Border blockaders stood up for freedom
Thank you to Ed Donkersgoed for his letter of self-righteousness previously written to the readers of The Western Producer (page 12, Feb. 17). It seems Ed is playing right into the hands of the elites, having us little guys become polarized and fight amongst ourselves instead of watching out for one another.
As a farmer and producer myself and someone who does trade and business back and forth through the Coutts border crossing, I appreciate the efforts of those who stood up for my rights and the rights of all Canadians recently by protesting government overreach and standing up for my civil rights, which includes the freedom to worship who and how I see fit. From what I witnessed myself and from what I learned through independent journalists who still have some integrity for their profession, there were Canadians from all walks of life and all religions or non-religions. I thought that’s what being Canadian was all about?
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Is it inconvenient to have one of Canada’s major border crossings closed for a few days? Absolutely, but let’s put the blame where it belongs, and it isn’t the farmers or truckers or anyone around them or in-betweens’ fault. They were brave enough to risk arrest, corporate media smearing and even the possibility of losing their businesses entirely for the rights of all Canadians to be free.
I don’t know how good memory serves you, but as a farmer you may remember a smaller “fringe” group of farmers who blocked the Coutts border crossing over 20 years ago, standing up to the government overreach which was back then the Canadian Wheat Board monopoly.
Years later, all western Canadian farmers have the benefit and blessing to market our grain how we wish and to who we would like. Some farmers who broke the law selling their grain outside the wheat board monopoly served time and were given fines.
I sure hope one day we will all come to appreciate the efforts of those who risked it all so we can enjoy the freedoms we once had, including the freedom to worship. Now let’s try and do better moving forward, making sure everyone has the blessings of being a Canadian. The truth North strong and free.
Nathan Jensen,
Taber, Alta.
