Originally posted by AlbertaFarmer5
View Post
A person cannot yell fire in a crowded theatre if there is no fire in spite of freedom of speech.
That said everyone has the right in a democratic society to hold differing views and express those views even if others find those views to be morally or socially unacceptable.
And what is unacceptable changes over time as society changes. I believe J A McDonald felt residential schools were helping the FN people and an integration of FN into mainstream society when he endorsed those schools. I doubt he seen them as cultural genocide. Most of the world see Sharia law as barbaric yet there are many in the world who believe in it. Much of the middle east have moved away from pure Sharia law yet groups like ISIS and the Taliban seek to reimpose it by force if necessary.
When you have to impose a view on others by force is when it becomes unacceptable. Which brings us to now. Most (but not all including some people on here) understand that Covid was a new dangerous virus and steps have been taken around the world to slow the spread of the virus; mostly in an attempt to prevent the health care systems of nations. Steps ranged from mandatory vaccines in Austria, to welding the doors shut on people in China, to total lockdowns in New Zealand for a single case, to giving out free Covid kits in Brazil. And now, with the benefit of hindsight we can see results of the different strategies around the world. Canada or more specifically each province in Canada came up with a range of rules, some totally idiotic in my opinion. Where they were stupid I expressed that opinion to people in my province who have the power to consider my input, not on some farm forum. Regardless, I lived by them. I do not blame businesses for requiring masks if the province they are in has made them mandatory and will follow that requirement. Before Covid, if a restraunet required a tie, I wore a tie. No shirt no shoes no service no problem. A business can do what they want and I respect that if I want to patronize them.
Canada never forced everyone to be vaccinated. That is a personal choice, and I respect that choice. Canada did say unvaccinated could not do some things so that is the choice you make by not being vaccinated. Even if the mandates for vaccines were lifted to cross the border, the US has exactly the same mandate so you still can't cross if they were lifted in Canada. When faced with a highly communicable disease, the risk to society must be considered as well as the risk to the individual. That is why small pox vaccines were made mandatory until smallpox was eliminated. YOu have the freedom to accept the vaccine or live with the restrictions in place for now. Restrictions which I predicted from day one would last 2 years. Everyone is tired of them, whether you are vaccinated or not. But they will be lifted as soon as hospitals are no longer overrun and I think it will be this spring/summer. regardless if blockades had happened
But I digress. To your last point, Trudeau is an idiot but if you respect democracy, he is PM until he is voted out. He could have handled this mess much better as could most premiers. It has already cost O'toole his job and will cost Kenney his. maybe Ford. Unfortunately, everyone is so focused on themselves instead of society, no credible alternative that looks at Canada as a society instead of individuals, offers a candidate with a vision and leadership to defeat Trudeau. Running a campaign of Trudeau is bad so elect me will never work.
Final point I will make. With any freedom comes responsibility. Easy to demand freedom, harder to be held personally responsible when your freedom you seek overrides the freedom of of others.
Comment