My really good buddy got married just outside of Boston about 3 years ago. Before we came back to Canada, we took a little walking tour of the Boston centre, and learned a lot about the American Revolution.

I was surprised.

It was goddamn inspirational. I was moved. The risks and sacrifices they took in the name of freedom. I finally understood why Americans had such pride in their country. It was a glorious beginning.

It reminded me of the lyrics from Mourning in Amerika by Rise Against (give it a listen if you like Rock or Punk):

Under moonlit skies and surveillance As we cheer from the stands in the stadiums On a jumbotron we all sing along to escape Once we were the lighthouse To the world's most desperate ships But what we became was a towering flame Leading the moth right into it Now we are waking up to the phone lines cut

It's been a weird four years. Given my focus on leadership, I've got some very definite views on the "leadership" south of the border.

I don't think Trump created the racism that's flowed since he stepped into power, but I do think he's done more than simply bring it out of hiding. They talk in Primal Leadership about how people look to the leader for an example. I won't speak to his policies because frankly I don't know them that well.

What I will say is that I think he was one of the worst examples of a leader (and of acting with honour, justice, and decency) that I've seen in a long time.

I'm very interested to see if the movement he encouraged crumbles or continues on the same trajectory.

That's where we have an incredible opportunity right now.

That movement's trajectory comes down to us. How do we treat it? Do we marginalize it? Pretend it doesn't exist (for another 4 years)? Try to include it in the conversation? Make a martyr out of it?

Honestly, I'm not sure.

My experience tells me that most people are still people. Most people want and respond to human connection.

So I wonder if we undermine the movement one person at a time by reaching out to them and making them feel heard and that they belong. That truly, we're rowing in the same direction.

That they belong in the great American project. Ready to be a lighthouse to the world's most desperate ships.

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I finally understood why Americans had such pride 🗽🔥🔥