by Anita Benedict
An election has been called.
I remember the good old days when neighbours following different party lines all of a sudden stopped speaking to each other, I guess in case they let state secrets slip. My dad was always involved in politics, a hard Tory; except for that one time they didn’t like their representative and could not get rid of him - many voted against him so the other party won.
Dad also made doubly sure those who were not speaking to him because of his political leanings had a drive to the polls to vote. I know he was making a point and didn’t expect a vote for the Tories, but he could have ignored them so they didn’t get to vote. That’s not the way it was.
Until this election, I have never seen quite the same division among Canadian voters. Sure, we saw the attack ads on media but we didn’t down and out insult each other the way it is happening now. I have been called privileged, and I can assure you I know I am in some ways, but until you know me, you cannot call me privileged. I have everything I need, we have worked for it, but I am aware how easy it can all be taken away.
I am not blind to what is happening and neither am I “stupid,” I see a lot that I am trying to process. I am grateful that one friend reached out and called me open minded and wanted to share why he supports who he does. I may or may not change my mind but I appreciate that message. Civility is missing from our lives.
I am so sick of all the lies on social media. It is so easy to manipulate people’s thoughts when they are disheartened and afraid. I do find it funny we won’t believe mainstream media, but we believe “newspaper” reports from other countries. Those reports are usually screen shots of titles, hard to read blurbs, and the paper is less serious than “The Onion” and more like Fox
News. But it suits what one believes so let’s share whether it is accurate or not.
I have been guilty, even though I have made every effort to act check, but can we even trust the fact check? Then, last week, I delivered a message in church and asked WWJD-What would Jesus do?
As I have said before, no matter your beliefs, that guy was a pretty awesome speaker and was able to see the good. So, I took a good look at what I was sharing. I could not find any good in any of it except for Charlie Angus and Arlene Dickenson, so I stopped. I was getting sick. I wanted to fix things but I could not. I wanted people to care as much about the people in this country as much as the economics.
Let’s face it, no government has ever made the average Joe/Jill rich nor will they. We will still pay taxes after the election? We will. We will still growl about whomever is in power, but do you know who has always had our back; our family, friends and our community, who will make us the richest people on earth with their support.
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