I designed a font that I could use in my weaving because sometimes I like to show off that I'm a 'clever clogs'. As another weaver said to me one day, sometimes you *want* people to know that you are clever.
I suppose there is a certain level of pragmatism to my character. You'd have to have that to try to earn an income from an antiquated profession like hand weaving. In order to *be* pragmatic, you have to be able to face up to reality. You have to face up to your short comings, and figure out a way around them. You have to be able to break through your reality bubble. You have to 'know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em' as it is said. But also? You have to be able to imagine. Imagine something different than what is, and what you might change if you don't like things the way they are.
It is from this focus, I suspect, that I have been reading about PMMCs holiday greetings. It is hard to not contrast the PMs message compared to...the person south of the border. Or even our own leader of the opposition. The contrast is marked.
The thing is, I remember things before the current reality. Yes, there were shenanigans. Of course there were. But there were also 'normal' things that were accepted as being, well, normal. And others that were 'beyond the pale'.
And if a politician got caught doing stuff that society did not approve of, they were expected to be shamed, and even, (gasp) resign, so that someone with better character could take over and be a steady hand on the tiller.
Now? It's nothing but lies, coverups, accusations, rage farming, threats, etc.
I have no idea what the new year holds. I hope it will show greater compassion, empathy and yes, more steady hands on the tillers of the ships of state.
Canada has been well aware (for decades) that we are poised in the pincers of the US and Russia. Never did I imagine that they would be allies and looking at us as easy pickings. And, yet, here we are.
So I look at PMMC and his steadfastness and - while I don't know that I 'approve' of everything that he is doing - I would much rather have him at the helm than the alternative.
What many USians fail to imagine is that on so many levels, what the PM is doing is not *his* whims, but actions that ordinary Canadian citizens enacted. WE chose, en mass, to stop buying US goods. Most Canadians are well aware of who pays for the tariffs and who was going to hurt if we left US goods on the shelves. It didn't take long for provincial governments to perk their heads up and stop buying US spirits because no one was buying them. Canadians immediately started cancelling trips to the US. After about 3 months of Canadians going anywhere but the US, only then did the Canadian govt issue a travel warning. Following the lead of the citizens voting with their pocketbooks. And the actions of border guards/ICE towards some citizens.
We may be small, but the US really did not have any sense of how dependent it was upon Canada's willing contribution to their wallets. Canada's govt was aware, and pledged to support Canadian workers as they transitioned to other markets.
Because that is the thing with the current US admin - their reality bubble did not include the fact that they were way more dependent on *us* than they realized. Now in shock and awe, entire states are feeling the bite of the lack of Canadian dollars coming in.
Things are very uncertain right now but PMMC is doing what he's done before - stepped into the middle of an economic crisis (Trumps threat to break Canada economically to make it easier to 'annex' us) and begin to chart a path forward going around the US threats and forging new partnerships.
His speeches yesterday were calm. Pragmatic. Yes, he said, things will be difficult for a while. But his plan at the end is for Canada to remain a sovereign state, a democracy. We know it is flawed, but we can work on those once we get through this time of transition.
In the meantime I remain Elbows Up and Team Canada. And Never 51.
I wish everyone (especially my US friends) peace and calm as we enter the new year.
No comments:
Post a Comment