It is probably like talking to a dead horse to share my views in a rural newspaper where 80 per cent of voters traditionally are staunchly glued to the Cons. But it is important to realize that regardless of who “wins” this most expensive and longest election campaign ever, we will be left to deal with the collateral damage of the Cons politics of extremely irrational fear and hate, which is bringing out the very worst in humanity.
The Cons’ demonization of Muslims, immigrants, and the Syrian refugees shows a lack of respect for our rural history. It was immigrants from various places who settled, worked together, and collectively built the Alberta we have today. I would have thought that rural areas would therefore be the first to embrace immigrants and refugees, and feel some compassion for their suffering, but instead, going by the intensity of hate, misinformation and thus ignorance perpetuated by Internet groups and sites which Cons gravitate to, they are bent on denying inclusion of anyone unfamiliar to them.
That niqab issue is the stupidest thing ever: two women who wore niqabs wanted to become Canadian citizens. Cons are running like mad with their fears about those two women being security risks. They seem unable to grasp the fact that anyone wearing a niqab is identified in private before the official ceremony.
How did we end up like this with 80 per cent of rural voters so ignorant and unappreciative of how Canada came to be the great place it was before Harper started dismantling it and turning his faithful into a bunch of fearful wimps who have no understanding of government, what makes for good and effective government, and especially how we are all in this country together and thus we need to work together (something Harper has proven he is completely unable and unwilling to do)?
If we continue to allow this conservative insanity to govern us, what will become of our country?
Evone Monteith
Ponoka