Seriously, We Have to Fight Back

Gagging the armed forces, gagging the public service and, now, sending minders to shadow government scientists at an international forum, this is too much.

We are ruled by a regime.  It has institutionalized the suppression of democracy in Canada.  It has done it for so long and so persistently that there's no reason to hope it will stop unless we stop it.

The Liberals did shite about it when they were the Official Opposition.   Will the NDP also fail the Canadian people?  Will they too choose not to fight back, to let Harper get his way with our  government, yours and mine - with us?

Harper has a majority, what can they do?   Plenty.   They can make a stink about this within Parliament every day it sits and outside Parliament every day it does not.

Here's something really simple they could do.   Armbands.   Black armbands, embroidered with a red maple leaf  worn upside down in the symbol of distress.   Wear them onto the floor of the House of Commons.   Wear them outside Parliament.   Get the public wearing them.  I'd wear one, wouldn't you?  Wear it in everywhere in public, wear it at the mall, wear it at work or at school, wear it in church if you're so inclined.

This Sort of Thing, Only a Maple Leaf

Let the armband symbolize resistance to an authoritarian, undemocratic and repressive regime.   That's a message people will get.

Let Harper know the government is ours, not his.   Let him know we're not going to be afraid of standing up to him and that he'd damned well better be afraid of us.

And I really believe we can start it with a black armband.