AGAR: Protesters need to set goals to make their point

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The problem with the current crop of protesters in Canada isn’t that they don’t have a point; that they don’t have a complaint. It is that they have too many.

Various people attaching themselves to a generic protest over Canada Day collectively had a litany of things they are unhappy about, each of which individually might gather support, but as a hodge-podge of slogans, juvenile names for the prime minister (Silly Socks, Turdo, etc.) all come together as a bunch of disorganized childish whining.

I heard the protests were about mandates, most of which are gone or are going, the ineffectiveness of vaccines, traditional values, the Emergencies Act, how sex is taught in school and, who knows, perhaps disrespect for the bouncy castle featured at the previous protest.

Pick a lane.

It is reminiscent of Occupy Toronto in 2011.

Remember that?

Sure you do.

What was that protest about?

I know you don’t know because I talked to the rabble collected there at the time and they didn’t know.

Each person I talked to told a different story.

An end to poverty, affordable housing, down with the corporations and lobbyists, mainstream media lies, native rights, more yurts and free sandwiches.

As a result, Occupy Toronto accomplished nothing other than messing up a perfectly fine park.

Meanwhile, what are the protests in Washington, D.C. and various state capitals about in the U.S.?

They want legalized abortion.

That’s it.

Pretty clear.

I don’t care what side of the debate you are on; we know why the protestors are there.

When people protest a pipeline, it is clear what they want — or don’t want — which is a pipeline in their backyard. Perhaps in no one’s backyard, but it is no to pipelines.

Protesters often think they are ill-treated by the media, but it is difficult for the media to confuse a message like “No Pipelines” or “Legal Abortions.” They write their own headlines. Everything else is detail and argument, but we know what we are arguing about.

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A protest should be an ad campaign for an ideal or a goal. Great advertising coalesces behind a single message.

“You deserve a Coke today.”

“Michael Ignatieff. He didn’t come back for you.”

“Got Milk?”

“Black Lives Matter.”

“Make America Great Again.”

What stands out about recent protests in Ottawa?

Sadly, not a cohesive message.

When the truckers began their trek across the nation people turned out in the thousands on roadsides and overpasses. They donated money.

What did they think they were supporting? An end to mandates.

Not an occupation. Not a closing of borders by angry people. Not a cacophony of horns and F-Trudeau banners.

“End the Mandates.”

That’s it.

If you have a clear message, with no additions, footnotes, confusing allusions to worldwide conspiracy theories, sex education, secondary and tertiary issues and a gaggle of “leaders” I could promote your protest and many people would be on board with you.

But when it is a dog’s breakfast it can get risky for most people to get on board with the protest. Who knows where it is going?

Pick one message. Get everyone on message.

Repeat.

That said, take the bouncy castle. No one hates a bouncy castle.