Keeping It Real

Today I was reading yet another article about the student protestors on The Gazette app. Most of the comments were against the protestors but one comment was pro students. It caught my attention because he quoted from what used to be my favorite movie, Braveheart. True, I was a Mel Gibson fan but the movie itself was excellent. I had almost every line memorized. I wrote a paper for my film class about the camera angles and shots and received 100%.  So you can understand why it caught my attention.

He quoted:

Aye, fight and you may die. Run, and you'll live... at least a while. And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willin' to trade ALL the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take... OUR FREEDOM! 

It's not so much that he quoted from one of my beloved movies. It was that he compared what the Scots of that time period were going through with what the students are dealing with now. 

Ridiculous. Absurd.

The Scots were fighting for the right to govern themselves. They were fighting for the freedom to LIVE. William Wallace, an actual historical figure, died for the cause. Surely to goodness none of these students are willing to die for free education.

It's not that I think protesting in Canada is completely unnecessary. Of course there are things that can be improved upon. Our elderly need attention (too bad they're not able bodied youngsters with the time, health and money to protest for months on end-- but I digress). Our healthcare system isn't perfect.

I just wish for a little perspective. We are so fortunate here in Canada. We didn't have to wait years and years to celebrate a true democratic process like Egypt (or as near to it as possible). We're not lacking for food, water, shelter. Women can drive, vote, work, go to school. 

Let's keep it real.