When teachers, nurses, police officers, social workers and therapists are looking to de-escalate situations by seeing the person, not just the problem, in front of them, they change their question from “what’s the matter with you?” to “what matters to you?”
Changing the question when it comes to the anti-vaccine mandate protesters here in Prince George and across Canada lowers the tone to a real discussion about important social issues.
Simply dismissing the protesters as ill-behaved hooligans (I stand guilty as charged and I sincerely apologize for my choice of words) ignores what the ones who aren’t yelling “F*** Trudeau,” spitting on cops and harassing reporters and frontline retail workers are actually saying. Trudeau and the vaccine mandates are the current lightning rods for far deeper concerns that have been around for decades and will not go away when the federal Liberals are no longer in government and COVID-19 is a distant memory.
Scratch beneath the surface rage and fear. Look past the extremists.
That’s where you’ll find many (but not all) decent, law-abiding citizens frustrated with how the rich are getting richer, the poor are getting poorer and the working class are having to work harder and harder for less and less. They are mad that income inequality seems to take a back seat to identity inequalities. Governments focusing more on fair wages, fair taxes, better wealth distribution and meaningful, secure jobs are good for everyone, they correctly point out, and make important contributions to reducing racism, sexism, addictions, homelessness, and other major social issues.
But it’s not just about money.
A horrible side effect of COVID-19 has been personal and social isolation, which drives individuals and communities apart. The party atmosphere seen at many protests are joyful people celebrating finally being able to get together in large groups without guilt or shame. On the flip side, who hasn’t lashed out in anger over the past couple of years (in person or through a keyboard) at not just strangers, but even family and friends, for having the gall to disagree with the majority or say something stupid. Free speech (and thought) is supposed to be the freedom to do both, at the personal and social level. Tolerating that expression, engaging with those views, and having the courage to admit when they’re right and you’re wrong is a sign of strength and maturity, not weakness.
Social media can’t be blamed for all of it because there is a long history of moderate people being radicalized to fight oppression. Movements around the world and throughout history started by first hearing the concerns of working-class people trying to survive under crushing conditions, their dignity and their hope for a better future stripped from them. The uprisings that became radical and deadly then used misinformation, scapegoating and condoning violence and lawbreaking as justifiable means to a noble end.
This isn’t about “good people on both sides” or meeting extremism halfway. It’s about separating the radicals from the sensible people who support them but have not yet abandoned reason and democratic ideals, treating them with the respect they deserve and maybe learning what you have in common is far more than you thought. I know all three people The Citizen called last week about their donations to the Freedom Convoy. I don't support what they did or why they did it but I support the significant contributions they have made (and continue to make) to the betterment of Prince George and all of its residents.
That's a good place to start.
We can all be better. As editor, I promise to be better.
Let’s do it together.
