At least a half dozen of my Facebook friends got in touch last night with invitations to join one of the groups being formed to protest the recent prorogation of Parliament, “Get government back to work”, “save democracy” etc. Some appended little missives reminding me that Prime Minister Harper was a very dangerous man who frightened them deeply.
A lot of my fellow artists often remind me of those stalkers who truly believe some Hollywood star is secretly in love with them.
Somehow, politicians who have never tossed them any greater support than a distant come hither look and the opportunity to apply for a grant become their only hope for true happiness.
Whatever those politicians say must be true and following their bidding will undoubtedly lead to incalculable bliss.
What they really don’t want to confront is anything that might refract their distorted view of this infatuation back into clear focus.
Let me help.
Wake-the-fuck-up!
Here’s what prorogation really means to the running of the country. This is from a guy who covers parliament for a living.
Here’s the reality of the Afghan detainee issue that everybody seems to believe Mr. Harper shuttered Parliament to duck. It comes from the CBC, so you’ll know it isn’t biased.
And here’s what the only political leader with any hope of defeating “The Great Dictator” is up to while the country is spiralling toward disaster and you’re mobilizing to defend the constitution.
Can you not see that you are being played?
It’s apparently very easy for some politicians like Ujjal Dosanjh, the Liberal defence critic and Bob Rae, Liberal leader in waiting, to accuse or imply that Canadian soldiers are committing war crimes. And how they really feel about that can be found here in the pages of the Toronto Star, another media outlet I know you trust.
It’s all very easy for the Premiers of Ontario and Quebec to go to Copenhagen and sign onto the “Canada is a corrupt Petro-State” mantra. But it hasn’t stopped either one from cashing the equalization cheques keeping their provinces afloat that come from Alberta.
They’re all politicians. Junk yard dogs. Part of their job, like Mr. Harper’s, is to spin public opinion in their favor.
But you’re supposed to be an artist. Your job is supposed to be about revealing the truth. Truth that may end up smothered in a safe coating of fiction, oil paint or musical notation – but truth all the same.
Strapping on an explosive vest to do some politician’s bidding is the job of people too ill-informed and without hope to resist. And part of your job as an artist is to provide enlightenment and ignite hope for those that breed of junkyard dog would use.
So vote how you please. Join any group you want. Stand up for what you believe. March in the cold. Whatever makes you happy.
But do your job as an artist first and try to learn what’s really going on.
