I registered for two courses in greenwood carving in Washington State this summer. I've paid the full tuition and I was looking forward to them. The plan was for me to drive down by myself to enjoy a week immersed in something I love to do. It would have been a chance to get some feedback from the pros and take my carving to a new level. I say 'would have been' because I decided this morning not to go.
I've been watching closely the developments along the Canada US border and reading an article by Australian children's author Mem Fox encouraged me to make my decision. I had read that Fox was detained when entering the US because of some confusion about her visa. Today I read the details in her own words. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/feb/28/in-that-moment-i-loathed-america-i-loathed-the-entire-country I know that for every person who has difficulties entering the US there are thousands who cross and recross the border with no trouble.
I'm not worried about getting into or out of the States to attend a woodcarving course. I'm white, a Canadian citizen by birth and I have never lived in any other country. When I signed up for the course I was a little uneasy but I thought I'd wait and see what developed: what has developed is unacceptable to me.
I can hear the 'buts' loud and clear. What difference will it make if you go or not? Aren't you just hurting yourself by passing up this chance to do something you love? Don't cut off your nose to spite your face. The people who run that woodworking school have nothing to do with what happens at the border. They love to work with wood just like you do. True, no one will care whether I attend a carving course or not. It's early enough that someone will fill my spot. The course will go on and my backing out will be a mere administrative blip. But, for me to go is to pretend to myself that nothing is wrong when something is very wrong.
Most of the time my conscience is a drowsy old cat who opens her eyes to have a look around and then goes back to sleep. Occasionally she wakes up bares her teeth and hisses. I could pat her on the head and tell her to go back to sleep but her hiss would continue to echo in my thoughts. Instead I'm looking at her thrashing her tail and thinking 'I'm glad you're still here, Old Girl.'
I want to be very clear: in this case, it is all about me. If you're holidaying in the States I hope you have a fabulous time. If you live in the States that geography is a part of you. It's a wonderful place and I have fond memories of the times I have spent there. In the future I may choose, assuming I have that choice, to go back and have just as good a time as I've had in the past. For now, however, the cat and I will stay in Canada and be grateful that we can make that choice.
