Democracy impeded by unrest, conflict and politics

May 1, 2024 · 0 Comments

ur love-hate relationship with democracy is unique to the western world. While we find ourselves constantly at odds with government policies and decision-makers at all levels, we forget just how lucky and blessed we are. We’ve enjoyed ever-expanding human rights under our Charter since 1982. The anniversary was April 17 and every year we quietly (very Canadian) celebrate its anniversary. It solidifies the very essence of democratic rights – religion, speech, media, assembly and more.

Boomers have become wise ‘elders’

Respect for our elders seems to be waning. When I was young, this was a given, an unwritten rule. As we Baby Boomers age and wade into retirement, our accomplishments, and legacies should be recognized, not ignored. Okay, I realize that respect has to be earned, but most of us born in the 1960s have become society’s wise “elders.”

We must work together to forge a new mentality

"And the men who hold high places Must be the ones who start To mold a new reality Closer to the heart.” What Canadian band Rush was getting at here is that everyone – the blacksmith, artists, philosophers and ploughmen – all have to work together to forge and sow a new mentality. We have to do better. Yes, the politicians and government officials are indeed the ones in high places who can make a difference.

Fate, choice, destiny or divine intervention?

People have said that we can control our destiny, but not our fate. Even Napoleon believed there is no such things as accidents, calling them “fate misnamed.” Terry Pratchett once said that most gods throw dice, but “Fate plays chess, and you don’t find out til too late that he’s been playing with two queens all along.” Nice analogy.

Losing a friend, a piece of ourselves

Our home is a bit quieter than usual. It’s a strange silence, where you know something isn’t right. Our 14-year-old Lab Marley is no longer with us. For dogs, that’s a heck of a life, roughly equivalent to 98 human years! We don’t really “own” our best friends but merely “rent” them. We all hope for a long “lease.”

Grocery ‘games’ continue to baffle public

George Bernard Shaw once said “there is no love sincerer than the love of food.” While George was spot on regarding our taste buds, he never faced paying $7 for a pound of butter. “Give us this day our daily bread …” the prayer goes. But God never ventured into a grocery store.

Are we holding back the years, or letting loose?

Hindsight, they say, is 20/20 – perfect, invaluable. The only problem is, life has to be lived forward, not backward. Stevie Nicks once wondered whether she could handle the seasons her life, noting: “But time makes you bolder “And children get older “And I’m getting older too …” And wise Dr. Seuss once asked “How did get so late so soon?”

Do record bank profits translate to service?

While funny, Rudner is on to something. Jeff Bezos mentioned that he’s offended by messages from banks who offer second mortgages to people so they can go on vacation. “That’s approaching evil,” he said. Evil or not, that’s the system.

We need to be leery of human stupidity

“Never underestimate the power of stupidity,” Robert Heinlein once warned. Martin Luther King, Jr. contended that “nothing in the all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.” And the late, great Stephen Hawking said we are destroying ourselves by our greed and stupidity.

The ‘ugly’ surpassing the good and the bad

Borrowing on the theme from an iconic spaghetti western, our society has always had good, bad and well, ugly. Catchy theme songs aside, life is messy. And apparently, it’s getting worse.

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