Irony: the expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.

These postcards have been showing up in parliamentary offices for the last year or so, sent by people who want the Canadian government to act on the situation in Gaza. On the revesere is a name and postal code, so that the MP knows it came from one of the voters in his or her riding.

I’m not sure what Canadian politicians are supposed to do about the middle east. The easy way out would be to condemn Israel for its actions in Gaza. There are more Arab voters in Canada than Israelis.

Of course if you do that without condemning the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel that triggered the latest round of the conflict, you look morally blind. If you condemn Hamas the Palestinian supporters get upset. They don’t seem to understand the equivalency.

What I find funny with these postcards is that the sender’s say “my vote is with Palestine” when, if they actually lived there it wouldn’t be. I wonder if they know that.

Both Gaza and the West Bank, which together comprise Palestine, have been under what is essentially dictatorial rule for the past twenty years. No elections allowed. Don’t want to risk the people democratically removing their dictators.

In Canada, those who send their postcards can tell the politicians their vote is with Palestine. In Palestine they wouldn’t have a vote.

I wonder if they see the irony?