For all of us

If you know me, I think you’d say that I’m a pretty level-headed guy. Not prone to extreme anything. So it’s not a good sign when I start getting worked up. And even angry. And this federal election is getting me worked up. I’m realizing that the thing that is new, the thing I’ve not seen or felt before in twenty-seven years of exercising my democratic rights, the thing that is profoundly scary to me, is that for what seems like the first time, we are not all debating different ways to make this amazing country better for all of us, even if we disagree on the particular ways and means, but there are forces acting as if this country is only for some of us. And that version of “us” no longer seems to include me. That if I don’t agree with that one and only way for this country, I’m no longer welcome to discuss or debate, I just don’t belong. I’m not a partisan guy. I’ve voted for every major party, and a few minor ones, in my time, based on the candidates in my riding and the different suggestions for how best to take our amazing country the next step down a unique road. Different ways to continue building Canada, but always with a fundamental respect for a shared Canada and all that which makes us uniquely Canadian. That in all our diversity, all our differences of opinion, no matter how strongly felt, we were still ultimately all in this together. Building our country, for all of us. That’s how we got this far, by working together. So I’m asking for your help to keep on that path. Vote, people, please. Our country is worth it, and so much more.