Tamils blocking our hospitals!

[Muddy]

The Tamils are blocking citizens from getting to our hospitals. My wife took our Grandson for surgery yesterday and because they were late due to these Tamil Tigers his surgery was not for hours later, meanwhile the little guy had to go hungry. I imagine lots of folks missed their cancer treatments too. Why are they getting away with this anarchy? Could it be that because they vote in a block that their percieved ethnic rights are more important than the rest of us individuals trying to go about our business? If we as individuals blocked people from entering our hospitals we would get short shift from the Toronto Cops. Mayor Miller where are you? Why are you not protecting us from these thugs? Oh wait ,I think I answered that earlier! Block voting.

[g_bambino]

The Tamils are blocking citizens from getting to our hospitals. My wife took our Grandson for surgery yesterday and because they were late due to these Tamil Tigers his surgery was not for hours later, meanwhile the little guy had to go hungry. I imagine lots of folks missed their cancer treatments too. Why are they getting away with this anarchy? Could it be that because they vote in a block that their percieved ethnic rights are more important than the rest of us individuals trying to go about our business? If we as individuals blocked people from entering our hospitals we would get short shift from the Toronto Cops. Mayor Miller where are you? Why are you not protecting us from these thugs? Oh wait ,I think I answered that earlier! Block voting.

They've been pushed to one side of University Ave. to allow emergency vehicles to pass on the other; but, of course, that does nothing to remedy what your wife and grandson went through. Your complaint, however, is not uncommon. Six pages worth of responses to an article about this in the Star yesterday showed very little sympathy for the cause of the protesters. Not only are they blocking one of the largest arteries into downtown Toronto, with their drums and screeching over loudspeakers they're disrupting the work days of people in the adjacent office towers, and keeping nearby residents up at night; the protest goes on 24 hours a day, if you weren't aware. That boos and chants demanding their release met the arrest of a few of their brethren yesterday for trying to swell the crowd beyond the set barriers is telling of their general attitude towards the law; that the police have done so little to make these people obey the law is telling of their general attitude towards gangs of minorities (Caledonia, anyone?). And hey, flags of terrorist organisations (replete with AK-47s!) are okay too; better bust out those swastikas again, all you neo-Nazis out there!

We can only pray for a week of rain; understandably, their dedication to the cause goes only so far as a little precipitation.

[lictor616]

The Tamils are blocking citizens from getting to our hospitals. My wife took our Grandson for surgery yesterday and because they were late due to these Tamil Tigers his surgery was not for hours later, meanwhile the little guy had to go hungry. I imagine lots of folks missed their cancer treatments too. Why are they getting away with this anarchy? Could it be that because they vote in a block that their percieved ethnic rights are more important than the rest of us individuals trying to go about our business? If we as individuals blocked people from entering our hospitals we would get short shift from the Toronto Cops. Mayor Miller where are you? Why are you not protecting us from these thugs? Oh wait ,I think I answered that earlier! Block voting.

Canadians have been indoctrinated for years now into thinking that "diversity" is some sort of strength. And so ready to follow the party line were canadians, that they now actually believe it.

Such were the blessings of "Strength" that the Canadians bestowed on themselves. Is it any wonder that they are proud of their achievement and humbly grateful to the Leftist LIE-berals that taught them how to work for "One World"?

And you know what... complain: and YOU get called the racist... that's right: YOU'RE THE BAD GUY...

I suspect that as "progress" is progressing, we can now look towards a future where you will be subject to arrest and torture for not "celebrating diversity"....

Seriously, I think the canadian people have succumbed to a subconscious deathwish... we are indeed an insane and suicidally tolerant people. Even to the point that we tolerate dravidian pests who block our hospitals...

god help us...

[Oleg Bach]

Genocide the Palistinians and corner and kill what is left of the Tamils.. There was a time when the Tamils were courted buy the liberals - then the dollar came into plays - now we are all acting like neo-cons..because terrorists are those that want money - you may as well say that those that are unionist that submit to capitalist are re-formed terrorists.. Looks like what is left of British rule in Ceyon (Shrilanka) - the labourers that have gone on strike, against the left over colonialst left in charge are killing each other - because those tat have the money ................want to keep the money - and those that need it are TERRORISTS.....shame on Canada for allowing and condoning the KILLING OF TAMIL JEWS!

[kimmy]

This is complete horse-crap!

I people have the right to protest, but if they are disrupting traffic or (especially!) blocking access to hospitals, they need some serious "tough love". Police with firehoses should do the trick.

If there's anything that could make the cause of the Tamil Tigers even less sympathetic to Canadians, blocking hospitals would probably do the trick.

-k

[Oleg Bach]

First the Tamils on the east end of Toronto are the greatest liberal supporters and a huge block vote for them...THEN we get instructions from Washington to deem them as terrorists..suddenly the romance is over...I guess what a terrorist is - is like a Jesus Christ who's fatal error was kicking over the tables of the banking community...and throwning a whipping on them? Terrorism ......is just a class struggle gone global.

[JB Globe]

Considering how well-run the previous protest was (Chief Bill Blair even commented on this) that had a human chain formed from Bloor->Yonge->Front->University->Bloor in a square, it's disappointing to see what happened in this most recent protest.

Protests are by nature, supposed to be a nuisance - if you can't grab someone's attention by disrupting their routine, you haven't done their job. However blocking emergency routes, even if it was just momentarily, isn't acceptable.

But I'd like to point out, that I believe that the tone in this thread is far, far, more extreme than the actions of the protesters. They, on one hand, acted out of emotion because hundreds of thousands of their fellow (civilian) Tamils are trapped by conflict. It doesn't excuse making the mistake, but it's not as if they blocked the emergency routes for completely irrational reasons.

With the exception of Muddy, you folks here don't really have any reason to have such an extreme level of outrage about this, in fact - I don't even think most of you live in Toronto, correct?

Why are you so angry? You weren't even inconvenienced by this or other Tamil protests like I have - and I'm not angry in the slightest.

[Muddy]

Considering how well-run the previous protest was (Chief Bill Blair even commented on this) that had a human chain formed from Bloor->Yonge->Front->University->Bloor in a square, it's disappointing to see what happened in this most recent protest.

Protests are by nature, supposed to be a nuisance - if you can't grab someone's attention by disrupting their routine, you haven't done their job. However blocking emergency routes, even if it was just momentarily, isn't acceptable.

But I'd like to point out, that I believe that the tone in this thread is far, far, more extreme than the actions of the protesters. They, on one hand, acted out of emotion because hundreds of thousands of their fellow (civilian) Tamils are trapped by conflict. It doesn't excuse making the mistake, but it's not as if they blocked the emergency routes for completely irrational reasons.

With the exception of Muddy, you folks here don't really have any reason to have such an extreme level of outrage about this, in fact - I don't even think most of you live in Toronto, correct?

Why are you so angry? You weren't even inconvenienced by this or other Tamil protests like I have - and I'm not angry in the slightest.

JB , I give all people the right to peacefull protest. But when protesters put innocent lives in jeopardy they lose that right. Police should have stepped in ,but I believe anarchy was allowed for political votes. Access to Princes Margaret hospital,a great and busy cancer institution was blocked, so was our famous Sick Kids hospital where great things are done for suffering children along with Toronto general and I believe Mount Sinai. Everyone has rights, but not at the cost of others rights. There is no excuse to bring ethnic faraway wars to Canada and put Canadian lives in jeopardy. They gained no sympathy for their cause from me.

[Oleg Bach]

No sick or dieing person suffered or died prematurely because of the protest..do I sense resentment of the browns here? When the Israelis were shooting fish in a barrel during the last incursion into Gaza..not one of us was standing in front of the embassy demanding that the mini-genocide stop....If YOUR relatives were being cornered and killed like animals in a zoo YOU would be protesting also ------oh wait...maybe not - our social engineers have brain washed us into familiar disloyalty - maybe the engineering has not taken hold of these new arrivals yet - we might have to wait for them to be like us and abandon family and embrace the secular state as dear old dad and mum and brother and sister?

[Oleg Bach]

Also: Blood and blood lines are important to these people - here in Canada our liberal family haters...like us to stand alone with out family support...after all everybody is family here in Canada Be a father or a mother and enter into our courts to defend your family and children - they don't like it... THEY - know better and THEY want control over you...the Tamils are old fashioned - they still have matriarchs and patriarchs and extended family - If one of their young girls become pregnant..they rally and give full support to their mother to be..we send our daughters off to abort family members;;; we can learn something from these people - OR - in the alternative if we ban together and protect our personal tribe - we are considered terrorists also....

[Wild Bill]

With the exception of Muddy, you folks here don't really have any reason to have such an extreme level of outrage about this, in fact - I don't even think most of you live in Toronto, correct?

Why are you so angry? You weren't even inconvenienced by this or other Tamil protests like I have - and I'm not angry in the slightest.

Then by your same reasoning, if we have no connection to the plight of Tamils in Sri Lanka why should we support their protest?

What is the use of their protesting if it is only logical that we shouldn't care?

You can't have it both ways. Either we have the right to take a supportive stand with other Canadians over principle or we don't.

YOU don't get to choose WHICH principle for us!

[Oleg Bach]

If you can not give some human support of Palistinians ...why should we give support to the Tamils? Why support anyone? Unless we are benefiting by the support - it seems that the enemy of the Tamils is more our financial friend than them - just like Israel is of more use to us that the poor in Gaza...by the way - once British colonialist tea planters left Shrilanka (Ceylon) - who took over the buisness concerns? I suspect it was not the Tamils - If it was the Tamils - they would have our support and the OTHER guys would be the terrorists..

[Muddy]

The question is basically this. Do individuals or groups have the right to protest? Yes absolutely. To me ,I don`t care what groups,as long as they do it without breaking the law or committing anarchy. No group has the right to stop me from going about my business or blocking me from public institutions. If they do they are infringing upon my rights and then they are but a gang. Question for all. If you or I blocked traffic as individuals for a cause we thought was just, how long do you think the authorities would allow us to commit anarchy? I don`t like bullies as individuals or groups. Palestinians, Tamils,Jews abortion advocates or anti abortion advocates, or what ever. Their rights end when through oppression of my rights I can no longer go about my business in peace.

[JB Globe]

There is no excuse to bring ethnic faraway wars to Canada and put Canadian lives in jeopardy. They gained no sympathy for their cause from me.

Sorry, is the problem for you the "ethnic faraway wars" or blocking emergency routes? Because I'm with you on the later, but I don't have any problem with folks using their Charter rights to promote an issue they're concerned with, whether it's an issue that's rooted in the countries they immigrated from, or some other issue.

[JB Globe]

I don`t like bullies as individuals or groups. Palestinians, Tamils,Jews abortion advocates or anti abortion advocates, or what ever. Their rights end when through oppression of my rights I can no longer go about my business in peace.

But here's the thing: who in a democratic society gets to decide what "bullying" is and what legit reason to protest is? Do we even want someone to make such a decision? Because I'm sure there were plenty of people in Alabama who though Dr. King's rallies were "bullying" or something similar. (no, I'm not saying you don't support the civil rights movement, I'm just pointing out that what's a legit cause in the eyes of some depends on where they're standing on that issue).

Who knows, if there was some board that decided what causes were worth minor inconveniences like street protests (thus deciding if certain causes were legal or illegal) it may even end up declaring some causes you or I support illegal. Personally I'm happy with our free but sometimes inconvenient system as it is.

[JB Globe]

Then by your same reasoning, if we have no connection to the plight of Tamils in Sri Lanka why should we support their protest?

That's actually not my reasoning at all.

Here's how my reasoning goes: If you don't even live in Toronto, and weren't affected by this protest, than you should be able to have a rational discussion about what happened without getting outraged. What happened is regrettable but it's not treasonous or disastrous - No one died, the emergency lanes were restored by the afternoon. So where does the outrage come from? I can only speculate, so I won't say, but this clearly isn't JUST about the blocking of the street for a few hours for you.

You can't have it both ways. Either we have the right to take a supportive stand with other Canadians over principle or we don't.

I'm not saying you can't take a stand, I'm just saying your level of outrage is grossly disproportionate to what actually happened, and it suggests that there's something else going on here . . .

[capricorn]

JB, I live in Ottawa and we had the Tamils protesting on our streets and on Parliament Hill for over 2 weeks. Buses were re-routed and traffic diverted. There was concern should an emergency arise around that area and luckily none happened. I was not personally inconvenienced by the protest because I didn't travel to that part of the city during the protest. I don't begrudge any group protesting their cause as I think this is healthy in our democracy. I just don't know what they accomplished by stretching out their protest for that length of time. What I do know is that it cost Ottawa taxpayers around a million dollars for security around the protest. I can imagine the security tab for Toronto was way more than that.

[kimmy]

Here's how my reasoning goes: If you don't even live in Toronto, and weren't affected by this protest, than you should be able to have a rational discussion about what happened without getting outraged. What happened is regrettable but it's not treasonous or disastrous - No one died, the emergency lanes were restored by the afternoon. So where does the outrage come from? I can only speculate, so I won't say, but this clearly isn't JUST about the blocking of the street for a few hours for you.

What is treasonous is the failure of police and public officials to do their jobs.

It makes my blood boil to think of someone being blocked from reaching a hospital by protesters.

It has been asked whether the police and public officials' apparent cowardice in addressing this situation was a result of political correctness, of fear of being accused of racism. It has been asked what would have happened had a group of reg'lar white folks had been blocking hospitals.

While you've characterized it as a "mistake", at least one protester I saw quoted in an article indicated that she knew that they were blocking the hospitals, but felt that it was justified by the deaths in her homeland.

Perhaps my reaction to this has been colored by my feelings about their cause. Perhaps I would not be as angry if the protesters had been campaigning to save the rainforests rather than to save the Tamil Tigers. Perhaps I'm miffed to see such brazen support for such a disgusting group. That's possible, I suppose. However, whatever the cause, blocking hospitals is utterly inexcusable and should not have been tolerated for even a moment.

-k

[Muddy]

J B Globe, how long do you think Mayor Miller and his lackies would allow you and I to block University off to fight a cause? Maybe five minutes before we had lumps on our noggin! These thugs were allowed to act in a manner that could and maybe did stop people from getting treatment. I wrote earlier of the inconvenience my family went through while our wee grandson was already under stress facing an operation that was delayed due to these thugs. They won no friends to their cause,just or not by acting in the manner that is just not done in a civilized society.

[JB Globe]

J B Globe, how long do you think Mayor Miller and his lackies would allow you and I to block University off to fight a cause?

As far as I can tell, the same laws apply to everyone.

And before you call these folks thugs, keep in mind that for weeks there was no violence, even when 80 000 people ringed the downtown core, Chief Blair even commented on that protest for how civil and organized it was. In the end, there was some shoving and a push to Dundas - a disappointment, but considering how civil it was the rest of the time, I don't think the thug label is accurate.

Save that word for folks that deserve it, like OCAP.

[DogOnPorch]

Personally I'm happy with our free but sometimes inconvenient system as it is.

You weren't blocked from entering nor was a family member, afterall.

Edited May 8, 2009 by DogOnPorch

[JB Globe]

What is treasonous is the failure of police and public officials to do their jobs.

Treasonous? Really? Treasonous? Stop being hysterical and get a grip, Kimmy. You're completely blowing this out of proportion.

In the words of Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair: "This is one of the prices we pay for living in a free and democratic city and country."

Why a minor inconvenience for a some people in Toronto enrages you all the way in Alberta is beyond me. And the fact that you expect to live in a democracy and at the same time never want to have to be inconvenienced by a protest is either naive or just unappreciative of what democracy is all about.

It makes my blood boil to think of someone being blocked from reaching a hospital by protesters.

Then it's boiling over nothing - no one was blocked from getting to the hospital, read Muddy's account again: what happened was traffic was backed up because the southbound lane on University Avenue was blocked by a sit-down protest. The hospitals in question are further up the street, the protesters were in front of the US Consulate.

It has been asked whether the police and public officials' apparent cowardice in addressing this situation was a result of political correctness, of fear of being accused of racism.

So you're speculating that the same police force that was shown to unofficially be using racial profiling, is in this case so extremely concerned about being accused of racism that they'll let things slide because the protesters aren't white? Right.

Frankly I believe the actions of the police were dictated by a balancing act between two things: The Law & The Freedom of Expression. And maybe a good dose of PROFESSIONALISM helped keep things orderly for weeks of various protests, and only an hour or two of pushing and shoving.

It has been asked what would have happened had a group of reg'lar white folks had been blocking hospitals.

Why don't you try and find out? My guess is the situation would probably be the same if the protest was similar in nature to what actually occurred.

While you've characterized it as a "mistake", at least one protester I saw quoted in an article indicated that she knew that they were blocking the hospitals, but felt that it was justified by the deaths in her homeland.

I don't recall the protesters saying they were deliberately trying to block the hospitals, and I don't recall the police saying they were either. I could be wrong, I haven't read every article, maybe you could post the one in question? What I know they were trying to do was block the Dundas Streetcar, which is why the cops stepped in, but even that would have left the hospitals with access Southbound on University, off Elm (where the emergency entrance is for Sick Kids), Gerrard & Elizabeth.

Perhaps my reaction to this has been colored by my feelings about their cause. Perhaps I would not be as angry if the protesters had been campaigning to save the rainforests rather than to save the Tamil Tigers.

You're also forgetting the tens of thousands of civilians confined to the jungle in the middle of the conflict, and the fact that Sri Lanka is refusing to allow them safe passage out of the area.

Just because one side in a conflict commits atrocities doesn't excuse the other side from following international law.

[JB Globe]

JB, I live in Ottawa and we had the Tamils protesting on our streets and on Parliament Hill for over 2 weeks. Buses were re-routed and traffic diverted. There was concern should an emergency arise around that area and luckily none happened. I was not personally inconvenienced by the protest because I didn't travel to that part of the city during the protest. I don't begrudge any group protesting their cause as I think this is healthy in our democracy. I just don't know what they accomplished by stretching out their protest for that length of time. What I do know is that it cost Ottawa taxpayers around a million dollars for security around the protest. I can imagine the security tab for Toronto was way more than that.

^^^ - See, now that's reasonable, it's not hard to do people.

[capricorn]

^^^ - See, now that's reasonable, it's not hard to do people.

I fail to see how what I posted translates into my being reasonable with regard to dealing with the two week protest in Ottawa. Did you miss my point that I was one of the lucky ones that for two weeks did not have to contend with having to circumvent the protest to get to work or to an urgent appointment? Did you miss the point that my municipal tax dollars will be used to pay for policing and security required to keep the protesters and Ottawans safe for these two weeks?

----

Meanwhile, things are heating up in Toronto.

More than 100 Toronto police are on the scene and have set up a parameter on the highway. Vehicular traffic is now severely backlogged on the Gardiner, a major thoroughfare in the city.

Tensions between police and the protesters are high, say witnesses at the scene. Officers on the scene are reportedly armed with tear gas.

Police have described the protesters as "uncooperative."

http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTV...510?hub=Toronto

And to think among those protesters were babies and children in strollers. It boggles the mind how people could see fit to bring children to situations that could turn violent in an instant.

I have a bad feeling about how this will turn out if the authorities don't do something to put a stop to the illegal blocking of roads. This could lead to dangerous situations for average citizens. Hey, forget about road rage, how about protest rage.

[Oleg Bach]

I fail to see how what I posted translates into my being reasonable with regard to dealing with the two week protest in Ottawa. Did you miss my point that I was one of the lucky ones that for two weeks did not have to contend with having to circumvent the protest to get to work or to an urgent appointment? Did you miss the point that my municipal tax dollars will be used to pay for policing and security required to keep the protesters and Ottawans safe for these two weeks?

----

Meanwhile, things are heating up in Toronto.

http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTV...510?hub=Toronto

And to think among those protesters were babies and children in strollers. It boggles the mind how people could see fit to bring children to situations that could turn violent in an instant.

I have a bad feeling about how this will turn out if the authorities don't do something to put a stop to the illegal blocking of roads. This could lead to dangerous situations for average citizens. Hey, forget about road rage, how about protest rage.

Soon as you mention the diversionary "babies and strollers" - I sense insincerity - or enflame the situation by suggesting "could turn violent in an instant" - For a demostration this size to repeatedly go on with out a hitch is an accomplishment....IF - You had relatives that were herded to one end of the Island of Shrilanka - or into a corner of Gaza - where the purpose of your advesary is to pull off a mini genocide - YOU would show no quams about blocking a street or two in order to get some attention and help.