With all the terrible things happening in the world, I think you will agree that it’s difficult to stay positive. I was talking to a friend this week who is having trouble sleeping and just functioning because she worries so much about the future of the world. I certainly have to agree that the future has been brighter, but suggested that she concentrate on things over which she had some control, and hope that smart people are doing the same over the bigger things! This led me to realize how lucky we are to live in Canada. While no country is perfect, (no, not even you USA) we are indeed lucky to be in a country where the biggest complaints, or at least those that mobilize a large number of people, are the “dictatorial” public health measures forcing people to wear masks, and where the people protesting these measures are tolerated for three long weeks, even though their behavior is disruptive and at times borderline criminal, before anything is done to put an end to their protests. Where people complain about the high taxes, but don’t ever have to worry about getting a bill if they have to see a doctor, get an X-ray or be hospitalized. Where the only attacks you have to worry about daily are from people on Facebook who have nothing better to do with their day. Where retired people are not asked to volunteer to defend their town or country, to make Molotov cocktails or carry an automatic rifle at all times. Where you can dream of your next vacation, not wonder if you will be able to stay in your home much longer. Where most people have never heard an air raid siren. Where people worry about the crazy increases in the cost of housing, but don’t have to worry about their home being shelled out of existence. Where a “shelter” is something for the homeless or animals, not a place to hide during a bombing attack. Where the weather might be crappy for too many months of the year, but the worst that can fall on us is freezing rain. Where, although they sometimes may not want to, all children, boys and girls, can attend primary and secondary school for free. Where people can disagree politically without, most times anyway, becoming aggressive about it. Where you never hear the expression “Canadian Oligarch” There are exceptions of course. There is work to do to fix unacceptable situations across the country, both from the past and in the present. There are crooks, fanatics, and unbalanced people everywhere, and the events of the past few years have given some of them a chance to “shine”. Many conspiracy theories fall on fertile ground! But it is not the majority. No matter what some think of the recent “coalition” between opposing parties in Ottawa, it is still a democracy. We will still get a chance to complain all we want without fear of "disappearing", and we can express ourselves freely at the next election and “kick the bums out” if we aren’t happy with what they did while in office. Aren’t we lucky? Did I miss anything? What are you grateful for? Express yourself in the comments!
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AuthorMy name is Claire Bureau. Archives
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