In the real world Wendy, everything you say about us is true. But can't the opposite be as well? Canada has always been an aspirational country, a work in progress, and a place of wins and losses. When I get discouraged, and I do, I think about people like you and the many who try to make this complicated world clearer for us with integrity and passion, and then I feel, well, progress is possible. Better than lying down and doing nothing, or endlessly whining. This Canada of ours will take teamwork. As Joyce Vance of Civil Discourse says, "we're in this together".
You don't see the opportunity you have to offer leadership and, instead of just saying "we're not ready" offering something constructive about what it would take to be ready? This post feels like the equivalent of saying to a kid who wants to try out for the advanced baseball team "sorry - you're two weak to play on that team" without giving them any constructive feedback or pointing them toward some other place to pour their passion. I think we're in a moment when a lot of Canadians want to step up and we need strong leaders and visionaries (and I'm not just talking about politicians), not just naysayers.
This is the key. The backbone and the willingness to sacrifice are what will matter most. It is constant short term thinking that got us into trouble. Putting all our low hanging fruit in one basket. We need to stick to the path less travelled and build a bit more independence and, in turn, a lot more resilience. We haven’t really done anything yet. So far, it’s just talk. Can we follow through? It’s in the eating.
Tbh, I don't believe we are. Noble thoughts are swell, but we would need to accept tangible reductions in comfort we have taken for granted since the 1950's. It would mean action to increase our capacity for a collective good at the cost of what some perceive as their 'individual freedoms and rights'. That's a leap many will refuse to take.
In my opinion, we dodged a bullet when Mark Carney won the federal election. The "feeling good" atmosphere may be result of national relief that we have a new leader who is much smarter than most politicians.
Our PM is still in his honeymoon period, but reality will eventually prevail. We all need to realize that no one person can save us from the chaos destroying global stability. We all need to ask ourselves, "What can WE do to help?"
Yes, indeed Wendy, be happy :) As someone (you may remember my comment on your last post) who has a foot in both countries, you've definitely got the better deal in the true North strong and free. If my family weren't anchored here and my disposable income limited--have to be mindful of who's going to look out for me as I approach my mid 70s--I'd go "home." I really would.
I do want to pass this little encounter along: I was at a get-together here in my retirement community in Arizona. As so often happens when you are seated at a meet and mingle table, we asked each other where we were from. When it came to me I said, "I'm from Canada, from Montreal, Hamilton, Toronto and Vancouver." There was a short silence as the other folk at my table looked at me, looked at each other in silence. Then an 80-something lady from Montana said, "Do your friends back in Canada hate us now?" I paused for a moment, looked at her and said pointedly, "No, they don't hate YOU." And everyone laughed, at first nervously and then more comfortably as I didn't follow up with any other comments. Then another woman, originally from Michigan, said she'd wondered the same thing when she was back there a couple of weeks ago, was it safe to cross the border? And her Michigan friends said, "Oh, don't worry, Canadians are nice people, they don't hold it against US."
The vision to be a leader of democracy and human rights is a good one - far better than the white supremacist MAGA vision to the south. Is it realistic? Well that depends on the means to the end. If we use democratic means that respects and upholds rights to get there, then yes, it may work, but again, is this realistic? Maybe in the old paradigm, it is not. And the rise in fascism indicates that the old paradigm is being clung to. Which also means a new paradigm is being birthed. Perhaps the biggest burden to our rebirth is not old paradigms, though they are a challenge, but to oppositional identity formation - which we have always indulged in - “we are NOT them” (the USA) - perhaps it is time to walk away from comparison and just BE our vision of ourselves consistently without needing to look over our shoulder.
I do think this is our moment if we embrace it & ignore the Maple MAGATS!
LIke sign up? LOL
My at this time, lol
In the real world Wendy, everything you say about us is true. But can't the opposite be as well? Canada has always been an aspirational country, a work in progress, and a place of wins and losses. When I get discouraged, and I do, I think about people like you and the many who try to make this complicated world clearer for us with integrity and passion, and then I feel, well, progress is possible. Better than lying down and doing nothing, or endlessly whining. This Canada of ours will take teamwork. As Joyce Vance of Civil Discourse says, "we're in this together".
Hope springs eternal!
You don't see the opportunity you have to offer leadership and, instead of just saying "we're not ready" offering something constructive about what it would take to be ready? This post feels like the equivalent of saying to a kid who wants to try out for the advanced baseball team "sorry - you're two weak to play on that team" without giving them any constructive feedback or pointing them toward some other place to pour their passion. I think we're in a moment when a lot of Canadians want to step up and we need strong leaders and visionaries (and I'm not just talking about politicians), not just naysayers.
strong (good) leaders matter. Are we prepared to sacrifice, i agree passion is not enough
This is the key. The backbone and the willingness to sacrifice are what will matter most. It is constant short term thinking that got us into trouble. Putting all our low hanging fruit in one basket. We need to stick to the path less travelled and build a bit more independence and, in turn, a lot more resilience. We haven’t really done anything yet. So far, it’s just talk. Can we follow through? It’s in the eating.
I agree, unfortunately!
Tbh, I don't believe we are. Noble thoughts are swell, but we would need to accept tangible reductions in comfort we have taken for granted since the 1950's. It would mean action to increase our capacity for a collective good at the cost of what some perceive as their 'individual freedoms and rights'. That's a leap many will refuse to take.
In my opinion, we dodged a bullet when Mark Carney won the federal election. The "feeling good" atmosphere may be result of national relief that we have a new leader who is much smarter than most politicians.
Our PM is still in his honeymoon period, but reality will eventually prevail. We all need to realize that no one person can save us from the chaos destroying global stability. We all need to ask ourselves, "What can WE do to help?"
Also… can I worry some but be happy just the same?
Yes, indeed Wendy, be happy :) As someone (you may remember my comment on your last post) who has a foot in both countries, you've definitely got the better deal in the true North strong and free. If my family weren't anchored here and my disposable income limited--have to be mindful of who's going to look out for me as I approach my mid 70s--I'd go "home." I really would.
I do want to pass this little encounter along: I was at a get-together here in my retirement community in Arizona. As so often happens when you are seated at a meet and mingle table, we asked each other where we were from. When it came to me I said, "I'm from Canada, from Montreal, Hamilton, Toronto and Vancouver." There was a short silence as the other folk at my table looked at me, looked at each other in silence. Then an 80-something lady from Montana said, "Do your friends back in Canada hate us now?" I paused for a moment, looked at her and said pointedly, "No, they don't hate YOU." And everyone laughed, at first nervously and then more comfortably as I didn't follow up with any other comments. Then another woman, originally from Michigan, said she'd wondered the same thing when she was back there a couple of weeks ago, was it safe to cross the border? And her Michigan friends said, "Oh, don't worry, Canadians are nice people, they don't hold it against US."
The vision to be a leader of democracy and human rights is a good one - far better than the white supremacist MAGA vision to the south. Is it realistic? Well that depends on the means to the end. If we use democratic means that respects and upholds rights to get there, then yes, it may work, but again, is this realistic? Maybe in the old paradigm, it is not. And the rise in fascism indicates that the old paradigm is being clung to. Which also means a new paradigm is being birthed. Perhaps the biggest burden to our rebirth is not old paradigms, though they are a challenge, but to oppositional identity formation - which we have always indulged in - “we are NOT them” (the USA) - perhaps it is time to walk away from comparison and just BE our vision of ourselves consistently without needing to look over our shoulder.
Anything looks good compared to him,,,even us! (altho I just made another comparison!!)
😛