Wetsuweten protests- we don't get to choose the battle; we can only choose our side

Once again, I think we have reached the point in Canada where we don't get to choose the battle. We can only choose our side.

I can't say I understand the #Wetsuweten protests, but I am coming to realize that if Canada's usual suspects are against them, then the side I must choose is to support them.

I cannot yet see what the resolution will be acceptable to this impasse -- no pipeline at all? a pipeline in a different place? some kind of a joint economic development consortium between Wetsuweten and the government and the gas companies? I just don't know.

But I do know that I simply cannot support this kind of attitude:

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheers says the "protesters" need to check their "privilege" and let the rail system open again. #Wet'suwet'en. pic.twitter.com/dQKZ6IKouU

— APTN National News (@APTNNews) February 14, 2020

This is civil war.

Military action is a must.

Retain / constrain as needed. https://t.co/aOlxSx5R3Y

— * W. Brett Wilson * (@WBrettWilson) February 14, 2020

Or this kind of frightening, provocative and unacceptable behaviour:

Wet'suwe'ten protester in RCMP gunsight pleads in video for police to put down their arms | CBC News https://t.co/6jtXi7vHzj

— Tantoo Cardinal (@tantooC) February 14, 2020

At least there is still a little humour to be found, too:

Oh well, just boil it, you’ll be fine 🤷🏻‍♀️#Ironic https://t.co/hSVXcjGoaT

— Janine Manning (@NewStarWoman) February 14, 2020

Montreal Simon is concerned that the blockade protests risk annoying and inconveniencing so many people in Eastern Canada who have no voice or choice in the matter, that support for reconciliation will be threatened -- and this is not an unlikely concern. Susan Delacourt also writes about how complicated the reconciliation issues have now become:

This is where Trudeau’s “most important relationship” gets complicated, maybe hopelessly so. It is not just about historic reconciliation. It’s also about economic circumstances, resource development versus the environment, and the populism arising from economic inequality — some of the most vexing, conflict-laden issues facing the federal government. Throw in contempt for the law and it’s easy to see why what looked important in 2015 can look impossible in 2020.

Here are some good tweet threads with more info:

OK, thread: For the last few days I've tried to learn what I can about an alternate route for the Coastal GasLink pipeline that was apparently proposed by #Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs and brought into the discussion by a Green Party MP. Here's what I've learned pic.twitter.com/hm4gAVCfyc

— Andrew Kurjata 📻 (@akurjata) February 16, 2020

Some thoughts on the "rule of law" that so many Canadians wish would end today's uncomfortable and inconvenient protests over a fossil gas (ie natural gas) pipeline crossing unceded Wet'suwet'en territory and RCMP action to drive it through. #Wetsuweten #CoastalGasLink

THREAD...

— Peter Fairley (@pfairley) February 14, 2020