Regarding the weird dread so many of us are feeling - I've been doing some reading on "hypernormalization," the realization that the systems around us are fake and/or collapsing, but not having any idea of how to get out of it, so everyone kinda pretends things are normal.
This term was initially developed by Alexi Yurchak, a Russian anthropologist who used it to describe the period just before the collapse of the Soviet Union. Filmmaker Adam Curtis expanded on this in his documentary Hypernormalization (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gr7T07WfIhM - it's almost 3 hours long, so I haven't watched it yet - but will as soon as I can dedicate the time.)
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I firmly believe that the way out of this is to bring our focus locally, where we can affect the most change, by building communities and mutual aid networks, and stamping out bigotry whenever we see it. Our friends might lose their jobs, their housing, and (with the creep of conservatism that's been creeping north from America) their rights. We should of course continue to pressure our provincial and federal politicians (looking specifically at my MP, Todd) - if we're loud they can't ignore us for long - but we've got to be ready to support the people in our local community when needed. This is gonna suck, and we can get through it if we come together.
Also, I sure appreciate all the made in Canada lists. Though I will prioritize Canadian products (and generally try to anyway), I also appreciate that many foreign companies that have physical operations here in Canada, employ Canadians. So that's where it gets tricky for me.
Just about to read the articles, so this may be a premature comment but anyway: our population hasn't grown in the 30 years I've lived here. So growing to 100,000 in 15 years? And then in the next link, that SD57 enrolment will drop? Something's not quite aligning. Off to read those articles.
Pasting in a comment I just left on Justin McElroy's post (https://justinmcelroy.substack.com/p/52-countries-in-52-weeks-part-28):
Regarding the weird dread so many of us are feeling - I've been doing some reading on "hypernormalization," the realization that the systems around us are fake and/or collapsing, but not having any idea of how to get out of it, so everyone kinda pretends things are normal.
This term was initially developed by Alexi Yurchak, a Russian anthropologist who used it to describe the period just before the collapse of the Soviet Union. Filmmaker Adam Curtis expanded on this in his documentary Hypernormalization (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gr7T07WfIhM - it's almost 3 hours long, so I haven't watched it yet - but will as soon as I can dedicate the time.)
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I firmly believe that the way out of this is to bring our focus locally, where we can affect the most change, by building communities and mutual aid networks, and stamping out bigotry whenever we see it. Our friends might lose their jobs, their housing, and (with the creep of conservatism that's been creeping north from America) their rights. We should of course continue to pressure our provincial and federal politicians (looking specifically at my MP, Todd) - if we're loud they can't ignore us for long - but we've got to be ready to support the people in our local community when needed. This is gonna suck, and we can get through it if we come together.
Even the normally frothing mouth anti-Trudeau local FB pages have turned their anger toward the US.
One person booed the American anthem quite loudly at Friday's Cougars game, nothing on Saturday.
The Cougars play another American team on Valentine's weekend so we'll see if this becomes a bigger trend by then.
Also, I sure appreciate all the made in Canada lists. Though I will prioritize Canadian products (and generally try to anyway), I also appreciate that many foreign companies that have physical operations here in Canada, employ Canadians. So that's where it gets tricky for me.
Just about to read the articles, so this may be a premature comment but anyway: our population hasn't grown in the 30 years I've lived here. So growing to 100,000 in 15 years? And then in the next link, that SD57 enrolment will drop? Something's not quite aligning. Off to read those articles.