I’m not happy to see the never-ending bashing of mayor Rob Ford for attending or not attending Pride. If he were to attend what would happen? Like the drawn out saga of Now Magazine’s naked photos, Ford is in a lose-lose situation here. And those who are keeping this issue alive look a lot to me like bullies.
Most bullying is not a one-way street. Bullying is often the desperate attempt to exert power by a person who feels disempowered.
As a left-leaning person with a passion for both social and environmental responsibility, the municipal and federal election have left me feeling disempowered and afraid. In Toronto, we face a potential budget shortfall and a raft of short-sighted decisions, such as those on transit and on local food.
I am terrified by the federal government’s stand on carbon emissions and the tar sands.
I feel oppressed by water bottles, ads for new clothes, new cars, and video games. I feel oppressed by mindless entertainment and apathy. I feel oppressed by our culture of consumerism. I feel oppressed by the mainstream media that does little to question our choices.
I am disenfranchised by our electoral system.
For left-leaning people, I understand the feeling of oppression, of anger, the fear and the sense of powerlessness. There’s a temptation to give in to apathy, and bury our heads in the latest “reality” show. But I don’t believe bullying does anything to help our cause.
Between bullying on one side, and apathy on the other, there is a lot we can do. Let’s educate ourselves on the real issues. Let’s not attack Rob Ford on the basis of his personality or appearance (or lack thereof). Let’s take real action on the issues that matter to us. Write your MP. Write your city councilor. Phone them. Tell your friends and neighbours to do the same. And then do it again the next day on the next issue. Let’s get beyond bullying and apathy, and find assertive optimistic unceasing action.
