Yellow Vests, Divide & Rule and Canada's Core Identity

Although, at times, I have speculated the possibly of western separation, whether it be just Alberta, or any of the western provinces, it is only because I allow myself the time to explore all the aspects of any issue, that I still believe that separation is not in the best interest of Canada nor it's citizens, including those in the west.

Divide and Rule is a political tactic that has been entrenched into Canadian politics for decades. Looking at current national trends, I would even say it has now become the foundation of Canadian politics. What we used to call "mud-slinging" between parties has now become mainstream. Citizens "mud-sling" against each other more so now than ever in our history.

No political party in Canada is innocent. Many of our divisions in this country can be traced back to the words, policies and actions of every party that has even been in power or struggled to get there. Even those divisions founded outside political parties are capitalized on by those seeking to promote or demonize nonpolitical movements and beliefs for political gains.

Our political state has allowed Alberta and Quebec to draw a line in the sand. It has demonized Saskatchewan, Ontario and a growing number of provinces for creating alliances and take a stand against a Federal declaration of only one option for environmental salvation. It has pitted Christians against Muslims.

Today, we have the opportunity to prove this as hundred's of thousands of Canadian citizens don yellow vests and demand only one thing...To be heard.

Some are quiet, some are loud. Some are downright obnoxious. One would be hard pressed to find two individuals who hold exactly the same reason to wear the yellow vest. Some want a pipeline built, some don't. Some want adherence to our existing immigration laws, some want no immigration.

This lack of a central reason to don the yellow vest is exactly what provided our own government, the mainstream media and our own fellow citizens to create one for us. The demonization of the Yellow Vest movement was too easy. In a country that is clearly divided already, the movement that called for solidarity among left, right and the middle threatened the status quo.

If you are against the carbon tax, you are labelled a climate change denier. If you object to the UN Migration Compact, you are called a racist. These words have been so blatantly abused that they no longer carry their true definition and even to the point that they are used to describe your political party leaning. If you are racist or a climate change denier, you are now a right wing extremist. If you protest pipelines and want more done to save the environment, you are a far left Liberal.

A right wing conservative could not possibly support Liberal values at all. You must pick a side.

This, folks is the division that is sinking our country to it's knees and handing the absolute power to any party who's only achievement is to capitalize on our multitude of divisions. They call it "party platforms".

 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said "there is no core identity, no mainstream in Canada" 

It is sad that the leader of our own country does not even know it's citizens well enough to recognize what our core identity is.

Identity is a distinguishing character and core identity are those characteristics that are most likely to remain constant over time. Canada has one distinguishing character we are known for through out the world, one that has remained constant over time. Compassion. The entire world has acknowledged our most important defining character so vividly that you would be hard pressed to find a country that hasn't poked fun at "nice" Canadians. 

In the utmost irony, that same prime minister has used that very characteristic against us, to label those who's views he feels are lacking in that compassion as "un-Canadian".  In doing so, he confirms that compassion is our identity.

But that identity is threatened, and divide and rule is the threat. The very compassion that drives us to protect our nation is being twisted and manipulated. Our own government has used our compassion to divide us. Even those who worry our First Nations, our veterans and our poor are being pushed aside, in favour of global aid to foreign countries, are labeled racist for the very compassion that defines our nation. 

When we allow our country's rulers to use religion, beliefs, economics and provinces, and now our very identity, to divide us, we hand them absolute power. 

We must not allow that. We must not let them continue to divide us. 

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Rajmohan Gandhi, historian and grandson of Mahatma Gandhi,  tells a cautionary tale from the Indian subcontinent about divide and rule. DIVIDE & RULE: Rajmohan Gandhi

The Real Reason Farmers Carry Guns

Despite the media image being projected, farmers may carry guns but it would take an awfully nasty situation to prompt the vast majority of them to shoot even in the presence of a trespasser, let alone at one. 

Farmers have always carried guns. Just because a few played with the media in an attempt to put some fear into would be criminals, does not mean every farmer carrying a gun in his combine is a vigilante. Guns have been a part of farm life since the early settler days. Farmers carry guns in their trucks, tractors and combines as part of a lifestyle in which it has always been an acceptable practice. Despite the false propaganda we hear and read, it is not for the purpose of shooting trespassers. Shooting at vermin is the most common reason, but shooting at people is not what's on the farmer's mind when he sets that gun in his cab. But, once again, the people we entrust with our safety, and the general public, have fallen for the sensationalizing of misinformation. 

What is happening is the RCMP are now on the offensive and innocent farmers and rural residents are going to be targeted for doing something they have done for decades and has nothing to do with the media's coverage of all this. What has happened in the past, and is more than likely going to happen again, thanks to the recent misinformation, is that farmers and other rural resident gun owners will be subjected to "punishment by trial". RCMP trying set a precedent with little to no evidence, will press charges and, though the gun owner often gets acquitted, the trial process itself is both financial and emotionally draining. Enough to drive the defendant to bankruptcy. 

It's the RCMP's turn to be the conspiracy theorists and they are spending way too much time worrying about our guns when they need to focus on rural crime. They are also spending way too much time on Facebook. People vent. People make claims they would never do in real life. It's kind of what people do on social media.

I am not denying the small minority who may go too far defending their life or their property. Yes, they are out there. But the general public needs to understand that the farmers may be frustrated and venting those frustrations to the media and on social media, but they have a job to do and all they want is the ability to do it. The ability to put bread on your table. 

If the RCMP wants to relieve tensions in rural areas, they could start by ceasing to put farmers on the defensive, because their recent call to request people put their guns away has done nothing but cause further resentment. Rural residents use social media to help each other. If one farmer has a theft or vandalism, they will often share the details, not only with the RCMP, but with their friends on Facebook. Those details help others, particularly if there is a vehicle description, to know what to watch for in their own area. Very recently, a string of thefts resulted in an arrest because the description of the vehicle, the thief and the type activity was widely distributed by both the RCMP and the public. A rural crime watch, coupled with distribution of information for these occurrences, in a timely manner, could go a long way towards assisting the RCMP to capture these criminals. The feeling that an effort is being made is also going to aid in the reduction of tension among rural residents. 

If the media wants to help, they can stop sensationalizing the misinformation. If you must write an article about farmers carrying guns in their combines, how about you actually investigate the story thoroughly and write a balanced piece that shows the reality, that ones you interviewed or quoted from social media posts are, in fact the minority. And while you're at it, why don't you think twice before you publish a series of articles based on hearsay and conjecture. The media should be presenting the news to us the readers, your job is to present the facts and allow us to draw our own conclusions. Instead, today's media tells us how we should think. They intentionally leave out information or simply neglect to research an entire story because, the truth just doesn't sell papers or get hits on thier web sites. Shock and awe. Now that sells. What has happened to the media is shameful. Today's stories are so twisted and poorly researched that they have become the leader of the "Trial by Social Media" mentality.

In order to combat these issues, we all need to work together. The only way to do that is to to build a system where people don't turn to vigilantism because they feel the system has failed and they have no other choices.

Saskatchewan Public Needs Better Wildfire Reporting

Wildland fire season is upon us early this year, and with a vengeance. Just walk in the woods or even along roadsides in the province and the crunch of dry vegetation under your feet is unnerving. 

Even more unnerving is the knowledge that the people of Saskatchewan will be in the dark throughout the wildland fire season. 

Saskatchewan Wildfire Crisis 2015 - There's more to the story

Saskatchewan residents received a flyer in the mail recently from the SGEU (Saskatchewan Government Employees Union). It is a call for an independent, public review – and changes – needed to keep northern families and communities safe. 

The flyer in your mailbox outlined huge failings throughout the 2015 wildfire season. 
It came with the urgent call for all SK residents to contact Minister of Environment, Herb Cox and Minister Responsible for First Nations, Métis and Northern Affairs, Jim Reiter and urged us to tell the government we need:  a substantial increase in budget, resources and firefighters and an independent, public review of the wildfire crisis of 2015.

But there's more you need to know about the management of these wildfires.

You'll never guess what this evil person said about this poor animal...

You'll never guess what this evil person said about this poor animal....