Where’s My Parade?
By: Jason Little
Tags: Positivity, Privelege, Politics, Be Good

Yesterday the Federal Government announced the 2019 budget amidst the childish behaviour from the Conservative Party.

But I’m not here to talk about politics.

Remember that nosy neighbour you had 20 years ago before the internet existed? They’d peek through fences, start rumours, and engage in gossip. Everyone knew who this person was, and at least in my house, it was sluffed off as “oh, that’s just Betty being Betty”

Today, social media has made everyone a nosy neighbour and yesterday’s budget, like more or less every news event, sparked its usual peanut gallery with comments ranging from:

“BUT I CAN’T USE THE NEW HOME BUYER RRSP….I HATE THE LIBERALS, I’LL NEVER VOTE FOR THEM AGAIN!!!!”

to the more rational:

“Here’s a fact-check on claims made during the unveiling of the budget: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/tasker-fact-check-bill-morneau-budget-speech-1.5063388”

Of course, what do you think received the most attention?

Disposable outrage isn’t going to go away anytime soon but what is more disturbing for me is how social media has made everything everyone does at any time transparent which has led to a where’s-my-parade? attitude.

The Liberals announce reduced rates for student loans;

Anti-liberals say “that’s not enough”.

The Liberals announce a $5,000 federal subsidy for electric cars;

Anti-Liberals, and Pro-Oil pundits say it’s not fair.

We’ve reached a point in human history that has made us feel everything has to be 100%, 100% of the time because what was usually behind closed doors, is now out in the open for all to see.

I am a middle-aged, suburban-living, 2 kid-having, 2-car-having, moderate-house owning, long-haired white guy. I added white guy because white people are so fucking angry nowadays. Whenever a special interest group receives attention or funds, the only people who get upset are white people. “WHAT ABOUT ME???!?!?!?” is what they say.

Yes, what about me? I was discriminated against in high school for having long hair and being a rocker but it was more because my friends and I acted like idiots. Never was I fearful for my life, profiled in a serious way, or been excluded from something because of my race, religion, or economic status.

I’ve had hidden advantages (some call this white privilege, I believe it’s more economical status privilege) and too many people have had visible disadvantages. There’s a huge difference between those two statements.

I grew up in the country, worked a full-time midnight job while going to school full time, and it took me 25 years of a career to get to the cushy life I have right now.

I don’t want, nor need a parade, special tax breaks or priveledges because of where my life is right now. My responsibility as a Canadian citizen is focusing on the greater good. A few years back I published 12 Tips for Surviving in a Modern World. Here’s a few more:

Ignore the far-left and far-right: These idiots dominate social media and the news. They want you to feel and not think. Ignore them, and block them. Ignore Sensational Headlines: Things like “Justin Trudeau Covers Up Scandal with Appauling Scandal Budget Totally $41B” “Trudeau’s Budget is Based on Deceit” — or more or less ignore the Toronto Sun and you’ll be fine. Look, if we don’t acknowledge, share, or comment on these click-bait articles, they’ll go away. Promote the Good: Let’s say you’re an anti-climate change person. Odds are you’re not or you wouldn’t be reading this. Promote what Greta Thurnberg has done anyway. Not because it’s about climate change, but because it’s about a passionate 16-year-old who has inspired millions to take action. Don’t Read the Comments: Never, ever read the comments on Facebook, Youtube, and Twitter. Those places are the 5th circles of hell. Engage with people who legitimately want to debate the merits of the topic. Passion is always to be expected, but you can be passionate and reasonable at the same time. If you can give back, give back: This might be charity donations, volunteering and more. Barrack Obama said it best, “be kind, and be useful”

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve told my kids “life isn’t fair, get over it. The best you can do is control how you respond to the negative.”

The world is a wonderful place, let’s all put our energy into promoting that and leave the cesspool that is social media to the trolls living under the bridge.