The New Way

I know this is nothing new. The new part is not putting up with it anymore.

Our symbol is an inverted Canadian flag. It's meant to be simple and accessible. We don't want to sell you flags or slogans. We want you to create your own, but in a recognizable way. In a fashion that symbolizes our collective beliefs and unity. Fly your flag upside down to show you're fed up and won't be fooled any longer. Let them know that you see through their lies and empty promises. If you want, paint your personal interest on the flag for people to see. Like "vision" ...

Today there is a terrible lack of leadership in Canada, mainly because leadership requires vision. It means that someone actually has to take a stand and set the country on track. This is almost impossible at election time because politicians are afraid of offending and alienating any potential voters. Notice how today they're all saying the same thing? How they have to resort to personal attacks on each other, because they can't face any issues? They are scared stiff of taking a stand.

Sadly, people with vision, creativity, and integrity are rarely the type of people who are attracted to political life. Consequently we, the people, are going to be forced to do their job for them. To rein in the politicians and tame their egos. We are going to have to draw them a picture. We are going to have to enlighten them with our vision for the future.

They would like us to think governing is difficult, but it's simply not true. What's difficult is juggling lobbyists and big business in an effort to earn favours and maintain financial support for your political party. But this has nothing to do with the people or the country. It's in-fighting, and it is pursued to the detriment of the people, not their advantage.

The truth is, there are a few basics that all Canadians require. Obviously, we all need to eat. We also need to drink water and breath fresh air. We need access to medicine and routine health care, and none of these things are negotiable. Beyond this, we've found at least four (4) more things we absolutely need: education, a healthy environment, our culture, and a vision for the future (to perpetuate and safeguard these things). Without practical goals, we flounder aimlessly (like we're doing now).

Education is of prime importance to the development of a country and its people. School is not a luxury, it is the main way we transfer knowledge from generation to generation. Cutting back on education will result in students leaving school early because they can't get what they need. It results in people with a limited world view and little idea how to improve themselves or their situation. It means we are condemned to repeat the mistakes of the past. Politicians routinely cut education budgets because most students are young and disempowered by a lack of funds and political experience, holding no sway over the politician's personal life and career. It is also easy to make cuts to education because the devastating effects are only realized much later. Cutting education is a slow poison.

Without a healthy environment we die. Anyone who argues the validity or the importance of this obviously has some short-term personal gain at stake. Unfortunately, many people think they will be long dead before we see any real effects of pollution and global warming. They hope to use this time for quick financial gain. The irony is that there is much more to gain by creating environmentally sound technology. First, because it eliminates the need for cleanup later on (in terms of global warming, this includes billions of dollars in repairs due to flooding), and second, because this technology is highly marketable.

Some people question the importance of culture. Some people question whether Canadians have a culture at all. Whether you realize it or not, you do have a culture and it is important to you. It may have been lost in commercialism or power struggles, it may even have been stripped from you by force, through the ignorance of others. But it is yours, and yours to claim.

On the other hand, no politician in the world is going to hand you your culture on a platter. Politicians love issues like language and culture, because they are nebulous and charged with emotion. They can use them to win votes. Ultimately your culture comes from you and your people, your daily practices and beliefs, and it is much too important to use as barter or fuel in some kind of political power struggle.

A cultural platform in a multi-cultural society is ineffective. It chooses to value one culture, language, or belief over all others, and makes promises it can only deliver at the expense of others. Instead, it is far more practical to work on common goals which empower all people, such as education, environment, jobs, and trade. In this way, as society becomes healthy and strong, different communities will have the time and money to enhance their own lives and pursue their cultural beliefs with integrity.

This is not to say that the wrongs of the past are to be ignored or forgotten. Rather, that the damages done are best remedied by empowering the people through programs which manifest the resources they need to help themselves.