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The 2022 Winter Olympics, the COVID-19 pandemic, the anti-mandate protests and the Russian sword rattling along the Ukraine border have dominated the news recently.
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So there is plenty to think about and many questions to be answered, at least in my mind.
So here are some of the things with which I struggle and I am sure I am not alone.
If the Winter Olympics are so important that there is 24/7 coverage, why don’t we see more of the actual athletes and events? I am pretty tired of the talking heads that dominate the telecasts.
It doesn’t matter to me if there is or is not a Canadian in an event, I just like watching these amazing athletes perform no matter which country they represent. Watching the true sportsmanship of the athletes as they congratulate one another after an event is what sportsmanship is all about.
The COVID-19 pandemic has nearly run its course. The key word is nearly. We are slowly returning to some new normal conditions. But to emphasize the importance of staying true to the course until completely out of the woods here is an example. A man jumps out of an airplane, opens his chute and begins to glide safely to the ground. Does he take off the chute before he hits the ground? Just my thought on returning too quickly to the new normal.
The misnamed convoys that crossed this land of ours and are now blocking borders, streets and generally causing more harm to our economy each and every day is a shame. I say this because many of those in these convoys have no idea about what they are doing.
An example of this is those calling this a ‘freedom’ convoy and then some among them proceed to wave flags that stand for anything but freedom. The Confederate flag is known as a symbol of white supremacy. The swastika, representing the Nazi Party of Germany under Hitler, represents one of the most oppressive regimes in the history of the world. Millions upon millions of people were killed for being Jewish.
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It makes me wonder if any of these so-called freedom riders even know what freedom is. Maybe they should go the Ukraine and ask them about freedom.
Personally, I have a hard time figuring out just what freedoms they are talking about and how they have lost them. They don’t seem to like the word ‘mandate’. They drove across this country on roads that have mandated speed limits, mandated road sharing, and mandated areas to stop. Those mandates are there for the safety of everyone.
I believe many of the protesters forget the fact that along with freedom comes responsibility and it means that I have my freedom but I also have the responsibility not to infringe on someone else’s freedom.
The real truckers have a right to demonstrate but many outside influences have turned it into something else. The cost of these demonstrations must be enormous. How is it being financed and by whom? This should be of great concern to each and every one.
As our protesters demonstrate about getting a vaccine, those in the Ukraine worry about getting invaded and possibly killed in their defence of real freedom. Hopefully there is a peaceful outcome and that the world can convince that egomaniac Putin to back down.
Now for some positive news: Iceland has joined many other nations that ban whaling. In the UK, the construction industry goes through 18 million wooden pallets annually, most of which are only used once. This number of pallets represents about 6,000 acres of forests and the pallets themselves represent about 10 per cent of the waste stream. A British firm has come up with a solution to reduce the waste: Stronger reusable pallets that are redeemable and an opportunity to cut CO2 emissions by 40 per cent and timber usage by nearly 75 per cent. You can read more about it by Googling The Pallet LOOP. Since most pallets in Canada end up as fire wood, this is definitely something our lumber industry should try.
Just a final positive note about the Winter Olympics. I am proud of all our Canadian athletes and have enjoyed watching them representing this country. I am also proud of all the competitors as they try for excellence in their chosen sport. Just wish I could see more of the events.
Kashley1940@hotmail.com
