Justin Trudeau and the Antidote to Cynicism

Well it took a while, but I finally found a writer in the MSM who shares my feeling about Justin Trudeau's first 100 days.

One who unlike the others sees the glass half full instead of half empty.

One who remembers the horror of the Con regime, and our lost decade.

And sees the arrival of our young leader and his news government as something to celebrate.



And the antidote to cynicism.

Canada has changed so much in the 100 days since the Liberal cabinet was sworn in that I don’t quite know how to describe it. It’s not a sea change, which is a gradual encrustation at full fathom five, or a reversion, which would let us pretend those 10 Harper years had never happened. Don’t ever forget that lost decade. 

But as I write this, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is live on Twitter, asking us to ask him anything. Tell me that’s not new. If Harper had had anything to say to citizens, it would have been, “Stay away from me. I have guards both human and dog,” or “We are watching you from apertures.”

One who points out changes like these are real achievements.

Climate change is now taken seriously and can be discussed without fear. Government scientists can speak freely without stigma. 

There will be an inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women, and it will be well-designed and purposeful. Their shameful treatment cannot go on forever.



And recognizes that cynicism is the death of hope.

We have four Liberal years ahead of us and I don’t feel cynical about the future. My cynicism has always been my worst quality. It’s good to shrug it off.

Which is what I have always believed, for we will need all the hope we can muster if we are to push for real change, and confront the enormous challenges we face.

For without it there is only despair, and the moaning of the living dead.

You know yesterday, as I was crossing off Antonin Scalia from the group picture of the U.S. Supreme Court...



And wishing that miserable old bigot swift passage to hell.

I was reminded that if Trudeau hadn't defeated Harper, he would have been able to change OUR Supreme Court beyond recognition.

The one he defiled over and over again...



As only that beast could.

The court that was during that lost decade, the last bastion of Canadian values.

And had it been destroyed would indeed have been the death of hope.

So that's also something to celebrate.

As is the way Trudeau defied the Con bigots..



And brought in so many refugees...



For that too is another sign that we are living in another country.

A cold country to be sure...



But one that is rising from the dead.

And finally looks like my Canada again...

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