What are people for?

Apr 3

For the most part I don’t talk about politics.

I try to believe people are good, I believe no one political party has it all figured out, and I don’t think there is a moral high ground. I think people should vote, because our ancestors fought for our right to do so, especially as women and disabled individuals and people of colour and countless other minority groups who have been denied basic human rights for decades. And I believe in voting like you’re not white, like you’re not straight, like you’re not wealthy, like you’re not privileged

Didn’t Jesus say whatever you do unto the least of these…

I’ve been biting my tongue, not speaking my opinion on the political parties running in the upcoming Alberta election. And I promise I’ll try to make this not too politically biassed. I’ve watched countless friends voice their support for a political party, for a political candidate, who’s policies go against my very life.

I want you to think about that for a second.

The feeling of watching someone you love make decisions that you know put your very life in jeopardy.

And I know nothing is final or set in stone. I know there are a million and one issues I’ll never understand.

And then there are the whisperings, the ones that spread like wildfire in communities like mine, where the fear runs deep when we know it is our survival being threatened be prepared

Be prepared to leave your province, your home, your family, to become a medical refugee.

That is what stares me straight in the face every time I see another political ad campaign. The reality that soon survival in a place where my life has become a political pawn will become impossible.

And as deep as the fear runs for me, it is not only me I am afraid for.

Let me tell you a story. It’s a story of a mother I encountered not too long ago who had a child in need of a transplant. She reached out to me looking for advice, knowing I was well connected with the transplant community. Her 3 year old was dying because they couldn’t get enough money to pay for an organ transplant, and therefore the hospital in their area refused to list her. She was trying to find a family to adopt her 3 year old child to bring her to a country with public healthcare so she could receive the organ transplant that would save her life. This family lives in North America. And I can’t imagine that level of desperation.

People walk into schools and shoot up classrooms filled with elementary school kids. In what world do we just let that happen? We send thoughts and prayers, but nothing changes. How are we not outraged? How is the entire world not shutting down and figuring out a way to fix this?

I can’t imagine being that parent either, losing my child because I sent them to school, watching the headlines for a few days, maybe a week, and then the entire world moving on and nothing changes.

If you’re anything like me there’s probably the fearful jokes being made of “At least we’re not those guys.” Somehow forgetting we all belong to each other.

What are we doing?

And to this I will ask a follow up question, one that has haunted me since I first heard it.

What are humans for?

The world is burning, children are being shot, entire communities of people don’t have clean drinking water, land is being ravaged and stolen, wars are being fought, healthcare has become a hot button voting issue rather than a human right…

For what?

We’re a world full of privileged people where human lives are disposable.

I’ve said it before: At least look me in the eye and tell me you think my life is disposable. Because that’s what your vote is telling me. That’s what your actions are telling me.

I’m not writing to tell you that one political party has it figured out, or there is one absolute right way.

I’m asking you to look at your neighbour. Look into the eyes of someone who isn’t like you. Look at me.