On Not Robbing Peter to Pay Paul
In writing on current events in Canada, I have tried to be fair with the truckers and protestors. They are certainly being slandered by media, and unfairly dealt with by government. Seizing bank accounts is just the latest example of sins against them. I will admit that it is hard for me to be fair with government, they seem to have made up ways to steal with impunity. Government has violated the Canadian social contract on many levels over the past two years. I believe that the government has catered to the fears of many, and casually sown seeds of division with quite a few others.
They may be blind and deaf to what they have done, but the last two years have added injury to insult. Farmers and truckers see this first, also in other parts of the world. Cities are biting the hand that feeds them. Now those seeds are growing, and the majority of the blame rests on the shoulders of deaf governments. It seems easy to see that from backwoods Northern Ontario. That does not mean I am on board entirely with all that goes on at protests. Still, I see much of what the protestors see, and I appreciate much about their stand.
Here is a reality for Protestants to remember: government injustice does not give license for lawlessness or ignoring other voices. An honorable protestor who wants to be listened to must be willing to listen themselves, and to stay within limits. If everyone plugs their ears, this will not go well for anyone, and it will certainly not go well for our grand-children. Even if you were to win, the next generation loses if they have no foundation of love for neighbors or enemies.
The government is not the only one in danger of reaping a corrupt harvest. There are a few protestors that are as well. Some protestors have embraced the method of "robbing Peter to pay Paul." Any superficially “non-violent” tactic that furthers their cause is on the table. The border blockade at Windsor was an example of this. I would not be against having a demonstration at Windsor. But the blockade cost livelihoods, and it may have been getting dangerous to some. As a father with a type-1 diabetic daughter, I sympathize with the right and necessity to travel freely to a double degree. If you use a tactic like blocking borders, you will end up hurting some neighbors that are the wrong target. Not only is that unethical, it will also lead to empty store shelves, and the turning of people against your movement. It is a lose-lose tactic.
What I find fascinating is that this protest movement does seem to turn down the high road again and again. They seem to have recognized that the blockades were not the best idea, and that things were getting out of hand. They are making concessions. They have simplified demands. The Ottawa truckers want to remain peaceful. There is even some movement towards being less of a hindrance in Ottawa. Protestors are listening to some degree.
Some "robbing Peter to pay Paul" might be happening in Ottawa as well. We can see hints of that without buying into the hand-wringing of media alarmists. Some intersections are blocked, albeit much more symbolically than compared to Windsor. Many in my corner perhaps have not even heard about this, but on Sunday evening an Ottawa citizen got fed up with the pickups supplying the convoy. One stood with a bicycle in front of a truck for hours, and a crowd of Ottawa citizens began to gather. They held the pickups at bay, and made them remove flags and symbols. Forcing flag removal was not a good idea. Neither is poking bears.
Some on Twitter call this the "Battle of Billings Bridge." They claim it as a victory. Perhaps. If I can admire the truckers for their grit, I do have to be honest and admire these citizens as well. The symbolism of one stand, a mere bicycle in front of a truck, says something as well. It is easy to block traffic with an 18-wheeler. A little more risky to block pickups full of unhappy country boys with a bicycle. This protestor deserves some grudging respect at least. I suggest that if someone is willing to stand in front of a row of pickups, they probably have their reasons. I’d go knock on his door and hear him out. Certainly, some of his troubles might seem superficial to some truckers who are losing their livelihoods. Still, we cannot just listen to the ones that agree with us. Be better than government. Listen to all, lend an ear.
If there is not some listening and adjusting, the harvest of division keeps growing. It seems like that is what the government wants. Their strategy seems to be to poke the bear until they get the reaction they want. It seems to me that government is hoping for ultimate division. But I believe many of the truckers are bigger and wiser bears than that. They have learned that what you sow, that you will also reap. That is true for all of us, not just government. It is true for me too.
Finally, it is good to remind us Reformed folks of our historic confession, and careful not to race down the wrong short-cuts. There are shortcuts that lead to a different kind of dead end. Belgic Confession Article 36 tells us about the government that we are to:
“… show due honor and respect to them, and to obey them in all things which are not repugnant to the Word of God; to supplicate for them in their prayers, that God may rule and guide them in all their ways, and that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. Wherefore we detest the Anabaptists and other seditious people, and in general all those who reject the higher powers and magistrates, and would subvert justice, introduce community of goods, and confound that decency and good order, which God hath established among men.”
This protest movement is very hard to define. I believe that many Reformed people who are involved are not violating Article 36. There really are other elements at these protests, however, that hold to the opposite confession. There are anarchists and anabaptists there. You must be honest about that, and keep your eyes open. Please steer clear of their directions.
Here is a reality for Protestants to remember: government injustice does not give license for lawlessness or ignoring other voices. An honorable protestor who wants to be listened to must be willing to listen themselves, and to stay within limits. If everyone plugs their ears, this will not go well for anyone, and it will certainly not go well for our grand-children. Even if you were to win, the next generation loses if they have no foundation of love for neighbors or enemies.
The government is not the only one in danger of reaping a corrupt harvest. There are a few protestors that are as well. Some protestors have embraced the method of "robbing Peter to pay Paul." Any superficially “non-violent” tactic that furthers their cause is on the table. The border blockade at Windsor was an example of this. I would not be against having a demonstration at Windsor. But the blockade cost livelihoods, and it may have been getting dangerous to some. As a father with a type-1 diabetic daughter, I sympathize with the right and necessity to travel freely to a double degree. If you use a tactic like blocking borders, you will end up hurting some neighbors that are the wrong target. Not only is that unethical, it will also lead to empty store shelves, and the turning of people against your movement. It is a lose-lose tactic.
What I find fascinating is that this protest movement does seem to turn down the high road again and again. They seem to have recognized that the blockades were not the best idea, and that things were getting out of hand. They are making concessions. They have simplified demands. The Ottawa truckers want to remain peaceful. There is even some movement towards being less of a hindrance in Ottawa. Protestors are listening to some degree.
Some "robbing Peter to pay Paul" might be happening in Ottawa as well. We can see hints of that without buying into the hand-wringing of media alarmists. Some intersections are blocked, albeit much more symbolically than compared to Windsor. Many in my corner perhaps have not even heard about this, but on Sunday evening an Ottawa citizen got fed up with the pickups supplying the convoy. One stood with a bicycle in front of a truck for hours, and a crowd of Ottawa citizens began to gather. They held the pickups at bay, and made them remove flags and symbols. Forcing flag removal was not a good idea. Neither is poking bears.
Some on Twitter call this the "Battle of Billings Bridge." They claim it as a victory. Perhaps. If I can admire the truckers for their grit, I do have to be honest and admire these citizens as well. The symbolism of one stand, a mere bicycle in front of a truck, says something as well. It is easy to block traffic with an 18-wheeler. A little more risky to block pickups full of unhappy country boys with a bicycle. This protestor deserves some grudging respect at least. I suggest that if someone is willing to stand in front of a row of pickups, they probably have their reasons. I’d go knock on his door and hear him out. Certainly, some of his troubles might seem superficial to some truckers who are losing their livelihoods. Still, we cannot just listen to the ones that agree with us. Be better than government. Listen to all, lend an ear.
If there is not some listening and adjusting, the harvest of division keeps growing. It seems like that is what the government wants. Their strategy seems to be to poke the bear until they get the reaction they want. It seems to me that government is hoping for ultimate division. But I believe many of the truckers are bigger and wiser bears than that. They have learned that what you sow, that you will also reap. That is true for all of us, not just government. It is true for me too.
Finally, it is good to remind us Reformed folks of our historic confession, and careful not to race down the wrong short-cuts. There are shortcuts that lead to a different kind of dead end. Belgic Confession Article 36 tells us about the government that we are to:
“… show due honor and respect to them, and to obey them in all things which are not repugnant to the Word of God; to supplicate for them in their prayers, that God may rule and guide them in all their ways, and that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. Wherefore we detest the Anabaptists and other seditious people, and in general all those who reject the higher powers and magistrates, and would subvert justice, introduce community of goods, and confound that decency and good order, which God hath established among men.”
This protest movement is very hard to define. I believe that many Reformed people who are involved are not violating Article 36. There really are other elements at these protests, however, that hold to the opposite confession. There are anarchists and anabaptists there. You must be honest about that, and keep your eyes open. Please steer clear of their directions.
Post tenebras lux. Light after darkness.