I follow news/media as little as I have to, but sometimes it's good to hear some things, which usually is via my kids.

This afternoon my daughter told me that there'd been a (peaceful) protest cos people want their freedom back. There'd been a protective line of veterans and behind them a line of healthcare workers.
F*(king wow!
That's the way to go!!
And the medical personnel there is even more impressive as it is a very clear message that they too do NOT agree with what's happening.

Police in full gear in a line facing them. No idea what the vets would do in case the police gets out of line...

I saw there have been more protest like this, in Portland for one.

More and more people are fed up, want this current regime of control gone, and want their freedom and life back. Doing this in this way is amazing!
And how wonderful that this kind of thing is -and has been- happening worldwide, unfortunately not always so peaceful.

The idiot PM here may have won the elections -and many think the outcome was messed with- but a large and growing group of people doesn't want to put up with this chit anymore.

I was close to losing hope and my high vibration after the elections. But hearing this, seeing the vid of it, fills with me with hope!
We ARE going to win this!

I only heard about protests, which went out of control. In Dublin, for example, there was fireworks, rocks and bottles thrown at the Police.

And the main problem in Ireland and Germany is, protests are organized, or at least supported, by right wing/fascist groups, like the AfD in Germany, or the Freedom Party in Ireland.

And they are moaning about their mental health, because they can't go out to the pub? What about the mental health of carers or nurses, who have to deal with this terrible virus? Sure, there is always two sides of the coin.

I hope it inspires more and more people to shut down the nonsense. When has the government ever relinquished control that they've taken?

I applaud states like Florida and Texas that is (and has always in the case of Florida) doing the right thing. I've heard people going to Florida and acting like a foreigner and not know how to act because they forgot this is how we used to live ONLY a year ago

Taking back control is the only way it will go away. I feel bad for the kids that were born last year that haven't had the chance to see extended family or friends. It'll really mess them up if this goes any longer

Maybe the pub is a thing in some societies. I've not heard anyone about that here, although people would of course love to go out again.
But what people mostly suffer from -and want back- is the freedom to just hang out with friends & family, to be able to go to the gym / do sports, hobbies, etc.
Just normal life. The socialising part is what most are missing and want back. No more curfew either.

And yes, in many countries it's not particularly peaceful. It hasn't always been here either. We've had some serious riots and stuff, with horrific police brutality.

Apparently they use undercover police from the arrest unit and let them get in the crowds. They're supposed to help keep things calm, yet they are the ones that start the chit-stirring which then explodes into chaos, fighting, more police brutality.
I had not expected this kind of thing to happen here. It's a 3rd world scenario, totally not Dutch. But apparently things have changed...
Also, there are of course police who do not in the slightest agree with what they have to do. But... if they don't, they get bullied and pestered, and risk getting fired.

That's why I love seeing veterans in a line to protect the protesters, with a line of medical personnel behind it.
That is a very powerful message!

BTW my girl told me there have been protests where the police didn't want to do their insane 'work' anymore, and just dropped all their equipment where they stood.
One such occurrence was in France.

All in all, we are headed in the right direction. As long as we en masse don't put up with it anymore. Hopefully it will help more and more people to also wake up and wipe the fog from their eyes.
As it is we got a lot of the people, veterans, medical personnel, in some countries the police.

As for nurses... Supermarket personnel has much more exposure -and to a far larger number of different people a day- than nurses or carers.
The average number of clients in a supermarket is 800 a day!
Supermarket personnel deserve the utmost respect as I see it. Many of them restocking the shelves are less than 40cms away from clients for most part of their working day! Many brush right past them. Talk about risk!

I agree. But for things to change this had/has to last longer otherwise people won't start to get fed up and put up a big finger to government and their rules.
I do know it has done a lot of families a lot of good. I mean mom, dad, and kids. Many have no learnt and gotten used to spending quality time together as opposed to rushing through the days, going places with friends, kids going to whatever hobby club etc.
It has slowed people down and many appreciate what they have, who they have, a helluva lot more and also say that they won't ever return to how it used to be.
I've heard this from several people, and it was EXACTLY what I'd hoped would happen!
In that sense the intent to divide, separate, isolate has backfired for a big part. People actually got more closer, have come to realise what they're missing now they can't see mom and dad, gran, friends etc.

We'll have to see how it develops. But I do have hope again!

I disagree on your timeline.... It shouldn't have been long at all. It allows too much time for people to become complacent. It should have been immediately after the 14 days to "flatten the curve".

They played their hand well, all that time allowed for tribalism and they have the backing of the fools that believe the government knows what's best for us.

But you're right.... it gives hope

Compared to other countries, the lockdown in Ireland is relatively soft. You can visit family members, which usually is no problem since most of them live within the 5km limit.

Outdoor sports on an individual base are also allowed, so are many team sports.

And the police here is not that heavily armed. We don't even have a water cannon in Dublin. Especially young people know that, and every night on the way from home, I can see large groups of them hanging around on the streets.

I agree though on what you said about staff in supermarkets. They are frontline workers as well.

Politics or i can say Politricks is a Dirty game . Politics is played by a Rich Man with the Right of the Poor ! so,,,,,,,,,,,,

Larsi, funny enough after I read what you posted that Ireland was relatively easy, someone on FB said that the rules in Ireland were way worse than what Australia had (had). Now I'm inclined to believe you, hihi.

As for the demonstration I was talking about with the double line of veterans and healthcare workers, that was the Worldwide Rally for Freedom and Democracy in Amsterdam.
The organisation had asked them to be there as then the police would be less inclined to use violence.
And that worked. Yet, the riot squad used the water canon. WTH for I don't know as it was totally peaceful.
The police threated to arrest everyone present if they wouldn't leave.
Apparently we have lost the right and freedom to demonstrate.
The riot squad didn't use the really hard beam but more a spray. Probably because the veterans and healthcare workers being there.

The veterans saluted the riot squad member opposite them then just stood there, hands on their backs.

Here's some photos so you have an idea. Always brings a story to live to see some images :)







Here's the riot squad using the water canons:

i wanted to live in a Communist country so i decided to move to China. It is much easier to move somewhere that has the way of life that you like then it is to try to change where you are living. I personally like how China deals with protests. If you do not have a permit you will be asked to go home and if you do not you will be arrested and put in prison for 10 years.
The problem with protests is that they always become violent. look at what happened in Syria and Libya. It started out with a so called peaceful protest and the police only got involved once the protesters started burning buildings and attacking people. This is why i applaud actions of countries like China or Iran. They know what will happen if protestors are allowed to protest and will disperse them as soon as possible. Protesting should be made a felony

It IS a felony in China. Remember Tiananmen Square?
Be grateful for where you live if that's what you want. We don't need that shlt here.

I am not Irish, only living here for almost 17 years. But from my point of view, they rather do what they like but are very annoyed when somebody is interfering in their "personal freedom". They love to meet their mates and the pub is like their second home. Take that away, and it is like the end of the world.

But then again, just tonight, more than 20 kids, between 14 and 18, gathering in front of a shop, blocking the footpath, intimidating ordinary people. None of them wearing a mask. Parents nowhere to be seen. Stuff like that happens all the time

So moaning about strict rules and breaking them left, right and centre.

The vast majority of the Irish are decent and nice, but this handful of (insert bad names of your choice) just make my blood boil

seems we were all protesting a while ago and then blm got in the way, sorry it just seemed so staged the way we went from protesting the lockdown to protesting white people...

okay i went to a blm meeting and it was hijacked by democrats...most people in the world believe black lives matter but then u have to throw in global climate change and glbtq rights sounds like sandwich ...the media is a master at running the sheep...

so i am at the meeting and people are avoiding me like the plague...old white guy talk about profiling and then these other groups get up and have their say and glbtq and global climate change have their meetings next morning in the same place

black people you want to be heard cut the cord with these groups and you will have your way...
as far as this awful virus please...80 percent in u.s. dying from it were over 65 and most of them probably had co morbities....

sheep to lions is a nice hat and slogan...the end...