Love Trumps Hate

November 11, 2016

coco-and-vera-1coco-and-vera-best-vancouver-style-blog-best-canadian-style-blog-top-blogger-portrait-cee-fardoe-brunette-celine-audrey-sunglasses-helmut-lang-blazer-sezane-blouse-copycoco-and-vera-top-vancouver-style-blog-top-canadian-style-blog-top-blogger-outfit-details-alila-bag-sezane-leather-skirt-acne-studios-boots-helmut-lang-blazercoco-and-vera-top-vancouver-fashion-blog-top-canadian-fashion-blog-top-blogger-outfit-details-sezane-blouse-helmut-lang-blazer-strut-jewelry-ring-keltie-leanne-designs-ringcoco-and-vera-top-vancouver-fashion-blog-top-canadian-fashion-blog-top-blogger-street-style-leather-mini-skirt-helmut-lang-blazer-acne-studios-boots-alila-bag-celine-audrey-sunglassesHelmut Lang blazer (similar)
Sezane blouse (similar)
Sezane skirt (similar)
Acne Studios boots
Alila bag
Celine sunglasses
Keltie Leanne Designs ring (c/o)
Strut Jewelry ring (c/o)

Pierre Elliott Trudeau famously described Canada’s geographic placement above the United States as liking sleeping with an elephant. “No matter how friendly and even-tempered is the beast,” he said, “if I can call it that, one is affected by every twitch and grunt.” We laughed at that quote, when our high school geography teacher read it to us. We used to laugh a lot about living so close to the United States, because Canada is so different in so many ways that are not necessarily obvious to an outside observer, or so we tell ourselves. We laughed when Steig Larsson’s bestselling novel, Men who Hate Women, had to be renamed, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, before being published in North America – how cute, we thought, how quaint that Americans would be shocked by the original title. No one is laughing now. To say that I was surprised by the results of the election earlier this week would be disingenuous. I have seen the kind of overt hate that drives people to stockpile guns, because they have a “right” to own them, in my own back yard. The more subtle hate that permeates our everyday lives, the kind that hides behind cat calls and jokes about minorities, is as prevalent in Canada as it is south of the forty-ninth parallel, even if a Liberal government headed by Pierre Elliott Trudeau’s son currently holds power on capital hill. I am not surprised but I am dismayed, because no matter how many headlines made reference to the “new world” on Wednesday morning, the fact is that we woke up in the same world we’ve lived in all along, the one whose realities we have collectively ignored for far too long. We can be better than this, and now, there is no looking the other way – we must be better than this. For the last eighteen months we have watched the election coverage like Mary from Bruce Springsteen’s Thunder Road, praying in vain for a saviour to rise. There is no saviour – these are our problems and only we can fix them. Work hard. Hold your heads high and your principles tight. And most of all, remember that love trumps hate every single time.

C’est Pierre Elliott Trudeau qui a décrit le placement géographique du Canada au-dessus des Etats-Unis comme comparable à partager son lit avec un éléphant. « Peu importe combien la bête, si je peux bien l’appeler une bête, » a-t-il dit, « est aimable et placide, nous sommes comme même affecté par chacun de ses tressaillements et ses grognements. » Nous avons ri, quand notre professeur de géographie nous a lu cette citation. Nous avons souvent ri, en discutant notre voisin du sud, car le Canada en diffère considérablement, ou au moins c’est ça que nous nous disons. Nous avons ri quand le roman best-seller de Stieg Larsson, Les Hommes qui n’aiment pas les femmes, fut renommé, La Fille avec un tatouage d’un dragon, avant qu’il soit publié en Amérique du Nord – c’était mignon, a notre avis, que le titre originel soit scandaleux aux Etats-Unis. Aujourd’hui, personne ne rit. Dire que le résultat de l’élection américaine m’a surprise sera déloyal. J’ai vu la haine ouverte, le genre de haine qui pousse les gens à faire des réserves d’armes à feu, car ils ont le « droit » de les détenir, dans mon propre pays. Je connais la haine plus discrète qui imprègnent nos vie quotidiennes dans le forme des sifflets et des blagues racistes, une haine aussi courante au Canada qu’aux Etats-Unis, malgré le fait qu’un gouvernement Liberal, avec le fils de Pierre Elliott Trudeau comme premier ministre, est au pouvoir sur la colline du Capitole. Nous l’avons vu cette semaine dans les paroles de certains politiciens de l’opposition, qui proposaient que le Canada devrait prendre un pas en arrière en tandem avec les Etats-Unis. Le résultat de l’élection ne m’a pas surpris, mais il m’a consterné, car peu importe combien de fois les mots, « new world, » apparaissent en gros titre, la vérité c’est que le monde n’a pas changé de mardi et mercredi. Nous habitons le même monde aujourd’hui que nous habitions mardi, la réalité duquel nous avons collectivement fait semblant de ne pas voir pendant bien trop longtemps. Nous pouvons faire mieux et maintenant, nous n’avons plus le choix – nous devons faire mieux. Pendant les dix-huit derniers mois, nous avons observé les campagnes de l’élection américaine comme Mary dans la chanson Bruce Springsteen, Thunder Road, attendant en vain qu’un sauveur s’élève. Il n’y pas de sauveur – ces problèmes sont les nôtres, et c’est à nous de les résoudre. Travaillez fort. Gardez vos tètes hautes et vos principes proches. Et surtout, n’oubliez pas que l’amour surpasse toujours la haine.

12 comments so far.

12 responses to “Love Trumps Hate”

  1. I honestly haven’t been able to make myself think or talk about it yet expect in little bursts. I can’t remember being this upset about anything recently. I won’t lie, I’ve cried a lot and feel like I’m in a state of mild shock. It was my home for almost a decade and the majority of my dearest friends live there still and I am just sickened.

    Courtney ~ Sartorial Sidelines

  2. I’m an American and I am so dismayed by the results of the election. I went to work on Wednesday morning but had to leave three hours in because I kept crying off and on at my desk. And the worst fears of all of us on this side are being realized with news of all the hate being openly expressed towards minorities. My coworker told me that a Muslim American was beat to death last night. Most of the people in my office supported him (I can’t bring myself to say his name) even though I’m just outside of Portland, Oregon (a very blue area in a blue state).

    • Sending positive thoughts your way, Mattie – I can only imagine how you must be feeling. Don’t forget that there are many, many people who feel like you do and we’re all here to lend our support to fighting for what is right. Stay strong.
      xox,
      Cee

  3. bubbyandbean says:

    Thank you for posting this. To say the election results are devastating is an understatement. I am terrified for my children and so many of my friends (myself too). I’m still, days later, having a hard time accepting it, but I won’t sit back. My tears are finally dry, and I’m going to roll up my sleeves and get to work – in whatever way it takes to make a difference. xo

  4. Sara Strauss says:

    So well said!! I voted for Hillary because Trump’s comments about women, people of color, immigrants, and how he would deal with leaders from other nations absolutely appalled me. America is known for taking what it wants and I’ve never agreed with that. Like anything, being the leader of a country and working with other leaders should be about give and take, but all Trump wants to do is take take take. It’s sad that the reason he won was by fooling people into thinking he cared about the little person, but all he cares about is big business and the one percenters. It’s sad that people couldn’t see that. It’s only been two days since he’s been president-elect and already the things he said he would do he’s now taking back. All I can think is, “SEE! You should’ve looked deeper, thought more critically, asked how he was going to do any of the things he said.” I’m so frustrated and angry right now. I’m also horrified and the things that are happening because of Trump’s followers. They believe that because he was elected they now have the right to be racist and sexist and I won’t stand for it.
    ~Sara

    • So lovely to hear from you, Sara! It does feel hard not to say I told you so right now, watching as Trump reveals what his actual policies are going to be – but it’s also hard not to be appalled by the actions of people who voted for him. Here’s hoping when the dust around this settles a bit, we can all move forward in a positive way! It’s important for the US especially, but for the whole world, too, I think.
      xox,
      Cee

  5. I’ve remained pretty silent on my blog and social media. However, if I was as eloquent as you, I’d definitely share a little more! But in-spite of everything, I’m hoping for the best and praying for a miracle and I absolutely believe love is always the best route, no matter what!! Happiest weekend to you Cee & looking gorgeous as always!! xo

  6. Kim Alston says:

    Cee, after the election results I completely shut down. I could do nothing. It was a big let down for me. It hurt and I’m saddened by the outcome. It’s scary to know what will happen in the next 4 years. I love your outfit Cee and that purse is the cutest.
    http://www.averysweetblog.com/

  7. Lyddie says:

    What an election. What a state we are in. I cringe at the thought of seeing Donald Trump as my president. Wasn’t it just a short while ago I was laughing at an old commercial for Trumps failed bored game wondering how much longer before he’d be out of the race and I wouldn’t have to listen to him dominating every news program. Now he is the face of the US to the world. And half my country is chomping at the bit to build a wall and undo all the progress we’ve made.

  8. Catie says:

    Oh man, you broke my not-crying streak. Here come the tears again. It’s very true that we didn’t just invent this hate-filled world over night. There were just so many of us blinding hoping it wasn’t as bad we feared! Personally, I’m terrified. Terrified of what’s to come, so much of it unknown. Will our checks and balances have any effect in a government who’s branches are almost entirely Republican controlled? On top of the fear, we’re also mourning the end of Hillary Clinton’s long and amazing career. I’ve spent half of my life being told she’d be our first woman president. We just have so much farther to go. So much work to do! Good always wins in the end.

Cee Fardoe is a thirty-something Canadian blogger who splits her time between Winnipeg and Paris. She is a voracious reader, avid tea-drinker, insatiable wanderer and fashion lover who prefers to dress in black, white and gray.

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