Poll: Freedom Convoy and Related Protests

[Signtist]

How would you address a law you believe is unjust when you think that you have no voice?

1. Pray

2. Billboards (written in the form of an appeal)

3a. Letters of appeal to anyone who may be able to do something about it. (Can you imagine what would happen if every person in North America who objected to the vaccine mandates would write a letter of appeal, to about 25 different officials, and do so in a respectful manner? (maximum cost of $50 per person) There are news agencies that would be glad to film Canada Post trucks backing up to the front door.

3b. If you wanted to take this a step further... If people can drive to Ottawa or the border, and spend days there, they could certainly drive to at least some of the offices and deliver their letter. Imagine a mile long line of people on the sidewalk waiting their turn to drop off a letter. There are news agencies that would love to cover this as well. All of this can be done legally and without hindering local residents from going about their business.

3c. Can't deliver your letter in person, hire a courier. The millions that are being collected could be used to hire couriers instead of blocking streets and blowing horns and filling the air with exhaust. While waiting in line to deliver the letters, those in line could hold signs explaining what they are doing and why (without being disrespectful or demanding.)

3d. Fax a letter of appeal to the offices.

4. Request a meeting with people who can do something about the law you believe to be unjust. (Anabaptists have generally sent representatives to meet with government officials when they believed a law was unjust, but I don't know that it would hurt if individuals would do this as well. If someone claims to be Anabaptist, I hope they would not misrepresent Anabaptists by engaging in a manner that would bring disrepute to the name of Christ, so it may be good if they get their church's blessing or permission before heading off for a meeting. Meetings could be requested by phone, email, fax, or in-person. (Again, imagine what would happen if a several hundred thousand people attempted to do this.)

And... The officials will not know how many people want the vaccine mandate dropped until they actually get the numbers. Groups who are raising cash could volunteer to collect the names and numbers for the government. The numbers are likely to be in the hundreds of millions.

5. If all of those failed, I may resort to holding a sign (with an appeal) where the official might see it. This is legal and would not inconvenience local residents.

Appeal always achieves better results than a demanding spirit.

Good luck with getting permitting for the billboard! But the resident sign guy applauds the thought process!

[Signtist]

I would enjoy visiting Ottawa just to see and witness the event.

The display of Christian attributes from those who don't operate from a Christian framework is truly incredible. I don't understand it. Yes, there is vulgarity on display as well. That is true and expected. These are not all Vhristian people. The prevailing attitude of peace and love and kindness is something that isn't normally seen in protests. And it seems to have law enforcement puzzled. Hard to deal with calm, law abiding citizens that are being called terrorists, but feeding the homeless and cleaning the streets and calming down rabble rousers by showering them with love and gifts.

[Signtist]

It is economic vandalism. By blockading bridges and highways they have probably destroyed more economic value than all of the BLM protests combined during all of 2020. Millions of people depend on reliable transportation for their livelihoods. But since you support their stated objectives I guess that is all OK? Or at worst, just acceptable collateral damage?

Which protests are we discussing? Freedom Convoy is in Ottawa. I don't think the others are actually associated with it, but may be wrong.

[Signtist]

Steve, the appleman, thank you. Really.

[Signtist]

As for the Shephers of good hope? They rely on donations. Getting a $750,000 boost on that this year must have been nice. Some of their staff are good, some have not always been. I don't know what is fact or fiction at this point when it comes to that organization and the protest.

[Ken]

It is economic vandalism. By blockading bridges and highways they have probably destroyed more economic value than all of the BLM protests combined during all of 2020. Millions of people depend on reliable transportation for their livelihoods. But since you support their stated objectives I guess that is all OK? Or at worst, just acceptable collateral damage?

Which protests are we discussing? Freedom Convoy is in Ottawa. I don't think the others are actually associated with it, but may be wrong.

I don’t know which is which but for example here in the northwest Canadian truckers are currently blockading the border crossings between WA and BC.

If you are say a dairy farmer and vandals burn your farm truck at a protest and it costs you $50,000. Or if protestors blockade the highway outside your farm and you are forced to dump your milk for a week because the milk truck can’t get through and you lose $50,000 worth of milk sales. What is the difference? Both acts of protest cost you equal harm. Dumping the milk might cost you more actually because the truck is probably insured.

[Signtist]

I have more leniency with Ottawa than the others for that reason,I suppose. Ottawa hasn't really hurt anything, the businesses that closed did so voluntarily. Or in the case of Tim Horrons, who loved the truckers because they helped out, maybe had some political motivation to close.

[appleman2006]

It is economic vandalism. By blockading bridges and highways they have probably destroyed more economic value than all of the BLM protests combined during all of 2020. Millions of people depend on reliable transportation for their livelihoods. But since you support their stated objectives I guess that is all OK? Or at worst, just acceptable collateral damage?

Which protests are we discussing? Freedom Convoy is in Ottawa. I don't think the others are actually associated with it, but may be wrong.

I don’t know which is which but for example here in the northwest Canadian truckers are currently blockading the border crossings between WA and BC.

If you are say a dairy farmer and vandals burn your farm truck at a protest and it costs you $50,000. Or if protestors blockade the highway outside your farm and you are forced to dump your milk for a week because the milk truck can’t get through and you lose $50,000 worth of milk sales. What is the difference? Both acts of protest cost you equal harm. Dumping the milk might cost you more actually because the truck is probably insured.

I certainly do not deny that protests generally are inconvenient for people. But the one in Ottawa really has not put many people out at all. You can still get anywhere in Ottawa you want to. In fact I am told it is easier to get around right now on weekdays. This is a picnic compared to Seattle. That was truly an occupation. This so far has really been the winter of love I. Ottawa.

[appleman2006]

The first hour is an excellent interview with one of the originators of the Freedom Convoy. He gives a history and layout of what is going on really well. I have not watched past the first hour yet. I can not speak to anything else on this. It is the first hour that I hope you will watch. Quite informative. Viva Frei (David Freiholt) is the interviewer. He is the Canadian lawyer I have watched for a long time.

If you want to get a sense of what is really happening in Ottawa this is the guy to watch. Watch his Saturday Feb. 12th to get a sense of how many ordinary people are there. All I can say is that to classify this as an occupation in the truest sense is simply false.

[appleman2006]

It is economic vandalism. By blockading bridges and highways they have probably destroyed more economic value than all of the BLM protests combined during all of 2020. Millions of people depend on reliable transportation for their livelihoods. But since you support their stated objectives I guess that is all OK? Or at worst, just acceptable collateral damage?

Which protests are we discussing? Freedom Convoy is in Ottawa. I don't think the others are actually associated with it, but may be wrong.

they are not directly associated in any way other than the fact that the Ottawa one may have inspired the others just as they have convoys around the world.