Back in the 80’s a joke circulated amongst the First Nations people and I’ll try to remember how it goes:
Indigenous people from all over the world travelled to The Vatican to protest conditions in their country: racism, poverty, genocide, etc. They setup their camps, tents, teepees, wooden huts and burned camp fires and exchanged stories. One day the Pope came out, stood out and made the sign of the cross. The Indigenous people rejoiced “The Pope has blessed us!” This happened the next day and the next day after that.
Finally, the Pope came out and stated in a very loud voice: “I wasn’t making the sign of the cross. I was trying to tell you. Take the tents down and get the fuck out!”
I was still sipping my coffee, eating a fresh home-made bun, unwrapping the sleep from my eyes when I received word that a press conference was to be held at City Hall at 10:45 a.m. (Who the hell gets up at that ungodly hour? Oh yeah, non-writers and non-artists)
Glen B. Davies, City Manager for the City of Regina, gave Occupy Regina their marching orders. Lines have been drawn, deadlines to be met, tents to be taken down by voluntary initiative Saturday Morning 8 a.m.
It’s showdown time! If the short history of the Occupy Movement across Canada is any kind of social barometer then it’s not going to be an easy fluid tear down. Most evictions have met with physical resistance, some with down right violence. There are no easy answers and I don’t think anyone is looking for any. It’s time to take the tents down and get the fuck out now.
It was only a matter of time. Occupy Regina vowed to stand strong. Some of packed their bags. Some have adopted a wait and see attitude. Some have vowed to stand strong.
