I’m easily entertained – or perhaps easily distracted – it doesn’t take much to glue me to the television. I’ve been caught up in this trucker-convoy-protest-bullshit stuff to the detriment of everything else in my life lately; my writing, my housework and even my obsession with the 2022 Olympics.
This past weekend tensions grew to such a point I could hardly change the channel. As soon as authorities came to the conclusion the squatters on the streets of Ottawa weren’t going anywhere if not pushed it was like I was watching a dumpster fire. Thankfully once they realized that all the polite suggestions in the world, all the firm warnings and empty threats were not going to get the rabble rousers to budge they brought in the law.
The ‘law’ in Canada doesn’t look much like the ‘law’ anywhere else in the world. When push comes to shove here in the true north strong and free our go-to is generally just more pushing and shoving.
This ‘Freedom Convoy’ thing has been the source of much conversation and embarrassment in my circle. Watching these clowns make fools of themselves across the country has been nothing shy of head-shaking. When did Canadians become so angry? The people of Canada are known around the globe as being polite and apologetic – or at least we were – what the hell?
But more than the poor behavior of this noisy minority the fact they hijacked the Canadian flag has pushed my annoyance to a whole new level. I hate that these off key protesters belt out our national anthem like a rallying cry. How is any patriotic Canadian supposed to wave our flag without people assuming we are supportive of this nonsense?
But in spite of my bluster I have to admit protesting is within the rights of all Canadians, the flag and the anthem belong to everyone. When push comes to shove I am proud we can voice an opinion in this country, proud we can beg to differ. And although I didn’t like or agree with this latest kerfuffle I was proud of they way it was eventually dealt with.
When push comes to shove I’m proud to be Canadian.