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Canada’s birthday celebrations give reason to move on

Canadians need to learn from past mistakes, move on
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Canada has just passed a most significant birthday.

The 150 birthday celebrations have given Canadians cause to look back, reflect and think about the way events have unfolded over the years.

There have been many changes and many steps forward.

And, even as the winds of change sweep across our great nation, some things remain constant.

For the most part, patriotic pride and gratitude for the opportunity to live in Canada is a constant. This is obvious with the number of Canadian Flags that seem to be flying everywhere. You can see them hoisted onto cars, on farmhouses, at gates and, even proudly, in people’s front yards.

Yes! Canada. We love you!

But, as much as pride and gratitude seemed to be evident throughout the boisterous Canada Day celebrations, there remained an undercurrent of discontent and dissatisfaction.

Of course, in this province, this undercurrent became somewhat stronger when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau neglected to mention Alberta in his Canada Day speech.

His oversight was magnified enormously in a millisecond and Albertans everywhere became downright angry. How dare he forget Alberta where the wild rose blooms profusely. How could he not remember Alberta, tucked in, quite obviously, on a Canadian map, between British Columbia and Saskatchewan, proudly touting our twin flagships of oil and agriculture?

But he did.

They say to err is human, to forgive divine, and, perhaps, Albertans need to find it in their hearts to do so.

As we look back on Canada’s history, it is evident there have been far worse blunders that need to be forgiven.

The treatment of the aboriginal people is one dark blight in the history of time that cannot be erased or blotted out.

But, the treatment by Canada throughout history of other groups of people such as Jews, Japanese and Chinese, who were considered less than for whatever reason, is certainly no less horrendous and, no doubt, has left lasting scars.

How do these people move on?

Perhaps they move on the same way an individual does.

By forgiving.

By not wasting time harboring resentment and anger.

By embracing every day as a gift and making their lives as useful and productive as possible. By not relying on any government for handouts, but by becoming gainfully employed and raising responsible, mature families.

As Canadians the future gives us reason to learn from our mistakes. We need to bury our fear and open our arms to refugees who desperately need our help.

As I see it, the future for Canadians looks pretty darn good.

Of course, the crystal ball that predicts such things is murky and filled with uncertainties. It always has been.

But, equality and freedom which should be a given here in our home and native land of Canada, is out there.

And for that fact alone, all Canadians, no matter what their origin is, should be grateful.

And they should do their part to make it happen!