There are not too many things in the world that I hate more than protests and demonstrations. I have commented before that I truly doubt that anyone's mind will really be changed by a rally, a protest, or a demonstration; rather, it is the protester that probably is the only one that feels that they are making an impact. Perhaps what I hate even more is a protest about something that is not relevant to our country. And a protest that ends up inconveniencing the general populace. This can be anything from greedy union members who are on strike and decide to block entraceways or roads, to any number of social commentary issues, which has its protesters shutting down traffic and such. I should be very clear here - I don't just dislike protests for stuff I couldn't give a rat's ass about, but I also don't like protests for issues which matter to me (ie. I am a staunch opponent of abortion, but I don't believe anti-abortionists should block traffic or whatever, to make their point).
So you can imagine that even though it had no direct impact on me per se (other than taking up some newspaper headlines which I had to wade through while reading), today's Tamil protest that shut down key parts of the city's business core in Toronto, gave me a bit of a irritation. Ok, a lot.
First, as everyone can tell you, there are two sides of the story. The Tamil community are protesting because of claims of genocide in the Sri Lankan civil war. They say that kids are being killed and so forth. What you are not hearing is the other side - I am neither Indian nor Tamil, but I do have a friend from Sri Lanka (Sihanese) who gave me a quick rundown of the history. Ever heard of the Tamil Tigers? The Tamil community loves these guys. But ask any intelligence agency and they will tell you that these guys are terrorists. I didn't need to ask anyone to know that - it is clear in the heinousness in crimes committed by Tigers in the Toronto and Vancouver areas (and elsewhere) to know this. Moreover, much of the fundraising and support for these terrorists comes right from the Tamil community. Canada and 30+ countries considers the Tigers a terrorist organization. Yet, the protesters today, freely wave Tamil Tiger flags (which has a picture of a Tiger on it, with rifles and bullets in the background).
But let's say that I didn't know either side...I still would be absolutely irritated that they decided to inconvenience the public to try to make their side known. Honestly, I am so glad, for so many reasons, that I don't work in downtown Toronto. I am clearly a heterosexual male, but I would probably choose to be gay rather than working in downtown Toronto ever again. It is a cesspool of the worst the city has to offer. Traffic is terrible, people are rude, the streets smell, everything is overpriced...no thanks! Anyway, I do know a lot of people work there and make a living in doing so, whether they like it or not. The business district of Toronto is an important part of the city, so for any group's protest to cause traffic chaos is simply not thinking of the overall good of the city, especially if they are a citizen of it.
Furthermore, and this is perhaps my biggest beef with today's protest, is that what is being screamed and bantered about is not even taking place in Canada! Like, can anyone who was inconvenienced today really do anything about it? Better that they go on Parliament Hill in Ottawa and scream to the government bureaucrats who may have a remote chance of listening (which is doubtful, since Canada doesn't really have much, if any, influence or presence in that part of the world). But as it stands, all this kind of thing does is just irritate people, in that it makes non-Tamils wonder about where these people's loyalty lies. I was not born here, but am a proud Canadian and Canadian issues always come first; things in my ancestral homeland play a (distant) second. By not adopting this way of thinking, one wonders where my loyalties lie and why I don't just move back to my ancestral homeland if I am so concerned about matters "over there". Now, some people may say that well, if people don't protest and cause inconvenience, then perhaps segregation may still be in play. But even then, that's a different kettle of fish, since segregation happened on American soil, so it was an American issue. The Sri Lankan civil war is not a Canadian issue, so the average Canadian cannot effect the outcome or doesn't care (or likely a combination of both).
One can also slag folks like me who disagree with such things as being xenophobic, but isn't that the politically correct language nowadays - that for those who don't think that people should hyphenate loyalities be branded a bigot or racist. I am a visible minority immigrant, so it's kind of hard to make that charge stick on me - I just call it like it is. And I call today's protests an exercise in counter-productivity. You will not get people's support by deliberately pissing them off with an issue that is not a Canadian one.
Ultimately, this again makes me wonder why people even bother coming to this fine country if their minds and hearts still reside in their previous homeland. Don't people come to Canada for a better life? My parents sure did. It's fine to be interested in matters from around the world, but don't forget, you are a Canadian first. For all the energy expended at raising "awareness", these people better be damn well standing on one of the overpasses along the Highway of Heroes the next time a Canadian soldier who died on the battlefield is repatriated and show equal, if not more concern for the country that they now call home.
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33 comments:
you suck....
listen... i am a tamil first and i born in canada...so i am tamil canadian...my parents came to canada not for da good life... they came here because the war in srilanka...in srilanka and if your tamil u can not go to uni or collage even if u get high marks ..also my dad had to closed down his factory because of the warnings he was getting from the goverment(who are singlases)...it was running very well becase of he is tamil...i bet u any money..most of the tamils here in canada havin da same issue... ya'll came here for what? u can not live in your country becase u hate your mother land?? better job in canada? better education in canada? thats y? ur rents r here? y? don't u work hard in your country rater than coming to canada? i bet u i pay more tax than u here in canada...i have the right to fight foh my issue or my people issue...i am wondering Y? jews ... r here even tho they got a nation... am i complaing about how they build a jews skool near by my house? no ..as i canadian i need to accpect these things becase we are living in MUTICULTURAL COUNTRY... this is ur time to change ur mind... i won;t be here if i get my own nation...i rather go there and invest my money and give jobs to my people...IF THEY ARE NATIVE CANADIAN ...I WILL LISTEN WHAT THEY SAYING IS GOOD ELSE ILL HAVE A TALK WITH THEM ABOUT THIS ...PERIOD!!
For the first guy - whatever. Your inability to string together a coherent counter-argument and your need to resort to infantile name calling says a lot about your intelligence.
For the second person - thanks for the message. It took a while to comprehend what you are writing, but my response to that would be that if your goal all along is to go back to Sri Lanka, why bother staying in Canada? My parents came here for a better life. I have no desire to go anywhere else, because I love Canada. The problem these days is people who come to this great country but refuse to put down roots here. As a result, loyalties are divided and being Canadian, in terms of identity is harder to nail down, than being an American. Ever notice that the American melting pot system affords immigrants the best chance to succeed. I look at Blacks, Whites, Asians, etc. in American and just regard them as Americans, because the identity is strong. Because of federally-mandated multiculturalism practices in Canada, I can't make that same claim for my fellow Canadians. Case in point - I don't know how many times people asked me what nationality I am and I say Canada, but they said, "no really, what is it?" I can't imagine someone asking an American the same thing.
I am in no way putting down your opinions...everyone's entitled to their own...
I'd first like to mention that I am a very proud Canadian. I'd then also like to mention that my mother was a refugee to Canada from SriLanka and my father left Sri Lanka when he was 16.
Protests may irritate the shit out of people but atleast it's getting the message out to others.
A few ideas I'd like to expand on:
Tamil Tigers may be deemed a terrorist organization but please remember the globally celebrated Nelson Mandela was also forced to resort to violence and "terrorism" before he won the Nobel Peace prize. If a country is causing terror to it's civilians and they fight back..why should they be the only ones classified as terrorists?
I do admit that the Tamil Tigers have done many wrongs..."the anti-Muslim throwout"(which has two sides that are both reasonable), the use of child soldeirs (i might add that they are not brainwashed),the murder of Rajiv Gandhi, the forceful collection of money(which even Tiger supporters were confused by- it was mainly due to corrupted counterparts here in TOronto)...but SERIOUSLY the government "which is supposed to keep civilians safe", is doing the opposite...A young girl under 6 was raped with a knife (only one case), there are numerous cases of human rights violations and kidnappings.
Canada may be a nation of its own but your forgetting that there is something known as a global nation. Canada's economy may be in much trouble but if innocent lives are killed can we get them back?
I am a Canadian student, I have to take a mandatory credit in History. We read all these textbook about the Holocaust, the rape of Nanking, etc...and we learn about what Canada did not do. I do not want my children to read about what we as a peace loving nation could've done about the Sri Lankan genocide.
I also do not want this to end up liek the Rwandan genocide. No one paid attention to it while it was happening right under their noses..until Hotel Rwanda the movie came out. Then everybody prety much said.."aww taht's so sad..wish I could've done something" WE NOW WE HAVE THE CHANCE but the people are back to their selfish frame of mind. I do not want the Srilankan Genocide of Tamils coming to a theatre near me.
ou may say that Tamils have never suported any other "Canadian" causes...why should we support theirs? This is an absolute misunderstanding. Tamil refugess and immigrants cannot voice their opinions because they are simply not articulate enough..having recieved only partial education in Sri Lanka again due to the damn government. The young generation on teh other hand does so much. I myself am part of the youth advisory council for the Canadian Cancer Society, I've voiced my opinion on Gay Rights, abortion issues so on and so forth. So please don't generalize Tamils.
And also notice how I don't mention Singhala people as the enemies..I mention the Goverment. There are many Singhala people who agree and suport the Tamils' causes.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE reevaluate your thoughts on this issue.
Thanking you for your time,
Narmi
These protests are getting ridiculous! The first one back in January was interesting, they are now getting annoying, ineffective and concerning.
I share your views on the flag/terrorist organization concerns. I am also concered about the response or lack there of, of the Toronto Police Service. They in press releases call the protest a "community vigil" ... and fail to recognize what it is: an ILLEGAL PROTEST. It is in violation of several laws including the highway traffic act, city by-laws, and perhaps Canadian anti-terrorism laws.
The police should send in the riot squad to break this thing up, use rubber bullets and tear gas if necessary, and arrest people who fail to disperse.
Amen to that.
People may sympathize but why should Canadian troops go and risk their lives for this, when according to statistics on the National Defence and Canadian Troops website lists only 4.2% of the reserve force.
http://www.journal.forces.gc.ca/vo8/no3/jung-eng.asp
It's not right for a group of people to inconvenience everyone else in order to try and use their resources and let their lives be at risk.
I have to say that that is unreasonable.
Correction**
4.2% of the reserve force as a visible minority, sorry.
YOu know what..every annoyed person out there..LIVE WITH IT!!!! this is a humanitarian crisis and thousands of innocent people are dying and this has nothing to dow ith tamilo tigers...the point is people are dying by the very government that should give a damn about them and they're not so until they do..we'll protest and create havoc amongst the streets of downtown toronto..SORRY...you people are annoyed by a few protestors..learn to make peace with it, we'll be out there as long as we need to be. The 9/11 bombing was such a crisis and everyone was so sad and disturbed by what happened..this is as much a crisis or more so because thousands are being bombed and shelled each and everyday fuckin day.skin colour or nationality should not make us more worthy of being treated like human beings..we are all humans and the killing and torture of what race..affects human kind as a whole and it should considered an outrage. I support any type of protest.. we ahve to deal with raod closurs for all types of useless things and this is an inconvience..gay parade..every summer, stupid easter parades, stupid christmas parades, carribana..useless things in comparison to a protest to save innocent human beingss from being killed.
Live with it? Right until you need to get to a hospital asap I work in emergency services in the immediate vicinity and the delays due to this illegal protest are nothing short of ridiculous.Im sure several people from Toronto have already died.Lawsuits should be directed to the Tigers as well as the clean up bills.Oh we'll live with it, but it will be on your conscience.
This situation is a Drain on the public purse for Policing, its a safety concern for those who live anywhere downtown and might need to access a hospital.
Its an image issue for Canada as we appear soft on Terrorist Groups. And if this were any other protest (G8, Labour movement, Environmentalists etc.) it would have been shut down long ago.
Its time for the Police to get up some courage and shut this thing down.
To the police: Crack out the tasers, tear gas, batons and shields.
To the Protesters: The other foot is about to fall, end this nicely now or prepare to face the full force of the Police.
To the Protesters that think we care: WE DON'T! Just let us lead our lives in peace, Leave your old world baggage behind, or go home, WE DON'T CARE!
For the folk(s) equating it with the Santa Claus Parade or Easter Parade, this is not the same. Even thought I don't attend nor support the above parades, both are held on the weekend, with ample advance notice to people, to be able to make alternate arrangements. Even when they shut down the DVP every year for a run, that is advertised well in advance, and it is done on the weekend. Having a protest during the middle of a workday will just tick people off. People need to get home to pick up their kids from daycare, people need to get to and from work, and as a poster mentioned, police and emergency services need to get through the streets.
There are also two sides to every story, and the folks who have been pro Tamil here are only expressing one side of it. Talk to someone who is Sinhalese, and you'll get a much different perspective. I find it amazing to see so many cars with a known terrorist group's flag on it.
As for raising awareness - my only point to my original blog entry here is that this is not the way, and that goes for things that I personally believe in (such as anti-abortion - I am vehemently anti-abortion, though I am equally against public protests to the same that would cause chaos in the streets on a weekday. I am sorry, no one is going to convince me that by inconveniencing he public, one is going to be able to communicate their cause, to the point of endearing sympathy. My suspicion is that the opposite occurs. Case in point - based on the replies so far here, how many non-Tamils have voiced support for this rally?
Talk to someone Sighalese...and of course they are going to bad mouth our cause..they're motive is to support their oppressive government. What opinion do you think we should get... you cannot ..any opinion that condones the killing of innocent civilians should not even be valued as a creditable opinion or worthy of any sort of credit or attention. Okay, I understand you are having a hard time getting home but just consider the mass killing and ethnic cleansing of a whole group of people..if genocide is not allowed to take place in countries like Canada and USA..then why allow such a inhumane tradegy to take place in Srilanka..or is it because we are brown and living in a third world country..anything white and with lots of money..always seen as more worthy..The world sat by and allowed the holocaust to happen..isn't this the reason we learn history so that we learn from our mistakes and so we can prevent something similiar from happening in the future..
OH look, 9 under arrest and counting... looks like the other shoe is falling on you ... better run ... maybe the Tamils should move to Greenland ... seems that's what they do when things don't go their way ... they just run away ... Play by our Rules in Canada, Shut up or Get the hell out ... we don't care about your little issues back home
About time that the Police Stepped up and did their job. Hope that the next time the Tamils start a protest the firm foot of the law steps down on their throats alot faster than this took.
To the idiot who wrote "play by our rules or get the hell out" that statement is laughable..I'm going to make a wild guess that you are probably White and ignornatly think this is your country somehow and have the right to tell us to go back to where we came from. If you had any education at all you would know that this is Aboriginal land and everyone in this country aside from true native Canadians are immigrants including yourselves. When the rightful owners of this country get their land back and you people (whites) go back to where you came from.. we may aswell but until then..WE ARE NOT SHUTTING UP AND WE ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE!!!! YOu colonize people, ruin thier way of life and have the nerve to tell us that we're terrorist...disgustingggg
lip service - the lot of you ..!!
i've been on a few protests and found out quickly that at least half the ppl attending were quilty of just being there an' knowing (or caring) shit about the cause at hand.
same thing w/ the recent tamil protest no doubt. this is the scary thing - MOST PPL ARE FULL OF SHIT !!
not a lot of real believe an' passion out there, jus' a lot of hypocrisy an' lip services paying bitche's.
thank you.
I don't understand how these people think that by shutting down city Streets and protesting a cause that noone cares about is going to somehow get more people on their side. All you are doing is creating hatred and anger towards your community.
Most people don't in this city don't belive in a cause enough to jump up and protest, and they dont understand or appreciate the mess you are making of our city streets.
Again today you people blocked a street. This time Yonge Street - causing traffic headaches, and delays.
People have to realize the COST to the TAXPAYER for these little festivities. From overtime to Police officers, to for the TTC drivers who get caught with your impromptu road closers who have to stay with their streetcars.
The inconvince factor alone should be enough for the citizens of toronto to put their foot down and say enough is enough! ... and the cost come city tax time if this shit continues will be payed by us all.
By all means believe what you believe, but don't screw over the 99% of us who just want to get on with our daily lives with out anymore delays or distractions than we already have.
I just want to put a few points out there.
1. LTTE has also committed genocide of hundereds of muslims and many Tamil Canadians engage in openly racist acts towards muslims for no reason today, myself being a victim of such acts of hatred at my high school.
2. I doubt that many Tamil Canadians even pay taxes considering
a) Many of them UNEMPLOYED and are on WELFARE
b) They commit LOTS OF FRAUD.
3. For those who say this doesn't have anything to do with the LTTE terrorist organization:
a) Why are you waving a flag with machine guns and bullets on it?
b) Why is there a huge portrait of the LTTE leader in every Tamil Canadian's house I've been to.
4.) THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A GLOBAL NATION! WHAT YOU ARE IMPLYING IS THE NEW WORLD ORDER/ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT! BORDERS STILL EXIST! JURISDICTIONS STILL HAVE LIMITATIONS!
5.)Although being brown-skinned myself, I've come to accept that this world is still controlled by white people. So shut up, and stop pissing them of because it is they who can make or break your life. Just because they transcribed some peace of paper awarding you some rights doesn't mean you will have the power to actually exercise them. Or are you people actually naive enough to believe that? If you get on their nerves, they will crush you like vermin.
6. Lastly, tragedies happen. People die. It's well known that these kind of events are exactly what Thomas Robert Malthus predicted. Due to the inability of man to suppress his libido, human population have grown exponentially, leading to less resources. ie. people must die for others to live. This is simply a result of natural selection. There is NO JUSTICE in this. But, it is what it is. So stop wasting your time and that of others. Try to get the most out of your life. Get a job instead of protesting on some sidewalk or sitting like a homeless person on the street. It is an insult to the unfortunate that you so thoughtlessly pass the wonderful opportunities (that Canada has awarded you) by.
Well, I'm taking my son and brother to the Blue Jays game tomorrow. Was looking forward to it, until my brother emailed me this afternoon to advise that the Tamils are planning another protest, this one a "human chain" that will disrupt traffic downtown. It will be interesting, as my son and I are taking the bus downtown. I may provide a report or a rant later, if things turn ugly (which naturally you know they will).
I totally agree, this protest is just really annoying and is a inconvenience. This is not even a canadian issue, they should go annoy the UN instead.
I am afraid if the Tamil group will ask for a seperate "Country" in Canada
What genocide in Sri Lanka?? Are innocent Tamil civilians getting killed--yes. Are many getting killed by government shelling--yes. So, end of story--genocide? No, way.
Tiger supporters, don't be so one-sided and selective with your arguments. The civilians dying are trapped within a sliver of land in a war zone, and credible reports are that they are to some extent being used as human shields. Tamil Tigers, notorious suicide bombers using even pregnant women as suicide bombers, bombing buses and other selected civilian targets in cities--could they possibly be using civilians as shields? Uh... what do YOU think?
This isn't genocide. It's war--tragic and regrettable as that is. Both sides have culpability. The discrimination and tragic events your parents in Sri Lanka suffered were 25 years ago. A lot has happened since then, in addition to the emergence of the murderous Tamil Tiger organization responsible for many acts of both war and terrorism.
Anyway, I've strayed off the point of the post. I'm not against protests, but the right that the Tamil community has to protest ought not be taken for granted by them. I live in a country, not of my birth, where even being born in country does not give anyone rights of residency or citizenship if they are not members of the ruling tribes. So those graciously allowed to immigrate, settle and even protest in Canada ought to do so with some humility.
Please donot use this friendly country to reorganize the LTTE
These constant protests are really starting to mess up the community that lives and works in the downtown area. It's a shame that people take advantage of our Canadian laws and so selfishly aggravate the people of Toronto.
In a time of such economic downturns it is completely unfair to make people late for work and/or miss work all together. Its probably because most of these protesters do not have jobs and do not know how it feels to have to work hard to pay their bills. Basically majority of these people are collecting welfare checks from government which we the tax payers are paying for, while they block the streets of downtown Toronto.
FOUR HOSPITALS are being blocked by the Tamil Tiger propaganda protests and ambulances that are rushing patients have to find alternate routes which are gridlocked because of the Tamil demonstrations.
Last of all, these protesters are holding Tamil Tiger flags... The Tamil Tigers are the #1 terrorist group in the world according to the FBI even over Al Qaeda. So the spreading of this terrorist propaganda is really unnecessary in our peaceful Canadian soil.
I know many moderate Tamils that do not attend these demonstrations because they say that the Tigers are the real killers, and all these protesters are refugees who are going to be deported if the war ends, this is why they want a ceasefire so the terrorists can re-arm and start terrorizing the country again. That way these people can keep their refugee status and stay in Canada.
This is F***'n ridiculous... shutting down the Gardner? When will we collectively say enough is enough???
This is getting STUPID ... FAST ... AND WE HAVE NO PATIENCE FOR THIS BULL S*** ... WHEN ONE OF YOU GETS SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED ... (DUE TO A STUNT LIKE THIS OR BY A COP) YOU WILL NOT HAVE OUR SYMPATHY
I agree with what you wrote.
If people are so bloody upset, pick up a plane ticket go back to Sri Lanka and do something about it.
This is a form of terrorism not civil unrest and to the douche that says he's tamil first then canadian go fuck yourself. If you're here you're Canadian first and have obligations as a Canadian citizen.
This isn't a race thing, a culture thing, or an ethnic thing this is all a matter of people not respecting the country that is giving them so much.
I am disgusted with the protesters actions. They have no right to shut down the Gardiner Expressway. Not only did they wave Tamil Tiger flags during the protest, they also brought their children along.
I am directing this comment towards the protesters: get the hell out of Canada.
Deal with your own problems. Do not involve Canada in your disputes with Sri Lanka. What makes you think other countries such as Canada have a responsibility to assist you in your problems? Stop relying on others to intervene on your behalf. We have no interest in getting involved. You were given the privilege of entering this country, don't abuse it.
I wasn't planning on adding any more two cents to my original post, but as I'm listening to the news here from home, I just shake my head - another protest/demonstration, more public traffic headaches. Honestly, this is not going to elicit any sympathy from anyone who is non-Tamil. In talking with many people about this, the overwhelming response is anger and outright hostility towards the protesters. The provincial government has no power to affect anything in Sri Lanka. If you want to pressure a world organization, go to New York City and protest to the U.N., but as my original post states (and I've said elsewhere), I highly doubt the effectiveness of protests in general. They say that we should put ourselves in their shoes. OK, some of my family are in Hong Kong - if they were being slaughtered, I wouldn't stand around at Queen's Park protesting - I would be on a plane to Hong Kong. I really don't get the mentality of these protesters. They assume that people in Western countries are a lot more globally minded - I think that anything is further than the truth if you look at how the West is really a self-directed society. That being said, as I mentioned originally, there are two sides to this conflict, and we are only hearing one - from the more vocal terrorist-supporting community. But the core of my concern is that they have totally misunderstood their target audience - the average Joe will not find such demonstrations to be endearing towards better understanding any supposed conflict; in reality, the opposite effect has been created, if these responses are any indication.
And here's the double standard...
So Tamils are allowed to paralyze parts of the city - with flags of a terrorist organization - and its free speech...
BUT
When someone flys a banner condemning the Tamil Tigers they are forced to land and Toronto Police investigates it as a HATE CRIME?!?!?
Can you say DOUBLE STANDARD? Free speech works both ways folks ...
This is getting VERY STUPID.
to Police Chief Blair: GROW SOME BALLS - Shut this s*** down! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! WE WANT OUR CITY BACK!
If the protest is illegal..why is it allowed to be happening as it is and we are always waiving our "terrorist" flags and clearly we are not breaking the law as we have it up all the timee at our protests and noone is getting arrested for ittt..If you people have a cause you feel strongly about..go out create chaoas and protest your asses off..sorry that we ahve people of our community who actually care about someone and can stand up for somethinggg that is wrongggg and inhumane!!!!!
The war is almost over and the Tamil Tiger Terrorists are all but defeated, the news is reporting that there may be a last stand, or the LTTE leadership may commit mass suicide... hopefully the local Tamils get the message and stop this nonsense... or follow in the footsteps of their LTTE leaders and commit mass suicide, either way the end is near and we are about to get our city back... now that's something to celebrate!
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