So much fear, too many losses
On a glorious New Year's Day, Joy and I share memories of roller coaster rides and eating cotton candy in the breeze of a hot afternoon. We wonder what 2025 will bring.
Trump is sworn in as President of the U.S.A. Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, gives him a Nazi salute. They use the far-right Christian Project 2025 guidebook page by page to destroy democracy. Trump orders everyone to stop diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives (DEI) and defines gender as only male and female. In Canada, the Conservatives are winning in the polls.
Life feels like a roller coaster going too fast. People and principles are thrown off in all directions, a horror show, screams heard all over the world as policies, departments, human rights and jobs vanish. Students are attacked for speaking out against genocide in Gaza. Universities, in fear of losing funding, are silent. Court decisions are ignored. Thousands of refugees are sent to vile prisons in El Salvador. Trump asks their president for five more mega prisons for “the homegrown” (i.e., U.S. citizens).
The U.S. dissolves with daily announcements. No more USAID, people with AIDS, other communicable diseases and famine are dying. Robert Kennedy, an anti-vaxer, is appointed head of health care. Trump announces enormous tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico and Canada will be the 51st state.
Canadians react by flying our flag, boycotting American goods and millions refuse to travel to the U.S. The Liberal Party chooses Mark Carney, an internationally renowned economist, banker and environmentalist. He decisively states that Canada will not be annexed, supports the CBC, women and queer rights, much more affordable housing, but a pipeline across Canada and more money for defence. U.S. congress members Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders courageously speak out to larger and larger crowds. Harvard refuses to implement the dismemberment of DEI.
The federal election is called for April 28. Excited that we can finally do something, our writing group QUIRK-E creates a “Queer Call to VOTE” flyer, critiquing parties on key issues. Queer activist leader Chris Morrisey dies. My cousin calls sobbing to tell me that her pregnant niece is riddled with cancer. Joy and I attend a Celebration of Life service for another. I can barely look up from the personal grief to read headlines. I can’t think straight, can’t remember anything and nightmares wake me every night.
We go to Naomi Klein’s talk at UBC, trying to make sense of a future with Trump and Musk. I work on the election. Joy is nominated for a YWCA Women of Distinction Award. At the gala, many good friends greet us with open arms and bouquets of flowers but we are all worrying about election results and possible impacts on our decades of work for women, queer rights, anti-racism and Indigenous issues. The morning brings a Liberal victory. The Conservatives have been stopped, but the NDP has been eviscerated.
I receive the DIGNITY “Pride7 Communique for Canada 2025,” a powerful global statement of resistance for the G7 conference. I know that fascism will not stop without us, but we are not alone. I decide to create a national event on Sept. 21, the International Day for Peace. Josh Ritter wrote the song "I Carried the Flame" for Joan Baez. "Let it always be said when you speak of my name, that I carried the flame." Join me.
Israel continues bombing Gaza, over ten thousand children murdered, thousands of women, no one counts the queers. Trump abandons Ukraine, ignores Sudan and bans immigrants from Muslim countries. India bombs Kashmir. Canada increases military spending. Los Angeles burns. Billionaires make more billions fueling conflicts, causing environmental and social collapse. The Liberals’ Throne speech to Parliament is full of money for defence but doesn’t mention 2SLGBTQIA+, women or peace. The incredible policies our generation fought for are disappearing as billions of our taxpayers' money goes to war. How do we get off this roller coaster?
I don’t know how we get off. I only know we can’t stop trying. As Josh Ritter wrote and Joan Baez sang, let's carry the flame!
Ellen Woodsworth (she/her) is the Co President WILPF Canada, speaker and intersectional consultant on cities, Matriarch Women Transforming Cities International Society, first lesbian city councillor in Canada, member QUIRK-E, Queer Imaging and Rising Collective for Elders
