Bonnie Klein on recieving the Order of Canada

I feel enormously thrilled and grateful to be recognized by my adopted country for the Order of Canada. And more than a little surprised. Yet this great honour comes at a moment when I am beginning not to recognize this same country.

Today's Canada is not the nation that we chose in either 1967 or 1975. It is no longer proud of its difference from the U.S. Instead, the government of Canada seems to aim to emulate its southern neighbour as much as possible, even to grovel for its favour at the cost of this country's independence and uniqueness.

We are following in the footsteps of the U.S, into countries in which we have no business. We loudly support Israel's occupation and expansion into Palestinian territories. Our country is closing its doors to immigrants and refugees, including political refugees, except those who can invest large sums in our economy or contribute cheap labour as temporary foreign workers.

We are compromising our historic public support for the arts and communication by starving and threatening our cultural institutions with cutbacks and commercialization. We have allowed our treasured Medicare system to atrophy rather than improve and fund it appropriately; this has made private medical care look much more attractive than it is.

Rather than protect our precious resources -- our land, water, air and our own health -- from climate disaster, we are shaming dissenting individuals and groups by labeling them "naive" or "subversive." We are allowing partisan interests to silence our scientists and civil servants. We are silent about the continued abuse and neglect of our native peoples, especially women and girls, at the same time as we condemn discrimination elsewhere. We are choosing militarization over taking care of each other and our precious planet.

Would I make the same choice today? I am proud and invigorated by young and old people who are raising urgent concerns about our country's basic values. I am inspired by the Idle No More movement, the Occupiers, those who have chosen to ally themselves with the 99-per-cent, and join with them in sometimes disorderly nonviolent activism.

On the occasion of my investiture as an Officer of the Order of Canada, I am a fierce Canadian, vigilant to preserve the best potential of the Canada we chose -- twice. We all "desire a better country."

http://rabble.ca/news/2013/08/i-am-beginning-not-to-recognize-this-country-bonnie-klein-on-receiving-order-Canada

Video of Bonnie Klein talking about receiving the Order of Canada....

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