Elections

Merrillee here, writing her blog the night before. When you read this tomorrow, maybe all of the election results will be in. Like many of you, I am glad this round of electioneering is over. What will I do when the phone rings and there isn't a robo call for a politician on the other end? I will probably find a phone solicitor on the other end.

Although I complain about the lengthy political season, and I don't always like political speeches, I have to admit that I am somewhat of a political junky. I like to see the election returns come in. I like to go to the polls and cast my ballot on election day. No early voting or absentee voting for me unless it is absolutely necessary. I treasure the opportunity to vote.

I believe my maternal grandfather sparked my interest in politics when I was a little girl. I was visiting him and my grandmother and got to stay up late and watch the Democrat National Convention the year John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson were vying for their party's nomination for president. I guess that certainly dates me. I thought the roll call of states was fascinating. I don't think the conventions are nearly as interesting as they were back then. I wonder what my grandfather would think of politics now.

Everyone says that you shouldn't talk about religion or politics. I like to talk about both.

How about you? How do you like to vote?

An Artful Question

This blog may not agree with some of you out there. I'm usually the kind of person who likes warm fuzzy blogs, but today this one isn't going to be like that.
So read on at your own peril.
Both The United States and Canada are facing national elections, but here in Canada, one of our issues is arts funding.
I live near an excellent university and because of that, I have ample opportunity to enjoy their arts' programs. I love them.
In some ways, I, too, am an artist, a writer who is blessed enough to get paid for her work.
But here in Canada, we have people saying more funding must go into our arts and culture program.
Stop a moment. We also have gun violence in Toronto, an Arctic in crisis, and the working poor whose children are going hungry. We have natives who struggle to survive, and a country with a wildly growing dependence on fossil fuels.
Canada also has a global conscience, seeing the poor of other countries, the oppressed and those suffering under terrorist regimes. Canada has a responsibility to support those countries who want to end the global crises.
How can I sit in a comfortable seat in an auditorium enjoying the arts when this is happening? How can I justify saying that my government should support these programs when the burden of helping our own Canadians and the poor around the world is so great?
Some people may say that this is our culture, to have quality music, fine visual arts, and incredible talent.
No. When our poor and our native populations and environment are in crisis, this becomes our culture.
Our culture is our poor, and oppressed, and how we deal with them.
How we deal with the less fortunate is the true measure of ourselves. How are we dealing with them? It's not just a nationally elected body's responsibility, but an individual responsibility, too. How am I helping the poor, the environment, our supply of fresh drinking water?
How are you? What are you, personally, doing to change the culture that has been thrust upon us in the world's eyes?
Let us be able to watch that symphonic band's newest recital with a clear conscience.