Eye Wide Open to Inconvenient Truths

Still reeling from the tragedy in Quebec city last night. Sleepless night.

The outpouring of sadness and solidarity for the Muslim community in Quebec is heartening, but too many people are quick to blame Trump, as if Canada was somehow immune to the racism that he is institutionalizing in his own country.

Have we already forgotten the despicable Charte that Pauline Marois championed to save Quebec from anything that didn't look Christian enough? It was just 4 years ago when that proposed piece of legislation emboldened too many to speak their racism aloud, to harass and attack anyone they felt looked too foreign. Even now, chapters of the despicable Sons of Odin walk the streets of Quebec city looking to oppress anyone who looks unfamiliar  (yes, I mentioning them very specifically and pointedly).

This year marks the 150th anniversary of a country that founded itself by using the religion of a foreign land to oppress and to attempt to eradicate the First Nations people. The last Indian residential school operated by the Canadian government was closed in 1996, only 20 years ago.

It's easy to blame Trump, an outsider, for bringing this tragedy to our homes, but he is just one of many who rile and legitimize an undercurrent of racism that has been constantly humming in our country for over 150 years. Marois did it, the Harper Government did it, and Ezra Levant continues to do it to get clicks and sell papers. Once Trump is gone, others will come to fan the flames to manipulate the people.

As an open and educated society, it does us no good to pretend that this came out of nowhere and wail "How can this happen in Quebec/Canada?" We need to be honest with ourselves and acknowledge that this kind of racism is not only a part of our history, but is also a living, pulsing fragment in our living, present culture. We can choose to stand against it, to support all of our brothers and sisters, and to move forward to embrace a positive, inclusive, multi-cultural society, but we can only do this by acknowledging that we all play a part in the inherent racism and bigotry that exists in our living culture.

I choose to stand against it, but my eyes are not shut to the inconvenient truths. Thanks be to friends Molly B. and Natalie H. for keeping my eyes open. #mosqueequebec #JeSuisQuebec

Nothing to hide/Nothing to fear

When it comes to the issue of domestic spying, the standard line is "If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear." Most people may think that they live such inconsequential lives, why should they fear the government spying on them? It's not like we're doing anything to warrant suspicion.

And while this may be true, the underlying layer of "nothing to hide/nothing to fear" is that you will be held responsible for not only your own actions, but the actions of anyone and everyone else you communicate with. If you have a friend or acquaintance that is secretly a member of an organization that the government fears, and you communicate with that person regularly, then the government will also suspect you as being a threat by association.

Thanks to movies and pop culture, people don't realize that "people of interest" to a government spy agency also have kids and hobbies that have nothing to do with their political activities. Until that guy who planted that bomb took that action, he probably chatted happily with you at the arena as you both watched your kids playing hockey. Maybe you both planned on organizing a local street hockey tournament, which meant that you spoke and texted often.

If the government only looks at the meta-data of your exchange, even though you knew nothing of this guy's secret plans, you will look guilty as hell by association. Trying to prove your innocence to a suspicious government will turn your life upside down and hopefully you will land on your feet. Hopefully.

"Nothing to hide/nothing to fear" only makes you responsible for everyone else's actions. Are we really willing to buy this government line at our own expense?