Isn’t it refreshing when one experiences a gentle afternoon rainfall after a spell of dry, hot weather?
Wouldn’t it be a change of pace and a blessing if this experience could somehow be translated and felt within our political and social cultures, particularly at the provincial, national and global levels? If one, through sheer frustration and sense of helplessness abandons the notion that sanity will ultimately prevail, chances are the rain will never come.
Let me, with a few simple and well-intentioned thoughts, try to sprinkle a few drops of water on some very hot and parched land.
The John Kennair commentary (Gazette, May 30) is a good place to begin. The article brings the element of common sense to the issue of Alberta’s Bill 12 and the adversarial political rhetoric thundering across provincial borders along with the rumblings of our federal government.
Solutions to problems are possible when political bluster and populist thinking are replaced by acknowledging the reality we are in and subscribing to a collective wisdom that has the elements of common sense expressed in Mr. Kennair’s commentary.
The reality as expressed in his article, is that we are in the beginning process of transitioning from our carbon based energy to a greener, more ecologically friendly form of energy. This reality may have reluctant acceptance by those still salivating at the oil based energy trough but any rational elementary school student should be able to see the writing on the wall if this transition does not happen.
There is the plain realization that the oil industry goose, which has laid many golden eggs we have all benefited from, has enabled us to develop some addictive habits in the name of convenience and quality of life. But these actions will negatively impact the environmental integrity of the world we leave for our children and grandchildren. The barnyard has also become quite a mess, although we are now making a greater attempt in keeping it cleaner.
So may I suggest, that with some good common sense, we use the last few eggs from our aging goose and take a lesson from Mother Nature herself. Let us all, particularly our leaders, explore, search and find harmony from the creative tensions that exist within our democratic system. Let us work things out within a culture of co-operation and collaboration rather than in an environment where capitalistic self-interest and a NIMBY mentality trumps the common good. It is also imperative that solutions will not be imposed in a manner that will provoke a brand of social activism fanned by a spiritual, religious and an evangelical calling, often a recipe for radical thinking which often leads to violent radicalism.
Let’s build the Trans Mountain Pipeline with less internal rancour, take advantage of the last few golden eggs, and refresh ourselves with a renewed energy of new possibilities and opportunities.
Wilf Borgstede, St. Albert
