Downtown Ottawa remains in a state of mild 'apprehended insurrection', and the fever that has gripped the nation's trucking community has spread not only across the country but as well it seems in sympathy it has seeped into social-trucking awareness elsewhere across the globe. The demonstrations have been mostly peaceful, disregarding the anti-social, destructive elements that have latched onto a cause that has nothing to do with their own ultra-nationalistic, racist, destabilizing agendas.

The constant 24-hr air-splitting sound of air horns has been mitigated, thanks to the action of a 21-year-old resident of the area around the beleaguered Parliamentary Precinct in succeeding to persuade a justice to impose an injunction against incessant horn blowing of all kinds. She has also launched a multi-million suit against the protest leaders and others for upending the lives of people living in the community.

Police, in attempting to enforce law and order have tried to stop the conveyance of fuel to the trucks running constantly for warmth of those within who now have been 'living' in their rigs for a week and a half. Among them children of all ages accompanying their parents. Hauling the trucks away has been complicated by some having had their wheels removed, brake fluid drained to stop just that. 

 

People living in the area are still being intimidated and harassed, fearful of leaving their homes because of the temper of those blockading the area. Which means that hospitals still cannot function normally and many businesses remain closed for fear of violence.Additional police have been brought in since the Ottawa Police Service is unable to cope with the size of this event and numbers involved.

There are two highly nuanced viewpoints to this situation, above and apart from the prime minister of this country's incendiary, divisive stance and statements that those who oppose vaccines and mandates in support of them are bigoted racists, homophobic and indulging in destructive practices doing great harm to Canada and its economy. It is no exaggeration to say that at least half of the general population believe that he is himself responsible for this situation.

Perspective is everything; it depends on where you're sitting and how you are personally challenged by the pandemic's stress on society. In a company town where everyone remains fully employed and collects a guaranteed paycheque it isn't surprising that an aura of outrage prevails at the presence of unwanted protesters bringing their grievances to homeowners' front doors, so to speak.

Among those protesters are people who are less fortunate in being able to secure continued employment and that's the crux of their grievance. They travelled long distances to inform the government and their fellow citizens at large that their treatment by various governments has left them almost destitute and fearful about being able to provide the basics to their families. And the reality is that this government has created a two-tier system of entitled citizenship, alienating the population in the process.

 

That's present, all of the commotion, the unfairness, the threat to citizen cohesion, in everyone's lives layered on top of personal familial worries and the silent, lurking threat of the coronavirus as it continues to sweep relentlessly throughout the globe wreaking havoc wherever it gains ground -- and that is arguably everywhere.

 

Lucky, lucky us. We can be aware of all this, deprecate those whose failure to bind the country together in a common purpose that has resulted in such estrangement, but still live our lives with a level of serenity. We're involved in a broad sense, and uninvolved in a more immediate, emotional sense. We can get away.

 

And of course, we did today as we do every day. Our two little dogs take all these matters in stride. They feel, with some justification, that there are more important matters to be seen to to maintain a level of sanity. And so they remind us daily of the forest awaiting our presence, to calm and soothe emotions. Where we can discuss matters of contention as we tramp along snowy trails, come in brief contact with others seeking similar mind-healing escapes, however briefly.

And Jackie and Jillie can get on with the business of their own social interaction every time they come abreast of one of their friends. A cheerful, beautiful, landscape absolutely neutral to the affairs of humanity, but generous enough to allow us to temporarily visit and imbibe the nectar of well-being.