I am becoming increasingly concerned about what is happening in Canada with respect to our democratic government. And with that concern, I wonder what I should do about it.
“Pray, love, listen, act peacefully,” this is beautiful advice from my mother-in-law.
What does “act peacefully” mean though?
Does annoying and inconvenient equal not-peaceful?
I view what the Freedom Convoy did as acting peacefully, but the protest/action against the Coastal GasLink pipeline in Northern B.C. as obviously not peaceful.
When methods referred to in a previous Feb. 17 letter as ‘the Canadian way’ do not produce the discussion needed for a time like this, what choice do the people have but to unite and physically go to their government?
How else do you get the government’s attention?
I’m truly asking; no sarcasm intended.
In what scenario would you be moved to act via protest in this country?
Before you answer these questions about my concerns, I have determined that I first need to determine to what degree I should be concerned.
This means I need to ask questions, have conversations, and seek truth.
And so my first question is: What keeps you up at night?
I recognize that it will be difficult to start these conversations.
We no longer hear and listen to each other.
The reasons why are complex.
Perhaps it’s because we watch and read so many conflicting opinions on various news outlets and social media that we don’t know what to believe and just don’t have the time and/or energy to even begin to dig in. Perhaps it’s because we tend to think in a black and white/right or wrong mentality and seek certainty in an uncertain world, so to seek uncertainty again once we’ve found certainty is too much for us to handle.
The list of possible reasons goes on and on.
I do think we need to try, though. The Editor’s Notebook published on Feb. 17 was a beautiful example of what can be accomplished when we stop yelling and start listening.
So, I genuinely want to know what you think. I want to know what keeps you up at night.
I’m not asking everyone to be concerned or care about what’s happening with the government. I know that everyone has various interests, stressors, and things they are called to do. I want to invite the people in this community into a conversation to learn more about who you are, what you believe and why you believe it. I want to seek the truth on any subject with those who are also hungry for it. If anyone wants to accept my invitation, I’m open to suggestions on how we can move forward in co-ordinating. I’m excited at the possibility of what we can accomplish together.
I’ll leave you with a word of wisdom that guides my search for truth: “True humility is the willingness to be wrong about everything you believe to be true.”
Tressa Clarke
Brackendale
