Winnipeg, Manitoba
Embarrassed at the trivialness of Canada’s ‘Freedom Convoy’
Winnipeg graphic designer John Cadigal has taken to social media to express solidarity and support for Ukraine.Here is Cadigal’s post on Facebook.
“There are 1.4 million Canadians of Ukrainian heritage and 167,000 live in my home province of Manitoba. Filipino and Ukrainian Catholics have been marrying each other for decades, especially in the north end of Winnipeg. I have far too many Ukrainian friends to shake a stick at. I have eaten pancit made by Ukrainians, and perogies (or pierogi, pyrogy, perogy, pedaheh) made by Filipinos. I have done shots of Kolomyka vodka chased down with a San Migel beer at dozens of wedding socials for some lucky mixed couple. I know a shit ton of Nestor Pistor jokes. I really do love my Ukrainian friends and neighbors.
My heart aches from the news of the invasion of the Ukraine by the Russian Federation. My heart is heavy for my Ukrainian friends and their relatives. This is not the annexation of Crimea of 2014. This is not the propping up of Russian separatists in the Donbass region of 2016. After only one day, it is evident that this invasion is full-scale.
I have watched the news of global protest and condemnation by thousands of people, even thousands of brave Russians in streets of Moscow protesting their own government. 1400 would be beaten and thrown in jail for voicing their opinion.
Canada’s “freedom” protests are an embarassment
Canada just endured 5 weeks of protests from the “Freedom Convoy.” The “freedom” protests consisted of horn-honking, intoxicated, hot tub, tailgate parties. It’s hard not to feel a little embarrassed at the trivialness of it all through the lens of a different perspective. While we bicker about policies, mandates and loss of freedom during a global pandemic, 40 million Ukrainians are about to bear the weight of a real tyrannical yoke. Now, that’s real oppression.
Over the last 100 years, 100 million people have died of plague, pandemic or viral outbreaks while 500 million have died from all the wars combined. The burden of humanity lies in our propensity for violence, our desire for conflict and our love of war. War is the real virus that plagues humanity.
Out of the multitude of images I have seen on video and online, this image of this young Ukrainian girl crying, wearing a traditional flower crown or vinok, from Vice Magazine, really struck a chord with me. That is the true face of the loss of freedom. Bombs are falling. Her world has just been turned upside down. Yet, I cannot help but see something else in her facial expression. Perhaps she is fighting to keep her emotions in check. Her eyes show sadness and anguish, but her pursed lips seems like she wants to scream and fight. There’s a “f**k you, Putin” look of patriotism and resistance in her expression. The nation will need an awful lot of that attitude in the coming days.
I stand in solidarity and support with the people of Ukraine.”
Related reading: