Sister Sage's Musings

Posts Tagged ‘Montreal Raging Grannies’

Indeed it was! In spite of the early hour and the cold, we did have a decent turn out somewhere between 700 -1000 folks (a few hundred joined in later at end venue), according to what I was told.  There were merchants and passersby offering support. The police didn’t even get out of their cars. We made noise along the Dowtown streets.  We were very well organized.

Marc Garneau, Liberal MP & Quebec Lieutenant, Prof  Daniel Weinstock from Universite de Montreal–the author of  that letter written by the intellectuals (I know, Stevie likes ‘em illiterate), Thomas Mulcair, NDP MP, a Bloc MP (didn’t catch his name) & Gilles Duceppe spoke at our rally. Each expressing themselves eloquently.

Justin Trudeau and his young son were out marching, but he didn’t speak. He was just  a part of the crowd. I’m sure there were other politicians, but I didn’t see or recognize them.

Philippe Viel of Alter Citoyens and our videographer may have caught some, the video should be posted on line soon. Merci Philippe et sa copine (I’m sorry, I don’t know her name).

Of course, we had the musical stylings of the Montreal Chapter of the Raging Grannies, who rocked Philip’s Square in spite of the icy conditions around their stage area. A feisty bunch indeed.   I have to say that these ladies who are 60+ for the most part have more energy than a lot of today’s youth.

Matthew Angelus, a Universite de Montreal student, who led our organizing committee and was instrumental in putting this whole thing together was the last of our eloquent speakers, representing the Canadian citizens. We owe him a big thank you, because, without him, this would never have gotten off the ground.

It was all impressive. Everybody together from different affiliations.

Of course, the man who negotiated with the Police, got a lot of our equipment and led the chants, Mathieu Perron; without whom, the damned event would surely have been too subdued. Thanks to him, it was a loud event to get the merchants and passerby’s interested in checking us out.

Thanks to all the MPs and Professor Weinstock and of course, the Montreal chapter of the Raging Grannies.

Un gros remerciement a tous qui s’est presente! Thanks all for coming! Together we showed the coporatist media wrong. Canaidians do care.

I understand there are other events going on now across the country and the folks out west would probably be starting anytime soon, due to the time difference between Central Canada and them. I would like to wish them well and a success for their events.

Most of all, I hope we keep the momentum going; that we don’t go away so fast. We should not lose our voices to those of the commentators discussing luge record times and world hockey.

There is a CAPP second wave group happening on Facebook. For those on Facebook, please join it.

Once again, thank you all for making this a success!  Merci a tous pour le succes de cette manifestation!

Yes! We have been blessed!!   Gracing Montrealers (& the rest of Canada who will see pictures &/or film footage for that matter) with their presence will be Marc Garneau, Liberal MP & the Quebec Lieutenant; Thomas Mulcair, the one and only Montreal NDP Mp, and Professor Daniel Weinstock of Universite de Montreal will be speaking.  Also, songs and dancing from the Montreal Raging Grannies. There is another group (I’m sorry, their name escapes me right now).

I am especially happy that Gilles Duceppe will be making an appearance. No, I’m not a separatist, but as most of my readers know, I had been concerned about the lack of interest amongst French Quebecers.

I was also concerned about the seemingly laissez-faire attitude of Gilles Duceppe, who at the time, only gave us a tweet of a reaction from his Twitter account. I always believed if Gilles Duceppe came out and reacted as he did when he announced support and cooperation with last year’s coalition government, all Quebecers would be enthusiastic about protesting. The rally for the coalition attracted quite a few folks, included separatists at Guy Favreau Centre last year.

That post did get quite a reaction over at noprorogue.ca.  Quite a bit of anger really. I (as well as others, I’m sure ) would have liked that anger channeled into what Stevie did, to all of us, no matter where we lived, what political affiliation or what language we spoke.

Now, it looks promising for tomorrow. I am now confidant we will have a great turn out. I also know there will be a great turn out at most of the venues, anyway. Sixty towns and cities is already a big thing.

Yah, Blogging Tories and Tommy “I like prorogation because it means no new taxes”  Schnurmacher, of CJAD 800am (Astral radio, naturally, just one of the right arms of the Harpercons & Tax-phobic Tommy & Chickenhawk Ric Petersen & his unabashed support for Blathering Blatchford are the cheerleaders: God, I can’t get over axing Laurie & OLga and Peter Anthony Holder for those ass-holes) & Harpercon shill and others like him: get with the technology. This is the new activism. Most Canadians don’t want prorogation.

Tommy, when you fail, the professional & classy thing to do is not to lie,misquote politicians, berate, shove words down the throats of, and call your callers who disagree with you names. Also, it is especially unprofessional to humiliate your technical director just because he excercises his right to freedom of assembly and joins facebook groups you don’ t like. You really should apologize on the air for you ill behavior as of late. NO, I know you won’t. Stay classy, Tommy!

I wonder, if I started a Facebook group, called something like this., ” Bring back Peter Anthony Holder and Laurie & Olga and get rid of Tommy Schnurmacher, how many folks would join?? God, he even makes Redneck Ryan of 1010 News Talk in TO look like a class act. Yikes!  At least, I’ve never heard Ryan humiliate a co-worker on the air. Maybe we should be thankful for small favors?

Speaking of  Conservative media against prorogation: I can’t believe I’m saying this: Congratz to Ryan Doyle for speaking on the air against prorogation. I sincerely hope that you will attend a rally near you.  As stated before, the cross country rallies need all affiliations; that means Conservatives welcome.  Quite a coup and a rarety: a conservative talk show host surely of a minority of  his brethren.

Speaking of Conservatives,  we invited Conservative MPs, local politicians and senators: they have not responded. I do not want to hear that this is an exclusively lefty movement.