quote:

Originally posted by infinity HiGH Stop it with your sensationalizing already. You're acting as if they burned and smashed cars, broken into stores and stole things. All they did was shut down a highway and inconvenienced a couple hundred people. Boo-fucking-hoo Soccer matches in Europe are more dangerous than this "riot". You're right about the moral of the story though: this does work. Maybe if more people were this passionate about certain issues we wouldn't have to deal with a lot of the crap we have to around here (nightlife, corruption...and just general government incompetence)

Illegally shut down a highway, used children as shields, assaulted police, threw their bikes over the bridge. ahhh but thats nothing right?

Im all for peaceful protests. And i wish we would do it more often for Canadian issues. And i dont mind when the tamils or anyone else gather at queens park, even if there are so many that it shuts down university from spill over. But Sunday night was a disgrace pure and simple and uncalled for.

quote:

Originally posted by Jayx1 Im all for peaceful protests. And i wish we would do it more often for Canadian issues. And i dont mind when the tamils or anyone else gather at queens park, even if there are so many that it shuts down university from spill over. But Sunday night was a disgrace pure and simple and uncalled for.

I absolutely don't agree with nor condone what they did on the Gardiner, but I'm pretty sure they could have sat on the lawn at Queen's Park for eternity and the government would have done nothing.

So what are the options in the City of Toronto, Province of Ontario, and Liberal Party of Canada's eyes? Well they can either:

A. Have the cops remove them by force the next time something like this happens and risk injury, a loss of life, and public relations nightmare. Not to mention the costs and resources for mobilizing such a police force.

B. Play "lip service" on the matter with the Fed in hopes that it appeases the protesters. Should the Tamils decide to create a public disturbance again like they did last time, I wouldn't be surprised to hear "Hey we did our part, however the Harper government remains silent on the matter."


I don't doubt that McGuinty and Ignatieff feel the matter in Sri Lanka is serious, but I'm sure this is as much about politics as it is about bringing attention to a humanitarian crisis. They (this includes Harper) could have easily said something before which would have cost them nothing and hopefully have avoided this mess in the first place. This doesn't just go for Sri Lanka, but any part of the world where a humanitarian crisis is unfolding and we as Canadians have a responsibility to (at the very least) voice some concern as part of the international community. We're not talking about sending an army over there or aid, we're talking about openly acknowledging the issue in the public. How much does that cost? Maybe the Fed already has? If so, I digress.

I'm just concerned that by acknowledging their plight at this level only after such a large public disturbance is only going to set precedence in showing the protesters that they can achieve their aims through further unlawful action.

___________________
Palm Trees > Pine Trees , Sand > Snow

Why should Harper say anything? Furthermore if i were prime minister, events like Sunday would encourage me NOT to say anything. I feel bad for what is happening over there. But it's not our war, its not our politics. How do we take sides when there are politics and "atrocities" on both sides? From what i have read, the Tamils are not exactly innocent players in this either.

Im not even that angry about the highway shutdown as i am about using 10 year old girls as shields against the police. Apparently the tamils employ the same tactics in Sri Lanka as well. That action was just downright despicable.

I am also sick of liberal politicians pandering to special interests at every perceivable opportunity thus legitimizing their actions.

What will happen if we condone this type of behaviour, it just opens the door to other causes' protests in the future. Today, the Tamils, tomorrow, who will it be, and so forth?

___________________

Short time TA, Long time Guver, Good time giver.

quote:

Originally posted by Jayx1 Why should Harper say anything? Furthermore if i were prime minister, events like Sunday would encourage me NOT to say anything. I feel bad for what is happening over there. But it's not our war, its not our politics. How do we take sides when there are politics and "atrocities" on both sides? From what i have read, the Tamils are not exactly innocent players in this either. Im not even that angry about the highway shutdown as i am about using 10 year old girls as shields against the police. Apparently the tamils employ the same tactics in Sri Lanka as well. That action was just downright despicable. I am also sick of liberal politicians pandering to special interests at every perceivable opportunity thus legitimizing their actions.

Who said we had to take sides? We're talking about encouraging the international community to take action in stopping a war. Isn't it the UN's mandate to be doing this type of stuff? It only happens in the UN because the international community makes it a point of concern. Last time I checked Canada was a member of that body. Sure we're not as influential as the US, China, or Russia, but we're not Tahiti either. If we're not even willing to (talk) about it in a place where we have representation via. an ambassador, why do we bother sending foreign aid to other countries in the first place?

I think the fact that the government only started to give this matter the attention AFTER the Gardiner shutdown sets a bad example. Like Abercrombie said, the Tamils today, who knows tomorrow?

All I'm saying is that this may have been prevented. How hard was it for Stephen Harper to say: "Hey yeah we know there's a war going on over there. Yes people caught in the middle are dying and it's wrong. I'll let our ambassador to the UN know that Canada encourages peacekeeping action by the international community at the next UN assembly." Is that so hard?

___________________
Palm Trees > Pine Trees , Sand > Snow

so a couple days ago, when I was coming home, in front of division 52, there were TTC busses standing there with Police task forces sitting and waiting in them...whats up with that? were they thinking of sneaking up on the protesters or something?

___________________
www.elkdee.com
Soundcloud sampler: www.soundcloud.com/elkdee

i believe harper made a statement a couple of months ago. But thats not good enough for these folks i guess. I think the goal of the organizers is to get the tigers off the terror list so they can resume fund raising for them to be honest. Really what can canada do beyond a symbolic statement? We are not a member of the security council. China and Russia are and they are not willing to pass any resolutions on this. If these guys should be protesting anywhere it should be the chinese and russian consulates. But of course that wouldnt garner as much pandering from liberals and the commies would probably just laugh at them.

I think there are a lot of legitimate people protesting who are getting swept into the politics of their so called leaders in a quest to gain political and monetary advantage.

quote:

Originally posted by Abercrombie What will happen if we condone this type of behaviour, it just opens the door to other causes' protests in the future. Today, the Tamils, tomorrow, who will it be, and so forth?

I was talking about this with a friend last night. It's scary. Can you imagine this happening every weekend? Imagine trying to drive home and having pitbulls and owners blocking the DVP as they feel their pets rights have been violated.

Our government needs to set a standard and show that this type of protesting is not exceptable in Canada.

Everyone should have the right to protest but no one should have the right to force the government into action by shutting down roads every other day.

___________________
"House music is the soundtrack to the more deviant, exciting, rebellious side of life." -Lawler

quote:

Originally posted by dEsidEL Who said we had to take sides? We're talking about encouraging the international community to take action in stopping a war. Isn't it the UN's mandate to be doing this type of stuff? It only happens in the UN because the international community makes it a point of concern. Last time I checked Canada was a member of that body. Sure we're not as influential as the US, China, or Russia, but we're not Tahiti either. If we're not even willing to (talk) about it in a place where we have representation via. an ambassador, why do we bother sending foreign aid to other countries in the first place? I think the fact that the government only started to give this matter the attention AFTER the Gardiner shutdown sets a bad example. Like Abercrombie said, the Tamils today, who knows tomorrow? All I'm saying is that this may have been prevented. How hard was it for Stephen Harper to say: "Hey yeah we know there's a war going on over there. Yes people caught in the middle are dying and it's wrong. I'll let our ambassador to the UN know that Canada encourages peacekeeping action by the international community at the next UN assembly." Is that so hard?

he was too busy making up attack ads.

___________________
Deviant Art - Smuncky
My Photos on Flickr
If anyone wants to share their clubbing/nightlife pics go to Toronto Nightlife
"The best car-related innovation we have is not to improve the car, but eliminate the need to drive it everywhere we go.” -Alex Steffen

I think a great way to stage a national protest is to just shutter every business. National strike = national holiday. But about Canadian issues.

Non violent, makes a point, and a day (or a week) off. You can bet that when the government stops making tax revenue that they will act.

quote:

Originally posted by Intangible I was talking about this with a friend last night. It's scary. Can you imagine this happening every weekend? Imagine trying to drive home and having pitbulls and owners blocking the DVP as they feel their pets rights have been violated. Our government needs to set a standard and show that this type of protesting is not exceptable in Canada. Everyone should have the right to protest but no one should have the right to force the government into action by shutting down roads every other day.

You precicely get my point. There have been other protests a few months ago by other potentially aggressive groups with some also waving recognized terrorist flags, that are probably kicking themselves right now not having thought of it first, and now may likely employ such tactics in the future. Other groups are watching these events unfold with a keen eye in planning their next one to test their boundaries. It's only going to escalate.

___________________

Short time TA, Long time Guver, Good time giver.