Not political activism

Booing politicians is not bold. It is embarrassing, just like being a keyboard warrior on social media.

Last Friday I attended the Calgary Stampede for work, a trip I have made many times before. Like many others I took in the Rangeland Derby, which is always a thrill to watch. There is nothing quite like the roar of the crowd, the pounding of hooves, and the energy in that stadium. But what stuck with me that night was not the excitement of the races. It was the moment Prime Minister Mark Carney came out and the crowd erupted, not with applause, but with boos. Loud, aggressive, jeering boos.

Let me be clear. I am not a Liberal. Far from it. I am a card carrying oil and coal loving pro pipeline conservative. I believe strongly in Alberta’s energy future and I am not shy about it. I have criticized federal policies many times. But what I witnessed that night was not something I could defend. It was embarrassing. Frankly it was unacceptable. You can disagree with a politician all you want, but publicly booing them at a community event is not political activism. It is bad manners.

It reminded me of the recent coal town hall meeting I attended where environmental NGOs did the same thing to Premier Danielle Smith, shouting over her, heckling, and refusing to let her speak. It has become a pattern in our society, this belief that if we scream loud enough we somehow win. People are confusing noise with influence, and anger with action.

I see it even at the municipal level. People who attend council meetings or hide behind their keyboards on social media feel it is perfectly acceptable to berate and belittle councillors. Somewhere along the way we lost the ability to think critically and disagree respectfully. Where did basic decency go? Where did respect for the positions we elect, even if we do not like the people in them, disappear to?

Here is the truth. When you yell and scream, when you mock and demean, politicians stop listening. Why would they listen to people who do not want discussion, only a fight? You want to make change? Show up at the ballot box. That is where your power lies.

I rarely wade into social media debates as a councillor. It is usually not worth the trouble. But recently someone in this community posted a belligerent rant about council as a whole. I responded, not to argue policy, but to invite this person to put their name on the ballot in the next election since they clearly had so much to say. Unsurprisingly they backed down pretty quickly. My guess? It is a lot easier to throw stones from the sidelines than it is to stand for something, put your name forward, and face the same criticism.