I think we lose a lot when we reflexively attribute these actions to conspiracy theorists or 'far right extremists.' A large majority of Canadians protesting were ordinary people fighting against mandates. If we want to have these conversations, I think it's important we take a look at the bigger picture and actually reach out to disenfranchised Canadians. That being said, I do agree that the "leaders" motives (whatever you want to call them) have been dubious at best, and we must always question leaders of any group, but their subsequent treatment by authorities has been a real stain (particularly Tamara Lich's treatment).

My bigger concern isn't these events but the discourse surrounding them. The general 'mainstream' opinion seems to go something like this: Canadians believe we must blindly approve everything our government says and does and if we don't there is something wrong with *us* and that we are a conspiracy theorist, QAnon, [insert reductionist view here]. That kind of thinking is very concerning. Anyone can take a cursory look at history and understand why.

There must be a sincere effort to talk to one another instead of constant finger-wagging (which I am also guilty of), or else we risk becoming even more polarized.

Overall, I say let the country descend into madness. It's long overdue that we lift the veneer of 'niceness.' And on freedom: Our freedoms are a fundamental tenet of democracy granted to us in the Charter. Condemning pro-freedom protesters says more about that person than it does about the protesters. It is one of the most important protections we have as citizens.