Freedom Rebellion: At the Heart of the Matter

Hmmm, before we reject, inpractice and in principle, the freedom rebellion that is unfolding in ourcountry, there are a few things we need to take into account in our thinking.

The Canadian Chart ofRights and Freedoms

On April 17, 1982, the Charter came into force addressing “fundamentalfreedoms” – namely, freedom of conscience, freedom of religion, freedom ofthought, freedom of belief and freedom of expression.

Under Legal Rights, the Charter states that “Everyonehas the right to life, liberty and security of the person and the right not tobe deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamentaljustice.”.

Under Equality Rights, the Charter states that“Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to theequal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination…”

The Charter applies tothe Parliament and government of Canada and to the legislature and governmentof each province. In other words, no level of government is exempt.

Wilfred Laurier, PrimeMinister of Canada from 1896 to 1911

A quotation from Laurier is circulating on social media right now and warrants considersation:

“Whatis hateful is not rebellion but the despotism which induces the rebellion; whatis hateful is not rebels but the men, who, having the enjoyment of power, donot discharge the duties of power; they are men who, having the power toredress wrongs, refuse to listen to the petitioners that are sent to them; theyare men who, when they are asked for a loaf, give a stone.”

Howard Beale, “The MadProphet of the Airwaves”

In 1976, in the landmarkmovie Network, fictional newsmanHoward Beale, having endured all he can about the state of the nation and the “bullshit”of American life, unleashes a rant on the network news with the now immortalwords:

“I’mmad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore.”

His speech resonateswith the public who begin to scream the words from their windows. Forty yearslater, it resonates again throughout the protests currently underway.

Now the final word. You and I are both free to condone or condemn the tactics being employed in the freedom rebellion. Pay attention now because we are coming to the heart of the matter.  The current rebellion is in fact about protecting and defending that freedom for all.

We can take issue with the tactics. But can we realistically disagree with the principle at the heart of the rebellion?

~ NowAvailable Online from Amazon, Chapters Indigo or Barnes & Noble: HuntingMuskie, Rites of Passage – Stories by Michael Robert Dyet

~ Michael Robert Dyet is alsothe author of Until the Deep Water Stills – An Internet-enhanced Novel whichwas a double winner in the Reader Views Literary Awards 2009. Visit Michael’swebsite at www.mdyetmetaphor.com .

~ Subscribe to Michael’s Metaphors of Life Journal aka That Make Me GoHmmm at its’ internet home www.mdyetmetaphor.com/blog2 . Instructions for subscribingare provided in the Subscribe to this Blog: How To instructions page in theright sidebar. Ifyou’re reading this post on another social networking site, come back regularlyto my page for postings once a week.