And so it came to pass that a great blanket of uncertainty settled upon the land like a late winter snowfall. The studious wondered if they would be forbidden from pursuing their post-secondary educations in English. Those with certain religious beliefs foresaw a future in which they would be effectively excluded from labouring in the public sector. The entrepreneurial of spirit pondered the possibility that they might be forced to operate their small businesses in French, regardless of any felt need to do so.
And of course, every last man, woman, and child wondered if a bare majority of voters in yet another referendum, the third in thirty-five years, would rend the body politic limb from limb, righting an age-old wrong some could never forget. Would a great exodus once again mar the history of this patch of earth, robbing society of those who chafed at the yoke but declined to stay and fight any longer, and sending real estate prices into the crapper? Would the economy continue to sputter along under the weight of even more burdensome taxes, public debt, and ill-conceived regulations?
And yet, a campaign could turn on just a few miscalculations. A star candidate could actually divide the troops and galvanize the opposition thanks to his media holdings and intransigent nature. Another candidate could make the implicit intolerance of the party's platform all too explicit. Even those eligible voters not passionate about voting for anybody in particular might passionately vote against somebody if sufficiently provoked.
And when all is said and done and the uncertainty has melted away and spring is well and truly come, may it be that a thaw will dissolve a little more of the hoary grudges of olden times. May the clouds still partially obstructing our vision be burned off in the light of lengthening day, and may we see a little more clearly the common humanity of all and learn to respect more perfectly the rights of individuals to make their own decisions and lead their own lives in peace.
And yet, a campaign could turn on just a few miscalculations. A star candidate could actually divide the troops and galvanize the opposition thanks to his media holdings and intransigent nature. Another candidate could make the implicit intolerance of the party's platform all too explicit. Even those eligible voters not passionate about voting for anybody in particular might passionately vote against somebody if sufficiently provoked.
And when all is said and done and the uncertainty has melted away and spring is well and truly come, may it be that a thaw will dissolve a little more of the hoary grudges of olden times. May the clouds still partially obstructing our vision be burned off in the light of lengthening day, and may we see a little more clearly the common humanity of all and learn to respect more perfectly the rights of individuals to make their own decisions and lead their own lives in peace.