By Well I see the legend of Brigette DePape continues to grow, like a red rose of hope in the darkness of Harperland.
Quoted in The Globe: “I have been really inspired because there have been thousands of people who have sent messages or commented on the Internet. People know that hope for change is possible when we start taking action.”
Michael Moore, who’s offered the fired page a job, thinks it’s an iconic moment for Canada. Heather Mallick thinks she’s the real thing.
And the right-wingers are in a foaming lather, howling this is not Egypt !!!!
From the National Post: “Ms. DePape says Canada needs a local version of the ‘Arab Spring.’ Perhaps she hasn’t noticed, but the Arab Spring is a revolt by oppressed individuals willing to risk their lives for the right to elect their own leaders. They are willing to die so they can make the same kind of democratic decision that Canada just made in electing Mr. Harper.”
But I think they are missing the point. Canada is not Egypt, but nobody should underestimate the depth of popular anger in this country. And nobody is more responsible for DePape’s popularity than Stephen Harper himself.
For five years he has governed like a political thug. He has pitted Canadian against Canadian with one cheap wedge issue after the other. He has treated his opponents like The Enemy. He has shown his contempt for Parliament over and over again.
Now he has a mandate to govern. But with less than 40 percent of the vote why should he be surprised that the other 60 percent don’t believe he has a mandate to change this country beyond recognition?
Why should he be surprised if that majority decides to fight any moves to dismantle Canada by whatever non-violent means necessary, including civil disobedience?
Why should he be surprised after the way he has assaulted women’s rights, that a young woman should step forward to challenge him?
DePape: “It is important to challenge the assumption that politics is the exclusive domain of politicians. It is really when ordinary people who voted against Harper take things into their own hands that we will hold him accountable.”
Why should he be surprised that her simple gesture should resonate with so many?
It seems so obvious to me. But what happens next is really up to Great Majority Leader. If he behaves himself, most progressives will spend the next four years preparing to defeat him in the next election.
If he doesn’t, he can expect to confront the greatest peaceful, passionate, and creative protest movement this country has ever seen.
Hey. I love red roses of hope. I love freedom. I love Brigette and her message of resistance.
Stephen Harper knows his Bible like he knows his attack ads.
So he should know this one eh?
If you sow the wind, you shall reap the whirlwind . . .
I don’t think you can use the term “mandate” unless you actually have the support of a majority of the people. If Harper had that kind of support, my feelings about this would be very different. But the government seems to be in contempt of the Canadian people. When one of us has the sort of opportunity that Brigette DePape had and seizes it to make a simple statement in a peaceful manner, is it any wonder she gets more cheers than jeers?
Some have criticized her not for her statement, but for her choice of venue, saying it was, at best, inappropriate. But I can’t think of a more appropriate venue than the throne speech to express resistance towards a government which does not represent the majority of Canadians. She chose the perfect place and time.
brigette depape had to go against a huge pressure to conform, the intensity of which grows in exponential inverse proportion to one’s distance from the apex/throne. her non-conforming act is what is most valuable, accompanied as it was by sincere desire for needed transformation in our too often dysfunctional society. her courage puts a crack in the conformism-imposing armour that in turn ‘gives permission’ for many more to speak; e.g; http://goodshare.org/wp/open-letter-of-tribute-to-brigette-with-video/
I think that Ms. DePape accomplished something very important by reminding Canadians that the past election and majority win for Harper does not give the Cons the right to remake the country according to their wishes. This is what Harper wants to do, hence the rhetoric for the past few months where he’s been trying to equate “majority” with “mandate”, as if winning more than half the seats magically means everyone that doesn’t agree with him must sit in a corner and shut up. Of course, this is NOT the way things work, and it’s important to remember this – thanks for the reminder, Brigitte!
What she did was absolutely fantastic, and highly effective! Bravo! I hope we don’t soon forget it and I wish more of us were like her — she’s a real Canadian Heroine! She spoke for more than half the country, which is more than what 1/2 the country could actually do. A true inspiration!
Considering the responses to her heroic act, it’s pretty clear that the majority of the people agree with what she did, which goes to show a majority of Canadians do not agree with our government, meaning our government is out of touch with the people of Canada. Her act has shown that there is a fire burning strong in the hearts of Canadians – the need to re-form this government from a money and power loving one, into a truer and more sensible people loving one.
Our government has become distant, frail, and corrupt from its unhealthy concerns for money and power. The Canadian citizens may soon be required to take a strong hand with the government, to strengthen it’s closeness with the people, and loosen its bonds with corporations. In order to create a government that serves the people more than it does today.
Hopefully soon we will see the needed change to our government, the change that the future generations will be thankful for.