Thoughts from today's Toronto Star
A4 CHANTEL HEBERT
Chantel wrote, "A split opposition has become the gift that keeps giving to the Conservatives." How right she is!
Only a united left can defeat a united right. Only Nathan Cullen among the NDP leadership candidates seems to understand this.
If you agree with this, and even if you are not an NDP supporter, you could join the National NDP and vote for Cullen in the leadership election.
Then we would have to find someone among the Liberals who is more concerned with the country than party power games and join together to support that person.
A8 GAY-STRAIGHT ALLIANCES IN PUBLICLY FUNDED SCHOOLS
"mindful of Catholic sensitivities, alternative names were left open to negotiation"
This is outrageous. By doing this, the Ontario Provincial Government is saying that there is something wrong in being gay. That it is something to be ashamed of and that is why euphemisms would be acceptable.
I say it is not Catholic 'sensibilities', but 'superstitions' and 'stupidities'. There is nothing sensible about any type of anti-gay prejudice. Nothing.
A10 THE NEW WORKPLACE
``The new workplace more about `we` than `me` ``
A very interesting article that talks about an open concept work environment filled with collaboration and interaction, instead of the closed concept cubicle office.
I think this reflects an important change that is occurring in the general population, although political leaders are being very slow to recognize it.
The `me first` and `watching out for #1` and `greed is good` approaches are what has got us into the financial mess we are all in now.
Even if we cannot articulate it (although the Occupy movement is helping), deep down we know that unbridled capitalism is not good for us. We know that unbridled anything is not good for us.
The time has come to rethink how we want our country to run and how we want our society to look.
GT4 A KNOWN ADDRESS
"This is my first actual place with my own kitchen and bathroom." Tracy Estwick, 49 years old.
This is such an incredibly important tiny, teeny, weeny first step. All shelters, no matter what their good intentions, just make matters worse. Every morning when people are thrown out out onto the street after a night of dormitory, sometimes on the floor, sleeping, they are reminded that in society's eyes they are utterly useless. Heterosexual couples can`t be together. Often they must go to separate buildings. Families with children are split up.
These people have 'no known address'.
And with no known address, you can't get a job. Can't vote. You are a nobody. A nothing.
What we really need are apartment buildings filled with studio apartments for single people and some 1 or 2 bedroom apartments for families.
We must give these people a known address. We must give them the opportunity to live with dignity and opportunity. They are not charity cases. They are our social responsibility.
Tuesday 31 January 2012
Monday 30 January 2012
Thoughts as I go through the Toronto Star
Pg A1 SHAFIA TRIAL
The significance of this trial is the reaffirmation of the supremacy of Canadian Law which reflects Canadian values over all else.
I suppose everyone has been horrified by these murders. Nothing honourable about it. But it is an indication of how our society, by that I mean the suits that run it, sweep everything that supports male dominance under the dual carpets of culture and religion.
It reminds me of the attempt to get Sharia Law into Ontario. At the meeting with the provincial government, where I presented the first brief objecting to Sharia, the suits made it clear that all the religions (i.e. men who represented the religions) had no objection since that was simply the expression of religion and culture.... and Canada has multiculturalism and freedom of religion.
The difference between the application of Sharia as was originally presented and this murder is only one of degree.
There is a different death for the young girls who are removed from Canadian schools and sent to places like Pakistan to marry much older men. There is a different death for the wonderful young girls with active minds and bodies who are married off right here and continue attending school but who suddenly become very docile and physically and intellectually inactive.
We have to start standing up for girls and women of all ages and all cultural / religious backgrounds.
Pg A6 NDP LEADERSHIP DEBATE
As long as the NDP and Liberals do not do something cooperatively, we will be doomed to Harperite majority governments.
Nathan Cullen has it right. A disorganised Left cannot defeat a unified Right.
Step 1: Get rid of Harper
Step 2: Liberals and NDP work things out between themselves.
Step 3: Proportional seat allocation becomes law
Results: A government that reflects the real desires of Canadians, no matter where they live. Elections where everyone's vote counts
Pg SI WOMEN'S SOCCER
You know it's women's soccer because there is no rolling around in fake pain.
Canada's women's soccer team is going to the London Olympics. The only game they lost was to the first ranked USA.
Of the 136 women's teams ranked by FIFA, Canadian women rank 9th. Canadian men rank 74th.
Yet the men get significant financial remuneration and they women get barely anything.
It's time we the people and the government made a significant difference in our support and recognition of women's soccer.
The significance of this trial is the reaffirmation of the supremacy of Canadian Law which reflects Canadian values over all else.
I suppose everyone has been horrified by these murders. Nothing honourable about it. But it is an indication of how our society, by that I mean the suits that run it, sweep everything that supports male dominance under the dual carpets of culture and religion.
It reminds me of the attempt to get Sharia Law into Ontario. At the meeting with the provincial government, where I presented the first brief objecting to Sharia, the suits made it clear that all the religions (i.e. men who represented the religions) had no objection since that was simply the expression of religion and culture.... and Canada has multiculturalism and freedom of religion.
The difference between the application of Sharia as was originally presented and this murder is only one of degree.
There is a different death for the young girls who are removed from Canadian schools and sent to places like Pakistan to marry much older men. There is a different death for the wonderful young girls with active minds and bodies who are married off right here and continue attending school but who suddenly become very docile and physically and intellectually inactive.
We have to start standing up for girls and women of all ages and all cultural / religious backgrounds.
Pg A6 NDP LEADERSHIP DEBATE
As long as the NDP and Liberals do not do something cooperatively, we will be doomed to Harperite majority governments.
Nathan Cullen has it right. A disorganised Left cannot defeat a unified Right.
Step 1: Get rid of Harper
Step 2: Liberals and NDP work things out between themselves.
Step 3: Proportional seat allocation becomes law
Results: A government that reflects the real desires of Canadians, no matter where they live. Elections where everyone's vote counts
Pg SI WOMEN'S SOCCER
You know it's women's soccer because there is no rolling around in fake pain.
Canada's women's soccer team is going to the London Olympics. The only game they lost was to the first ranked USA.
Of the 136 women's teams ranked by FIFA, Canadian women rank 9th. Canadian men rank 74th.
Yet the men get significant financial remuneration and they women get barely anything.
It's time we the people and the government made a significant difference in our support and recognition of women's soccer.
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