I had barely gotten my things stashed in my comfortable little room in this Canadian B&B when a rather drawn-out conversation blossomed with Marika, the owner. She was cooking and I was across the stove from her as our conversation meandered about. I learned that she and her husband were Czechoslovakians with small kids and parents on both sides when they made the bold leap to emigrate to Canada in 1987. They were of the lucky few who were able to wrangle travel visas, something that often wasn’t possible, especially for an entire family of mother, father + children. Their parents couldn’t quite understand their desire to move.
Then the topic shifted to current events. Comments regarding people being opposed to the Government (in general) and leaders being puppets lead by puppet masters, I assumed that they were of the liberal persuasion, I asked if they’d ever dealt with guests of the complete opposite mindset as them. Oh yes, often! We’ve had people leave when they see the signs on our pickup. (I had not noticed these signs.) Then I mentioned that I’d seen a F*Trudeau sign in the neighborhood, making me feel right at home with the F*Bideners in my region. I shook my head, you’d think they could come up with something more creative than the f-bomb. Her response gave me pause. She launched into a diatribe about Trudeau and what a spoiled, brainless little fart he is. I don’t follow Canadian politics as closely as I should and I know Trudeau has his critics, but this startled me. I thought he was one of the good guys—or the guys trying to be good.
When I returned from a lovely hike in the woods behind the B&B, I checked out the signs on the truck. Fuck Trudeau. Down with vaccines! Holy shit. No wonder they had people leave upon seeing those signs! And once again, the reality is that the differences in perspective between right and left land on certain issues. There’s so much we agree upon. Like respect for elders and for the planet (they carry trash bags with them when they walk in the woods), and we share a strong work ethic. But somehow these people, who fled the emergence of totalitarianism in their home country, seem to think that the authoritarian leaders now sneaking into control around the world would protect rather than steal their freedoms. It’s puzzling. She talked of the Hungarian leader as not as bad as some in Europe. 😲
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Things got even more interesting in the morning when Dennis began expounding upon how “they’re messing with the weather. Yeah, this climate change business is all invented. Ya, they’ve been talking about it since the 80s. The hell of it is that they even admit it. It’s all over. You can read about it anywhere. Books, magazines, the internet.” ….
I got a rather late start after breakfast because the other couple who were staying for several nights and who are repeat customers turned out to be highly educated and interesting people from San Francisco. Both are nurses. He’s actually done a ton of stuff. After she excused herself, he and I got into very conversation while Marika putzed in the kitchen and Dennis ate in the family breakfast nook. I found him and his array of experiences vastly interesting. He and his wife slogged through the COVID year. They both understand what unfolding science means: theories, trials, evidence, stats, and ongoing refinement of theory. They both suffered through long shifts swathed in hospital PPE. And yet here we were, discussing all this in the home of and within earshot of enthusiastic anti-vaxxers.
![](https://rangewriter.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/img_8306endofroad.jpg?w=1024)
I was glad to be up-to-date on all my vaccines, and to have no worries about bringing something home to an immuno-compromised friend, colleague, or family member.
That is pretty silly to have the F***whoever stickers, I agree.
While in Escalante, Utah a few months ago, Fred and I shared a table at a busy restaurant with a couple who live in Yukon Territory and were touring Utah. They did not like Trudeau much, stating that he wasn’t really interested in listening to the average Canadian citizen.
We have a friend Katarina, a metallurgic engineer, from Russia – she says things that have been happening in this country, especially the past few years under Biden remind her of the authoritarian regime she got out of. Another friend who is in her 70’s is from Poland and sees the same socialism patterns as what she left and feels like she wants to warn people.
Our pastor in church said something that I have been thinking a lot about this past week, “God’s desire is that we remain undivided.” In an ideal world…sigh…..
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I agree with your opening statement. During his tenure as president, I was appalled by the mindless vitriol espoused by DJT’s opponents. I saw plenty of F… Trumps, Not My Presidents, etc. These attitudes are not useful to anyone.
That said, the things that “are happening in this country” are spun by different coalitions. I really can’t imagine that Americans really want to live in a regime that resembles that of Kim Jong Un or Vladimir Putin. There are many ways of interpreting the word “freedom.” Who knew that little word would some day become so loaded?
My online blogging friend from BC, is a fan of Trudeau…or at least would vote for him. “Fan” implies something she is quite beyond, actually. My friends that immigrated from Czechoslovakia in the early 80s, have a very different perspective about world politics than do the Czechoslovakian owners of the B&B I stayed at. Which really means that there are no simple answers. We need to listen to one another w/o judgement and with the hope of solving real problems that bedevil us all. To me, freedom means allowing everyone to behave and believe in what moves them, as long is doesn’t hurt other human beings, the planet, or animals. (EWE, I sound so Pollyanish!)
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Yes, I agree, we need to slow down, take a breath and listen to each other. You almost sound Libertarian! Another word becoming loaded is “democracy.”
the first time I saw a F****sticker was on my Tai Chi teacher’s bike and he was referring to Bush (G W). I was so shocked that he would have that, now it is becoming more common.
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I think language like that exhibits a deep lack of originality.
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I see those stickers often. I predict in future elections that we will take a sharp turn to the right. It is already happening now. I remember the antivaxers calling the Liberals facists. The phrase”when you point the finger at someone else, there are three pointing back at yourself” comes to mind.
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Yup. I remember the antivaxers used labels of totalitarianism and facism against Liberals. Remember the phrase, “when you point the finger at someone else, there are three pointing back at you.” Maybe some solutions can start by recognizing our similarities, but perhaps it has gone too far now. When the protests in the capital were going on, there were people at the US border, on the Canadian side, armed and ready to take out the police. Scary times, and the numbers are growing.I predict that in future elections we will take a sharp turn to the right.
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Oh Jane, I fear you are right. The Idaho Republican platform (effectively the only party here) is so bizarre it looks like it came from a sci-fi novel. There will be someone looking over our shoulders all the time from here on out. (No matter who wins the presidency)
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Yikes! I know I live in a bit of a bubble, but I’m always surprised when I’m met with such hostility towards the left. I can’t imagine why a business like the B&B would want to alienate a percentage of their customers (either way… I’d feel the same way no matter who they were saying “F You” to).
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It was pretty weird, Janis. Especially because at first I so misread the cues. (Which indicates that we are ALL upset, unhappy, and alienated.) It was very interesting that I had a much-to-long breakfast conversation with the male half of the other paying customers. We were 100% on the same page, and I know that Dennis, the owner, was silently listening to us and probably fuming…. Really, it’s all just very sad.
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Wouldn’t it be fun to see a bumper sticker that said ‘Far Right’ on one end and ‘Far Left’ on the other, with ‘What The Fu*k’ in the middle? Unfortunately I think the irony would go right by both of those ‘far’s’
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I’m afraid you are right about the irony being lost on both sides. 🙄
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