Thread by @Norlaine

#Elxn44 Once upon a time, I was walking at night with the man who is now my husband. Suddenly he grabs my arm and shoves me behind him. "Rude much?" was basically my first thought. Then I saw the guy across the street waving a gun around. And I knew this man was a keeper. 1/12

There was no one else around and it was a dark street in an unsavory part of Montreal. The guy was tweaking on something and, although he pointed the gun at us, shouted at us, he was in his own headspace and eventually shuffled off, shouting at things we couldn't see. 2/12

But the fact that this man, my man, put himself between me and the gun, profoundly impressed me. Don't get me wrong. I would have done the same for him, had I seen the guy first. Except he's a foot taller than me so I am not a very effective shield. 3/12

When you really care, when you really love, you don't even think about putting yourself in harm's way to protect those you care about. There is nothing else to do. It's not like there are options. 4/12

And that memory came up as I heard Justin Trudeau defend his defense of Sophie when the protestor said terrible, misogynistic, crude things about her. And, unlike us, Trudeau was surrounded by security. And the guy was throwing words around, and not waving a gun. 5/12

But I recognized the intensity of his response and the intensity in his voice when he says in the interview, "He went after my family. He said hateful misogynistic things about my wife." 6/12
ctvnews.ca/politics/feder…

I have been impressed by Trudeau's ideas about equality, about fairness, by his openness to be out among "the people", probably driving his security detail nuts. By his vision for a Canada that is welcoming, inclusive, and kind. By his commitment to reconciliation, 7/12

Because, despite his detractors, his government has done more to end boil water advisories and respect Indigenous people than any government for as long as I can recall (which is longer that I like to admit). 8/12

I have been impressed by him, and by his ideals. But this incident reveals a far more human level of who Justin Trudeau is. He is passionate about his family. He cannot tolerate any threat to his wife. Nor should he. 9/12

He has had words and accusations thrown at him since he won the election in 2015. More recently, he has had gravel thrown at him. And he lets it all bounce off. But you attack his family and you see a different side of him. 10/12

The things he loves are his family and Canada. I want that guy representing us on the world stage. I believe he will defend us. This is a man who does not tolerate attacks on what he cares about and what he believes in. It's not wrong to stand up to bullies. 11/12

It's not wrong to defend against attacks on what is deeply in your heart. I do not see that level of passion in any of the other party leaders. I do hope, if you are undecided, you choose the guy that feels & cares deeply, & puts himself out there for what he believes in. 12/12