I've had several discussions with similarly credentialed and ostensibly intelligent people which developed into complete disagreement like you described. It appears most people have succumbed to the government and media propaganda and do not believe in free speech. May the Lord have mercy on us for betraying the promise of our beautiful and bountiful country.
This topic is on my mind frequently, daily in fact. I am 67 and find myself worrying about the future of Canada and also other western so called "democratic free" countries. As I see it, we are being manipulated and divided as a society while the elites continue to build power, wealth and control. This process is not new but is utterly blatant with the internet. This "misinformation, disinformation and malinformation" fight is part of what is referred to as 5 G warfare I think (I am still reading about it). Most of my life I have been a liberal...until recently. The Freedom Convoy changed my mind fundamentally. I was devastated with the way Trudeau and the liberal government handled that. Talk about disinformation, misinformation! I lost friends on social ,media and in the community over my opinions. Whatever is happening is the most bizarre phenomena of my lifetime. Actually being told insistently that men can have babies, compete in women's sports, go to female prisons etc. is incomprehensible to me. I have been an RN all my life with a specialty in psychiatry and mental health. I consider this a collective delusional disorder. I will NEVER say men can have babies, or support vaccine mandates, digital IDs or 15 min cities. The most troubling issue for me is the media collusion with government. So many people believe what is being told to them through the CBC etc. I used to be a proud Canadian. Now I am looking for districts of likeminded people to hang out with. It is dangerous out there folks. You can lose everything with one wrong word.
Dictionary.com defines communication, among other ways, as: "the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs." Where in that definition is there anything which can pose a threat to anyone? If we can't agree that communication is but an exchange of thoughts and ideas, then we will never be able to move forward in any appreciable way. Love your musings as always, Andrew. Keep up the noble deeds you do.
Andrew, I appreciate your sane and organized thinking on many of the topics you discuss. You’re much better than I as I have just thrown up my hands and ready to call many of the progressives idiots. That rarely helps but that’s how I feel at this point. Thanks for your efforts despite the left wing lunatics running the asylum.
I am disappointed in what Canada has become since the liberals took power. The carbon taxes , the extravagance, kneeling in an empty field with a teddy bear, the list is long and sad. There never seems to be support for the conservatives except on twitter. I guess we are expected to shut up and be quiet.
As a young person, this is on my mind a lot. It’s very troublesome that many Canadians don’t understand what free speech is all about.
I had an odd experience the other day that speaks to this article a bit. So I had a conversation with my mom the other day about government overreach and how I the Canadian government went too far with the mandates and lockdowns. Policies that at the time, I agreed with, but I have since done some reflecting and realized how wrong it was for the government to do under the premise of Covid. Especially given what we now know about the virus.
Her response was to label me a “Trumper” and placed me into a nice neat category on the “far right”. I found that odd because I thought my views were quite nuanced, but as soon as I started talking about Covid-19 and the response of the government, they were just “Fox News” talking points. This seems to be a trend that is a major problem as the media and government have convinced so many that we live in a “black and white” world, one where there are “good guys” and “bad guys”.
I’m not sure how to fix that problem. I just hope people on the left will see one day that just because someone disagrees with you it doesn’t make them a “right-winger”. I hope one day nuance is a concept that Canadians truly understand. Thanks for this great article Andrew!
Difficult and deflating to walk away from a conversation like the one you've written about. Bravo You!! I have experienced similar ones. I can hardly believe that people (my sister too) are so full of fear that they can only see a rational (though not comfortable) existence by putting their thoughts, experiences and very lives in the hands of the government. Somewhat like a baby who feels secure when tightly swaddled. We are sharing our beautiful country with "Swaddled Adults." So very sad.
I think it all started with Trump. Canadians were enthralled with Obama. They lined the streets in Ottawa when he visited. Trudeau and Obama made a great couple. In contrast, everyone with the encouragement of the cbc hated Trump. A justice of the peace wore a Trump red hat in the courtroom in Hamilton. The cbc and the star hollered and the poor guy had to apologize. It has become impossible to have a conversation with trump haters, liberal lovers, cbc watchers and free speech deniers.
I've had several discussions with similarly credentialed and ostensibly intelligent people which developed into complete disagreement like you described. It appears most people have succumbed to the government and media propaganda and do not believe in free speech. May the Lord have mercy on us for betraying the promise of our beautiful and bountiful country.
Free speech and therefore the sharing of ideas is the very foundation of a free society!
This topic is on my mind frequently, daily in fact. I am 67 and find myself worrying about the future of Canada and also other western so called "democratic free" countries. As I see it, we are being manipulated and divided as a society while the elites continue to build power, wealth and control. This process is not new but is utterly blatant with the internet. This "misinformation, disinformation and malinformation" fight is part of what is referred to as 5 G warfare I think (I am still reading about it). Most of my life I have been a liberal...until recently. The Freedom Convoy changed my mind fundamentally. I was devastated with the way Trudeau and the liberal government handled that. Talk about disinformation, misinformation! I lost friends on social ,media and in the community over my opinions. Whatever is happening is the most bizarre phenomena of my lifetime. Actually being told insistently that men can have babies, compete in women's sports, go to female prisons etc. is incomprehensible to me. I have been an RN all my life with a specialty in psychiatry and mental health. I consider this a collective delusional disorder. I will NEVER say men can have babies, or support vaccine mandates, digital IDs or 15 min cities. The most troubling issue for me is the media collusion with government. So many people believe what is being told to them through the CBC etc. I used to be a proud Canadian. Now I am looking for districts of likeminded people to hang out with. It is dangerous out there folks. You can lose everything with one wrong word.
Dictionary.com defines communication, among other ways, as: "the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs." Where in that definition is there anything which can pose a threat to anyone? If we can't agree that communication is but an exchange of thoughts and ideas, then we will never be able to move forward in any appreciable way. Love your musings as always, Andrew. Keep up the noble deeds you do.
Andrew, I appreciate your sane and organized thinking on many of the topics you discuss. You’re much better than I as I have just thrown up my hands and ready to call many of the progressives idiots. That rarely helps but that’s how I feel at this point. Thanks for your efforts despite the left wing lunatics running the asylum.
I am disappointed in what Canada has become since the liberals took power. The carbon taxes , the extravagance, kneeling in an empty field with a teddy bear, the list is long and sad. There never seems to be support for the conservatives except on twitter. I guess we are expected to shut up and be quiet.
As a young person, this is on my mind a lot. It’s very troublesome that many Canadians don’t understand what free speech is all about.
I had an odd experience the other day that speaks to this article a bit. So I had a conversation with my mom the other day about government overreach and how I the Canadian government went too far with the mandates and lockdowns. Policies that at the time, I agreed with, but I have since done some reflecting and realized how wrong it was for the government to do under the premise of Covid. Especially given what we now know about the virus.
Her response was to label me a “Trumper” and placed me into a nice neat category on the “far right”. I found that odd because I thought my views were quite nuanced, but as soon as I started talking about Covid-19 and the response of the government, they were just “Fox News” talking points. This seems to be a trend that is a major problem as the media and government have convinced so many that we live in a “black and white” world, one where there are “good guys” and “bad guys”.
I’m not sure how to fix that problem. I just hope people on the left will see one day that just because someone disagrees with you it doesn’t make them a “right-winger”. I hope one day nuance is a concept that Canadians truly understand. Thanks for this great article Andrew!
Difficult and deflating to walk away from a conversation like the one you've written about. Bravo You!! I have experienced similar ones. I can hardly believe that people (my sister too) are so full of fear that they can only see a rational (though not comfortable) existence by putting their thoughts, experiences and very lives in the hands of the government. Somewhat like a baby who feels secure when tightly swaddled. We are sharing our beautiful country with "Swaddled Adults." So very sad.
I think it all started with Trump. Canadians were enthralled with Obama. They lined the streets in Ottawa when he visited. Trudeau and Obama made a great couple. In contrast, everyone with the encouragement of the cbc hated Trump. A justice of the peace wore a Trump red hat in the courtroom in Hamilton. The cbc and the star hollered and the poor guy had to apologize. It has become impossible to have a conversation with trump haters, liberal lovers, cbc watchers and free speech deniers.