A Right and Responsibility
Photo Credit: Element 5 Digital
“We must open the doors and we must see to it that they remain open, so that others can pass through.” ~ Rosemary Brown
I’ve been celebrating anniversaries in April, but in today’s blog, I’m writing about a different type of anniversary. In Canada, federal elections are held approximately every four years, which is the maximum term but can occur earlier under certain circumstances. This year, elections are proceeding on April 28th due to the lack of confidence vote that resulted in the replacement of Liberal leader Justin Trudeau with Mark Carney.
This is the first year I’ve resided in Canada during federal elections since I moved to Saudi Arabia in 2015. I could hardly wait for the opportunity to cast my vote. I’ve been following the candidates since before the short campaign got underway. Mister and I attended a Conservative rally held here in Winnipeg and watched YouTube clips of the other party leaders’ platforms, who didn’t get the opportunity to pass through our fine city. We watched the debates on CBC and I felt well-informed as I made my way to the ballot box during advanced voting. I’m passionate about my right and responsibility to vote, and I wish to provide some insight as to what ignited my passion when I read a transformative novel in my early thirties.
Canadian author Rohinton Mistry wrote one of my favourite novels of all time, A Fine Balance. Published in 1995, it is set in India during Indira Gandhi’s absolute rule. The story chronicles many heart-wrenching situations. The one I’m sharing today is Mistry’s description of the parliamentary elections conducted in a village where corruption was rampant and landlords rigged the voting process to secure their favoured candidate. The landlords’ cronies presented the election officers with gifts and carted them off to enjoy food and drink while voters filed through. They pressed voter’s fingers to indelible ink, then placed their thumbprints in the box on the blank ballot that would later be filled in with the landlord’s choice.
In A Fine Balance, Narayan wants to mark his own ballot, believing it is his right. His family tries to convince him it will never be allowed and won’t change anything anyway, saying his brooding is a dangerous habit. He replies, “Life without dignity is worthless.” On the day of the election, he asks to mark the ballot himself. Two others join him in the request, to which the attendant disappears, only to return with a dozen men.
Narayan and his companions are seized, their thumbs forced to the blank ballot. They are hung naked by their ankles. They are flogged at intervals and urinated upon, only to have burning hot coals held to their genitals before stuffing them into their mouths. Their screams are heard throughout the village until their lips and tongues melt away. The ropes are transferred from their ankles to their necks and they are hung to death, their bodies on display in the village to warn against any future disobedience.
The images so horrifically described in this scene seared upon my brain and heart and stayed with me all these years. When I set the book down, I was forever changed in a multitude of ways, not the least of which was my own determination to never take my right to vote for granted. All Canadian residents over the age of eighteen are eligible to vote, but that hasn’t always been the case. Women were not given the right to vote in this country until 1918.
There may be some level of corruption in our democratic system. Some individuals who run for Prime Minister may not have the best interest of the people they serve at heart. But when I watched the debates, it was clear that all four speakers were committed to doing their best and that I didn’t need to agonize over who would win. This is my true north strong and free.
I have no desire to share my political views and open the door to criticism and division. I pledge no undying allegiance to one party’s ideals over another’s. My focus is the state of the economy in my country, where I see so many of my fellow Canadians struggling to make ends meet. I witness increased homelessness and the decline in our health and education systems. I see crime on the rise. I encourage you, dear reader, to vote for the party leader whose platform you believe does the best job of addressing the issues that matter to you. Vote for the change you want to see. It is a privilege and a responsibility and every vote matters.
The time I spent with my daughter in South Africa in 2008 taught me the necessity of a united and equal society. Apartheid was over, but the effects of oppression and discrimination were still in full force and continue to this day. I urge my fellow citizens to let go of current narratives that divide us by race, gender, and political views. I’m hearing so many comments about white conservative men versus liberal women of colour. This is not us against them, this is about all of us. We can’t undo the past, but we can move forward with respect and reconciliation. Instead of focusing on our differences, let’s unite in our desire for a strong, independent nation. We must open the doors and see to it that they remain open, so that others can pass through.
COMING UP…
Books & Projects:
· All four of my books are available online at Amazon, Chapters-Indigo, and Barnes & Noble. You can also find them at select Chapters-Indigo and El Hombre de la Mancha bookstores.
· I am pursuing representation from a traditional publisher for my fifth literary fiction, a psychological drama that explores the complexities of mental illness and trauma. Stay in touch by signing up for my blog or following me on social media to find out when it will be published.
Reviews & Interviews:
· You can read, listen, or watch a large selection of reviews and interviews on my website.
Events:
· There are no events currently scheduled in my calendar.
YouTube Channel:
· Watch The Rogue Scorpion trailer.
· Watch The Holding trailer.
· Watch The Healing trailer.