Are violent protests healthy?

Escaping the artificial climate of Ottawa and breathing in the fresh air of home is vital for one's sanity.

This past week, in and around Parliament, there has been a disturbing mix of noise and silence on what may be an unnerving trend. I'm talking about the use or threat of violence in promoting one's political interests.

Let's start with the Tamil shutdown of a major highway in Canada's largest city.

First, to be clear, this action was neither endorsed nor asked for by the majority of the Tamil community. Tamils were first welcomed to Canada in large numbers during the Conservative government of the late eighties and early nineties.

As with many immigrant groups, most of them were fleeing a frightening and tragic situation in their own homeland. Sadly, in the midst of the vast majority came a small minority who were committed to using extortive practices to raise funds for terrorist tactics back in the homeland.

These Tamil Tigers were officially designated as a terrorist group in Canada over two years ago. This designation made it much more difficult (and illegal) for them to extort funds from the mainstream, law abiding Tamil Community in Canada.

Now, back in Sri Lanka, the government forces are close to eliminating the last of the Tamil fighters. Unfortunately, as is too often the case, many innocent civilians are at risk as the Sri Lankan army moves into the last Tamil refuge.

This justifiable concern has resulted in Tamils staging protests in Ottawa and Toronto to highlight the plight of those at risk.

The protests turned ugly last week when those involved (and using children) shut down a major thoroughfare in Toronto resulting in thousands of motorists being stranded.

Most Canadians support the right to protest. Most Canadians do not support the use of violence or lawbreaking in the process. If democracies are to thrive there must be an acceptance of an unwritten social contract between its citizens.

That contract says that we all have basic human rights such as the freedom of expression and freedom of speech. But we agree to use those freedoms within certain broad parameters.

The more those parameters are breached, the more we strain the fabric which holds a free society together.

Now switch channels to another protest which graced the airwaves this week. It had to do with a health care issue in Ontario. Again, nobody begrudges the right to protest. And I'm sure many observers sided with the doctor who was key in the protest.

However, the sympathy turned to shock when the physician was seen violently kicking (and damaging) a police car while officers stood by.

A constituent of mine asked if the police would have stood by if it had been a teenager with a mohawk haircut and tattoos doing the kicking.

Ok, one more channel change. Last weekend an Ottawa restaurant announced it would be taking foie gras (made from goose livers) off its menu. Seems some animal rights groups had been protesting the way geese are force fed. Fair enough.

Here's what's disturbing. The restaurant owner said he finally caved in after he received threats that his customers might be poisoned if he didn't cancel the foie gras.

My friends, I'm not trying to scale or equate the importance of any of these causes. I'm sharing the angst (and anger) of many people who are asking me where this trend of law breaking protest is going.

Let's hope that we as citizens have what it takes to use our various and individual levels of influence to stem the tide of these troublesome waters.

Our famous Canadian stability, and freedom, depends on it.

On a happier note, this weekend we celebrated Peachland's 100th anniversary. It was nothing short of inspirational to chat with some of the so-called 'old timers' who pioneered our area.

Stories of plowing hard baked soil behind a horse, crops failing, the Depression hitting, and other travails we can hardly imagine. And all without government support programs.

The tales of hard times always gave way however, to the memories of good times. Kids and grandkids, baptisms and weddings, the advent of plumbing and electricity, and the day the traffic light was installed.

Some people in life get to see their names in headlines. Others, like most of these amazing pioneers, get to hear from the rest of us on this anniversary an overdue expression of gratitude.

They, the true builders of the incredible society we have inherited, are the ones who deserve the headlines.

Happy Anniversary, beloved 'old timers,' and thank you.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.