Check You Privilege - Andrew Scheer Comes Under Fire
I'm not an Andrew Scheer fan - for a bunch of reasons. Probably for the same reasons many modern conservatives (recovering liberals) find themselves unable to vote for him. I'm pro-choice, pro-science, pro-equal rights and human rights - but I'm finding a lot about modern liberals that has left a very bad taste in my mouth. The level of virtue signalling in the current political realm has me reeling.
In response to a basic break down in this country to respect the rule of law - a week that has seen roads illegally blocked, rail lines illegally blocked, and the BC legislature illegally blocked, Andrew Scheer has asked the protesters to "check their privilege". Of course the "left" is jumping on this - it seems laughable that a conservative, white male, should be asking those who are wanting to stand in solidarity with a First Nation to, "check their privilege".
Here's the kicker though, and it might be the only time in my life that I'll write these words, Andrew Scheer is right. His comment is rightfully directed at those who have committed one of the greatest social wrongs there can be, those who have appropriated the cause of the disadvantaged to advance their own interests. Look at who these people are - they are generally middle class, white kids and boomers who really haven't bothered to look into the issue beyond scratching at its surface. They are people who live in nice homes, who are attending or have attended post-secondary school, who have the luxury of being able to have a cause.
I'm not going to say that there aren't serious issues facing indigenous communities in this country - there are, and those issues are grave. What I am going to say, is that the headlong show of "solidarity" is very misplaced. The Coastal Gas Line Pipeline has been approved and is supported by the vast majority of indigenous people on whose land it will go - by their elected officials. What we're seeing now, is a very small group of people, who are willing to hold the country at ransom and undermine the process of reconciliation in BC. These are not the kinds of allies indigenous people in Canada need - they are opportunists hell bent on their own objectives.
In response to a basic break down in this country to respect the rule of law - a week that has seen roads illegally blocked, rail lines illegally blocked, and the BC legislature illegally blocked, Andrew Scheer has asked the protesters to "check their privilege". Of course the "left" is jumping on this - it seems laughable that a conservative, white male, should be asking those who are wanting to stand in solidarity with a First Nation to, "check their privilege".
Here's the kicker though, and it might be the only time in my life that I'll write these words, Andrew Scheer is right. His comment is rightfully directed at those who have committed one of the greatest social wrongs there can be, those who have appropriated the cause of the disadvantaged to advance their own interests. Look at who these people are - they are generally middle class, white kids and boomers who really haven't bothered to look into the issue beyond scratching at its surface. They are people who live in nice homes, who are attending or have attended post-secondary school, who have the luxury of being able to have a cause.
I'm not going to say that there aren't serious issues facing indigenous communities in this country - there are, and those issues are grave. What I am going to say, is that the headlong show of "solidarity" is very misplaced. The Coastal Gas Line Pipeline has been approved and is supported by the vast majority of indigenous people on whose land it will go - by their elected officials. What we're seeing now, is a very small group of people, who are willing to hold the country at ransom and undermine the process of reconciliation in BC. These are not the kinds of allies indigenous people in Canada need - they are opportunists hell bent on their own objectives.
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