With the election less than a week away it’s a good time to reflect on what it’s like living in Canada.
Over the past few elections voter turnout has hovered around the 35 per cent mark, whether it’s a federal or provincial campaign.
Much is written and said about the obvious apathy many Canadians have toward the freedom which came at a very high price when won by our grandparents and ancestors before them.
Many feel their one vote has no real meaning or power but we’ve seen it in recent years, a groundswell of public engagement can make a difference. And it’s so ridiculously easy to vote in this country we should be ashamed of ourselves if we don’t exercise that privilege.
One of the most disturbing trends in recent years has been the rise in vitriolic opinion on Facebook and other social media toward our elected officials and community leaders.
It’s not that everyone isn’t entitled to their opinion and party of choice, but to read some of these ill-informed, angry and malicious blogs you’d think we were living in a war-torn third world country.
Instead of exercising their right to vote, it seems many prefer the opportunity to spew their opinion, often without any base in fact or truth. There are far too many who read, and agree with, and then spread the lies and half-truths. And there are always other websites or blogs to support and fuel the anger and misinformation.
Intelligence is under attack. A recent disturbing poll suggests more and more Canadians view scientists as elitist. This is beginning to mirror a trend in the U.S. and we've seen the road they are on.
The onus, as Canadians, is to take advantage of the freedoms we have but to take them seriously. Make the effort to study real news sources and listen to others who may not be like-minded.
If you surround your world, especially your cyber world, with a circle of angry, uninformed, and malicious individuals, how would you expect your opinion to evolve over time?
Negatives need to be uncovered and removed through intelligent thought and effort. We don’t need to invent new ones or dwell on them to the point where we lose sight of the freedom and opportunities democracy has offered to this great country.
