Most at the family re-union had not even heard about what is happening at Caledonia and they could not understand why we would even put any effort into this issue.

I have long held the view that Canadians really don't care about issues like Democracy, Justice, Truth, Political Corruption, etc. Our History is one where Democracy was given to us by the British Government, not fought for like the Americans did. Yes, we may have had a war against the USA to stop them from taking over Canada, but we did not fight to bring about Democracy or Justice or to end Political Corruption. Maybe this is why Canadians will continue to vote for the Federal Liberal Party, even in the last election, after years of Corruption - Canadian standards are quite low in holding elected officials accountable. Contrast that to the USA where almost every year some elected official is facing real jail time. I think you would be hard pressed to name the last elected MP who went to jail in Canada - in fact, maybe there has never even been one.

Our history includes the movement of a large number of people from the USA to Canada during the Revolution called Empire Loyalists. It appears to me this group was saying what most Canadians now firmly believe and practice. They believed that regardless of the failings of Government, regardless of whether they represent your views, regardless of excessively high taxation, you must always remain loyal to the Empire.

As I grew up in the Kingston area - a large government town, originaly to be Canada's Capital, I continuously heard my parents, aunts & uncles, etc., whine and complain about the government. But can I recall a single example where any adult contacted their elected officials, or signed a petition, or joined an organization for change? - NO! It appears to be a Canadian past-time to whine and complain but take no actions.

Yes, we remember our vets - but do we?

To Canadians Democracy is guaranteed by something like the Democracy Fairy who waves her magic wand. Few believe Democracy has to be guarded - which is why we have had such a poorly equipped military. Few believe that Democracy has its cost in money and blood. Few believe that in the 21st century Democracy is in danger. If Canada existed in any other part of the world we would have been taken over by now by some country.

But now ask the people in Caledonia who learned the hard way that Democracy, and the rule of law that comes with it, is here today and gone tomorrow.

The reason my family doesn't understand why anyone would care about what is happening in Caledonia is because over the past 30 years we have become convinced it is best to allow everyone to express their own views in their own way. This is great if you mean that each of us have the right to free speech but bad when it gets to the point that 'minding our own business' means watching others being terrorized.

The OPP union has stated that senior brass have instructed the officers not to interfere with the Natives. However, do you really need senior brass telling you to help an elderly couple while they are attacked? At what point do you, as a human being, a Canadian Citizen, stop standing by while serious crimes are being committed?

It appears for most Canadians the numerous assualts, destruction of a power station & bridge and the attempted murder of one our law enforcement officers are not enough reasons to wake us up.

In Canada, sitting in our backyards with a beer is more important than
Democracy & Justice.

What does that say about us as a people?