeding your level of power.
Freedom Convoy...for what freedom ? Prior to the Pandemic...truckers already submit to a host of mandatory government safety regulations, from health checks to the electronic monitoring of their movements. That's why some experts say it makes no sense for some drivers to claim their freedoms are now at risk from a COVID-19 vaccination added to that long list of job requirements. Further, they have the option that if they don't want to be vaccinated for whatever reasons...they must then be Covid tested and then follow the quarantine rules. It's absolutely crazy to expect any government in a Pandemic to let someone avoid vaccination and avoid being Covid tested to enter the country especially when other industries (e.g. airlines) have similar health requirements to protect others using their services. The ironic aspect, many supporters of the Freedom Convoy..."flew into Canada" or drove across the border and they had to have shown proof of vaccination and show a recent Covid negative test to avoid the quarantine rules. ---------- Illogical for truck convoy to claim freedoms threatened by vaccine mandate, say experts Truckers entering Canada must now be vaccinated against COVID-19 to avoid testing and quarantine rules Jason Warick · CBC News · Posted: Jan 28, 2022 6:00 AM CT | Last Updated: January 28 Protesters of COVID-19 restrictions and supporters of Canadian truck drivers protesting the COVID-19 vaccine mandate cheer on a convoy of trucks on the Trans-Canada Highway west of Winnipeg on Tuesday. The convoy does not have the support of the Canadian Trucking Alliance, the Saskatchewan Trucking Association or other industry groups. (David Lipnowski/The Canadian Press) Truckers already submit to a host of mandatory government safety regulations, from health checks to electronic monitoring of their movements. That's why some experts say it makes no sense for some drivers to claim their freedoms are now at risk from a COVID-19 vaccination added to that long list of job requirements. A cross-Canada convoy of truckers and their supporters is en route to Ottawa to protest a COVID-19 vaccine mandate that, as of last week, requires Canadian truckers returning to the country to be vaccinated if they want to avoid quarantine and molecular tests. The U.S. has imposed a similar vaccine mandate. The convoy does not have the support of the Canadian Trucking Alliance, the Saskatchewan Trucking Association or other groups. The convoy is getting attention because the trucks are so large, but it appears to represent only a small minority of Canada's 300,000 long-haul drivers, said Alexander Crizzle, an associate professor and director of the Driving Research and Simulation Laboratory at the University of Saskatchewan. Federal government won't budge on vaccine mandate for truckers as convoy heads for Ottawa Hundreds of truckers headed to Ottawa in 'Freedom Rally' convoy against vaccine mandate Vaccination "should be seen as just one more thing" for drivers, he said. "Safety measures don't work unless they're mandatory. All the research proves that." Alexander Crizzle, an associate professor and director of the Driving Research and Simulation Laboratory at the University of Saskatchewan, says truckers already submit to multiple types of government safety regulation and monitoring, so vaccination requirements should be no different. (University of Saskatchewan) As an example, Crizzle cited a recent study that found drivers complied far better with rules around hours of work when electronic log books were mandatory. He said it would be unthinkable to declare brake inspections, load limits or driver physical exams optional. All of these measures infringe on freedoms, but they are all necessary to ensure the safety of drivers and the public, he said. University of Manitoba engineering professor Ahmed Shalaby, who worked with families of Humboldt Broncos players to lobby for better semi truck driver training and regulations, agreed. "It's an important job, a critical job. So there are quite a number of rules for everyone's health and safety," Shalaby said. "These systems and tools are meant to protect everyone, including the truck drivers themselves, of course. And that's really what we're seeing." Shalaby is increasingly worried as the convoy, which started off in B.C. last Sunday, is expected to reach Ottawa this weekend. He said there's a major safety concern with emotional drivers operating a large number of massive semi-trailers in a compact line, distracted at times by flags waving or supporters yelling. Rules 'are put in place for everyone's health and safety,' says University of Manitoba engineering professor Ahmed Shalaby, who worked with families of Humboldt Broncos players to lobby for better semi truck driver training and regulations. (Submitted by Ahmed Shalaby) "There is potential obstruction to emergency services, fire trucks and ambulances, the safety of people on or around the road. The visibility in this situation will not be great," he said. Brett Marcoux, board chair of the Saskatchewan Trucking Association and a driver himself, said the association does not condone the convoy. Ottawa police prepare as convoy protesting vaccine mandate heads to nation's capital Convoy travels through Sask. to protest vaccine mandates for truck drivers "We just simply don't approve of protests on public roadways, highways and bridges, and we feel that the best way to deal with these situations is … through your local MP or government contact," Marcoux said, noting that an estimated 90 per cent of truckers are vaccinated. 'Draconian, fascist mandates': organizer One of the British Columbia organizers of the convoy, longtime truck driver Sean Tiessen, said it's wrong to compare vaccination with all of the other mandatory health and safety rules imposed on truckers. He claimed vaccine rules don't keep anyone safe, that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is a tyrant and that a Regina restaurant worker recently discriminated against him by telling he couldn't sit at a certain table. He said someone has to stand up to the "draconian, fascist mandates" on vaccination. "If I don't want to get a shot, that's my right and it's none of your f--king business," Tiessen said during a stop with the convoy in rural Ontario Thursday afternoon. "This pertains to our rights. They are forcing and coercing people." https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/truck-convoy-vaccination-freedoms-1.6330176 ---------- wrbtrader
So far, the far-right idiots that showed up in the Freedom Convoy have been asked to leave by the Truckers and the Ottawa Police. Some had their vehicles towed away after they parked their trucks on top of Canada's War Memorial. Other's were seen walking around with their Confederate Flags but were told by other protesters...to leave and go back to the states. Other than that... it has been a very peaceful protest and the Canadian truckers have been doing some house cleaning of the far-right elements. ---------- A video posted earlier in the day by a Twitter user showed convoy protesters drinking, dancing, and celebrating on top of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The protesters were celebrating on the same spot where Corporal Nathan Cirillo was murdered by a gunman who later stormed Parliament Hill in 2014. Cirllo had been guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the time. Earlier in the day, protesters were spotted using the front steps of the War Memorial as a makeshift parking lot for over a dozen vehicles. Ottawa Police later issued a statement indicating that “Several vehicles parked at the National War Memorial this morning and were immediately towed.” “Cars are not allowed to park and people will not be allowed to desecrate the Memorial,” Ottawa Police added in their statement. https://pressprogress.ca/head-of-ca...sters-dancing-on-tomb-of-the-unknown-soldier/ https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/top-canad...cing-on-tomb-of-the-unknown-soldier-1.5760168 ---------- Conservative party’s embrace of trucker convoy is deeply troubling The protestors represent a larger problem for the Conservatives, who keep pandering to the extremist elements of their base. By Supriya DwivediContributing Columnist Sun., Jan. 30, 2022timer3 min. read One of the more graphic rape threats I’ve received over the course of my talk radio career involved a reference to burning off my clitoris. It was after I had addressed the false notion that had been circulating in Conservative circles — and was being bolstered by my talk radio colleagues — that Canada signing onto the UN’s Global Compact for Migration would mean that Canada would no longer have jurisdiction over its borders, ensuring the ultimate destruction of our country because of “globalists.” There was a co-ordinated campaign to poison the discourse around the compact by pushing misinformation. It worked, largely by having considerable swaths of conservative politicians and media repeat and disseminate the misinformation themselves — which is a lot like the current misinformation and disinformation campaign we’re seeing regarding vaccines. There are consequences to peddling misinformation and refusing to overtly condemn extremist rhetoric, as any journalist who has had to counter misinformation can tell you. biggest threat to freedom in Canada,” stating he has a “vaccine vendetta,” all the while turning a blind eye or making excuses for the more troubling aspects of the protesters and the extreme, violent language they are using. The vast majority of truckers are fully vaccinated. The truckers who made their way to Ottawa represent a fringe minority. Political parties looking to be taken seriously do not usually try to pander to fringe minorities that are increasingly out of touch with the majority of accessible voters, though the Conservatives are certainly the exception to that... https://www.thestar.com/opinion/con...ce-of-trucker-convoy-is-deeply-troubling.html ---------- wrbtrader
I had wondered how much of this was spurred by American interests that would be impacted by Canadian quarantine rules.
Most of Canada's Truckers condemn the Freedom Convoy and the CTA does not support it because they feel it's an embarrassment. Yet, I do remember a problem that started at the border crossing when the United States required Canadian truckers to be fully vaccinated plus a recent Covid positive test...Canada then follow up with the same requirements for American truckers coming into Canada. wrbtrader
So far...still a peaceful protest although the protesters were shut down at nearby shopping centers when they refuse to wear a face mask. Shopping centers responded via closing up early and then booting them out. In fact, not too bright of those doing such in the middle of Canada's infamous winter especially at the shopping centers near the capitol because at this time of year...the shopping centers are the only shelter from the crazy winter winds in that area. Residences of Ottawa...joking about if they should warn the Freedom Convoy protesters about the Polar Bears roaming nearby...preparing to pick off the weak-looking ones on the edges of the protest. ---------- Rideau Centre closes after maskless protesters are seen confronting staff Many protesters were seen entering the mall to eat, use washrooms and escape the frigid temperatures. Author of the article: Marco Vigliotti, Matthew Lapierre Publishing date: Jan 29, 2022 • 18 hours ago • 2 minute read • Unmasked protestors were inside the Rideau Centre shopping centre on Saturday. The mall was closed in late afternoon. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia Article content The Rideau Centre closed to the public Saturday afternoon after maskless protesters were seen confronting employees who wore masks, and eating and drinking throughout the facility in defiance of public health orders. There was no word immediately on whether the mall would reopen on Sunday. In a statement, mall owner Cadillac Fairview said the decision to close the mall was made “out of an abundance of caution.” “The safety of our guests, tenants and employees is our priority,” the statement read. Security staff began closing the mall and ushering people outside just before 3 p.m. as Freedom Convoy protests continued to swell in nearby streets. Many protesters were seen entering the mall to eat, use washrooms and escape the frigid temperatures. Though many of the protesters who sat on the ground and waited in line for the bathroom appeared sullen and tired, cries of “freedom” and chants using an expletive to refer to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau were quickly taken up by the crowd. They echoed through the mall. Protest supporters were also seen urging mall staff to take off their masks. “You’re free now,” one maskless man told a worker who sat at a booth. “You don’t have to wear that.” By early afternoon, security guards had long since given up trying to get the protesters to wear masks. “There are so many people and they are very aggressive,” one security guard said. Rayene Bimbachi, 22, works at the mall and said a Rideau Centre employee was “shaking and crying” as she told her the mall was shutting down due to the crowds. She said protesters had been getting in confrontations with mall staff all day and she had been questioned multiple times about why she was wearing a mask. As her store closed, she said two women told her she was only closing out of fear of the protesters. After closing, she said she ran out of the mall to avoid any further interactions with protesters. “I tried to just keep my head down. It was the scariest thing I’ve ever seen in the mall and I’ve worked there for four years,” Bimbachi said. The protesters could be heard chanting against the federal government and Trudeau throughout the day, she said, with some even protesters smoking inside the mall in violation of regulations. https://ottawacitizen.com/news/loca...askless-protesters-are-seen-confronting-staff ---------- wrbtrader
It's not you -- they're really out to get you. https://globalnews.ca/news/8329274/canadians-conspiracy-theories-trust-institutions-poll/ Canadians falling prey to conspiracy theories despite strong trust in institutions: poll
The Canadian trucker rebellion, rolling east across the vast, frozen Canadian prairie, blew into the country’s Woked-up capital city, Ottawa, like the scalding wrath of history, forcing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to skulk off punkishly under cover of night — after bad-mouthing the big-rig invaders as “a fringe minority” in a nation of otherwise obedient hypnotics sleepwalking into Big Pharma’s spike-protein fun-factory of all-causes early death. https://kunstler.com/clusterfuck-nation/the-revolt-begins/