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What issues do you feel are most important to tackle? What methods do you feel will be most effective in making change? Are you ready for the challenge?
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It feels like everything is important these days! For me, right now, it’s concentrating on the upcoming Canadian federal election. I don’t want people here to fall into the illusion that the US Democrats fell into last election, where polls were saying things were good. Polls don’t matter; getting out to vote does. Mobilizing people to get out and vote is important too. So I’m going to check that the younger members of my extended family are registered to vote and plan to vote and see if I can help them with any gaps of information or questions they may have so that they can choose wisely. Educating others and having conversations are how I can effect change.
I also feel strongly that misinformation needs to be tackled at every level, as does the general apathy or disinterest many people have about participating in their democracies. It doesn’t have to be on a global level or even a federal level. It can be at a municipality level. It can be at a family level. Everyday politics needs to be made a real and substantial thing for many people. Replace the fantasy and conspiracy with the reality happening in our homes and neighbourhoods. Otherwise you have a situation like now with millions of Americans not understanding the clear and present danger they are in, unable to reason and discern fact from fiction.
Canada faces an existential threat from the current US administration. We can’t have Trump convincing Americans that taking over Canada is a good idea. We just can’t. I don’t know if I’m ready for the challenge, but I will fight my very best to stand up for Canadians’ liberty and for the liberty of my American friends too.
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I agree with Tara but would word her comment more strongly. Facts, honesty, accurate reporting and context, verifiable truth is what I regard as most important in the current reporting and political landscape. It is fundamentally impossible to speak to anything unless the facts are clear.
As to what method, if you did not watch any of Cory Booker’s time holding the floor in the U.S. Senate or his comments, find someplace where you can watch some of it. This is a gift link.
It is inspiring in so many ways. I am absolutely not up to Senator Booker’s challenge. But he told an interesting story in the part I listened to. It was about a lawyer who watched the brutality directed at John Lewis and marchers on the Edmund Pettus Bridge. His first response was that he should go to Alabama to be part of the protest there, to contribute. Unable to do that, he realized he could not do everything but he could could do something. What he did was offer his services pro bono for an hour a week to address housing discrimination against black people. There is more to that story but I am stopping there.
So, the answer to being ready for the challenge is that I can focus on not doing everything and still doing something.
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I 100% agree, Jane. The facts must be clear. I didn’t watch any of Booker’s speech but I was struck by something he said: “If America hasn’t broken your heart, then you don’t love her enough.” And thank you for the gift link.
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