OMG!!! What's with these protestors!!!

[bluga]

Hundreds of people were marching on the street yesterday and tons of cars were honking horns in North York Toronto.

They came back again today, circling the road and have been honking horns for 2 hours straight now.

The police is there but does nothing.

I find it hard to sympathize these people.

They have the right to protest but what about my rights to live?

Seriously if they are so worried they should fly back and join the protest there.

[Jay Hova]

Iranians?

BTW: I don't mind them protesting lol, the girls are good-looking and the music they play is cool.

[bluga]

Iranians?

BTW: I don't mind them protesting lol, the girls are good-looking and the music they play is cool.

Obviously.:(

[ricoboxing]

maybe rfd should organise a protest against protestors

[BornRuff]

I think that there is starting to be a bit too much of a trend toward protesters being disruptive to people who are not against them.

When it comes to protests in Canada about issues from outside of Canada, they should be seeking to educate people about the issue, show their support for their cause, but not act in a way that implies they are trying to punish us. Honking and blocking our roads is not winning people support.

[Martinga]

Sadly the government actually listens to the crowds when they do this protests.
Im with you, i can't stand those protests. Why should i be the one affected by the protest when i have nothing to do with it.

[cube11]

Hundreds of people were marching on the street yesterday a tons of cars were honking horns in North York Toronto.

They came back again today, circling the road and have been honking horns for 2 hours now.

The police is there but does nothing.

I find it hard to sympathize these people.

They have the right to protest but what about our rights to live?

Seriously if you are so worried why don't you fly back and join the protest there?

plus 1....its driving me crazyyyyyy..i cant even open my condo windows...if you wanna protest then go to iran...what are u going to achieve by giving me and endless others migrane :mad::mad:

[jstaneon]

....at least they didnt close down the gardiner!

[45ED]

IBTL

To be fair, they did have a permit to protest at Queen's Park today, as odd as that sounds. So, in a sense, they had a right to be protesting today at that location, AFAIK.

[sxz]

It's Tianamen Square, 20 years later. :O

Edit: It's too bad the video was removed.

[w4rrior]

Sadly the government actually listens to the crowds when they do this protests.
Im with you, i can't stand those protests. Why should i be the one affected by the protest when i have nothing to do with it.

That's the whole point of protests, to get something done about it... It may be inconvenient to you now, but remember you have the right to do it too if something affects you personally. As long as its not an everyday occurrence, just learn to tolerate it once in a while.

[Reign]

Iranians?

BTW: I don't mind them protesting lol, the girls are good-looking and the music they play is cool.

+1

I don't mind... the girls make it worth my wild.

[goddess]

When it comes to protests in Canada about issues from outside of Canada, they should be seeking to educate people about the issue, show their support for their cause, but not act in a way that implies they are trying to punish us. Honking and blocking our roads is not winning people support.


i feel horrible for what these people are going through,
but i totally agree with you.
protesters: please educate us, don't punish us!

[sxz]

How many are willing to sit down in a seminar to hear what this issue is all about?

No takers?

I thought so.

They have every right to protest as long as it's not violent like the protests they're protesting about. Let it be.

[krozet]

How many are willing to sit down in a seminar to hear what this issue is all about?

No takers?

I thought so.

They have every right to protest as long as it's not violent like the protests they're protesting about. Let it be.

Do hyphenated Canadians have some right that non hyphenated Canadians do not have?

[highvelocity]

So far, they're not nearly as annoying or troublesome as a certain other group of protesters just a little while back... the traffic impeding ones.

[MrDisco]

what was that all about? there was a bunch of cars with flags draped over the roof, some with hands out with their middle figure extended :confused: one guy was wearing a mask with the flag painted on it. crazy.

[sxz]

How do they have the right to infringe on my rights? Do hyphenated Canadians have some right that non hyphenated Canadians do not have?

Which of your rights (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charter_of_Rights_and_Freedoms) are they infringing on?

[KorruptioN]

How do they have the right to infringe on my rights? Do hyphenated Canadians have some right that non hyphenated Canadians do not have?

Seriously?

[krozet]

Absolutely I am serious!

I have no issue with peaceful assembly or of a persons right to protest. What I want to know is when this right evolved into obstructing commerce, and breaking the law.

If I stand in the street blocking traffic, causing noise for surrounding residents and obstruction local businesses because I feel that my people are being unfairly treated I would be thrown in jail.

If I do it as an Iranian-Canadian, or Tamil-Canadian then there are no arrests, no consequences...

Feel free to protest at Queens Park, or Parliament Hill. Use the news outlets, the internet, radio to reach out and get your message across. But there is a line in society and as soon as a group, any group crosses it just because they feel that no one is watching them or paying attention to them there needs to be fair and even consequences.

Everyone is equal? Absolutely! To many people fought and died for that not to be true.

[Ojam]

How do they have the right to infringe on my rights? Do hyphenated Canadians have some right that non hyphenated Canadians do not have?

Really? Name 1 right they are infringing on, just 1, actual right.

I don't know about anybody else, but I find it really sad that when it comes to using the freedoms that this country affords us, and all it's citizens that SOME citizens feel that those rights are an "inconvenience". Maybe we should just cancel all rights that would cause some people to have to get up earlier, or take a different route to work.

Be thankful you live in a country that you will be inconvenienced sometimes by protests rather then inconvenienced by Government telling you when, where, and how you can live your day to day life.

[krozet]

I admit that I over reacted and that my rights are not being personally infringed upon but I stand by my point that if I stood in the street protesting I would be arrested.

[krozet]

Really? Name 1 right they are infringing on, just 1, actual right.

I don't know about anybody else, but I find it really sad that when it comes to using the freedoms that this country affords us, and all it's citizens that SOME citizens feel that those rights are an "inconvenience". Maybe we should just cancel all rights that would cause some people to have to get up earlier, or take a different route to work.

Be thankful you live in a country that you will be inconvenienced sometimes by protests rather then inconvenienced by Government telling you when, where, and how you can live your day to day life.

I feel that the freedoms that this country affords us are not granted fairly to everyone. I do not have the same rights to protest that others do.

[tail_duck]

So I was in North York today and saw this HUGE group of people, mostly teens and students that looked in their mid-twenties protesting and shouting in unison. I decided to take a video because this one guy was going berserk in the middle of it all, I have NO idea where he was getting his moves from, I think it was a cry for help?

Upload via youtube, see for yourself here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu_moia-oVI).

[Canada_7]

Upload via youtube, see for yourself here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu_moia-oVI).

Dude, that's so old.

[tail_duck]

Dude, that's so old.

Oh golly I had no idea it was so old :razz:

[JAGpilot]

That's what you get for living in the Tehranto area. Yonge between Finch and Steeles is being over-run by Iranians. It used to be Korean, now Iran is moving in! :razz:

[Paolo]

I don't think they were protesting dude! Their soccer team probaly won or something. Last time they won, I happened to be driving in the neighbourhood of yonge street and finch ave, next think you know, all these cars come out from the side streets and alleys, yes they have hawt daughters too. They were honking their horns and waiving flags with green white and red so I started honking my horns too, but then I realized moments later it was an Iran flag they were waiving not an italy flag so i quickly rolled up my windows and told the wife to put her head back in the car from outside the sunroof and stop waiving and chanting and close the sunroof and lock the doors and on we go to our merry way. btw, it felt cool to celebrate for that short time even though theyre not my team.

[MrDisco]

I don't think they were protesting dude! Their soccer team probaly won or something.

is there some soccer tournament going on? i've seen a group of people organzing with large flags at that large grocery store next to sleep country for the past few days.

Still unclear as to what it is all this ruckus is about. The election mishaps in Iran?

[KorruptioN]

The election mishaps in Iran?

That's exactly what's behind these protests.

[EM_K19]

That's what you get for living in the Tehranto area. Yonge between Finch and Steeles is being over-run by Iranians. It used to be Korean, now Iran is moving in! :razz:

I'd say it's still about 50/50 split from north of Yonge and Finch to Steeles between Iranians and Koreans. South of there till Sheppard is all Korean.


I don't think they were protesting dude! Their soccer team probaly won or something.

They actually got knocked out of the World Cup Qualifying about a week ago. Few of their players actually wore the green wristband in a silent protest against the election, and then they were apparently ordered to have it removed by the Iranian authorities at half time (the game was played in Korea). Certainly didn't help the morale of the people that the soccer team didn't make it, as they really appreciate their football (soccer)

[ever1221]

lol iam 99% sure its pakistanis...reason is because they won cricket world cup yesterday...

[Lulz]

Does anybody have any pictures or videos of those said hot girls protesting?

[ShadowVlican]

Does anybody have any pictures or videos of those said hot girls protesting?
+1 or lock this thread :lol:

[Canada_7]

is there some soccer tournament going on? i've seen a group of people organzing with large flags at that large grocery store next to sleep country for the past few days.

Still unclear as to what it is all this ruckus is about. The election mishaps in Iran?
Well, soccer-wise theres the UEFA U-21 Tournament (though it's happening in Sweden, supporters are probably just watching in bars) going on at the moment though I'm doubting that's what OP is annoyed about by the sounds of it.

[rfdrfd]

Yes, I saw them at night time, ppl walking up the sidewalk carrying flags, cars honking on Yonge St, blocking other motorists. Playing music.

At first, I thought I missed a World Cup score or something. I thought they were celebrating.

But seriously, these people are useless if they just do this. They are all lazy asses. They wanna be in Canada, drive their fancy BMWs, Audis, and just honk... ya ya.. .I support them.

If they are truly supportive, fly back home and help out. Protest there where it would make more difference.

Protesting on Yonge St., causing others headaches does NOTHING. Ontario Govern. ain't gonna do crap. At least drive to Ottawa to protest about it.

So, they've lost any sympathy in me for them. Do something constructive please. Go volunteer at a hospital or old age home or food bank. Go donate some blood !

[MrDisco]

lol iam 99% sure its pakistanis...reason is because they won cricket world cup yesterday...

Hmm I did some searching and I think you're incorrect. The flags I saw draped on cars was this one:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dentistehamidghavami/362720670/

It's most likely, as Korruption stated, due to the election protests going on in Iran.

[msklifesux]

wo ho pakistan won the cricket worldcup *sighz* something to cheer for :)

[fattest]

Does anybody have any pictures or videos of those said hot girls protesting?

just to give some perspective, iran is the plastic surgery capital of the middle east. look close at their noses. the 'before' version is something along the lines of a parrot.

[originalnutta]

+1

I don't mind... the girls make it worth my wild.

wow

[Lawl and Order]

wow

rofl

[joeym]

just to give some perspective, iran is the plastic surgery capital of the middle east. look close at their noses. the 'before' version is something along the lines of a parrot.


well, in that case, i dont think POLLY wants a cracker :-0

[discostupid]

unfortunately our team was bumped out of the World Cup 2010 qualifiers last week. Tied 1-1 with South Korea, and then Saudi Arabia tied vs UAE to get ahead by 1 point in the standings. I believe South Korea and North Korea are in, and Saudi Arabia lost to some other country from another group and they will also miss the World Cup.

With regards to protesters, I have the same stance as I did for the Tamils. As long as you don't disrupt people's daily routines etc, I have no problems with protests. But if you are blocking traffic and disturbing the peace, I have an issue with it. Luckily our Ottawa Iranians are more scattered and hella lazy.

ftr I am Iranian

[bluga]

OMG!!! Here they are again!!! It's Monday!!!:mad::mad::mad:

[knickerbocker]

Here's my take on protests.

If these groups did a silent protest...no one would give a crap.

If you want them to educate you on their protests, like one RFD'er said, people don't care enough to stop, listen, and do something about it. It would turn into a World Vision type deal, where we see the ads on TV, but we're far too cozy in our daily lives do be bothered to do something about it.

So what alternative do these protesters have? The answer is to get the attention of the public any way they can, as long as its not illegal, granted the Gardiner shin dig was illegal, but as long as no one gets hurt, protesters have to pull out all the stops to get our attention. And also, its not like these protesters have all the time in the world to win over our attention when their families are dieing back home.

So all I'm saying is that its easy for us to sit back and play armchair quarterback and draw up "what ifs" scenario's, but unless you feel the cause, feel the pain, feel the anger, that these protesters do, then I don't think its fair or nice to tell people how to protest. (Unless of course its illegal, and unsafe)

One more point, why is it that when we see a fellow human being raped, abused, tortured, whatever, in our neighbourhood, we feel the need to help. But as soon as it happens outside of our borders, all bets are off, and its not our responsibility to help out a fellow man in need? Always boggled me.

[-=phelan=-]

in all honesty i was walking down on yonge and i saw flags waving. I thought it was cuz brazil whipped italy in a match as i didn't quite get a good look at the flag. once i get to empress walk area i'm like wtf...one person screams "human rights" in front of my face and i'm like ummm ok... sure... why are you protesting? what does he do? he dances off and shouts out again something and i just continue walking.

honestly what was that protest about, i just walked by and didn't get a message from them AT ALL!

[bilibulu]

Canada is a stupid racist country!

Why do natives get so many perks that the rest of Canadians don't?

They are distinguishing the people based on RACE. So this is racism!!!:evil:

[45ED]

Canada is a stupid racist country!

Why do natives get so many perks that the rest of Canadians don't?

They are distinguishing the people based on RACE. So this is racism!!!:evil:

Response to line one: No.

Response to line two: the protesters that OP is referring to are protesting the Iranian election, not the situation in Caledonia. So they're more less Iranian Canadians, not Natives.

Response to line three: discriminating, not distinguishing. Either you're trying to troll or you're just angry because of a perceived personal inconvenience rather than commenting on actual race-based treatment. No one is going to take your statement seriously if you can't argue seriously.

[oceania]

I agree with several of the posters who said that who would actually listen if they did educate you willingly folks. The reason why so many Canadians have a problem with protesting is because we're so lazy and dispassioned about most issues. Even when something pisses us off about the government we ***** and complain but suck it up and go along with it. You look else where in the world, they fight against injustices.

Majority of Americans and Canadians are very spoiled, ungrateful, ignorant, and apathetic. Until we face the same kind of human rights violation, we will never understand the plight people all over the world go through.

The reason why they are protesting is in the hopes our government will help fight oppression since the west is all about freedom, right and democracy, well aren't we?

For those of you who want to be educated, how many of you even bothered to educate yourselves?



I feel that the freedoms that this country affords us are not granted fairly to everyone. I do not have the same rights to protest that others do.

You do have the rights, you just choose not to use them.

[45ED]

If anyone's curious, there may be another protest in the works - as early as tomorrow, possibly. So ... take driving time and protest into consideration?


More TUESDAY protests: Toronto, Calgary, Dublin, Frankfurt #iranelection #gr88 #tehran #iran Twitter.com (http://twitter.com/Tajavioletta/statuses/2288081149)

[kgen]

Gah, I have to agree -- was taking a nap on Sunday when I heard them honking their cars for 10 minutes as they passed and then over again and again as they walked back and forth. Now to be honest, I'm not fully up to speed on the situation in Iran, but blaring the horns doesn't give me any incentive to learn more about your cause. Go protest at Queen's Park, or other places where it matters, not uptown in condo land!
Edit: I'm on the 2Xth floor, so if I can't even imagine how annoying it would be for people right on Yonge at a lower level!

[TheCheez]

I agree with several of the posters who said that who would actually listen if they did educate you willingly folks. The reason why so many Canadians have a problem with protesting is because we're so lazy and dispassioned about most issues. Even when something pisses us off about the government we ***** and complain but suck it up and go along with it. You look else where in the world, they fight against injustices.

Majority of Americans and Canadians are very spoiled, ungrateful, ignorant, and apathetic. Until we face the same kind of human rights violation, we will never understand the plight people all over the world go through.


Like you, I used to think this was a problem with our society. I've since come to realise that it's more a symptom of an overall happy people and a good country. Really, life here's pretty good. You look elsewhere in the world and....there's a reason Canada has a vibrant immigrant community.

I'm glad that Canadians don't understand human rights violations since occurrences here are isolated.

[45ED]

An oldie but a goodie:



In Germany, they came first for the Communists,
And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist;

And then they came for the trade unionists,
And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist;

And then they came for the Jews,
And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew;

And then... they came for me...
And by that time there was no one left to speak up."

Pastor Martin Niemöller

[kgen]

An oldie but a goodie:

Well, when it's time to go, it's time to go?

[oceania]

Like you, I used to think this was a problem with our society. I've since come to realise that it's more a symptom of an overall happy people and a good country. Really, life here's pretty good. You look elsewhere in the world and....there's a reason Canada has a vibrant immigrant community.

I'm glad that Canadians don't understand human rights violations since occurrences here are isolated.

That's one way of looking at it but I don't think that give us the right to dismiss or be ignorant of issues around us.

I also wouldn't consider us a "happy" nation regardless how great of a country Canada is and how fortunate we all are to be living here. I don't think most appreciate or even realize it...just from own observations and experiences both here and through my travels.

[Emancipated]

Well, when it's time to go, it's time to go?

Very delicious food blog you have going but you're a donkey.

[jedijome]

oddly enough speaking of protests, i saw a whole bunch of Israeli flags today at bayview and Lawrence. anyone know what that was about?

[kgen]

Very delicious food blog you have going but you're a donkey.

I'm merely pointing out how absurd that saying is -- I can replace those minorities with any set of people, say Nazi's, Fascist's, Cannibals, etc. regardless of my beliefs and it would _still_ mean as little as it does now. I hate it when people take generalizations like this and apply it to obviously complex situations which can not be abstracted so lightly. It is the equivalent of me saying "What's the big fuss in Iran anyways? Why not live and let live?" 'Tis absurd!

[Lulz]

honestly what was that protest about, i just walked by and didn't get a message from them AT ALL!

you were too mesmerized by Iranian girls, perhaps? :):-0:o

[45ED]

I'm merely pointing out how absurd that saying is -- I can replace those minorities with any set of people, say Nazi's, Fascist's, Cannibals, etc. regardless of my beliefs and it would _still_ mean as little as it does now. I hate it when people take generalizations like this and apply it to obviously complex situations which can not be abstracted so lightly. It is the equivalent of me saying "What's the big fuss in Iran anyways? Why not live and let live?" 'Tis absurd!

The point that the Pastor was trying to illustrate was to show how easily a group can disappear if no one stands for that particular group somehow. In that "somehow" is the complexity that you speak of. If something happens to a group that someone, be it us or someone else, could have stopped from happening but chose not to, who bears the fault? The Pastor's poem goes to describe how easy it is to turn our heads to an issue because it does not concern us. But in his writing, he warns that someday it may be our turn to face an opponent bigger than us (re:those who could've helped). And when that day comes, there won't be anyone to help us because we let them go away.

So going back to the OP and like-minded folks, there is a distinct, "why should we care" attitude common amongst them. And the poem offers one reason why we (or anyone for that matter) should care. Not just in this major situation, but even in personal lives, the reason why we should care is because someday it'll be our time.

Edit: And the Pastor's writing wasn't a saying but a poem. A major poem. One of the biggest to come after the war.

[TheFuteballer]

I have to say I have to apologize on behalf of the idiots blaring their horns and dancing around like it's a freakin party... it's quite sad that some people don't get the reason behind the protests and just come out for a "good time"

Yes the protests are about what's going on Iran and the major human rights violations in effect there (people are getting killed for simply expressing their opinions - which is a BASIC human right).

Most people here would simply like to mourn the fallen and show our support for the brave young who are risking their lives to even be walking around on the streets in Iran...

and then these people come out honking their horns with flags, blaring music and dancing around... again I apologize, it's truly embarassing

[kgen]

The point that the Pastor was trying to illustrate was to show how easily a group can disappear if no one stands for that particular group somehow. In that "somehow" is the complexity that you speak of. If something happens to a group that someone, be it us or someone else, could have stopped from happening but chose not to, who bears the fault? The Pastor's poem goes to describe how easy it is to turn our heads to an issue because it does not concern us. But in his writing, he warns that someday it may be our turn to face an opponent bigger than us (re:those who could've helped). And when that day comes, there won't be anyone to help us because we let them go away.

So going back to the OP and like-minded folks, there is a distinct, "why should we care" attitude common amongst them. And the poem offers one reason why we (or anyone for that matter) should care. Not just in this major situation, but even in personal lives, the reason why we should care is because someday it'll be our time.

So the Pastor advocates standing up for people you don't know who are in situations you don't understand? Despite the fact that it is infinitely easier to say that we should stand up for these persecuted groups _in hindsight_, the point is that it is not logical to do so, and I am no less moral a person to decide to let the outcome of other societies be decided amongst themselves. When the time you mention comes for us, then I do not believe that the intervention of strangers who don't understand our plight and suffering improves our situation any.

It is also not about blame, history is forged regardless of the perceived morality of the outcomes. I respectfully disagree with what the pastor is saying.

[Error916]

Iranians?

BTW: I don't mind them protesting lol, the girls are good-looking and the music they play is cool.

Funny how I never heard this when the Tamils were protesting.....lol

[Rehan]

I have to say I have to apologize on behalf of the idiots blaring their horns and dancing around like it's a freakin party... it's quite sad that some people don't get the reason behind the protests and just come out for a "good time" I happened to drive through that area twice last night, and from what I observed it was not a protest but more like a celebration of support for the possibility of a revolution in Iran. Every single flag I saw was the old Iranian flag from the days of the Shah; and I didn't see a single woman in a headscarf. So my guess is that they were cheering and hoping for a secular government in Iran.

The problem is that besides the flag, they had hardly anything to explain why they were out in the streets. I saw a few very brief written signs, but you'd have to know what's going on over there to understand what they meant. But I don't know if at this point they care whether the average Canadian knows about their goals...they may have been trying to first gather up their troops. It looked like the activities in North York last night were good for them, but the traffic problems were a little annoying for everyone else (nothing too terrible, though).

[jstaneon]

funny how i never heard this when the tamils were protesting.....lol

lol ouch

[asot24]

what 'group' of people doesn't protest these days? embarassing city.

[Little Dragon]

i live right by yonge/finch and a good portion of the day all you hear is chanting and honking. its pretty annoying now, especially when you're trying to watch tv, etc. plus with the heat, its even more agitating and we gotta close the windows and get hotter :P

[williamsauga]

what 'group' of people doesn't protest these days? embarassing city.

true

http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/6791/59993143.jpg

[brunes]

Canada is a stupid racist country!

Why do natives get so many perks that the rest of Canadians don't?

They are distinguishing the people based on RACE. So this is racism!!!:evil:

It's comments like this and others that make the rest of the country embarrassed that T.O is part of it sometimes :/

T.O. seems to be a cesspool of all of the most rude and intolerant people in the nation...

[diamond94]

It's comments like this and others that make the rest of the country embarrassed that T.O is part of it sometimes :/

T.O. seems to be a cesspool of all of the most rude and intolerant people in the nation...

I don’t think it’s exclusive to Toronto. This type of ignorant and self-centered view is rampant throughout society today. People just don’t have the time nor patience to research and educate themselves on issues before spewing remarks they think “sounds” intelligent and witty.

It’s funny, you’d think with the Internet and its endless resources, we’d be fostering a generation with well developed rationale…. but it seems to be diong anything but.

[affy]

I'm Iranian and honestly these protests are really futile in the long run. They might help for moral support for our brothers and sisters back home, but in reality it doesn't help the situation.

Iranians should band together, go to ottawa and make a human chain to prevent the Iranian ambassador and other workers from entering the Iranian Embassy

That'll get noticed back in Iran...this should be done in every country with an Iranian Embassy