Consider this...

In light of the upcoming provincial & federal elections I wanted to share a big concern I have. It is such a long read but I hope you might make it to the end and at least consider the ideas…

Not long ago, I was a card-carrying Conservative. I even helped during nomination campaigns – you've probably bought/or declined a membership from me. Over the past few years, something in me shifted. I’ve always been fiscally conservative. On social issues, I’ve swung more left. Now as issues have come to the forefront, I find myself changing how I vote to reflect my values.

My change in political parties may cause some of my conservative friends to think I’ve gone crazy and I can handle that. What I can’t handle (as well) is a label like Hateful liberal - Destroyer of freedom,capitalism,men,family etc. These labels are patently false because I am not. And I’ve yet to meet anyone in my liberal circles who is.

I worked for a Conservative MP under Harper. Part of my job was answering calls and opening mail. I faced a great many “hateful lefties”. At the time, that’s how I saw them: hateful, spiteful, irrational and vindictive liars. The problem was, those angry lefties were viewing our office, the MP and the party as power hungry, greedy, narcissistic, corrupt righties– who happened to be hateful, spiteful, irrational and vindictive liars.

The thing is, I knew the MP cared about his constituents and his country. I knew this because I knew him as a person. And over the years, I have come to know many progressive voters who truly care about people and Canada. There are those on both sides who really care. A lot.

Because I’ve been in both camps, I’ve come to realize how labels and rhetoric are the problem.

There is this insidious idea that we are enemies. The truth, when it comes right down to it, is that a political opponent simply disagrees with or sees the flaws in opposing ideology or policy. That’s basically it. The lie we are falling for hook-line-sinker is that the “perverse self-serving” Left is seeking to destroy rights & freedoms. And the “power-hungry” Right is seeking to oppress the vulnerable and exploit the environment for selfish personal gain etc. I know enough conservative members in my community to know that the majority are striving, good, generous & honest people who simply adhere to a particular political viewpoint – AND that viewpoint is usually nuanced.

Some can be “jerk faces” too and I’ve met my fair share of jerk faced lefties. But my enemy? Really? When it comes right down to it, that’s the choice I make. If I decide someone is my enemy, I immediately open the door to loving them -as I happen to be a Christian, albeit a left leaning one- so…

This really is about choice. I could buy into the rhetoric, but the truth of the matter is, the rhetoric doesn’t fit the person. The.rhetoric.doesn’t.fit.the.person. And I believe this will save Canadians from the polarization that is happening. We are nuanced. We are not one thing. I am not your enemy. I am your left leaning neighbor. I see an issue differently and quite frankly, this is very important for your freedom.

Closer to the truth of the matter is, there are shadow sides to every political ideology, and we need each other to balance that out. The UCP is essential to the NDP and the NDP is essential to the UCP, the LIB, the Green and all the other parties throwing their hats in. We need each other to point out and even repair the cracks in our platforms, plans & ideologies – because there are. It’s about working together. And we will disagree, of course. There will be standstills and setbacks and mistakes. Welcome to life. But when we polarize, when we allow ourselves to see our neighbor as an enemy and an “evil destroyer of all we hold dear”, we set our nation up for greater stand stills, setbacks and mistakes. What is more, we set our nation up for worse things… oppression & war come to mind.

The true enemies we face today are fear & hatred. This is the true force that seeps into the hearts of people. Fear & hate are persuading us to rise up against each other (and in increasingly extreme ways). We need to stand for what we believe without labeling those who believe differently as the evil enemy.

Please vote your conscience friend. Please live your conscience. Please stand up for what you believe in. Please speak your truth. It just might help me better live mine … and I hope my truth might help you better live yours. Thankfully, we are in this together.