Reasons I'm glad I work in the building right beside the US embassy in Toronto
As the protestors continuously shout for the fourth day straight, the grumbles from my co-workers are getting louder and louder. While they aren't aware of issues, and the bigotted, close minded remarks are becoming more and more difficult to bear, it's the other parts of it that I can't believe they're looking past:
1. For all my grumblings about the country we live in, what an incredible oppourtunity for the general public to see that we live in a country that allows us (legally) to protest. In lots of other countries (and as we seen in prior situations of protest in Canada) there is a time and a place where protestors are shot, beaten, arrested, etc. immediately. The fact that in almost four days, the total amount of injuries sustained have been a small cut above the eye brow and things of that nature, make me very proud to live in a country where people who are passionate have the ability to speak about their thoughts.
2. though we have this freedom, very rarely does someone in Canada use it. People have grumbled about their shouoting, etc. but as I posed to a co-worker, 'when have you ever been this passionate about anything?'. We live in one of the most compliant, polite societies in the world. Canadian's are known for their complacency and gentle nature. No one has an opinion, and no one does anything if they do.
I recently wrote a letter to a local Chapters location, as a result of horrendous customer service I received. I told a few people I know about it, and they were shocked that I took that much time to prepare a letter and send it to the head office, as well as the local store at which I had been mistreated. They could not believe that I would write a letter and send it to voice my opinion, in the hopes of changing the service that is being provided to the millions of people who are keeping Chapters afloat.
I wrote a letter people. A letter. That's all. These people are sitting outside, in some cases camping, and fighting for something that they feel so strongly about, that they have taken time off of work to let the world know. This - I admire. We need more passion injected into Canadians - and not just from anti-choice/pro-lifers
3. This is history in the making people!! This has been the longest standing conflict in Asian history, and we are going to be able to be a part of the end of it. I don't know how optimistic I am about the timeline of it ending, but all I know is, I get to watch what is happening outside our windows, and be a part (if only a fly on the wall) of something huge. I get to tell my children (who - as I'm sure you can all tell by now - will be more informed on politics than tv shows) that I worked alongside these protests when the tamils and sri lankan government were 'working things out' (yes… I use this term lightly). Incredible!!
I take TTC (which in my opinion, everyone in toronto should take), and I walk. I work in a building that is right beside the consulate. I should be one of the most effected members of the Toronto community, but my day to day life has not been impacted at all - other than it takes me almost twice as long to go anywhere, because I stop and stare.
Let's just say, if I had a picket sign, and a police was in front of me on a horse, I would drop that sign and get out of there so quickly, they would not be able to charge me for littering. Power to those with courage and passion.
*This is not a decleration of my support for the "Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam" group (as designated by the Government of Canada as a terrorist group), which is VERY different from the Tamil community within Canada - just thought that I better throw that one out there.
As the protestors continuously shout for the fourth day straight, the grumbles from my co-workers are getting louder and louder. While they aren't aware of issues, and the bigotted, close minded remarks are becoming more and more difficult to bear, it's the other parts of it that I can't believe they're looking past:
1. For all my grumblings about the country we live in, what an incredible oppourtunity for the general public to see that we live in a country that allows us (legally) to protest. In lots of other countries (and as we seen in prior situations of protest in Canada) there is a time and a place where protestors are shot, beaten, arrested, etc. immediately. The fact that in almost four days, the total amount of injuries sustained have been a small cut above the eye brow and things of that nature, make me very proud to live in a country where people who are passionate have the ability to speak about their thoughts.
2. though we have this freedom, very rarely does someone in Canada use it. People have grumbled about their shouoting, etc. but as I posed to a co-worker, 'when have you ever been this passionate about anything?'. We live in one of the most compliant, polite societies in the world. Canadian's are known for their complacency and gentle nature. No one has an opinion, and no one does anything if they do.
I recently wrote a letter to a local Chapters location, as a result of horrendous customer service I received. I told a few people I know about it, and they were shocked that I took that much time to prepare a letter and send it to the head office, as well as the local store at which I had been mistreated. They could not believe that I would write a letter and send it to voice my opinion, in the hopes of changing the service that is being provided to the millions of people who are keeping Chapters afloat.
I wrote a letter people. A letter. That's all. These people are sitting outside, in some cases camping, and fighting for something that they feel so strongly about, that they have taken time off of work to let the world know. This - I admire. We need more passion injected into Canadians - and not just from anti-choice/pro-lifers
3. This is history in the making people!! This has been the longest standing conflict in Asian history, and we are going to be able to be a part of the end of it. I don't know how optimistic I am about the timeline of it ending, but all I know is, I get to watch what is happening outside our windows, and be a part (if only a fly on the wall) of something huge. I get to tell my children (who - as I'm sure you can all tell by now - will be more informed on politics than tv shows) that I worked alongside these protests when the tamils and sri lankan government were 'working things out' (yes… I use this term lightly). Incredible!!
I take TTC (which in my opinion, everyone in toronto should take), and I walk. I work in a building that is right beside the consulate. I should be one of the most effected members of the Toronto community, but my day to day life has not been impacted at all - other than it takes me almost twice as long to go anywhere, because I stop and stare.
Let's just say, if I had a picket sign, and a police was in front of me on a horse, I would drop that sign and get out of there so quickly, they would not be able to charge me for littering. Power to those with courage and passion.
*This is not a decleration of my support for the "Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam" group (as designated by the Government of Canada as a terrorist group), which is VERY different from the Tamil community within Canada - just thought that I better throw that one out there.