OH dear, Canada! by Michelle Greysen 

There is no consumer version playbook for a pandemic. There is no right or wrong, fact or fiction, truth or a lie or some half-truth in between. There is mostly no black and white in the past two years. Regardless of which side of any debate one ends up on there are no winners and no losers. There are, at least in our country, civilized human rights and a legislated respect for personal opinion. I am proud of my country and enjoy my freedoms without even thinking about it. That is until now.

It is no longer about pandemic measures any more than it is about conspiracy theories, media blind spots, covid burnout, anti vax messages, politicizing covid 19, or a post pandemic future. It is not about a fear of covid or a fear of change, it is now way beyond a pandemic mismanaged. It is now about our country. Canada. Freedom.

It is also gone beyond being about the Freedom Convey and whatever side of the fence or middle ground your personal support or lack of support lie. No matter what the cause, what the fight, what the protest, we as Canadians live in a country that has protection for all and a freedom and a right for peaceful protest.

Did the truck border and Ottawa protests cross that line? That question does not even matter anymore. Unless you were there and saw first-hand, you cannot rely on open and honest reporting on any front, be that traditional news media or social media. We live in a world of instant access and street side live journalism. It may or may not be the entire story, whether that is professional or amateur reporting. That is not my point in this narrative.

I am speaking out not on one side or another of this politicized pandemic. I want people to stop for one second and not take a side, but instead look at what is happening to our Canada. The battle some are in is only for the truth. It should not be a battle against each other. 

Silent majority or vocal minority. No one wins if our country becomes a battle ground of authoritarianism against the masses. It is happening.

I am distressed at the actions of government and law enforcement on our people. On Canadian people with rights. Equal rights. Not just rights for those who agree with the flavour of the day but rights for all to be protected under. Human rights no matter what side of any conflict. We all owe it to each other to stand together for our country and our freedoms. Forget about pandemics, and conspiracies and sides of the endless debate and just be people. Respectful fellow citizens. Honour the right to peaceful protest alongside the right to peaceful existence, without infringing on each other.

Watching some of the horrific live videos shared on both mainstream reporting and social media, I honestly am ashamed for the authorities in this country that think as fellow human beings, sworn to protect, they have a right to club and beat and rubber bullet and horse-bully and more, their fellow Canadians. The government, policing, abusing their powers. This is a peaceful country with many privileges that are envied around the globe. Where in the violence is the right or wrong? No one is winning here.

What is happening to us as Canadians? It is no longer about standing on one side or the other of issues. It is now about standing together as a people under our Canadian rights, and not about the abuse of those rights by some authorities at the expense of our nation. 

THIS IS NOT OUR CANADA. 

Stay humble and kind,

Michelle
 

FYI:

https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/const/page-12.html

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Fundamental freedoms

2 Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:

·       (a) freedom of conscience and religion;

·       (b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;

·       (c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and

·       (d) freedom of association.

Mobility of citizens

·       6 (1) Every citizen of Canada has the right to enter, remain in and leave Canada.