Readers respond to last week’s Feedback Friday topic, which was:
Freedom Trucking Convoys
In last week’s national news with local impact, reportedly there are several “freedom trucking convoys” en route to Washington, D.C., which are expected—or were expected—to begin arriving by March 1st. The trucking convoys were inspired by the Ottawa truckers protest and weeks-long disruption of the city—a protest of COVID-19 mask mandates, vaccines, and other perceived government restrictions. Several convoy groups in the U.S.—namely the People’s Convoy and American Freedom Convoy—were organized, and news outlets from starting points on the West Coast to Mid-West have been reporting their route, whereabouts, and plans to descend upon D.C. Organizers of the convoys say the intent is for peaceful protest, though it remains unclear how, supposedly, thousands of truck rigs will or will not disrupt daily activity in and around the nation’s capital.
But with no signs of the convoy locally, as of March 1st—the target arrival date in D.C.—are the trucking convoys losing steam as they truck toward the East Coast? That’s a question that many are asking, especially in the wake of COVID-19 restrictions/mandates/protocols having been lifted. Reportedly, many truckers have dropped out. The end result remains to be seen.
What do you think of the “freedom trucking convoys”? What do you think of the perception that governments—national, state, municipal—over-restricted and over-mandated during the pandemic?
Here’s what you said:
If all these truckers could just put that energy toward helping people of Ukraine more positive and actually know and see the good they are accomplishing
Susan Leonard, Easton
These are the same people who are all for restricting, even eliminating, others' rights (a woman's over her own body, for the most egregious example), but won't wear a piece of cloth to protect their fellow citizens from a deadly pandemic. They're then the ones filling up hospitals and delaying a recovery. They follow a false narrative created by the most powerful person in the world at the time, who whipped them into a frenzy to suit his own purposes. They are a scourge as much as the pandemic.
Maureen Reightler
I'm sure others have commented on fact that rising cost of fuel is probably causing second thoughts for many who might want to join coast to coast trek. It's certainly making me think twice about where I need to go vs where I want to go and cross country or even across the state makes me give serious consideration to picking up my car keys and heading out the door
Marcia Feliciano, Severna Park
I think you confuse T with F on trucking. Their freedom to speak/protest is important but that freedom is vitiated when it takes away my freedom. Just as antivaxers are free to stay away from me unvaccinated and unmasked.
Carol Chisholm, St. Michaels
By now many people have come to understand that masks only diminish the spread (only a 40% decrease in particulates) they don't stop it. The government mandates to wear something that didn't work was a HUGE over reach. By now many people have come to understand that the vaccine was neither completely safe nor completely effective. It does seem to have diminished the effect of the virus thank goodness, however the risks of adverse side effects like Myocarditis etc and the low level of protection should have been transparent. Not 'tin-hats'. The govt propaganda was horrendous. And add insult to injury when the (failed thank god) govt tried to mandate the jab. WAY big over reach, as the courts showed. Now they are talking about 2nd and 3rd boosters, so sad. Everytime someone gets another experimental Mrna their natural immune systems area compromised. Have you seen the spiking statistics on hospitalizations and deaths for all other issues since the jab? People overall are much sicker. So sad.
Iris Robertson, St Michaels
I support the truckers who transport the needs of American citizens from coast to coast, from the southern border to the northern border. But, the majority of the people participating in these convoy protests are most likely funded by foreign and domestic entities who are undermining our country. I understand Trucking unions generally do not support this. I would like to see more coverage in the media about who these people actually are. Ironically and simultaneously we witness the unity of a sovereign nation under siege by a fascist dictator and the goodness of the Ukrainian people as they are forced to fight to save their homes and their own lives. The world is on their side. All the while a minority of Americas continue to be outraged over wearing a mask to try to prevent a deadly disease from spreading, even though they don't have to wear masks any more because we finally got the Covid numbers down. I hope we can learn something about the overall goodness of the world and how we all have to learn to live together by pulling together. I save my outrage for the callous loss of life from war, disease and famine. I am sorry for the truck drivers who are not a part of the protest convoy and how this stunt reflects on the professional truckers who do so much to keep our economy moving.
Cynthia Herrick, Severn
I believe it is important that each individual take to protect their health. It is very important to find true medical professionals -- ie CDC, your doctors, other state medical official etc -- that you can rely for candid advice on how to safely live your life in the COVID 19 era. However you must also screen out the politicians nation and local that making false statements like the vaccines do not work or that you should not take the vaccines; also there are people saying do not wear a mask they are not effective. Why we have so many people, who are not medical professions making so many false statements, simply appalling and a danger to their fellow citizens.
Leo Chambliss, Bowie
I support the hard working drivers and appreciate all they do. I would like up to wave at them as they come thru my town. I believe the county exec, state and federal overplayed their role with mandates. We live in America where we can choose. All things! Firing people for no vaccines is not right. Such politics.
Lucy Franklin, Friendship
I am sick and tired of the "me, me, me, it's all about me, I'm the only one who counts" attitude exemplified by the trucker convoy, the objections to masks and the refusal to be vaccinated. You want to live in society, you've got to give up a bit of your freedom. You have a problem with this, I'm sure there's lots of woods where you can live free and alone.
Marc Knapp, Annapolis
I can't believe the truckers will do this. We've got a threat of World War III hanging over our shoulders and they're crying about Covid restrictions. Give me a break! If they think they have problems. send them over to the Ukraine to help those poor people there. Now they have problems!!!!
Kay Schultz, Stevensville
I think there were too many restrictions on these people. We have obviously forgotten that they took great risks in the early days of the pandemic to bring us food, medicine, etc. to keep us alive.
Melvin Kelly, Severn
Thank God for our country's truckers expressing peacefully the meaning of Freedom! We salute the Canadian truckers for their bravery and peaceful demonstrations throughout their country! Trudeau is a tyrant, and he needs to be in jail for his illegal overreach. Our American truckers are exposing the fraud of the current illegitimate administration, and hopefully more citizens will #wtfu to what has happened since the start of this #plandemic and the illegal spying on a President during his campaign and throughout his Presidency. The fraudulent 2020 election has had only negative consequences for not only our country, but for many innocent people around the world. The truth is slowly coming to light, and those who perpetrated this evil will be brought to justice!
Michelle Ewing, Easton
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