An individual holds an indication for the "freedom convoy" a cross-country convoy protesting a federal vaccine mandate for truckers, as individuals rally in opposition to COVID-19 restrictions on Parliament Hill. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
The so-called “freedom convoy” has captured worldwide consideration as a minority of truckers and their supporters have asserted their proper to assemble and oppose COVID-19 protocols imposed by the federal, provincial and territorial governments. No downside there.
The issue lies in what’s not being stated or acknowledged.
The one-word rallying cry — freedom — is the activist mantra. Who might be in opposition to freedom? However let’s take inventory of the liberty that some have exercised through the ongoing rally:
Descending upon a soup kitchen, intimidating workers and demanding to be fed — all with out masks.
Desecrating struggle memorials that pay tribute to those that fought for the very freedoms the convoy supporters get pleasure from.
Defecating in public, together with on the property of individuals whose dwelling shows a Delight flag.
Overrunning malls and outlets which have compelled many to close down, thereby denying the store house owners’ and workers freedom to earn a residing.
Shutting down colleges within the wake of rallies, denying dad and mom the liberty to go to work and kids their freedom to go to high school.
Uttering racist and threatening feedback, making many individuals in Ottawa’s downtown really feel typically unsafe.
Within the tantrum for so-called freedom, nearly all of individuals haven’t denounced or condemned these reprehensible, well-documented behaviours which, notably, have gone largely with out consequence.
It’s value noting {that a} freedom they’re demanding — the precise to refuse COVID-19 vaccinations with out curbing their livelihood — poses immense threat not solely to themselves however to everybody else, whereas additionally draining the health-care system and denying therapies for others.
Whose freedom?
However what may “freedom” imply to different Canadians?
Ask Indigenous individuals about freedom. Ask them about centuries of abuse and genocide by the hands of colonists. Ask them concerning the legacies of residential faculty horrors and abuse. Ask them concerning the devastation of the ‘60s scoop and continued authorities management over little one welfare.
Ask Indigenous individuals concerning the ongoing delicate and overt racism they face from Canadians on daily basis. The place is their freedom from bigotry and prejudice that continues to flourish?
An individual walks in the direction of Parliament Hill for a rally in opposition to COVID-19 restrictions.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Ask Muslim Canadians about their freedom from ignorance and discrimination within the type of Islamophobia expressed in verbal and bodily assault and even mass homicide.
Ask Asian Canadians about intolerance and racism from different Canadians who blame them for COVID-19. The place is their freedom from the sheer stupidity of others?
Ask ladies and women who proceed to face sexism, sexual harassment, sexual assault and sexual exploitation by the hands of males. What about their freedom from gender-based violence?
Ask trans individuals who frequently should cope with transphobia. Ask people who find themselves immigrants, disabled, poor, obese, converse a language aside from English. Ask any of the same old targets of social prejudice, ignorance, discrimination and hate about how their freedoms are consistently trampled on by different Canadians.
Not everybody’s freedom
Freedom is necessary, however many Canadians aren’t being thought of by the “freedom convoy.”
I’ve been conducting analysis on social exclusion and prejudice since 1996. It’s my job to hearken to individuals inform their tales within the lessons that I train. I hear rigorously to the experiences of exclusion, ridicule and discrimination marginalized individuals face in a rustic that’s supposedly equal for all. Possibly the “freedom convoy” ought to likewise hear rigorously.
I additionally find out about freedom first-hand. As a queer Canadian, I can attest to how homophobia raises its ugly head any time, anyplace. We don’t have the liberty to be ourselves the best way many straight, cisgender individuals take with no consideration.
After I hear individuals on the rally passionately advocate for his or her freedom, however not others, I can’t assist however see ignorance. Fortuitously, training is a treatment for ignorance.
This scene from Seinfeld humorously captures the strain between individualism and the consideration of others.
The human rights struggles over the many years that proceed to play out in Canada are about freedom. That’s what Canada’s human rights historical past and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights clarify — as do analysis hubs such because the Centre for Human Rights Analysis.
What this “freedom convoy” is admittedly about is self-interest. It’s a petulant demand for individuals to have the ability to do no matter they need, at any time when they need, no matter anybody else. Freedom is proscribed to what they’ll see within the mirror.
As an alternative of a self-serving, diesel-stinking, neighbourhood-clogging mob that’s having such an antagonistic impact on the liberty of others, they need to contemplate going dwelling and studying about Canada from the views of others.
At dwelling, no masks are required.
Gerald Walton doesn’t work for, seek the advice of, personal shares in or obtain funding from any firm or organisation that will profit from this text, and has disclosed no related affiliations past their educational appointment.
