snowman5 said "I thought democracy was everyone can be heard, every group can be recognized, everyone votes, every vote counts and gets counted... the majority then rules through due process. Not a few disagree with current rules & policies, fill the public medium with conflicting ideals without confirmation of proof or facts, hide their identity and try to entice young, underaged and impressionable minds to do their bidding of disruption, while these few lurk and watch from the distant shadows. Adam called me a "general protest hater". When I was only using his forum as a concerned parent that was alarmed and angry/frustrated that social media was attempting to influence my (and every other 14 to 17 year old) child to rebel school for an unidentifiable people from an unknown/unreliable source (Facebook, Instagram & *eyes roll* Twitter). I was only expressing myself with personal views while alerting other parents and seeking information with regards to my concerns for my teen, his peers and their school. Thank you, Adam, in labeling me that way. It only seems logical & fair to call you out as a "Label Maker". Now, that we've evened out the name calling... I ask you and others on eBrandon... Assuming my suspicions that mbstudentsforcovidsafety is likely backed/assisted by individuals over the age of eighteen. Should adults use children as political tools or convince/condition them to act out against the formal processes of democracy to drive an agenda? Is that moral and/or legal?
Just my opinion, I could be wrong or a protest hater. "
Re-read the post and it looks like I misinterpreted the Black Lives Matter reference. There’s an anti-democratic type of person that would like to undermine any and every protest as made up of mindless zombies that don’t know what they’re talking about that are just out to cause trouble. That doesn’t look like it’s you and I’m sorry for that.
Have read references sprinkled through this thread in other cases that want to blanket label the students as not knowing what they’re asking for. No direct involvement with high school level personally to know everything about how it works in a HS but will say that that’s very disappointing to read, almost surely not accurate as a broad blanket implication and folks coming at it from that angle in those instances should expect pushback.
I have no doubt that many have read the Manitoba doctors and folks with epidemiological credentials on Twitter that are giving real informed accounts that paint a picture of the front lines of the battle during this wave that raise real questions about the level of consideration public health has gotten in the decision-making process that’s led us to this point. By connection, even if being careful to not assume that the accounts and opinions of some represent those of all it's been enough to raise real questions about where we’re headed before this gets better.
I have no doubt that some saw last week’s press conference and are concerned about the lack of transparency through this shift.
I have no doubt there are some that have seen what I’ll respectfully call outlier data that this level of shift was at least in part justified on and that there are considerations for how much the general public is being given opportunity to understand current state and the risks taken on by the decisions made.
Everyone wants this to be over as soon as possible.
So many of us have the opinion that there’s a much better place on the other side of this wave in the months ahead.
There are clearly different views on what the road looks like from here to there and some that are comfortable going into these next few weeks with different levels of information than others. Maybe there's a middle road here that starts with clearer communication and transparency.
For the sake of this thread I’ll just say that let’s get there as safely as possible by following measures that are in place, let's follow public health advice on vaccines, respect others’ right to assess the current situation as it pertains to their own children that they know best, respect others’ right to ask fair questions, respect others’ ability to ensure their children’s education in the best way possible that’s consistent with their assessment of all relevant factors to them, let’s thank our educators for doing everything they can to educate our kids through incredibly difficult circumstances over the past two years, let's hope for appropriate pivots in measures or response where justified, let’s say ten billion thank yous (and maybe sorrys) to everyone working in the health care system in these days and weeks ahead that are being asked to respond to whatever comes their way and let’s all hope for the best-possible outcome for as many Manitobans as possible at the other side.