Why do I support Michael Ignatieff?

I had some good friends over for dinner a couple of weeks ago and the topic of politics came up. I was asked why I like Michael Ignatieff and I thought that is a great question.

I don’t believe many people ask themselves why they support their political leaders enough. In fact I think most people just follow the pack without really even understanding who they support. How else can one explain Rob Anders, a virtual buffoon of a man who is the MP for Calgary West?

Even in his own party he is an embarrassment and yet the sheep of Calgary West continue to elect him just because he is part of the Conservative Party. It is the scariest most mindless and uneducated way of exercising one’s vote. If you don’t believe me, I dare you to look up his record on the internet and you will be astonished that a person like that can lead. Anyway, I apologize for getting off topic, but the stupidity of mechanical Conservative support provokes that in me. The main reason for this is so that I can express why I support Michael Ignatieff and I’m proud to do that very thing.

To me, I believe Mr. Ignatieff is a good person, who is well educated and represents the ideals of the Liberal Party. He is a man that has been engaged in the world and in my opinion truly understands the complex world of international relations. This is clearly demonstrated by his involvement in the world we live. Whether it is teaching at one of Canada’s top schools or at Oxford or Harvard, he is engaged in the bigger picture and is able to promote Canadian ideals around the globe.

After all, Oxford and Harvard are two establishments are two of the most respected educational institutions in the world and have educated some of the great leaders from every corner of the globe. They picked Mr. Ignatieff to contribute to that and understand the great amount of insight and knowledge he has to share.

His background includes being Director of the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at the John F. Kennedy School of Government and the Chancellor Jackman Professor in Human Rights Policy at the University of Toronto. Those two facts alone make him better qualified than Stephan Harper to be leader of Canada, but that alone is not why I think he should lead Canada.
Yes, he is a man that has studied the past, a PH.D in History from Harvard, and in the words of Sir Winston Churchill, “Those who fail to learn from the past are doomed to repeat it” and with his understanding of the past, he is well position to lead in to the future, but there is more to him. I’ve been keeping track of him as he has gone out to visit all parts of Canada, and I truly believe he has a love for this country and its people.

Mr. Ignatieff has everything it takes to be a great leader. Yes, he has made some mistakes, but with his background and commitment, I do believe once elected he will be a great leader of Canada and I will proud to call him Prime Minister.

Why I am a Liberal!

I am a Liberal for many reasons, the first being the very fact that it was under the Liberal Government that, as a gay man, I was able to marry the man I love. This is the first thing I will forever be indebted to the party for. However, that does not define solely why I am a Liberal.

I am a Liberal as I believe strongly in Canada. I believe in sovereignty as a country. I do not want to be an American. Yes, I understand that we are closely tied, but still very different and I believe in Canada’s strengths and the subtleties that make us truly distinct. Our agenda needs to be strongly defined within a diplomatic and reasonable context.

I love our country and all it stands for. I believe we should take care of each other with strong social programs. I believe in Universal Health Care. I believe in the CBC, a strong Canadian voice broadcasting and embracing the wonderful differences of all corners of the country.

I believe we live in a small world that has all its inhabitants closely intertwined. I believe in diplomacy. I believe in understanding other cultures and nations and not pushing ourselves on the world, but working with others to create strong and mutually beneficial relationships.

I believe in a Canada that is made up of many different cultures. I love the fabric of the country that is made up of many different ways of thinking. I DO NOT believe we are a melting pot, where everyone has to become one idea of Canada. I believe in a cultural mosaic that is full of all the wonderful things that come with a diverse country. I believe our country continues to evolve as the make up of our country changes. I do understand that change will not always be easy.

Being Liberal is not easy, especially in Alberta. This is a culture that is conservative without even really knowing why they are Conservative. This is a province full of people that can’t pass the word Liberal through their lips without some kind of physical reaction. However I think the majority of “Conservatives” in Alberta are more Liberal than they care to admit.

These are the people that want to be fiscally conservative, but they also enjoy and are proud of having universal health care, great education systems, pensions for when they are old and employment insurance for when they lose their jobs. These are the good people that want to take care of their fellow Canadians. They want a strong economy with safeguards that don’t let greed destroy the very lifestyle we have all worked hard to create.

These conservatives I speak of just don’t realize that things they hold so dear are some of the most basic fundamentals of being a Liberal in Canada. This is very far from where the Conservatives would take this country if they reach a majority under the leadership of Stephen Harper and therefore the main reason why I will never be a Conservative. I believe if the Conservatives had won a majority earlier, I believe their “be American” laissez-faire government philosophy would have seen changes that would have allowed regulations to be relaxed and put as a greater risk for an even worse recession then we are right now.

Why I am not a Conservative. I do not believe that we have to bow down to the Americans. I do not believe that we have to follow the agenda of the United States. I do believe they are great neighbours that offer us a lot, but that does not mean we do not need to stick up for ourselves as Canadians.

I do not believe in squashing people who don’t meet a certain criteria. I do not believe that religion has any place in government. I believe in allowing people of all faiths, sexual orientations, genders and cultures to have equal freedom and respect.

I am a Liberal and proud of it.

Why?

Last night I had to go out to run an errand (aka wine run). As I crossed the street next to my building I ended up being caught behind a very attractive couple. The lady walking her small little shih tzu and the man walking his great big black lab. Very sweet and how reflective of the need to assert your gender identity through the ownership of the stereotypical type of dog. Why do men always feel the bigger dog, the more manly they are. Guess that is the same idea as some men and their trucks, the bigger the better. Well in my mind I always think the bigger the truck, the smaller the penis. Anyway I digress.

This couple I was walking behind were both dressed in that relaxed, I don't give a care manner that seems to prevail today. That is fine when you are out walking the dogs in the shadows of the evening darkness. God knows on those early morning walks I ain't so pretty either. However, I did have one very big problem with the lady. She was wearing sweats and not just any sweat pants, but ones with letters on her ass. I ask you why? Why does anyone think this is at all attractive or cute or flattering or at all appropriate.

Even the most attractive person, who might have a great body, looks like trailer trash when sporting sweats with a big old word slapped across the cheeks. It can be "Roots" or "Husky" or some other pathetic promotional gimmick, but whatever the word they are sporting is, I'm sorry to say, makes you look like an ass. If you are reading this and you own a pair you may feel this a bit harsh, but maybe this is the direct intervention you need to just say "NO" to this kind of thing.

Sweats, in my opinion, are the downfall to society and at the very least the down fall to fashion. However, when I see those words riding so close to the asshole of its owner, all I think is ASS! It is not my fault, If you are going to force me to look there, then I'm naturally going to make the association.

Please, throw out those sweats and stop annoying me already. Think of tossing those trashy pants as your contribution to a better world, a world where the ass doesn't lead the discussion, but follows discreetly behind.