Politics has been, and will always be, a stormy sea! As wave after wave comes crashing to shore, a chorus from the choir screams “No, No, No” or sings “Yes, Yes, Yes.”
This last election ushered in a new category of storm. Class 5 is currently the most damaging, but I would suggest a new Class 6 storm has taken over America in the form of Team Trump. Elected to “Make America Great Again,” the “Donald” and his merry band of Congress Republicans seem hell-bent on creating a relentless attack of tidal waves, with a vision that seems squarely aimed at the somewhat calm seas of democracy itself.
Canada, in turn, has elected a new leader who will now be in a tenuous position to negotiate with arguably the most powerful force in the world: a cruel, self-serving president who clearly believes he is above the law. Many voters have chosen sides, and our world leaders have to walk a tightrope when dealing with Trump; a tightrope never before seen in American history.
The journey for Mr. Carney has just begun. Love him or hate him, I think we can all agree he is in a battle with our southern neighbours unlike any ever seen. We are at a pivotal place in North American history. Where do we come out on the other side?
This is just the first chapter of a non-fiction book that has started with an ominous tone and some strange twists and turns, from triumph to tragedy. What will be the last chapter? At the end of the day, many believe it will be the “people” who write the last chapter. They will be the better angels who navigate the stormy seas of chaos, conflict, and corruption.
Countries divided cannot chart a course that reaches the lands of peace and prosperity. Only when we work together, agree to disagree respectfully, will the ship begin to right itself and get back on course.
On that note, I would hope that we put our preferred parties — Liberal or Conservative, Republican or Democrat, and all the others — in our back pockets, open up our “Independent” wallets, and fill them with notes of positivity. Slips of support. Papers of patience. Now is not the time to “choose sides.”
The voters have spoken. Be critical when needed; be grateful when earned.
The political landscape of the next few years is in the people's hands. Let us support, as best we can, our newly-elected prime minister as he sets his sights on travelling a treacherous course of political peril. It won’t be easy. He will make mistakes, as do all world leaders.
Screaming foul, using AI as a tool, or creating a social media sh*t storm is not the answer. It is the continuation of the political backsliding afforded by the rapidly advancing era of technology. We must be diligent. We must fact check. Yes, we must work much harder to find the truth, but isn’t that what keeps the ship on course? Isn’t that our responsibility?
You cannot just blame government and its elected officials for all the issues. The people have the last say every election. They are judge and jury. The prime minister’s success is our success as Canadians. You may not be a cheerleader, but fearmongers and conspiracy theories set the ship’s compass to a crash course that no one wants to see.
Time to take a deep breath. Four years is a long time to be angry, and doesn’t move the needle in a direction we want to move our country.
