High Hopes
Hope is the dream that we have when we are awake.
Hope is the one thing we all have in common. We are all breathing, we are all living, we are all dying, and we all have hope. Hope that tomorrow will be a better day. Some hope that they win the lottery. Others just hope for sunshine. Others hope for a call from a loved one. Some hope to read some good news. I hope that fairies will come into my home in the middle of the night and clean. I also hope that I will drop 50 lbs overnight. Even though I know it is doubtful, I still have hope.
We can always think of that ant, you know that little old ant, thinks he'll move that rubber tree plant. Anyone knows an ant, can't move a rubber tree plant. But, he's got high hopes and "oops, there goes another rubber tree plant."
What happens when you lose hope? What happens when you are so pessimistic that you can't see anything positive on the eve of Canada Day?
Canada Day. A celebration of a great country. A true place of hope. We believe. Hope lives here and one of the best things about Canada is that we are only 151 years young. There is a lot of history left to live. You just got to have hope. But, this night should be filled with hope.
Again, what happens when you are so negative that you can't see anything positive on the eve of Canada Day? Well, I think I just saw it on social media.
On a Saturday night, just a few hours before Canada, I saw a local politician share on social media that he was resigning his political party membership from the provincial wing of the party. He was blaming another politician for this.
First of all, as a person who has had political memberships in the past, I can tell you that gesture is meaningless. Once they have your name and address, you never really resign, they will be sending you letters asking for money for the rest of your life.
Secondly, I have to give you some more information about this particular politician. About a dozen years ago, he was elected to represent a large riding of people in the Canadian Parliament. Shortly after he was elected, there was something in the news that he was suing the provincial auto-insurance agency for not compensating him adequately from an accident. Then, he was complaining that Parliament was not accommodating his disability. I know a lot of people living with various disabilities. Many have radically accepted their limitations, and have learned that you usually catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Some people living with disabilities are bitter and feel entitled to everything on their terms.
As an outsider who is completely ignorant about politics, I questioned how he was representing my interests or my neighbours when he was always worried about his plight. I heard him speak a few times. He seemed negative and condescending. I don't think I heard him say a sentence without the word "blame" in it. It didn't sound like he had much hope. Without hope for a better tomorrow, what was he doing representing us?
He managed 10 years as a Member of Parliament and for a brief time was a Minister in the Queen's Parliament. He didn't have that position long. Maybe if he had some hope.
During the next election, he was soundly defeated. He blamed the loss on others and never reflected what might be about his style that people didn't respond to.
He decided to give Provincial Politics a try and he was elected to the Provincial Legislature. Shortly after being elected using a party's resources, he was kicked out of the party. He has been fighting with that party ever since. He tried to change parties and he remains an independent. He has launched law suits and indicated that he will be pursuing constitutional challenges. He has also been put forward several private members bills, a few which would directly benefit him.
Recently, he has indicated that he was going to try and run again for his federal seat in 2019. The federal party has indicated that he won't be a candidate for their party. He is blaming everyone for this and urging his constituents to fight this battle for him by writing letters, etc. Wait a minute. Shouldn't it be the other way around? Shouldn't he be fighting our battles?
He doesn't recognize that there is a pattern of him not being able to get along with people? He seems predisposed to believe that everyone is wrong except him. It seems he lacks hope for better days.
So, what happens when you lack hope. Well, you lead a lonely life and you end up posting on social media that you are resigning your provincial party membership. I don't think anyone in that party will be losing sleep over that one. They likely still have hope.
As do I. I am still hopeful that I can lose 50 lbs by tomorrow. Admittedly, I may have high hopes, but, oops there goes another rubber tree plant.
Comments
Post a Comment