The Caledonia Pitchfork Squad
June 23, 2006 · By Peter Rempel
We at ThePolitic admire men who are willing to shoulder a high-powered rifle in order to protect their property and families. Such bravery manifested itself in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina:
There has been, however, one bright spot that has emenated from the lawlessness of New Orleans. That is shop-keepers and business-owners that have remainded to protect their livelihoods by brandishing their personal firearms. Most rioters are unarmed, looking for an easy target. These shop-keepers have refused to give it to them, protecting themselves and their property by resorting to their right to bear arms. In an atmosphere of lawlessness, these brave men have stepped up to the plate and used their guns to uphold the law.
It now seems as though the residents of Caledonia will have to begin arming themselves:
Amid concerns over lack of police action in Caledonia, the Ontario Provincial Police have turned over part of their policing responsibility on the outskirts of the town to Six Nations officers, the force confirmed yesterday.
Is this necessarily a bad thing? Well, it depends. If you lived on land claimed by a violent native band and had just been informed that your police were abandoning you and were leaving you at the mercy of a “police force” that had contributed to an illegal and violent blockade that had lasted for three months, would you be scared?
As Matthew points out, there’s nothing left now for the abandoned residents of Caledonia other than their own defiance:
Once the local citizens realize that the government isn’t bothered with actually helping them get their lives back to normal as much as it’s trying to run away from a bad situation that makes good Premiers into great heroes and bad Premiers into shameful disgraces, things will get ugly fast. What good is obeying the law when the enforcers won’t defend you against transgressors in the first place?
This is an excellent post, Rempel.
This Caledonia non-sense stranger than fiction. It is unbelievable to me that the OPP expect to get away with shirking their duty towards the people they are charged to serve, the same people who pay taxes to run that police force.
Another thing I find astonishing is the failure of the OPP to enforce the court order to end this protest. It’s about time the head of the OPP and at least one member of McGuinty’s cabinet (if not the big cheese himself) were held in contempt of court for failing to uphold the rule of law, penalties to follow suit.
Things are just going to get uglier! Dalton McGuinty stands a good chance of going down as the worst Premier of Ontario ever.
Dalton will beg them to leave. That will teach the bastards!
Six Nations police force that was so succesful in apprehending 11 wanted men on the reserve, one for attempted murder of a police officer. The government of Ontario has abandoned the people of Caledonia. Time to break out the pitchforks. Update:The Caledonia Pitchfork Squad
“Once the ABORIGINAL PEOPLE realize that the government isn’t bothered with actually helping them get their lives back to normal as much as it’s trying to run away from a bad situation that makes good Premiers into great heroes and bad Premiers into shameful disgraces, things will get ugly fast. What good is obeying the law when the GOVERNMENT won’t defend you against GOVERNMENT in the first place?”
There, does that make more sense to you now?
Oh come on, no one is going to stand idly by while some bozo with a pitchfork or a legal long gun comes after your family and land, are they? Or are they…
Sucks to live on misappropriated land, eh? Time to bash your pitchforks and high-powered rifles into plowshares, and make an agreement you intend to keep with the people who suffer you on their land.
Also, where do you get off running down the Queen’s own reservation police? The “reserve” police have just as much right and might as any of your more “friendly” RCMP; try not to let skin colour blind you eh.
I doubt things can get much uglier if the above posts are any indication. Some people let fear rule their lives and all thought processes. Poor them. Do not let them drag you down into their own shamefull hell.
Many people are afraid; a lot of them know deep in their hearts and bank accounts why they should be. Many of the Caledonia townspeople and supporters apparently are not up to snuff enough to go overseas to war but that doesn’t stop them from trying to run their own war game on their neighbour. Thank goodness the long gun registry will soon be killed; less chance of getting caught sniping.
Isn’t it against Canadian law to incite hatred and violence on another (Canadian)?
With regard to the latest comments, while I sympathize with the ongoing dispute over this tract of land, which I understand “we” gave back to “you”, your frustration breeds insults and hypocrisy anyone and everyone should find insulting.
To adopt your nonsensical and counter-productive attitude: Where do you get off telling me you suffer me on your land? I was born here just the same as you were, I’ve lived here (and actually paid taxes to cultivate and maintain “your” land, not to mention subsidize “your” lifestyle) all my life, and if you go back through history your ancestors immigrated here as did mine. You think you’re entitled by birthright to what I and my family have worked and paid for? Come try to take it. Experience my “fear” firsthand. (Sound familiar?)
And now, more reasonably and realistically, something beyond the rhetoric that “both sides” could spew as nauseum: The treaties, to my admittedly limited understanding, are complicated by differing comprehensions of what they actually lay out. That’s understandable, as is the obvious frustration of having to deal with the almighty bureaucracy… I fully support and endorse tireless effort to resolve the claims in a civil manner, and your right as people of this land to peaceably assemble to protest and protect your interests.
What isn’t understandable is the strong-arm tactics of taking roads and towns hostage, destroying public property, and condescending on “whitey” as if he’s nothing but a parasite you must suffer, especially if you’re going to aspire for the moral high ground by quoting our anti-hate and -racism laws or make facetious comments about skin colour. Your struggle shouldn’t be with your civilian neighbours, and your frustrations in dealing with the administration shouldn’t be their burden to . . . what’s the word? . . . suffer. Your issue isn’t with the people of Caledonia, so why punish them? Take your grievance directly to those responsible rather than trying to bully them indirectly by harassing and “terrorizing” innocent citizens who have nothing to do with it.
Also, if you’re going to reference or champion Law, first you have to follow it yourself.
That’s why the rest of Canada is upset… The hypocrisy and vigilanteism… That “you” have continually and unrepentantly broken certain laws of the land in a wholly disgusting and perverted attempt to enforce the exploration and recognition of other lawful agreements.
If you want to raise awareness of what’s going on, or get “whitey” onside, instead of breaking the law, holding towns hostage, throwing out asinine slogans like “Your Home On Native Land”, and in general treating any non-Natives with contempt, why not explicitly make your case to give us a better understanding? If you’re in the right regarding this land, examination of the facts — and only examination of the facts — will prove it.
“They are creating their own problem, to gain government money: $1.5 million so far!”
What are you talking about? The pay-out to Henco?
I don’t know where you’re quoting that from, but I imagine it refers to the compensation paid to Caledonia businesses for lost income as a result of the government’s impotence in dealing with the illegal protest. Henco received about $12 million from what I read, with the promise of more to come. Can’t wait to see what the final bill is for we the evil taxpayer.
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I can’t believe Canada can break the Treaty Laws, then have its own people support the illegal sale of land.
In todays age that would be called possession of stolen property in which caledonia is doing.