I don’t know how many times I’ve yelled at my television and told world leaders, politicians and CEOs to get a spine and stand up to the bully in the White House. I’ve become pretty hoarse.

But I know the reality.

When that bully has control of incredible military, economic and political might you just have to bow and kiss the emperor’s ring for your own self-preservation. So, we’ve got a lot of invertebrates calling the shots around the world.

But at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney wasn’t kissing any ring or any other part of a bully’s anatomy. In a brilliantly crafted 16-minute speech, Carney suggested that the old post-World War II global order – built on free markets, shared rules and a lot of wishful thinking – is no longer holding together. He said it’s time to move on to something new, more honest, more resilient, more in line with our values and better suited to the world we’re actually living in.

Easier said than done.

Carney quoted Czech dissident Václav Havel. In 1978, Havel wrote an essay called “The Power of the Powerless.” Carney wove Havel into his speech as part of an analogy about how political systems persist through the actions of ordinary people even when they know the underlying claims are false. He told the story of a Czech greengrocer who displays a sign reading ‘Workers of the world, unite!’ — not because he believes it, but to just to signal compliance. Easier to comply if you want to sell more oranges.

Carney suggested that many countries and leaders these days are that greengrocer. They participate in a “rules-based order” despite knowing it is weakening and often out of line with the values and morales of citizens.

But then Carney implied that Canada is to a degree taking that sign off their storefront and choosing values, resilience and sovereignty over passive compliance. They’re taking a stand against the Bully in Chief.

Let’s hope Carney’s speech triggers a movement amongst the invertebrates. We can turn to Havel again and the Czech Republic for inspiration.

A few years ago, Padma and I stood in Prague’s Wenceslas Square with a Rick Steves audio city tour blaring in our ears. Rick spoke of the 1989 Velvet Revolution – a largely non-violent and rapid overthrow of the Czech government by ordinary citizens. The regime collapsed from within when it became apparent from the massive movement that the government no longer had legitimacy. I thought it was a fascinating tale of the power of the people.

On Friday, businesses in Minneapolis are taking that sign from their storefront. They’re saying loudly and clearly that “we’re not participating in this charade any longer, we’re not going to pretend that everything is legitimate.” Power to the people.

I look forward to the day when I don’t shout at the invertebrates on my television screen. I’d like instead to cheer on world leaders like Mark Carney or support conscience-driven citizens like Renee Good.