I am a Canadian, small farmer and I have been actively involved with supporting this convoy for the last week or so. Earlier in the week a large group of mamas and their children and I got together to make homemade, healthy, bagged lunches for the truckers. The kids made hand written cards to put inside all of the 150 bags. When we delivered the bags, my husband and I also folded a letter, directly from us, and placed it inside those bags.
It's the contents of that letter that I would love to share with you, Heather. That letter that speaks to the very real cost of these draconian mandates. The cost, for us, was many (job in medicine for one/expulsion from college for one daughter), but all of that is meaningless because the real cost for us, and this world, was the loss of our youngest daughter's life. She was brilliant, she was sunshine, she was a ferocious defenseman on the boy's hockey team she played on since she was three. She was a farm girl that got her own cow from the field to milk it. She was a poet and a saxophone and ukulele player. She was a stalwart champion for the underdog, a heart too big, it seems. She played national rugby and no matter where she went on our farm, a gaggle of adoring, scrappy barn cats followed her like a cloud.
I am going to send you an email. I think I can only do that on your Dark Horse address. Please look for it. I would love to share that letter we gave to the truckers with you. In it is the words of our daughter directly.
We are heartbroken and we are desperate to have someone listen. We have written to our Prime Minister, our provincial Premier, Ministers of Health, Ministers of Education, and every news outlet we could. Nobody cares. Nobody wants to hear about it. Not a single person replied. Their "care and concern" for our children extends to a mask and a vaccine and nothing more.
We have followed the convoy, yesterday night right into Ottawa. It was joyful and heartbreaking and exhilarating. Mostly, it feels hopeful. Thank you for sharing this piece and please, if you might, look for the email I am sending. Our daughter's name was, and forever remains, Mila.
Thank you for all your personal and heartfelt support of the Freedom Convoy. We have been fortunate to find a handful of great videos on YouTube revealing the massive show of resistance by Canadians and supported by Americans headed up there. It is without a doubt making a big impact. Will look for your follow up on Heather's posts.
Thank you so much for writing about the Freedom Convoy!! I am a Canadian (and now also an American citizen) living in the Bay Area, which is a hot spot of never-ending covid panic and insanity. I am so damn proud of those truckers and every time I watch footage of the convoy and all of the peaceful, hopeful Canadians cheering them on along overpasses and roadways (in freezing weather), I start to tear up. Trudeau is nothing but a duplicitous Ken doll, I agree.
Donated. First thing I’ve been inspired by in forever. I look forward to accurate numbers tomorrow. (So I can “inspire” friends and family.) I’m not usually a fan of yelling, screaming and horn honking but this I love……
I don't know that "accurate numbers" will be forthcoming. As with so much else during the last two years, polluting the data stream so that independent analysis is difficult, if not impossible, seems a go-to move.
Yes, I realized this morning that getting accurate numbers was unrealistic. Being swept up in the excitement of last night I forgot about our New Reality. Were one to try and pry open a few minds, accurate numbers sure would help.
I have been enjoying your podcast and Substack for awhile. This article-- along with my wary and weary observation that the NYTimes is prioritizing topics like today's "As Covid Shots for Kids Stall, Appeals Are Aimed at Wary Parents"-- made me reach for my wallet, both for you and the truckers. Looking forward to listening to the podcast! Listening to you and Bret makes even cleaning the toilets (and the floor around them) a pleasure. And I have a little boy, so that's no small thing.
I loved yesterday's Darkhorse and am thrilled that you followed up with this well-documented post -- especially as a Canadian-born American with deep roots in my country of origin. Yesterday from my Texas living room, I cheered footage of the convoy, my heart welling up with pride that (polite) Canada was leading a revote against tyranny. It rather brings to mind 1980s Poland.
Here is an important link I commend to NS readers to Jordan Peterson's discussion this week with the only living crafter of the Canadian bill of rights who is bringing a lawsuit against federal govt. It's long, but as with all things Peterson, it's worth your time.
An interesting historical note: the current Canadian Prime Minister's father, who was PM when the bill of rights was being constructed, walked out of those meetings to do his own version -- which was struck down by the Canadian high court.
I've been thoughtful about this convoy approach with the truckers and massive fundraising for it. A rally takes a lot of resources and human presence. The convoy method seems like a better deployment of those resources, although speeches at some point would be a good thing to have too from this group. How else can we direct determined convoys? What shape and form could they take? And of course remain peaceful and affirming of our fellow man?
Such good questions. This is not my forte at all—how to inspire and coordinate meaningful activism. Nor do I have a good sense of who is organizing (with) the truckers, beyond the two people on the GoFundMe. So far, though, it looks so well done.
My husband and I discussed this trucker convoy at great length tonight, debating whether it was consistent with Gandhi's principle of non-violence. He felt at first it was not because it was a confrontation and you're not supposed to shame your opponent. But the more we discussed it, the more we realized that it was the most peaceful thing they could do. They cannot band together one at a time at the border. There is no power for them there because they can't face their oppressor, but just some nameless/faceless uniform in a booth who has no power. They had to come together as a force. The Trucker Convoy was essentially Gandhi's Salt March. At the end of the march, they are simply requesting their rights back as Gandhi's marchers demanded their salt back. Two things happened, that I can see with the video I have watched. First, they have brought the country to its feet and given all Canadians hope. They have broken a spell and empowered other people to be brave. I saw restaurant owners in Ottowa were opening their doors and letting people in without masks or passports. People are rallying to feed and support them. Second, they have pulled the mask off the leadership. Justin Trudeau gave a speech in which he sounded weak and petulant. The mayor of Ottawa is hurling empty threats. It doesn't appear the police forces dare to try to confront the wave of enthusiasm yet. And it seems the truckers are remaining mostly peaceful. Let's hope they are able to keep it that way! Win, win, win! This is one of the most inspiring things I have ever seen in my life! - Diane McBride
Thanks for sharing those links. I have a heavily discounted subscription to one of the mainstream newspapers over here in the UK. I had a look at the canada stories, the last thing is from 26th Jan about skiing. Search for Canada Truckers reveals a top story of British Ice Road Trucker who died. The story is from 2012. The Daily Mail has covered it and they get the most hits I believe. Some of the smaller TV/Radio stations such as Talk Radio and GB News seem to be covering it, although that may be individual presenters more than the stations.
I think this should have stayed on Dark Horse not Natural Selections. It's 100% politics. And by the way this story was all over the mainstream media in Europe. If there is a conspiracy to suppress news like this (as opposed to just spin it), it doesn't have global reach.
I am a Canadian, small farmer and I have been actively involved with supporting this convoy for the last week or so. Earlier in the week a large group of mamas and their children and I got together to make homemade, healthy, bagged lunches for the truckers. The kids made hand written cards to put inside all of the 150 bags. When we delivered the bags, my husband and I also folded a letter, directly from us, and placed it inside those bags.
It's the contents of that letter that I would love to share with you, Heather. That letter that speaks to the very real cost of these draconian mandates. The cost, for us, was many (job in medicine for one/expulsion from college for one daughter), but all of that is meaningless because the real cost for us, and this world, was the loss of our youngest daughter's life. She was brilliant, she was sunshine, she was a ferocious defenseman on the boy's hockey team she played on since she was three. She was a farm girl that got her own cow from the field to milk it. She was a poet and a saxophone and ukulele player. She was a stalwart champion for the underdog, a heart too big, it seems. She played national rugby and no matter where she went on our farm, a gaggle of adoring, scrappy barn cats followed her like a cloud.
I am going to send you an email. I think I can only do that on your Dark Horse address. Please look for it. I would love to share that letter we gave to the truckers with you. In it is the words of our daughter directly.
We are heartbroken and we are desperate to have someone listen. We have written to our Prime Minister, our provincial Premier, Ministers of Health, Ministers of Education, and every news outlet we could. Nobody cares. Nobody wants to hear about it. Not a single person replied. Their "care and concern" for our children extends to a mask and a vaccine and nothing more.
We have followed the convoy, yesterday night right into Ottawa. It was joyful and heartbreaking and exhilarating. Mostly, it feels hopeful. Thank you for sharing this piece and please, if you might, look for the email I am sending. Our daughter's name was, and forever remains, Mila.
I have read and responded to your heartbreaking email. I hope to share your story more widely, if you will allow.
Thank you for all your personal and heartfelt support of the Freedom Convoy. We have been fortunate to find a handful of great videos on YouTube revealing the massive show of resistance by Canadians and supported by Americans headed up there. It is without a doubt making a big impact. Will look for your follow up on Heather's posts.
Thank you so much for writing about the Freedom Convoy!! I am a Canadian (and now also an American citizen) living in the Bay Area, which is a hot spot of never-ending covid panic and insanity. I am so damn proud of those truckers and every time I watch footage of the convoy and all of the peaceful, hopeful Canadians cheering them on along overpasses and roadways (in freezing weather), I start to tear up. Trudeau is nothing but a duplicitous Ken doll, I agree.
Donated. First thing I’ve been inspired by in forever. I look forward to accurate numbers tomorrow. (So I can “inspire” friends and family.) I’m not usually a fan of yelling, screaming and horn honking but this I love……
I don't know that "accurate numbers" will be forthcoming. As with so much else during the last two years, polluting the data stream so that independent analysis is difficult, if not impossible, seems a go-to move.
Yes, I realized this morning that getting accurate numbers was unrealistic. Being swept up in the excitement of last night I forgot about our New Reality. Were one to try and pry open a few minds, accurate numbers sure would help.
Thank you for doing what MSM is too broken to do. Your writing continues to inspire and inform me.
I have been enjoying your podcast and Substack for awhile. This article-- along with my wary and weary observation that the NYTimes is prioritizing topics like today's "As Covid Shots for Kids Stall, Appeals Are Aimed at Wary Parents"-- made me reach for my wallet, both for you and the truckers. Looking forward to listening to the podcast! Listening to you and Bret makes even cleaning the toilets (and the floor around them) a pleasure. And I have a little boy, so that's no small thing.
Thank you.
I loved yesterday's Darkhorse and am thrilled that you followed up with this well-documented post -- especially as a Canadian-born American with deep roots in my country of origin. Yesterday from my Texas living room, I cheered footage of the convoy, my heart welling up with pride that (polite) Canada was leading a revote against tyranny. It rather brings to mind 1980s Poland.
Here is an important link I commend to NS readers to Jordan Peterson's discussion this week with the only living crafter of the Canadian bill of rights who is bringing a lawsuit against federal govt. It's long, but as with all things Peterson, it's worth your time.
An interesting historical note: the current Canadian Prime Minister's father, who was PM when the bill of rights was being constructed, walked out of those meetings to do his own version -- which was struck down by the Canadian high court.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdhFuMDLBDM
Looks like the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree. I hope that Stalinist Wannabe Twit (TM) is run out of office.
I've been thoughtful about this convoy approach with the truckers and massive fundraising for it. A rally takes a lot of resources and human presence. The convoy method seems like a better deployment of those resources, although speeches at some point would be a good thing to have too from this group. How else can we direct determined convoys? What shape and form could they take? And of course remain peaceful and affirming of our fellow man?
Such good questions. This is not my forte at all—how to inspire and coordinate meaningful activism. Nor do I have a good sense of who is organizing (with) the truckers, beyond the two people on the GoFundMe. So far, though, it looks so well done.
My husband and I discussed this trucker convoy at great length tonight, debating whether it was consistent with Gandhi's principle of non-violence. He felt at first it was not because it was a confrontation and you're not supposed to shame your opponent. But the more we discussed it, the more we realized that it was the most peaceful thing they could do. They cannot band together one at a time at the border. There is no power for them there because they can't face their oppressor, but just some nameless/faceless uniform in a booth who has no power. They had to come together as a force. The Trucker Convoy was essentially Gandhi's Salt March. At the end of the march, they are simply requesting their rights back as Gandhi's marchers demanded their salt back. Two things happened, that I can see with the video I have watched. First, they have brought the country to its feet and given all Canadians hope. They have broken a spell and empowered other people to be brave. I saw restaurant owners in Ottowa were opening their doors and letting people in without masks or passports. People are rallying to feed and support them. Second, they have pulled the mask off the leadership. Justin Trudeau gave a speech in which he sounded weak and petulant. The mayor of Ottawa is hurling empty threats. It doesn't appear the police forces dare to try to confront the wave of enthusiasm yet. And it seems the truckers are remaining mostly peaceful. Let's hope they are able to keep it that way! Win, win, win! This is one of the most inspiring things I have ever seen in my life! - Diane McBride
Thanks for sharing those links. I have a heavily discounted subscription to one of the mainstream newspapers over here in the UK. I had a look at the canada stories, the last thing is from 26th Jan about skiing. Search for Canada Truckers reveals a top story of British Ice Road Trucker who died. The story is from 2012. The Daily Mail has covered it and they get the most hits I believe. Some of the smaller TV/Radio stations such as Talk Radio and GB News seem to be covering it, although that may be individual presenters more than the stations.
The Guardian/Observer covered it yesterday. As did the BBC. They didn't love it, of course, but they covered it. And the right wing papers loved it.
I think this should have stayed on Dark Horse not Natural Selections. It's 100% politics. And by the way this story was all over the mainstream media in Europe. If there is a conspiracy to suppress news like this (as opposed to just spin it), it doesn't have global reach.