Where did democracy go?

I was out for a stroll with my dog this week. The weather was cool but nice. Birds were in the background talking to one another. Children were waiting at bus stops chatting and playing with sticks. With an eerie and cantankerous election on the helm, nature and tangible reality felt nice. Because what even is this election?

Where did democracy go? Why are we fighting each other so hard instead of celebrating the fact that we have the right to vote privately in a safe system? We are so mad at one another.

As my dog and I walked a cul de sac,  I saw three people having what I believed to be a conversation on their front lawn. As I got closer, I realized there was a homeowner on her lawn yelling at two young volunteers passing out political party pamphlets. 

As I got closer it was clear the pamphlet passers were wielding a different colour than the homeowner’s political lawn sign. 

The homeowner yelled at the volunteers that they ruined this country. They put it in the garbage. That she better not see their signs on her road because she will burn the place down. 

At this point, I intervened. I said “Mame, these two volunteers didn’t make our country garbage. They have never been in power.”

Actually, I wasn’t so kind. I shouted “Go into your house b’y, these people have nothing to do with the state of our country. Go on, no need.”

She continued, finger pointed at the two women on the road. “You brought this country to the ground,” she screamed.

To which I replied “The great thing about this country is it’s a democracy. They can vote for who they want, and you can vote for who you want. Get in your house and keep to your own now.”

The woman scurried off. 

The volunteers thanked me for the support. 

None of that was a party issue for me. I was crestfallen and disappointed. Grown people yelling at grown people. Makes no sense. 

There is such party division, we are losing sight of what matters. We are so busy blaming individuals for huge issues, that we can’t create solutions, or hear the truth. 

It’s getting scary out there.

Remember when your mother and father headed to the polls and everything was just a head nod or a “how’s she getting on?” Not a clue who each was voting for. And if someone wore their stripes loud and bright on their sleeve, then that was for them to have and to hold. 

Who are we to sway people one way or the other in such an aggressive way? I do understand that the truth is under threat, democracy needs to be protected, and we are living next to a questionable lunatic in power BUT yelling at one another will not reveal truth, or education or critical thinking. Where did the conversation go? Where did opening doors to new ideas land?

And if we really do want to convince someone of something important – say the protection of human rights or the threat of misinformation, how is yelling epithets and one word sentences going to get us there?

We have to calm down. I know the country is pissed. And I sure as hell know that saying calm down, doesn’t make it calm. I know food is pricey, housing is mangled, everything is precarious. But hate is not the answer. Head butting only creates bruises. 

This isn’t a ladida, let’s hold hands. I mean the world is on fire and people are denying climate change but the wording and vitriolic demeanor needs to be put on pause. 

If we want to hold steadfast to democracy, we can’t shake our fists at passer bys and call them garbage. We have to unify together and target the real problems, instead of each other. 

Let’s take a deep breath.