Protests: The Bigger Picture

It's almost 4am, and I should really be in bed...but I couldn't sleep until I put in words what I've been thinking about.

I've just spent the past couple hours reading up on the situation in Sri Lanka, spurred by the continuing protests on University Avenue. It's very hard to determine precisely what is occurring in a country that refuses international entry, particularly by media, and so I will admit that I do not know a great deal about the situation. I'm not writing to comment on that anyway.

I would more so like to comment on the actual protest itself. There has been a lot of coverage regarding the protest, particularly since the group number has risen significantly and a section of University Avenue, the central downtown street lined by office buildings and three main hospitals, has been blocked off in front of the US Consulate. Naturally people form opinions regarding what is depcited to them through the media and what they have seen first hand, and thanks to the open forum that is the internet, we are able to see many of these opinions. Here are some select comments that I came across while reading National Post coverage online.

For the full article and comments, click here:

by mnolz Apr 27 2009 1:12 PM

Blocking a whole street and impairing ambulances, fire fighters & police from doing their jobs is no way to win over my heart & mind. Yes, tis sad what is happening to the Tamils but there is a reason the Tigers are on the terrorist list...they're terrorists!! Now, all you Tamils, back to work or no welfare for you!

by Darren in TO Apr 27 2009 3:42 PM

BBC is reporting that Sri Lanka is no longer using heavy weaponary. So these protestors can finally leave our streets alone, and stop disrupting our daily lives.

by Sarah54 Apr 27 2009 4:04 PM

I'm a Canadian and I'll protest whatever I think is important, whenever I want. That's my right, I pay taxes and I obey the law. If anyone has a problem with that then go live in Sri lanka or China where you won't be bothered by protests.

by Hara41 Apr 27 2009 4:55 PM

Sarah54 You can go naked if you want but don't disturb others. What you are doing is public disturbances.You have to learn the meaning of NO. Don't use Tamil Tiger Tactics in this country. And get rid of that ridicules flag with two AK47 and bullets.I hope Sri Lankan security forces will finish your terrorist leader very soon.Hope we will have a break at least then.

by gwestbound Apr 27 2009 5:13 PM

Sounds like the police are doing a fine job of looking after the protesters' rights. What about ordinary citizens' right to move unimpeded on the public streets?

For full article and comments, click here:

by john_97 Apr 28 2009 1:01 AM

...Torontonians don’t follow sri lanka news. They much prefer to criticize every move the united states makes because as of the last 30 yrs canadians have adopted the role of north america’s whining bitch. They follow hockey, baseball, football or their own personal life. They don’t want to be inconvenienced by having a street closed down for a day but the matter is that people including small children like your sons & daughters, elderly like your mothers & fathers are having clusters of bombs rained down from hell on them... ...Maybe Canadians are more racist than they think they are. Maybe they have spent so much time calling Americans racist that they forgot inaction to help an individual or a collective group of individuals because they are “other” (to quote obama who by the way has never experienced a day of racism in his entire life), or black, as are tamils, is racism! Come on Canadians! Practice what you preach! Help stop racism wherever it raises its putrid head! Or are you all a bunch of phonies who just like to point fingers & gossip like a bunch of old fuckin women! Closed down the street for a little while? Did they? Awh, that’s too bad.

by Dave_12 Apr 28 2009 9:13 AM

...No John-97, Tamils have no right to shut down our streets to protest your uprising some 7,000 miles away. ...It is only that our cowardly politicians and police are too frightened to respond properly to this illegal civil threat that you can do this.

by john_97 Apr 28 2009 8:14 PM

...It is perfectly legal to protest & demonstrate your grievances in Canada.. ...You don’t have the least clue the terrible racism & yes indiscriminate killings in sri lanka point does this killing become genocide? Easy for you to fluff it off. You live in a country that makes its citizens soft, weak, overindulgent,undisciplined, whimpering, whining, without compassion for a fellow human being.

by Jay Patel Apr 28 2009 10:47 PM

... TAMILS: (1) Get off our streets and do some work, make some money, and offer it for development, NOT TERRORISM.

So to summarize, there seem to be two general positions on this protest:

1. I live in Canada and I have a right to protest whatever I want, however I want as guaranteed to me by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. If you refuse me that right, then you are racist.
2. I live in Canada and have a right to carry on my life day to day without undue interference from other people's grievances. Do not inconvenience me with your problems.

Yes, it is absolutely correct that all Canadian citizens and persons living in Canada are entitled to Fundamental Freedoms under Section 2 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms:

2. Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:

a) freedom of conscience and religion;

b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;

c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and

d) freedom of association.

It is furthermore true that the second right I outlined is not an entrenched right in the Charter. That being said, that does not mean that simply because it is listed in the Charter that it is to be regarded as being of higher value or flaunted in spite of that right where it competes with your aims.

One of my professors this year put forth the idea that there are no rights without responsibilities, and it is a point of view with which I am in complete concurrence. Yes, these rights are guaranteed under the Charter, but that does not allow you to exercise your right with a complete disregard for the autonomy of others in society. Every citizen has a responsibility to acknowledge the rights of other citizens in order to claim rights themselves. The Tamil protesters have a responsibility to recognize the rights of every person travelling along University Avenue to not have their autonomy impeded unreasonably, just as every person has the responsibility to recognize the rights of these protesters as outlined in the Charter. Neither group of individuals can fully and justly claim their rights, in my humble opinion, unless they share this mutual recognition.

At the end of the day, it all comes down to respect. When the protesters were on the sidewalks, no one complained. The freedoms of the protesters of peaceful assembly and association were recognized without issue, and the people surrounding them were free to carry on their daily activities without impedement. There was mutual respect for the rights of each group of people, whether on a conscious or sub-conscious level. That mutual respect no longer exists. Currently the situation is one of competing rights, and the real issue as Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair stated is "striking the balance".

When one group decides to exercise their rights over the threshold of mutual respect, and thus do so in disregard of the rights of others, they may garner more attention for their cause but they lose any support from laypersons. Particularly those who have been unduly impacted by their actions. Just ask the Ontario farmers how well it worked out for them.

Respect for one's cause is not something that any person is entitled to - it is something to be earned. It has to be remembered that just as you are entitled to your freedom of thought and expression so is everyone else in the country, and they are equally entitled to disagree with your thoughts and cause. If you are going to put your rights above those of another individual, it should come as no surprise that you do not have their respect for your efforts or agreement with your cause. And that does not in and of itself make someone racist or intolerant.

At the same time, roads are closed all the time for various reasons. It is inconvenient, yes, but not impossible to deal with. Realistically, a closed block of street is the least of anyone's concerns nowadays.

Eventually this will all end - the protesters will cease their protesting, the road will re-open, and everyone will get on with their lives just as they were before. But maybe, just maybe, everyone will come out of it with a little bit more understanding.

Image by Ren Hui Yoong from The Varsity