Speak up for freedom

By null

By Nathan Cooper Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills MLA

As the Speaker of Alberta’s Legislative Assembly, one of my top priorities is to defend, maintain and build public trust in our democratic institutions. To this end I have tried to visit as many schools as possible, to provide students with a basic appreciation of how and why our institutions were created to serve the public.
In tough times like ours, frustrations are high. Building faith in our public institutions often feels like an uphill battle, and cynicism is not solely reserved for adults. I recently took a question from a young girl in a social studies class, who told me she doesn’t believe elected officials will ever make a difference in her life.
Her concerns perfectly illustrate a string of recent public opinion polls across North America and Europe depicting a growing number of young people feeling disconnected from our institutions. Many seem willing to reject democracy altogether.
Now, more than ever, I believe we need to be reminded of the importance of our individual rights and freedoms. They are the very foundation of our democratic institutions; institutions that have created an era of economic, social and scientific progress unprecedented in human history.
Many of the symbols of our society’s long fight for individual freedom remain proudly on display at Alberta’s Legislature. Take, for example, our provincial motto: Fortis et Liber. It translates to Strong and Free. Although it was adopted quite recently in 1980, I can’t think of a better motto to describe both the charac¬ter and the aspirations of our province.
Today, much of the focus of our political discourse is on the left versus right dynamic. But, when it comes to the progress of our people, there is another spectrum that matters just as much, if not more. On one hand: authoritarianism; on the other hand: freedom. Our Parliamentary democracy is rooted firmly on the freedom side of this spectrum. Our freedoms of speech, religion, assembly and association are not luxuries; they form the very core of our identity as free people.
Now, I am a realist. I understand better than most that the thrust and parry of modern politics is growing increasingly divisive. My word of caution is simply this: we must not allow the disagreements of the day to threaten the principles and values that we hold most dear.
Today, this very minute, we see a generation turning away from our democratic institutions and values.
We cannot simply shrug and look away. We must speak up for freedom.
(Nathan Cooper is MLA for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills and Speaker of the Alberta Legislative Assembly. He can be reached by phone (403-556-3132) or email (oldsdidsbury.threehills@assembly.ab.ca). A majority of Wheatland County is in his riding.)