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| Photo by Eric Hill |
I awoke this morning to a different world. It is a world I thought we had left behind decades ago, but apparently it was just buried under the facade of political correctness and affirmative action. The US presidential election of 2016 did one thing very effectively;It shook America with a huge dose of reality. The effects however, have far reaching aftershocks touching every part of the planet. On the night of the election, when it was almost fully counted, the New Zealand dollar crashed and it is still trying to recover. New Zealand. The other side of the planet.
I could rant for an hour on my personal feelings but there is really no point. The majority of the seats were elected Republican in alignment with the new president giving them the mandate to govern. That is how democracy works. You cannot believe in the process selectively. The people have spoken (~ 50% of them anyway) and a new government is about to take power.
Tomorrow is Remembrance Day in Canada and Veterans Day in the US. It is a day we pause to reflect on the sacrifices made by our soldiers to defeat tyranny and oppression and to ensure that those who want democracy have the ability to pursue it. We thank them for taking up arms against those who threaten democracy. We remember that they gave their lives to protect our rights and freedoms. We remember that whether it was 1918 or 1945 or one of the many other conflicts this century that threaten the spread of democracy, young men and women have put themselves in harms way to ensure that YOU have the right to exist and express your voice without fear of persecution.
This Remembrance day it is all that much more important for us to remember their sacrifice. Remember that democracy is not about what is convenient for you but what is fair to ALL citizens. Remember that brave men and women gave their lives so that you could peacefully protest without fear of retribution. That your voices could be heard and that you matter. Remember that all opinions are valid, even the ones you don't like and remember that NO ONE in a democracy is more important than any one else.
The events of recent days have left North America in shock and regardless of whose camp you were pulling for, there are extreme emotions everywhere. Let us all take a long moment to remember that many thousands of men and women throughout history have given their lives to ensure that you have the right to cast that vote, to protest, to write that blog and to be who you need to be in a free society of equals.
On "The Eleventh" please take an extra moment to breathe and Remember.
