A Green in Rural Alberta

I would like to share this letter that was sent to the local paper by William Munsey who is the Green Party candidate in Vegreville - Wainwright. Mr. Munsey, who is a father, farmer, and railroader, describes his campaign experience eloquently and I share his sentiments about family and why we feel so strongly about what we are fighting for... please take the time to read this.

Dear Green Supporters (and skeptics) and Wainwright-Vegreville Press,
Well, I am done campaigning. I have visions of Leon Benoit scurrying around the riding trying to pull in supporters... but I have farm work today before I settle into my Thanksgiving dinner seat with my family around me. Tonight I have to work on the railway. Monday, I have more farm work and Tuesday I can vote and watch the numbers role in.When I started this I have to admit that I had no real goals other than to get the Green message out and prove that Greens are not whackos... that most of us are just really plain folks concerned about the way we neglect the environment.Then a funny thing happened along the way. I started to hear what I was saying from somewhere outside myself. I started to believe in a deeper and more profound way what I was hearing... what I was saying. I watched people as I spoke and saw them nod and agree. Sometimes when I talked about a lack of time with family and friends and my sorrow at losing something special in rural Alberta, I saw people's eyes mist up.I could not believe they were moved by MY words.. by the things I worry about.That is what changed. I opened up my heart to talk and people let me in to their own hearts. That sort of sharing of hopes and dreams and fears is a very powerful thing and I have been overwhelmed by it. There is a great desire in this country to do things better, but many people have shut off. What I saw over the past month is that they would open up if they had something to trust in and hope for.I don't pretend that 'something' is me, or even the Green Party. I only know there is a huge wealth of goodness left in this country to make it a better and more compassionate place for us to live in and raise our families. What we have to do is find a way to tap that spirit and the ideas that will make that possible.I did my best this last month. I don't know that I could have done much more. It has been hard on my wife and it has broken my heart to call my kids while driving back late at night from somewhere and hear my youngest daughter crying on the phone because I was not there for her.I would not have done any of this if I did not think that in some way I was doing it for my family.Thank you all for your support, encouragement and help over this last month.Tuesday, we will let the chips fall.Vote! Our democracy is a gift to one another... something to be truly thankful for.I will no longer sign off with my Green Party title. I am back to being a father, farmer and railroader.I will write again with my thoughts and impressions a couple of days after the election. William Munsey, New Sarepta, Alberta