I'm sitting in a local restaurant waiting for breakfast. An old gentleman, who looks like he must be a regular, comes up to me to say hello. He has mistaken me for someone else. We introduce ourselves anyway and start chatting. He's in his early 80's and, though his memory isn't--by his own admission--particularly great, it's obvious he's thoughtful and still sharp.
Somehow the conversation takes a turn to the protest in front of the Parliament. For over a week now Tamil-Canadians have lined up along Wellington Street to protest against the Canadian government's actions (or, more accurately, the lack thereof) in challenging the Sri Lankan government to stop its military offensive against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eeslam, a group Canada has labelled a terrorist organization. The protest includes hunger strikers, some of whom have been taken to hospital. While the protest has been peaceful, it has also created traffic problems for commuters.
The elderly gentleman is quite animated about the protest. "Can you imagine this happening in America?" he asks. "People parked in front of the U.S. Congress for a week or so, tying up traffic and being a nuisance--they wouldn't stand for it; some heads would knock, that's for sure. And Canada, what do we do? Nothing. Not a thing. How come nobody is willing to restore order?"
Somehow that sounds about right. Yeah, in the States I would guess something would happen..and it would reverberate with the potential for violence. Where I differ is in his assessment of Canada. The "nothing" it's doing is precisely the correct something. Ottawa police have been watching the protest regularly and have said it's legal; as long as people are peaceful, the protest can remain. The "something" Canada is doing is simply to allow it to happen--peaceful assembly, citizens engaged in an act of citizenship.
Canada is a nation of hyphenated Canadians (see the blogpost of Feb13th); our caring is dual. When that caring is expressed for our countries of origin, it is neither inappropriate nor unpatriotic towards Canada. Canada seems to understand this about has much as any nation. I would claim that Canada has gone further in accommodating difference than other countries simply because it has had to. Although Canadians often see the never-ending, complicated dance with Quebec as profoundly aggravating, the gift of its founding difference--French and English--is a unique capability as a nation to adapt and accommodate. That Tamil-Canadians have been protesting in front of Parliament for a week and tying up traffic is a sign, not of Canada's weakness, but its strength. It is a much more evolved kind of order than the order my new friend from this morning wanted restored, and Canada can be proud of that.
Somehow the conversation takes a turn to the protest in front of the Parliament. For over a week now Tamil-Canadians have lined up along Wellington Street to protest against the Canadian government's actions (or, more accurately, the lack thereof) in challenging the Sri Lankan government to stop its military offensive against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eeslam, a group Canada has labelled a terrorist organization. The protest includes hunger strikers, some of whom have been taken to hospital. While the protest has been peaceful, it has also created traffic problems for commuters.
The elderly gentleman is quite animated about the protest. "Can you imagine this happening in America?" he asks. "People parked in front of the U.S. Congress for a week or so, tying up traffic and being a nuisance--they wouldn't stand for it; some heads would knock, that's for sure. And Canada, what do we do? Nothing. Not a thing. How come nobody is willing to restore order?"
Somehow that sounds about right. Yeah, in the States I would guess something would happen..and it would reverberate with the potential for violence. Where I differ is in his assessment of Canada. The "nothing" it's doing is precisely the correct something. Ottawa police have been watching the protest regularly and have said it's legal; as long as people are peaceful, the protest can remain. The "something" Canada is doing is simply to allow it to happen--peaceful assembly, citizens engaged in an act of citizenship.
Canada is a nation of hyphenated Canadians (see the blogpost of Feb13th); our caring is dual. When that caring is expressed for our countries of origin, it is neither inappropriate nor unpatriotic towards Canada. Canada seems to understand this about has much as any nation. I would claim that Canada has gone further in accommodating difference than other countries simply because it has had to. Although Canadians often see the never-ending, complicated dance with Quebec as profoundly aggravating, the gift of its founding difference--French and English--is a unique capability as a nation to adapt and accommodate. That Tamil-Canadians have been protesting in front of Parliament for a week and tying up traffic is a sign, not of Canada's weakness, but its strength. It is a much more evolved kind of order than the order my new friend from this morning wanted restored, and Canada can be proud of that.
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