Arm chair activists

Last month’s Paris attacks have the political keyboard warriors emerging in droves.

 If homelessness was really their concern, where were they before the Syrian refugee crisis?

 Across the social media landscape, anyone can see a number of people calling for the government to provide care for the homeless and veterans instead of Syrian refugees.

 These are both valid issues. With approximately 30,000 Canadians on the streets on any given night and an average of 11 veterans committing suicide daily, it’s obvious something needs to be done.

 My issue is not in the point arm chair activists are attempting to make, I understand everyone has a different opinion on what the government should focus on, which is fine.

 But why don’t the keyboard warriors practise what they preach?

 These are generally the same people who vote against social programs because they don’t want their taxes raised, who whine about the increase in minimum wage and only bring up veterans on Remembrance Day.

 They don’t want to be the ones to provide the necessary programs to eliminate homelessness or help provide veterans with the health care they need.

 They also verbally support fighting the Islamic State when prevention and more money for care would be provided with ending war.

 Sitting in a chair in their cosy house, they share pictures on social media to speak their opinions with little or no repercussions because, let’s be honest, arguing on Facebook is just a waste of time.

 Social media has given them the illusion of doing something, without actually doing anything and they hide behind their computers safe and sound.

 You won’t see these people at homeless shelters helping, offering a place for the homeless to stay or out helping any veterans except for their yearly 25-cent donation for a poppy.

 So, they don’t want to pay for anyone to help and they don’t want to go out and help others, but then have the audacity to tell the government not to help those who need it most.

 They’ll boast being a person of the world, but then out of fear, won’t be the person they claim to be.

 Keyboard warriors will think what they’re saying is controversial or unpopular, when in reality Canadians seem to be pretty split on the subject.

 The only controversy here is a person thinking what they say actually makes sense.

 To me, until they get up and do something about it themselves, their argument will meet deaf ears, because more is necessary than their war of words.

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