Paying The Piper. March 3rd. 2025.

     It's been a while since I sat before my screen with the intent of doing little online therapy.  At a time when I may need it most,  I have been scared to commit my thoughts to words.   I have been scared a time or two in my life.  I am more a worrier than a scaredy cat.  And there has been some of that too.  So today, I am going to put some of my worries and fears into the air and see if that helps.  Bare with me if you will as there is an awful lot banging off the corners of my sometimes empty mind.

     On this day,  March 3rd, 2005  in, of all places Mayerthorpe, Alberta, four young men were investigating a grow operation and a chop shop on a farm.  They were hunted down, and murdered in an ambush by a criminal with an assault rifle.  The likes of which our Conservative party wants to remove from the prohibited category.   In the meantime, Our Conservative Premier,  on this 20th anniversary has said nothing to honour the memory of four young men, Albertans, who gave their lives in service to our Province.   I know being a cop isn't popular these days.  But for a Premier to ignore this type of sacrifice,  to not acknowledge that those young men have family that still reside in our Province is nothing short of disgusting.   Now at this time, it is not yet noon.  Perhaps she may come up with something.  I watched CBC, CTV, and Global news,  googled her, googled the incident....nothing.   And believe it or not,  I so want to be wrong about this.  Those families and the memory of those young men deserve better.

    Tomorrow is supposed to be the day we see the American President start his tariff war against us.  Breaking his own agreement, which is exactly what you would expect from convicted felon who is world famous for not paying his bills, he has so enjoyed the feeling of power that threatening sovereignty and crushing the economy of his neighbours give him.  Donald Trump doesn't have a plan.  He just likes the attention.  And if the threats and instability make the rich richer,  I would suggest that is merely a byproduct of the attention he so desperately needs.  There was a time I worried about publicly stating my distaste for what America is doing to us.  We have family and close friends in America.  We have a time share in California.  I was never really sure if public statements would one day prevent me from crossing the border.   I come from a line of men who stood at arms for this beautiful country.  What kind of man would I be if I was too scared to defend it with nothing but words.  With no fear other than being refused entry into a nation that threatens our borders, our livelihood, Insults and ridicules us at every turn. 

     And for all the insults and indignation we have suffered at the hands of our neighbours, it pales in comparison to the treatment of the President of the Ukraine last week.  In my life, I never thought I would such a disgusting act.  Not from the defender of the free world.  A title relinquished with such ease.  While there has been much talk about the humiliation the Ukrainian President suffered, I think the opposite is true.  Imagine saying you are brokering a peace deal between two countries without having representation from both countries at the table.  Imagine being told that you are responsible for starting a war when your country has been attacked, and occupied.  Imagine believing something just because your President said so.

    So many Americans have apologized for the insults and threats their leader has levelled on my home and native land.  And there is even outrage over the meeting with President Zelensky.  The American President used it to show the world the bully America is capable of being.  But Donald Trump is President.  He is the one who pulls the strings.  He is the one who sets the tariffs, and pulls the defence monies, and snubs NATO allies, and breaks deals.   And what he says, America does.   I imagine there have been other regimes in history were decent citizens were not in agreement with such criminal, dangerous behaviour.   I don't think Canadians or Ukrainians, or Brits, or Germans or the remainder of the free world can worry about being unkind or insulting to Americans these days.  Not till they manage to relieve the President from the chair that gives him the power to threaten and bully the world while he surrounds himself with the rich and bathes in the attention he receives.  

   In truth, I am tired of hearing our Politicians starting and finishing every statement about Americans being or closest friends.  Cause these days, they are not.  And if you think I make that statement lightly,  well it simply breaks my heart.  But in truth I fear democracy may have run its course.  Mostly because people either don't know what to do, or are too scared.  

    It must have come as a great surprise to the Conservative party of Canada.  They have studied the successes of the American President in playing divisive strategies to increase his popularity.  And it was working very well for them.  Making an enemy, not out of the governing party, but making it as personal and hateful as possible.  Making vaccinations and health strategies in a pandemic a political football.  Talking trash about our country and how broken it is.  Saying Americans are not to blame because Canadians are stupid.  Eliminating the national public broadcaster that brings unity to the entire nation including isolated communities that would not be profitable for the private sector. 

    Because of the American attitude towards our sovereignty Canadians have reloaded our national pride. And within a couple of weeks, the divisive strategy copied from the American style politics has soured Canadians.  And that is awesome!

    My daughter said it best the other day:  What is about to transpire is beyond our control.  There is no apparent plan as the American president changes plans and dates and governments every. single. day.  We can protest.  We can stand up to America.  We can continue to do what we can for our NATO allies, our trading partners whose honour remains intact.  And we can just roll with the punches until this lunacy has run it's course.   We may just have to do our best,  not without, but in spite of our leadership at all levels.  Cause we let democracy get away from us.  And it's time to pay the piper.