The Choices we make

Rob Bernshaw

Rob Bernshaw, Columnist

What is Democracy and Freedom of Speech?
Lets start this topic with a quote from a famous American president Abraham Lincoln, a person that graced this earth from 1809 until 1865: Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth.

It is probably a standard belief that the above statement is what democracy is all about! That may be true to a certain degree but lets take a closer look at Democracy and Freedom of Speech.

Would this politically sensitive topic, possibly be about an even simpler view of the subject. Is Democracy and Freedom of Speech about the choices we make every moment of our lives here on this wonderful planet.
From the moment we wake, until the moment we lay down at the end of the day to sleep, we are all making a myriad of choices that affect our lives and the lives around us.


As individuals in our society, here in Canada, we have the choice, even the right to say and do anything we want to. With that being said there are also consequences to those choices we make. What those consequences are, will ultimately depend on the choices we make at the time.

In our Politically correct society we as individuals have fallen into a trap of saying only the words that will be pleasing to the ear and doing the thing that are pleasing to the sight.

It is correct, as people become more open, and engaged in the political process or even more aware of the lives around them there is a certain decorum that needs to be followed with respect to all individuals and choices that are made in this life. We are all connected in one way or another!

There is a topic about the butterfly effect that may provide a possible correlation. As a lot of people are aware the butterfly effect is a term that comes from the suggestion; with the flapping of a butterfly's wings in South America the weather could be affected in another part of the world. Does this mean we have total control of what we say or do, but have no control over what others may say or do? Or does it mean that what we say or do affects others around us either directly or indirectly?

Could it also mean that a combination of both concepts are a part of the bigger picture?

In a closed system which will affect only ourselves an ideal situation would exist. Since we live in an open system, what we say or do not only affects ourselves it will also affect others around us. As we do not have control over the butterflies wings, we also do not have control over others actions or reactions to what we may say or do. That is an important concept or topic to be engaged in, as we make the choices that affect our lives and the lives of others around us.

It is a known fact that we will not please everyone as our journey through this life progresses, but if we will conscientiously make choices that will benefit ourselves as well as others around us, there may yet be hope for the politically correct society that we currently live in. Now let us go about our day making the choices needed to help this world turn a lot smoother than it currently is. Maybe then we will be able to see with a clearer vision the true meaning of Democracy and Freedom of Speech that we are constantly debating.

In conclusion Monday April 23, 2012 is election day here in Alberta, please get out to vote, in order to make the choices that will affect not only our life, but the lives of all other Albertans going forward into the future.

Sincerely from a concerned Albertan.