We were driving into our favourite off-leash dog park in Red Deer the other day when we came across a man collecting signatures for the Alberta Separatist movement. A large provincial flag was flying beside him, as he chatted eagerly with a nonchalant-looking young man who was – ironically – wearing a toque with a maple leaf on it. Not sure who approached whom in that scenario, where one person wants no part of Canada and the other celebrates the country with its emblem emblazoned on his clothes. Oddly, we watched the young man with the Canadian hat add his signature to the petition to leave Canada. On a peaceful day at a place where even dogs have beautiful places to run free and where I had started out with great feelings of gratitude for all that I have, these two men ruined everything. They are trying to ruin everything.
It was a moment where I felt beyond conflicted about how best to respond. I stopped my own immediate anger response, which was to flip both men the bird at interrupting the tranquility of the park for everyone. But I reminded myself that it is anger at the core of everyone’s motivation in this utterly infuriating movement. I slowed down as we drove past the duo and began to lower my window to suggest the young man at least have the decency to remove his Canada hat while signing the petition to leave the country. But, in the end, I simply drove quietly past and right out of the park. I didn’t want to spend a single moment in their proximity.
But I questioned my quietness for the rest of the day. I certainly don’t presume to have any answers to how this less-than-perfect country can move forward intact. But I want it to remain intact, because I love being Canadian. As with many people who are becoming impatient with the amount of media attention the Separatists are getting, I wonder about everyone’s motivation. The young man I saw in his Canadian apparel must feel conflicted. What motivated him to sign his name that day? Had he, too, just wanted a nice outdoor visit in the park with his dog and stumbled upon this petitioner? How seriously are the signatories taking their gesture? Because those of us who want to remain enveloped by this magnificent country are watching, albeit with hesitancy and confusion as to how to respond.
Later that very day I read a column in a Central Alberta weekly newspaper titled ‘Silence is accelerating Alberta’s democratic decline’. What timing, what joy to have someone shine a light on the conflicting feelings I had carried all day. I had been instantly filled with a need to say something, to do something when I saw that brief encounter in the park. But I hadn’t. This commentary made me realize I am not alone with my confusion on how to respond – but that it’s imperative that I respond somehow.
“Democracy in Alberta is eroding not because extremists are loud, but because too many people who consider themselves reasonable, moderate and pragmatic have gone silent,” wrote Bill Whitelaw. “Too many Albertans in the political middle ground assume that staying quiet, staying neutral or staying out of politics preserves civility. It does not. Silence is accelerating the decay of democratic culture in this province… Democracy does not fail only when bad ideas win. It fails when good people decide not to contest them…”
Hear, hear! I can’t have a do-over of that moment at the off-leash park, but I can envision (and rehearse until I’m comfortable, if need be) what I will say and do if I encounter such an outrage again. We all have a role to play. Let’s play our part loudly and with vigour! Leave them asking ‘who let the dogs out’! And keep our country together.