• Home
  • About
  • An Introduction to Energetic Healing
  • Books
  • Change of plans
  • Meditations and Prayers
  • Non-fiction Articles
  • Play: Old and New
  • Plays
  • Publication Credits
  • Ripe When Wrinkled
  • Short Stories
  • Songs
  • Workshops and Presentations

Words By Montgomery

Sharon Montgomery: Author – Playwright – Lyricist

Feeds:
Posts
Comments
« Almost there!
Another writing course »

The Big Picture

January 2, 2019 by Sharon Montgomery


 

To Alberta Views (one of my favorite magazines!)

I am concerned about the biased view presented in your Jan/Feb issue concerning the pipeline debate.  Bias in a writer is natural, and difficult, if not impossible, to prevent.  I have lived a long time and have learned that peoples’ realities are dependent on their position in life.  What is real to the radical environmentalist is not real to the labourer who lives and works in an oil or gas town.  A person’s viewpoint is formed by his or her background and position in life, particularly the current situation.  I believe that the closer one is to the front line, or center of the situation viewed, the more focussed and informed one is of the problems involved, and therefore of the alternatives for problem-solving.

However, the further away one is from the front line, the more able s/he is to see the big picture.

What is lacking in the pipeline debate is the big picture.  As I read the pros and cons of the pipeline divide, I learned a lot that I didn’t know before.  I rely on Alberta Views to inform me, particularly about front line concerns.  However, my jaundiced and somewhat cynical mind thinks, “They’re not addressing the big picture.”  Perhaps the writers  are too close to see the full context of the issue.  I try to see the big picture, and I have lived simply for the last six decades, hoping that our country can move forward to a more sustainable future.  I question what is presented on all sides of a debate.  I ask, “Where is this person coming from?  What parts of the big picture does s/he bring?  What parts does s/he not comprehend?  What is missing from this analysis?”

This forces me to listen, to read, to think, and to learn.  I examine my responses to see if these learned opinions will cause me to change my behaviour and attitudes.  The big picture in which climate change is embedded includes economic structures, government regulations, capitalism, how governments are funded, the Canadian constitution, treaties with indigenous nations, population growth, global financial agreements, war and violence across the world, immigration, poverty, economic inequality, diverse religions, and societal attitudes to gender roles. All these factors are part of my big picture.  There are no minimally palatable  solutions within the pipeline debates, or to changes in individual’s viewpoints, feelings, and thoughts.  Most Canadians appear to build their lives upon the central belief that the bottom line is measured in financial terms, and money matters more than anything else.  I hear others claim that our current situation is more important than historical evidence, or future dreams.

The debate is complicated, and will not be resolved within the life span of any democratically elected government.  Nor within my lifetime.  Sad.  Sadder still for my great grand children.

 

g Picture 1

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Posted in Opinions |

  • Archives

    • April 2021 (2)
    • February 2021 (2)
    • December 2020 (1)
    • August 2020 (1)
    • May 2020 (1)
    • March 2020 (3)
    • February 2019 (1)
    • January 2019 (4)
    • December 2018 (2)
    • June 2017 (4)
    • April 2017 (8)
    • August 2016 (1)
    • February 2016 (1)
    • December 2015 (2)
    • July 2015 (1)
    • November 2014 (1)
    • August 2014 (1)
    • June 2014 (2)
    • February 2014 (4)
    • January 2014 (3)
    • December 2013 (1)
    • November 2013 (1)
    • August 2013 (3)
    • July 2013 (1)
    • May 2013 (1)
    • October 2012 (2)
    • July 2012 (1)
    • June 2012 (2)
    • May 2012 (1)
    • March 2012 (3)
    • February 2012 (1)
    • January 2012 (2)
    • December 2011 (4)
    • November 2011 (1)
    • October 2011 (2)
    • September 2011 (1)
    • August 2011 (3)
    • July 2011 (4)
    • June 2011 (3)
    • May 2011 (1)
    • April 2011 (8)
    • March 2011 (7)
    • February 2011 (3)
    • January 2011 (4)
    • December 2010 (1)
    • November 2010 (2)
    • October 2010 (2)
    • September 2010 (3)
    • August 2010 (2)
    • July 2010 (3)
    • June 2010 (4)
    • May 2010 (6)
    • April 2010 (2)
    • March 2010 (2)
    • February 2010 (5)
    • January 2010 (6)
    • December 2009 (3)
    • November 2009 (4)
    • October 2009 (1)
    • September 2009 (3)
    • July 2009 (4)
    • June 2009 (2)
    • May 2009 (4)
    • April 2009 (3)
    • March 2009 (3)
    • February 2009 (1)
    • January 2009 (3)
    • December 2008 (3)
    • November 2008 (4)
  • Categories

    • Book events (28)
    • Healing Practices (13)
    • movie & book reviews (30)
    • Opinions (27)
    • personal & meaningful (47)
    • Plays (2)
    • Political opinions (15)
    • Published articles (5)
    • songs (1)
    • Uncategorized (84)
  • Pages

    • About
    • An Introduction to Energetic Healing
    • Books
    • Change of plans
    • Meditations and Prayers
    • Non-fiction Articles
    • Play: Old and New
    • Plays
      • Village: A Multicultural Musical
    • Publication Credits
    • Ripe When Wrinkled
    • Short Stories
    • Songs
    • Workshops and Presentations

Blog at WordPress.com.

WPThemes.


Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • Words By Montgomery
    • Join 57 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Words By Montgomery
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Copy shortlink
    • Report this content
    • View post in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
%d bloggers like this: