Finding Meaning in the G20 Chaos

It's been three days since the G20 summit in Toronto and like majority of Canadians, I am still feeling the affects of it. As I search for the meaning of last weekend's events, the disturbing images planted in my mind keep surfacing. We can do better than this.

I will not lose faith in the notion that across this beautiful globe of ours there are enough intelligent, creative and caring human beings who can rise up and become the leaders we so badly need: leaders in their families, leaders in their workplaces, leaders in their communities, leaders in their countries... leaders of their countries.

Just the other day, I was joking with someone (but not really) that in order to beat 'the man', you have to be 'the man'. As much as it pissed me off to see the politicians smiling and enjoying themselves, their blatant disregard of the protest is what we needed. Like a teenager who once rebelled against their parents before maturing into an adult, the time of kicking and screaming and breaking things is over– as is the time of passive aggressive behaviour.  We have become wise enough and capable enough to take responsibility of our world as it is and do something about it.  As Ghandi once said, “the difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world’s problem.” Yes, it's a much bigger commitment than 72 hours of protesting, it's a lifetime devotion to personal progress not for monetary gain, but for global gain. That is what will create lasting change. And one day, when we become leaders of the country we have envisioned, we'll realize that guiding a nation isn't easy at all (and that we do need to be surrounded by armed officers when travelling).

From an eagle's perspective, beyond all archetypes, beyond race, culture, religion or sexual orientation, last weekend was the convergence of human beings falsely separated by the historical illusion of 'us' versus 'them'– the stuff that war is made out of. And so it continues, as we defend whichever 'side' we are on. What was the first thing Nelson Mandela did when he was released from prison after 27 years? He certainly didn't have time to get caught up in "he said/she said" pettiness; he had a nation to liberate.  Leaders who have made substantial progress for the sake of humanity have first sought to understand the opposition, and then forgive them. Those two actions are what kept their extraordinary visions pulsing with life and birthed into reality. Nobility. Nobility...

By no means do I attempt to minimize what the protesters or innocent bystanders have experienced, or what the thousands of police officers experienced for that matter because they, too, have stories. I thank all of the protesters who did not engage in acts of violence. I thank the police officers for doing a very difficult job. I thank the Black Bloc for reminding me there is a black sheep in our family. I thank the politicians for making it clear I have more work to do from where I am right now.

Get involved in the community, continue to spread kindness...  keep faith in humanity. All of our actions, if driven by vision, will open a multitude of doors that permit us to making greater and greater impact.