Betrayal


“It looks like our ‘buy Canadian if you can’ or anything but from the US is working,” I said to Camp after he sat down in his usual chair at our watering hole. “David Eby, the BC premier said he believes the U.S. leadership has “very little awareness” of how offensive their remarks are, in response to the U.S. ambassador to Canada saying Trump thinks Canadians are “nasty” to deal with because of U.S. boycotts.”

“What would the ambassador say if I pointed out to him that his president is a convicted felon, a suspected pedophile with his buddy Epstein, a liar, a cheat, a narcissistic real estate hustler and a bully and that his race towards a fascist autocracy will not go over well in Canada or the rest of the civilized world.”

“He would probably have you blacklisted and incarcerated at the first opportunity. Don’t go near the US, if you value your life and family.”

“A bit dramatic, aren’t you Camp. Oh, I see, you’re serious. I thought you were being facetious, pulling my leg.”

“Let me read you the first item that comes up when I Google Fascism:

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THE RISE OF THE RIGHT


I’ve been over this theme before with Camp but it refuses to go away. No matter where I look, I read about massive Trump rallies or about a new and conservative rich women’s group calling themselves the ‘Mothers of Victory’ or I watch with dismay the destructive rampage in France or I shake my head at the recent Supreme Court decisions, rolling back decades of liberal decisions, taking away protection for minorities. 

Camp was already quaffing his first pint. ‘Must be slow at the book store that you’re here already,’ I said, sitting down.

            ‘I’ve got summer help, an eager student who loves books. She would work for free just to be in the book store.’

            ‘You’re paying her I hope.’

            ‘Of course, I’m not a slave owner.’

            ‘Did you hear that our former prime minister, Stephen Harper, was in Budapest cosying up to Viktor Orbán, to discuss strengthening the collaboration of right-wing parties?  Orbán has also called on Ukraine to concede to Russia, saying Kyiv cannot win the war,’ I said after Vicky brought me some liquid relief.

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End of Democracy


‘If it’s not raining, it’s about to,’ my friend Campbell said – Camp to everybody in town – with a dispirited sigh as he plunked himself in the opposite chair at our weekly watering hole by the sea.

The good news is that spring is only a couple of months away,’ I said lamely. Just then Vicky, the only ray of sunshine, put down a couple of pints of the golden liquid. ‘Cheers’, I said, raising my glass,  it’s sunny somewhere in this world.’

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