Cross Country Redux

Here is the point-of-view (POV) of Samara riding the Prelim Rider Class Cross Country course at Red Hills Horse Trials in Tallahassee, Florida.

Pessimism

I may not be capable of being an olympic pessimist but I may qualify for the Quebec Major Junior League of Pessimism. Case in point, I can be pessimistic about the value of this post due only to it's not being as timely as it could've been. That aside, today I'm writing about my pessimism with the Conservative Party of Canada that represents our current government. I realize that, to many, that could be a never-ending source of pessimism but I am interested particularly with their announcement directly following the Olympics that they would consider changing the lyrics of Oh Canada, our national anthem.

I, for one, don't believe for a second that there was any government interest in making the lyrics to Oh Canada more gender-neutral. Rather, it was an opportunity to be shrewd politicians.

By stating an intention to do something that they knew would gain minimal public traction, right on the heals of the Olympics they can put on a show of having an interest in gender issues without having to do a thing. The immediate public response (and acquiesing by the government) allow them to then leave the issue with minimal (if any) political fallout.

It frustrates me that the Conservatives have managed to come into power and stay there by learning to play a game (see proroguing parliament) rather than by being true leaders. Of course, I'm not so naive as to think any other party would approach it differently. And therein, lies the pessimism.

Have AIG and Lehman Brothers irreparably harmed the human race?

I contend that yes, investment houses that were in the midst of our recent economic crash are partially responsible for the continually declining state of the human race on the planet. Of course it is never so simple as to blame individual companies or people, but I do feel that they had a part to play.

This is not part of some nefarious plan to undermine us all. Rather, their economic mis-steps help precipitate a crash which so completely shifted people's focus onto jobs and the economy that all else was effectively silenced. Investment and concern for the state of the environment full under the tires of concern for the economy. The latest proof of this is the Canadian Government's latest budget which "puts climate action on ice."

I was hopeful that the investments in stimulus would see more efforts to bring us to the forefront of environmentally improved (hard to find a fitting word - conscious?) technology. Alas, that does not seem to be the case.

And so, we continue to slide further down a hill which, by the time we decide to start trying to climb again, may be too slippery a slope to return to the top.

More Sharing

I may not be sharing my own thoughts but that doesn't mean I don't have anything to share. In fact, if webziens were limited to sharing only their own thoughts, it would be a much quieter place. In any case, I'm following up on my very-much-enjoyed Ok Go videos with a new one. Maybe the best of the bunch?