Cacophony and Keeping the Peace

 

                                                                      Downtown Ottawa Occupation 

CACOPHONY

an unpleasant mixture of loud sounds 

KEEP THE PEACE

1. refrain or prevent others from disturbing civil order.

   "the police must play a crucial role in keeping the peace"

[God said to Elijah] , “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence.

                                                1 Kings 19:11-12 NRSV

During the past ten days an unpleasant mixture of self-absorbed people has occupied the core of Canada's capital city of Ottawa. To be fair, a portion of the thousands in the initial group were there for what they felt was a legitimate, peaceful protest against mandates for vaccinations. The organizers had a naiive notion that they would stay until the mandates for truckers crossing international borders would be rescinded. They had the bizarre conviction that the Canadian Senate and the Governor General could dissolve Parliament, effectively voiding the recent federal election. 

This group was joined by thousands of yobs and yahoos (how do I really feel about this?) who were there to uphold their "freedom" from anything they didn't want to do. Most of us who have parented teenagers have impressed upon them that freedom must be accompanied by responsibility and acceptance of conseqences but this gang seemed to have missed those conversations. 

In the mix of obnoxious behaviour which has disrupted the downtown of Ottawa was the incessant use of transport truck horns as a sign of displeasure. No matter that there are hospitals nearby, a shelter for women, the residences of thousands, including senior citizens. Not only have these people been impacted by the overwhelming noise, when they complained to those who were creating it they were regularly intimidated.

I have been baffled by the tolerance of those in authority to address this act of violence on the part of an unruly mob. Some have suggested that this occupation has been peaceful because there have been no significant physical injuries but we know that sound has been weaponized, used for terror and assault in war zones and prisons. How is this any different and why have the police been so reluctant to "keep the peace," which is part of their mandate? 

Finally, finally, a combination of a court injunction, a class-action lawsuits, and police intervention led to a semblance of quiet, although protesters are still lurking about. 

Before these actions brought an end to the suffocating din there was something of a Sabbath peace as organizers of the occupation agreed to cease and desist with the horns this past Sunday morning. Some of these people claim to be Christians, although I simply can't imagine how the message of self-giving love in Christ has metasticized to this selfishness. 

I am convinced that the growing assault of noise in our world is not only an environmental issue but a profound spiritual concern. Not only do we Groundlings and all other creatures need to hear ourselves think, it is imperative that we listen for the Creator. 

What comes to mind is the story of the beleaguered prophet Elijah who flees for his life to the wilderness. After the cacophony of storms and earthquakes God speaks to Elijah in the sheer silence. I'm relieved that the residents of downtown Ottawa will now experience relative quiet once again after days of assault. I wish that the occupiers would look to the example of Elijah and of Jesus as those who heard God in the silence, but I'm not counting on their ability to listen to anything other than their own inner demons.