Vote

Today, Thursday October 6, is voting day in Ontario. Here is an old blog post about Citizenship that has some very good things for us to think about today.

I hope you'll take time to read it as you consider your vote today. It's your right and your responsibility.

Posted by Marion

Opposition

Today is the first day of a new Canadian Parliament. For better or for worse, our system of government operates on an adversarial principle. Right up there with official title, fancy office and traditional functions is the role of “official opposition” whose job it is to “oppose” what it sees the government doing that it considers wrong or misguided. And to point those things out vigourously.

It would be nice, and hopefully it will be possible, to point out those things the opposition opposes in a civil and helpful manner, but regardless of that, the Opposition will oppose. It might seem that this is an easy job. That objecting and offering the contrary position would come naturally. But I think that isn’t necessarily so. It seems to me that most of us have a greater tendency to just “go along.”

One day our family was out driving. Tiona (almost five) spotted a big brightly coloured object out her window. “What do you think that is Grandma?”

“I think it’s a water tower.”

“Daddy? Mommy? What do you think it is?”

“I think it’s a water tower too,” both replied.

“Well, if Grandma thinks so, and Daddy thinks so, and Mommy thinks so, then I think so too,” was her final answer. And of course we all smile at her predictable cuteness. But even then, we were realizing that it was somewhat unusual for our precious redhead to be so agreeable.

There is research to indicate that our thinking will be of a much better quality if we allow for different perspectives, if we take time before reaching conclusions to check out what other ideas, possibilities, options might exist.

I spent enough time in airports to realize that the faces of humanity are extremely varied and diverse. You can’t sit and watch the thousands of human beings passing by and not be struck by the vast range of sizes, shapes, colours, ages, height, weight, costume possessed by our fellow inhabitants of this earth. Surely there are also many perspective on the ideas that emerge from our thinking. And yet, as we settle more deeply into the Internet age and have opportunity to live among our friends, seek out like-minded communities and interests, narrow our newsfeeds to sources that agree with us, it is possible to live life almost entirely without opposition.

I’m suggesting today that this is a bad thing! It may take a greater discipline to seek out the opposing perspectives; it may take more personal restraint to remain civil in our listening to opposite ideas. But it will be worth it. And it’s part of our responsibility as citizens and as seekers and thinking disciples to consider those other perspectives. It’s what makes opposition a valuable commodity, not to be shunned but truly considered and celebrated.

Any other ideas on that?

Posted by Marion

Care

This is a word we've commented lots about at various times. In fact, when I did a search for the word care I got eighty hits! Eighty times we've had something to say about the notion of caring. And yet, this morning, I believe I'm thinking of it in a slightly different way. Maybe--maybe not. You decide.

I continue to hear a phrase that makes me, personally, very uncomfortable. It has even come to be part of the polling question that is asked and then that is reported upon. Bigger than the event itself is the element of just how little most people care about Canada's current election. I've managed to postpone even telling you what I'm writing about in order to perhaps hold your attention for a couple of paragraphs.

It was the "man on the street" question in my local newspaper this week. Four out of five people asked felt not a bit of shame to answer the question: No I don't care at all about this election.

If asked to say more, the most common explanations are versions of "it's too expensive" or "nothing will change" or "they're all crooks anyway."

Are the issues so remote that we really aren't concerned at all?

I do agree that there are things to be done about many of the things we do care about, and I'm sure hoping that we who claim to be concerned about our neighbours, our communities, the bruised and broken-hearted are finding concrete ways to help them. I wish that we of the "peace, reconciliation and healing the spirit" vision have found ways to encourage policies and priorities that promote those things as far and as widely as possible.

It seems to me, again this is my personal opinion, that many of the laws and practices of my government have an impact on those very things. If we who live in a democracy that people around the world are dying to acquire, it seems to me that the least we can do is at least care that the one we have works as well as it could.

If you're someone who has said about your vote, or your obligation to be informed, "I don't care" then I'd like to call on you to reconsider.

Posted by Marion