Thread by @aaronpaquette

“The child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth"

I’ve been asked to comment on the issues of the past few days. I’m still thinking about that. Maybe my voice doesn’t need to be heard.

Or maybe we all need to speak.

Truth is, we need change.

I have multiple personal stories of being on the receiving end of racism and profiling, as have many Indigenous, Métis, Black, Asian, or persons of colour. My father is Cree, my mother’s side is from Norway. So I have ALSO experienced the side that DOESN’T fear on a daily basis.

In my younger years I was routinely carded, detained, questioned, and one time severely beaten - presumably for existing while Indigenous. As I aged and physically became increasingly white-passing, these things stopped.

I am not looking for any sympathy. These are just facts.

What it taught me was that it is terrifying for anyone to feel marginalized, no matter your situation.

This includes poverty, or the feeling that you are being marginalized or no longer valued. These feelings of disconnect can happen to anyone, no matter their background.

That’s why we have so many problems today. There is an historic horror to deal with in Canada - everywhere, really - and we are the generations who’ve inheritated these problems & pains & blames that we didn’t create or ask for.

But it’s our responsibility to break the chain.

Problem is - and here it is:

The politics of hate, division and anger RELY ON THIS DYSFUNCTION, to blame and direct anger outward.

It’s easier to profile someone than understand them, and many politicians thrive on this evil.

And yes, it is evil.

Hate is always evil.

I represent people from every walk of life, with every perspective under the sun and do my level best to represent them all, even the ones who send me messages of anger and hate because I know...I KNOW...they feel unheard. They feel alone. They feel like life is unjust.

Because life is unjust.

No, that’s not right. Life is beautiful.

It’s our history & our systems that can be unjust.

My mom was sterilized because the doctor felt she had to stop having brown babies.

My grandma’s 2nd husband, Toshio, was in an internment camp because of fear.

I have one child who has very dark skin, hair and eyes, he is such a beautiful, smart, and lively child. He’s the only son I fear for.

My other sons will not have to be afraid, in fact will feel protected by our systems.

This is a terrible truth.

But a truth none the less.

We’re here to deal with truth - to tell it like it is.

So let me tell you: we will not make it through alone.

We have to do it together.

We have to see the human being, the soul, the value ... of one another.

Hate and fear just don’t cut it anymore, if it ever did.

So let’s be clear:

You don’t have a problem with any race, colour or creed.

You have a problem with systems that don’t work.

You have a problem with feeling at threat.

You have a problem with politics that wedge you apart instead of bringing you together.

What we need is something better.

We need leaders who bring us together, who listen to everyone, who create connections rather than destroying them.

You can be that leader.

We all can.

All this chaos is a result of our systems breaking communities apart.

Propaganda, greed, ambitions of power.

Stop buying the bs.

Even in fear be bold, be strong.

Organize. Strategize. Educate. Act.

It’s not each other we should hate, but the systems & histories that have delivered hate to our generations.

We can change those systems.

We have to.

Our children and theirs deserve a far better world. It’s up to us to deliver it.

Thanks for reading this far.

We got this.

But only with a lot of work ahead.

Unless everyone just decided to be cool and kind tomorrow.

That works, too.

People may ask, “Aaron, why aren’t you speaking to my fury?”

There are enough people doing that already.

I don’t want your flames, I want your embers.

I don’t want the world to burn, I want the steady burning desire that will forge a better one.