Calgary Country — Go to it, Stay with it if you can,
But be prepared to bleed
I’ve been enjoying k.d. lang’s new album "Hymns of the 49th Parallel", particularly her rendition of Joni Mitchell’s A CASE OF YOU where the above lyrics are from.
Two of Alberta’s finest exports, k.d. and Joni… both found the border wide open to them and went on to achieve international acclaim.
Another of Alberta’s finest export is finding the border locked shut. It’s tough on us to be sure, ‘cause if there’s one thing we’re passionate about here in Wild Rose Country, it’s beef. Remember when Ms. lang announced she was a lesbian? Barely a murmur in our conservative Christian community, but when she went public with being a vegetarian and requesting we stop eating meat, all hell broke loose.
She was only speaking her piece, which she had every right to do. We all have the right to do that, regardless of how many feathers (or cowhides) it may ruffle. It’s called protest, from the Latin "pro" (meaning "forth") and "testari" (meaning "testify"). Testifying forth. Saying what you believe.
Despite the best intentions of its positive etymology, the poor word has been twisted 180º and has come to mean its antonym: contest (meaning to dispute or oppose). For every protest there is an equal and opposite contest; someone has to testify forth, and someone is being testified against.
Alex Baum and Dan Kroffat were in Ottawa this week with a petition to open the border for the cattle industry. They went with the blessings of Judy Stewart, Myron Thompson, Ralph Klein, and 100 000 others (25% of them from Quebec and Ontario no less). A worthy cause, and we’re all proud of them for taking the initiative to testify on behalf of all of us.
Protesters come in all shapes and sizes (as well as gender, race, and age). Some tune their guitars and do it in song; some speak out on national television about animal treatment; some gather names on a petition; and some hold up signs at public gatherings. Some use violence, but most speak their piece peacefully.
The four protestors who showed up at the beef-eating contest (how fitting a homonym) on Labour Day in Cochrane were flexing their rights, but were met with less-than-open borders. It’s unfortunate, isn’t it? They were addressing some serious issues (hunger, starvation, over-consumption by both livestock and people) – issues that stretch far beyond the borders of Calgary Country. They may even have some relevance in such far away places as Quebec and Ontario. While these four held their signage on the sidewalk (the quartet was asked to stay off the property) Alex and Dan announced their campaign -- an issue jjust as worthy of testifying forth.
Cochrane is still a small town, but surely it’s big enough to accommodate everyone’s right to speak their piece.
On behalf of all concerned citizens of Cochrane, I would like to thank the four protestors for taking time out of their Labour Day and keeping us informed. You’re always welcome back. Also, I’d like to wish Mr. Baum and Mr. Kroffat all the best with their visit to Ottawa. Protesting – whatever the form – is a tough slog, because it’s always met with resistance. Speaking your piece takes aim at the status quo, and that’s a bugger of a target to hit. There’s bound to be scars.
Go with it, protestors all, and stay with it if you can. But be prepared to bleed.


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