Hilda Frances Young: Community connector

RANT: FREEDOM CONVOY OCCUPY OTTAWA FOR 10 DAYS!

The photo above was taken by a cousin in Ottawa who is a talented photographer. It shows trucks blocking part of downtown Ottawa with lights blazing. The Trucks have been in Ottawa since Friday January 28th. They are part of a multi-city protest to challenge the end of the lockdown, the vaccine passports and regulations regarding traveling to the States. A very complicated mission. The protest has gained international attention and funding. It has held the city of Ottawa hostage creating problems for many. The protestors said they are in it for the long haul and will stay until their demands are met. The Mayor of Ottawa has declared a State of Emergency. An Ottawa lawyer has launched a class action lawsuit against the noise and disruption. The museums and the Rideau centre have been closed since Friday 28. The buses have been diverted.

The entire experience shows how the social media and right wing are able to manipulate people to get attention. It also shows how weak the political will is in Ottawa to make decisive responses to domestic terrorism. What is society coming to?

The population is very frustrated with the long drawn out restrictions due to Covid -19. Omricon virus very easily transmissible. Although most people have mild reactions the fall out is a major problem due to isolation, time off work, restrictions in long term care and also rules for businesses.

Our society is in a precarious position if the capital city of a first world country can be held hostage by a group of well financed anarchists.

Community connection in the real world means paying attention to how society interacts and adapts to the social media/ internet/main stream media analysis of life and how the political class, police, paramedics, healthcare, businesses and rest of society deal with the protests and frustrations. How long will people put up with silly laws? How is the distribution of wealth changing? What is the responsibility of each individual to each other? Am I my brother’s keeper? How as a society are we going to deal with the extreme reactions to the rules being imposed on us? Many questions. No immediate answers. Just looking for an opportunity to learn and share.