Perhaps it is the season.
Perhaps I am becoming more observant.
Perhaps humanity is just becoming cooler.
Whatever it was, this is the convergence of beauty that I witnessed today on the subway.
A man walked on the car with 2 young daughters. Two people got up to move to allow the children a seat with their father.
A elderly man walked on the car, which was packed. He was having difficulty standing and had no where to hold on. A woman sitting about four feet away had a procession of people try to get his attention to offer him her seat.
An old woman entered the train, and then another young woman with a collection of packages. People got up promptly to give them seats.
The only explanation I have is that kindess.is.contagious.
I enjoy when kindness is just...present. Not a revolutionary act that we are suprised about, but something that seems as normal as breathing.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
ain't no sunshine.
I came across this today.........You may have already been fortunate enough to hear this version of Bill Wither's "Aint No Sunshine". But if not, its definetly worth checking out. This is one of my favourite Bill Wither's songs, second, for me, only to "Grandma's Hands"......Anyways, I like this arrangement by Selah Sue and Ronny Mosuse. Check it out: "Ain't No Sunshine"
Friday, November 26, 2010
chicago blues
some music is so powerful it feels as though the whole room is electric.
Just one of the many awesome things about music and seeing live performances.
I saw this woman perform earlier this year in Chicago at the Buddy Guy's Blues Club.
She has this voice.....that literally.....fills the room. She was such a huge presence on stage, that I would of sworn that she was about ten feet tall. I was suprised when she walked by us after the show, and realized she was actually not very tall at all. :)
At any rate, shes a great performer and storyteller, and getting to enjoy her show in Buddy Guys club, was an amazing experience in itself.
Check her out: Sharon Lewis
Just one of the many awesome things about music and seeing live performances.
I saw this woman perform earlier this year in Chicago at the Buddy Guy's Blues Club.
She has this voice.....that literally.....fills the room. She was such a huge presence on stage, that I would of sworn that she was about ten feet tall. I was suprised when she walked by us after the show, and realized she was actually not very tall at all. :)
At any rate, shes a great performer and storyteller, and getting to enjoy her show in Buddy Guys club, was an amazing experience in itself.
Check her out: Sharon Lewis
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Finding the truth....a speech by John Legend
An interesting lecture given by John Legend at the 2009 University of Pennsylvania convocation. Worth a viewing, and interesting food for thought.
http://www.youtube.com/user/johnlegend?blend=1&ob=4#p/u/5/NSIQszUAvow
Saturday, July 24, 2010
mother nature reminds us
It was a warm August evening. Before the storm hit, earlier in the evening, as I got into the car, I could feel a warm breeze, the sky was a strange colour and it all felt eerily familiar. I ignored the familiar feeling, turned off my senses and got into my car. As I was driving west across the city, headed home, I looked into my rear-view mirror. The view was bright. When I looked ahead, the sky was turning blue and black, and sheet lightening was threatening to strike. There was no rain. But you could clearly tell it was coming. I pulled into my driveway, and drove into my buildings parking lot. I got to the elevator, just as the lights started to flicker. Not an encouraging event when one is entering an elevator. By the time I reached my floor, the water was pelleting the window so hard you couldn't see out. It reminded me of the way the water pushes against your windshield when you go through a car wash. The storm went on for hours, or it felt like it anyway. It wasn't until the eleven o'clock news that I got a sense of the damage it had done.
Reports that I read, say multiple tornados touched down in this Southern Ontario storm. The storm was reminiscent of the Wizard of Oz, with swirling debris, trees uprooted, cars turned over, houses completely destroyed and thousands affected by power outages. Even more tragic was the loss of one young life, a little boy attending a summer camp. In the city, we were hit by the strong rain, and some lost power. However, north of Toronto, there were houses which have since had to be bulldozed because this storm caused so much damage in literally under five minutes. This all felt very familiar.
When I was 10, a Tornado (or series of tornadoes) hit the town where I grew up. This set of tornado storms reminded me of that day.That set of storms made the top ten list of Ontario's worst ever storms. I guess it stands to reason - eight people died in the numerous tornadoes that touched down in those few hours. Houses were destroyed and debris was scattered for literally kilometres. The devastation left by that storm was sudden and fierce.
That day, my father, on his way home for work was stopped by a police roadblock, about 10 minutes from where we lived. It was before cell phones, so he was tied up in knots worrying about our safety. I can only imagine what he felt as he could see the damage of the storm, but had no way to reach out to my mother and I.
At the time, I didn't feel a sense of urgency, I stood out on the deck of my parents house and watched as the sky ominously turned black. There was no rain. It was warm and the energy felt uneasy, but I don't remember being scared. My mother sat at the kitchen table nervously smoking. A few minutes later we left so my mom could take me to soccer practice. Practice that day ended up being cancelled. By the time we got home my father was now home and nervous because he was unsure where we were. What I didn't know at the time was that the reason for the roadblock was because an elderly lady in my community, who owned a house on a big hill, and was host to at least a couple dozen cats, had been killed in the storm. The tornado had ripped her house apart and had spread it across a number of farmers fields. It was tragic. it was the reason for the road block my dad had passed by on his way home. I can only imagine the emotions that must have captured him as he raced to our house to see if we were ok, only to find us gone when he returned home.
I remember the devastation of that storm and the scars it left on my community. It reminds me of how tenuous and fragile life is. Sometimes I think we get lulled into this belief that everything is safe and that we are unaffected by these types of disasters, but then Mother Nature reminds us ...........who is really in control.
Reports that I read, say multiple tornados touched down in this Southern Ontario storm. The storm was reminiscent of the Wizard of Oz, with swirling debris, trees uprooted, cars turned over, houses completely destroyed and thousands affected by power outages. Even more tragic was the loss of one young life, a little boy attending a summer camp. In the city, we were hit by the strong rain, and some lost power. However, north of Toronto, there were houses which have since had to be bulldozed because this storm caused so much damage in literally under five minutes. This all felt very familiar.
When I was 10, a Tornado (or series of tornadoes) hit the town where I grew up. This set of tornado storms reminded me of that day.That set of storms made the top ten list of Ontario's worst ever storms. I guess it stands to reason - eight people died in the numerous tornadoes that touched down in those few hours. Houses were destroyed and debris was scattered for literally kilometres. The devastation left by that storm was sudden and fierce.
That day, my father, on his way home for work was stopped by a police roadblock, about 10 minutes from where we lived. It was before cell phones, so he was tied up in knots worrying about our safety. I can only imagine what he felt as he could see the damage of the storm, but had no way to reach out to my mother and I.
At the time, I didn't feel a sense of urgency, I stood out on the deck of my parents house and watched as the sky ominously turned black. There was no rain. It was warm and the energy felt uneasy, but I don't remember being scared. My mother sat at the kitchen table nervously smoking. A few minutes later we left so my mom could take me to soccer practice. Practice that day ended up being cancelled. By the time we got home my father was now home and nervous because he was unsure where we were. What I didn't know at the time was that the reason for the roadblock was because an elderly lady in my community, who owned a house on a big hill, and was host to at least a couple dozen cats, had been killed in the storm. The tornado had ripped her house apart and had spread it across a number of farmers fields. It was tragic. it was the reason for the road block my dad had passed by on his way home. I can only imagine the emotions that must have captured him as he raced to our house to see if we were ok, only to find us gone when he returned home.
I remember the devastation of that storm and the scars it left on my community. It reminds me of how tenuous and fragile life is. Sometimes I think we get lulled into this belief that everything is safe and that we are unaffected by these types of disasters, but then Mother Nature reminds us ...........who is really in control.
Friday, July 23, 2010
just a walk
in the absence of words, and some missing mojo, I present some beauty observed here and there.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Hockey is our national pride..
It is, our game, and we are fiercely proud of it. There are not many things that unite this country, but in my opinion, hockey is one of them.
This year, Canada won gold in both women's and men's hockey.It came down to familiar rivals USA and Canada for both events.
My friends and I watched the men's game in a small bar in downtown Toronto. What an intense game. The Americans tied up the game less than a minute before the end of the 3rd period, forcing an overtime. When Sydney Crosby scored the winning goal in overtime, all you could hear was the screaming. People in the bar leapt to their feet and hugged total strangers. When the medals were awarded, the whole bar sang the national anthem back to the screen.
What was just as awesome was the national pride that poured out into the streets all over Canada. Total strangers high fiving, cheering, united in success for our athletes. The number of Canadian flags I saw yesterday was more than I have ever seen on Canada Day. My favourite still was the guy I saw driving his mini van down Yonge street, horn blaring, and a Canadian flag tied to a hockey stick waving out of the window. Brilliant!
Way to go Team Canada, you did us proud !!!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
The weekend of parking absurdities
Saturday.
I had a morning appointment with a friend and like usual I was running late, so I drove. I parked on the street in trendy borough swimming with yuppies and upscale stores. For the most part, I don't venture here, and prefer not to drive in this area, particularly on the weekends, because there are too many people and parking is always expensive and a hassle.
Turns out, if you park on the street here, there is a 3 hour limit. I don't know if its just the neighborhood or this could be a city by-law, I don't know, but its a pain having to run back to the meter to feed another $2 a hour into the machine. When I arrived, I paid for the maximum time of 3 hours. When I returned, 3 hours and 5 minutes after I paid, I arrived to find a bright yellow ticket on my car. The ticket was issued exactly five minutes after my parking stub expired. Oh Crap.
Sunday.
I go to dinner in the same neighbourhood. You'd think I would have learned.
This time, I'm even that more deviant. I park 30 minutes past the meter. Daring, I know. Who would think that I would get 2 tickets in 2 days? Clearly, not me.
I am rewarded with another bright yellow ticket. Double Crap.
So here's the kicker....each of these tickets came with a $30 bill. Which when you do the math on each ticket, works out to 15 times what I paid for one hour of parking. Are you kidding me?
I had a morning appointment with a friend and like usual I was running late, so I drove. I parked on the street in trendy borough swimming with yuppies and upscale stores. For the most part, I don't venture here, and prefer not to drive in this area, particularly on the weekends, because there are too many people and parking is always expensive and a hassle.
Turns out, if you park on the street here, there is a 3 hour limit. I don't know if its just the neighborhood or this could be a city by-law, I don't know, but its a pain having to run back to the meter to feed another $2 a hour into the machine. When I arrived, I paid for the maximum time of 3 hours. When I returned, 3 hours and 5 minutes after I paid, I arrived to find a bright yellow ticket on my car. The ticket was issued exactly five minutes after my parking stub expired. Oh Crap.
Sunday.
I go to dinner in the same neighbourhood. You'd think I would have learned.
This time, I'm even that more deviant. I park 30 minutes past the meter. Daring, I know. Who would think that I would get 2 tickets in 2 days? Clearly, not me.
I am rewarded with another bright yellow ticket. Double Crap.
So here's the kicker....each of these tickets came with a $30 bill. Which when you do the math on each ticket, works out to 15 times what I paid for one hour of parking. Are you kidding me?
Am I the only one who thinks this is absurd?
Saturday, February 20, 2010
A random note about lettuce.
Lettuce is one of those vegetables, I struggle to appreciate. I'm sure it has value, its green so that means its got nutrients.... right? didn't we learn about that in grade six science?
The thing with lettuce, is its sort of under the radar in terms of taste. There really is not alot of it. And then theres the texture. Its almost anti-climactic. It can be crunchy, but under the wrong conditions, it goes soggy. I don't like soggy vegetables. I know, its weird. Not to say I don't like cooked vegetables, but I don't like it when a vegetable is meant to remain crisp, becomes soggy and gross.
Let me explain.
Lettuce for example, is one of those vegetables that needs to be crisp. When heat is applied to it, it acquires this rather disgusting, slimy texture. It becomes limp and lazy, you can see through it. When you dare to bite into it, when it is in this undesirable state, its anti-climactic, it has no crunch, it sort of just slides out of whatever you are eating. Gross.
Nachos are the perfect example of a dish to avoid using lettuce. You take chips, cover them with cheese, and assorted other things, heat them up, and voila...crunchy food.... for the most part. Add lettuce to this mixture and you have these globs of green sliding all over the place. Just wrong.....(and as a side note...does anyone know why people use shredded lettuce on nachos? I don't get it, and its one of my biggest pet peeves....again, weird, I know.)
The ironic example, perhaps an exception to my rule, is lettuce and chicken in a salad. If the chicken is not too hot when you add it to the salad, it doesn't have the opportunity to change the crispness of the lettuce. For some reason it doesn't always go soggy. Maybe its the dressing that cools it down, who knows the physics of it, I was an arts major...... I just know it doesn't always go gross.
When I was travelling this fall, I tried a Cobb Salad. I eat a lot of salad but usually not with lettuce. It is a rare occassion when I try a lettuce salad with some sort of hot item in it, namely meat. But I tried this one and I liked it. For the uninitiated, a Cobb salad, has romaine lettuce, hard boiled eggs chopped up, pieces of bacon, pieces of chicken, avocado, tomato, chives, chunks of blue cheese, covered in a dressing of olive oil, balsamic vinegar and dijon mustard. (I know this only because I looked it up after I got home, and have spent the last few months experimenting with my own versions of it.) I'm guessing this salad is not very good for you, given the amount of protein and fat, but its yummy just the same. And my discovery of this dish, has made me a hypocrite to my own code on lettuce. Celebrate my food hypocrisy and try this one, its really good.
The thing with lettuce, is its sort of under the radar in terms of taste. There really is not alot of it. And then theres the texture. Its almost anti-climactic. It can be crunchy, but under the wrong conditions, it goes soggy. I don't like soggy vegetables. I know, its weird. Not to say I don't like cooked vegetables, but I don't like it when a vegetable is meant to remain crisp, becomes soggy and gross.
Let me explain.
Lettuce for example, is one of those vegetables that needs to be crisp. When heat is applied to it, it acquires this rather disgusting, slimy texture. It becomes limp and lazy, you can see through it. When you dare to bite into it, when it is in this undesirable state, its anti-climactic, it has no crunch, it sort of just slides out of whatever you are eating. Gross.
Nachos are the perfect example of a dish to avoid using lettuce. You take chips, cover them with cheese, and assorted other things, heat them up, and voila...crunchy food.... for the most part. Add lettuce to this mixture and you have these globs of green sliding all over the place. Just wrong.....(and as a side note...does anyone know why people use shredded lettuce on nachos? I don't get it, and its one of my biggest pet peeves....again, weird, I know.)
The ironic example, perhaps an exception to my rule, is lettuce and chicken in a salad. If the chicken is not too hot when you add it to the salad, it doesn't have the opportunity to change the crispness of the lettuce. For some reason it doesn't always go soggy. Maybe its the dressing that cools it down, who knows the physics of it, I was an arts major...... I just know it doesn't always go gross.
When I was travelling this fall, I tried a Cobb Salad. I eat a lot of salad but usually not with lettuce. It is a rare occassion when I try a lettuce salad with some sort of hot item in it, namely meat. But I tried this one and I liked it. For the uninitiated, a Cobb salad, has romaine lettuce, hard boiled eggs chopped up, pieces of bacon, pieces of chicken, avocado, tomato, chives, chunks of blue cheese, covered in a dressing of olive oil, balsamic vinegar and dijon mustard. (I know this only because I looked it up after I got home, and have spent the last few months experimenting with my own versions of it.) I'm guessing this salad is not very good for you, given the amount of protein and fat, but its yummy just the same. And my discovery of this dish, has made me a hypocrite to my own code on lettuce. Celebrate my food hypocrisy and try this one, its really good.
What's Love Got to do with it?
Recently, I re-watched a movie I enjoy "Whats love got to do with it?", the Tina Turner story based on her autobiography "I, Tina". She has had an interesting journey in life, and shes a woman of resilience, strength and determination. The film is well acted and the way the story is constructed for the screen keeps a good pace for the viewer and incorporates a good number of performance scenes. The thing I find with a lot of bio pics about musical groups is the performance scenes are generally where the story sometimes falls apart. Integrating the performance scenes is a delicate balance I think. Some filmmakers splice partial performance scenes in with some of the dramatic events. It doesn't always come off effectively. In WLGTDWI, theres a balance of full performance scenes, and some scenes which are just a few moments of them performing clipped together to show the passage of time. The style works in the films favour.
Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne compliment each other in their performances. They have great chemistry and their strong acting skills bring you into the world of Tina & Ike. Incidentally both were nominated for Best Actor and Best Actress, the year the film came out. Their acting partnership has continued over at least 2 other films - Boyz in the Hood (another great film), and Akeelah and the Bee. I love Tina's music, the stuff she did with Ike in the first part of her career, and much of the post-Ike creations. She is adaptable in her music styles, but beyond that she brings a unique sound, and a talent and enjoyment of performance.
In 2008, I went to see Tina perform. What an experience! She sold out three shows. She had no openers. Just her and the audience for three hours. She had an elaborate stage, but her show is a performance, not just her dancing to the music. She sets a scene, and tailors her acts to the music that she is singing. H
er vocals are still great, and her voice hits you like this force of nature. Maybe it is the passion she sings with, but I am in awe.
Her more recent material has a new sound, but resonates those distinct vocals. I realize she has moved beyond her music with Ike, but it was an integral part of her early success and her time with him I think must have shaped some of who she is. One of my favourite Ike and Tina songs was Proud Mary. (In my opinion, still hands down a better version than the Creedence version, which is also solid). Maybe this song is hard for her to perform, as it was one of the ones she used to do with Ike, but she still does it. As one of her encores. she played this song. And wow......is she ever an incredible artist. She proved again she still has it. She is almost 70, she has legs of steel and she can still do her trademark dance for that song. Pretty awesome.
At the end of the show, we heard that it was her 50th year in music (she started in 1958). It's no suprise when you consider the way she conducts herself. This woman is a class act. I have been to hundreds of concerts - I have never seen a performer express gratitude like this woman. She literally thanked every person, by name, who contributed to the success of the evening. So many people who reach her level don't spend time acknowledging how others have shaped their success, I see this as one of her greatest strengths. She has lived a life with its fair share of challenges and found the strength, courage and resilience to not only survive, but to thrive and create these awesome pieces of music that she has shared with the world. Thank you Tina, you are still the Queen.
Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne compliment each other in their performances. They have great chemistry and their strong acting skills bring you into the world of Tina & Ike. Incidentally both were nominated for Best Actor and Best Actress, the year the film came out. Their acting partnership has continued over at least 2 other films - Boyz in the Hood (another great film), and Akeelah and the Bee. I love Tina's music, the stuff she did with Ike in the first part of her career, and much of the post-Ike creations. She is adaptable in her music styles, but beyond that she brings a unique sound, and a talent and enjoyment of performance.
In 2008, I went to see Tina perform. What an experience! She sold out three shows. She had no openers. Just her and the audience for three hours. She had an elaborate stage, but her show is a performance, not just her dancing to the music. She sets a scene, and tailors her acts to the music that she is singing. H
er vocals are still great, and her voice hits you like this force of nature. Maybe it is the passion she sings with, but I am in awe.Her more recent material has a new sound, but resonates those distinct vocals. I realize she has moved beyond her music with Ike, but it was an integral part of her early success and her time with him I think must have shaped some of who she is. One of my favourite Ike and Tina songs was Proud Mary. (In my opinion, still hands down a better version than the Creedence version, which is also solid). Maybe this song is hard for her to perform, as it was one of the ones she used to do with Ike, but she still does it. As one of her encores. she played this song. And wow......is she ever an incredible artist. She proved again she still has it. She is almost 70, she has legs of steel and she can still do her trademark dance for that song. Pretty awesome.
At the end of the show, we heard that it was her 50th year in music (she started in 1958). It's no suprise when you consider the way she conducts herself. This woman is a class act. I have been to hundreds of concerts - I have never seen a performer express gratitude like this woman. She literally thanked every person, by name, who contributed to the success of the evening. So many people who reach her level don't spend time acknowledging how others have shaped their success, I see this as one of her greatest strengths. She has lived a life with its fair share of challenges and found the strength, courage and resilience to not only survive, but to thrive and create these awesome pieces of music that she has shared with the world. Thank you Tina, you are still the Queen.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Spaceman Spencer....Check it out...
some friends have been contributing to some projects for kids. This video is one of their latest pieces. Its a fun music video about space. Who doesnt love stuff about space ? :)
Check it out and please share it on... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOAN81p5nHA
Check it out and please share it on... http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Sunday, January 3, 2010
compromised democracy
The end of 2009, meant another prorogued government for Canadians. The second in just over a year, by the same minority government, and the first time ever in Canadian history that the same government has done it twice in its term. I am shocked, angered, frustrated and disappointed about this development. Although sadly, I am not very suprised.
As I understand it, proroguing the government, means that the Members of Parliament will not return to work until March 3rd. It also means that all of the 30 or so pieces of legislation that been scheduled to be voted on will be cancelled, and have to be resubmitted. Additionally, two other interesting things happen - the committee which was due to address concerns of abuse of Afghani prisoners will not continue to meet, and during the break, the Harper government has said that it will fill 5 more senate positions effectively making it easier for their party to pass legislation.
The statement issued by the PMO's office said that the proroguing would allow the government to prepare the budget. In an economic downturn there is no doubt that fiscal responsibility is important. But what about the other responsibilities? Did they really have to suspend all other work to ensure that the budget gets done? I don't think proroguing was the only way to allow more time for budget preparation. Using the budget as the reason and the motivation for the proroguing also implies that all the other work being done in the House and Senate, was not nearly as important as what Harper and the Conservatives wanted. What about discussion? What about collaborating with other house members to arrive at a solution that would not totally disregard legislation that was in progress, that would create alliances, instead of drawing lines?
And what about the budget anyway? If the budget becomes the main topic upon return in March, and it benefits Canadians economically, or appears to.... will people forgive? Will people even remember what happened? Will they still care? Will they think about the implications that proroguing has had and still be critical? I'm not so sure. I fear that social memory is very short. This year, I think it will be particularly short with the olympics as the primary focus through most of February. More than anything, this move stops discussion, of any kind. There is no debate, there is no movement, the country waits until March 3rd. Maybe I am an idealist, but I thought debate was the heart of democracy. Taking away the discussion on important topics like the Afghan detainee issue and legislation in progress means that opinions, as well as criticisms can not be given.
Perhaps the strategy Harper is using is one which he hopes will force an election. We really can't afford an election right now. Besides that, the other parties are not in a position to take the leadership. A coalition government would probably be a short run. I don't think any of the parties can push through a majority government right now. I think we need some new leadership, in all of the parties. It almost feels like we are in a leadership limbo as a country. It's been a long time since we have been infused with fresh thinking, new ideas and a leader with passion and charisma like Trudeau. We need some change.
As for the proroguing... I think we have to start to think about the things that are not being said. What are the possible reasons for this move by the government that are not being offered up. There is more to this than just the budget. What reasons are not being given? What other benefits might a suspended session offer the sitting government? Does this give Harper more latitude to do things during these two months without being noticed? And if so, what? Are there pieces of legislation on the table that the government did not want passed? How could a delay benefit the governments position on an issue? And what about the timing of the announcement? A few days after Christmas and before New Years. A time when people are on vacation, still in their sugar and turkey comas from the holidays. It feels like the timing was strategic. The government was probably counting on the fact that people were likely not paying attention.
As someone who participates in democracy, whose concerned about how our country works and what decisions our politicians make, I am frustrated. On one side, my frustration stems from watching the democratic process get continually compromised at the whims of a leader who seems to me to be playing political games as a means to give his party the upper hand. I know politics is about strategy. I would also hope it is about compromise, collaboration and making positive strides towards what is in the best public good. I have to ask whose agenda and whose benefit does proroguing ultimately serve? My answer would be the conservative government. The answer should be, the people.
The second point of my frustration is apathy. Why are more people not talking about this? Why are more people not upset? Are Canadians really this politically disengaged? But it is my hope that we are engaged. I hope we do care. As much as debate is at the core of democracy amongst politicians, our elected officials, I think its also integral among the people. If we cannot talk about these things, we cannot contribute our opinions, we cannot participate in the process. Participation is at the core of democracy. If we are are fortunate to live in a democratic country, where we have a voice that truly comes without fear of persecution, do we not also have an obligation to participate in that democracy? I feel we do.
Participation begins with understanding, taking an opinion, but it continues with how you use that knowledge. Each individual has power, the point is how we apply our influence. Your voice matters. Your opinion is important. Your ideas are valuable and you have a right to share them. You also have a right to question the things you do not understand. A good place to start might be with your local MP's office. They are all accessible, and it is there job to represent you. It is your job to tell them how.
If you know who your MP is, you can get their contact info here:
http://webinfo.parl.gc.ca/MembersOfParliament/MainMPsCompleteList.aspx?TimePeriod=Current&Language=E
If you are not sure, you can check this site by entering your postal code. It will tell you who your local MP is: http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Compilations/HouseOfCommons/MemberByPostalCode.aspx?Menu=HOC
Ok. I am jumping off the soapbox now.
If you made it this far into my rant, thanks for taking the time to hear me out.
As I understand it, proroguing the government, means that the Members of Parliament will not return to work until March 3rd. It also means that all of the 30 or so pieces of legislation that been scheduled to be voted on will be cancelled, and have to be resubmitted. Additionally, two other interesting things happen - the committee which was due to address concerns of abuse of Afghani prisoners will not continue to meet, and during the break, the Harper government has said that it will fill 5 more senate positions effectively making it easier for their party to pass legislation.
The statement issued by the PMO's office said that the proroguing would allow the government to prepare the budget. In an economic downturn there is no doubt that fiscal responsibility is important. But what about the other responsibilities? Did they really have to suspend all other work to ensure that the budget gets done? I don't think proroguing was the only way to allow more time for budget preparation. Using the budget as the reason and the motivation for the proroguing also implies that all the other work being done in the House and Senate, was not nearly as important as what Harper and the Conservatives wanted. What about discussion? What about collaborating with other house members to arrive at a solution that would not totally disregard legislation that was in progress, that would create alliances, instead of drawing lines?
And what about the budget anyway? If the budget becomes the main topic upon return in March, and it benefits Canadians economically, or appears to.... will people forgive? Will people even remember what happened? Will they still care? Will they think about the implications that proroguing has had and still be critical? I'm not so sure. I fear that social memory is very short. This year, I think it will be particularly short with the olympics as the primary focus through most of February. More than anything, this move stops discussion, of any kind. There is no debate, there is no movement, the country waits until March 3rd. Maybe I am an idealist, but I thought debate was the heart of democracy. Taking away the discussion on important topics like the Afghan detainee issue and legislation in progress means that opinions, as well as criticisms can not be given.
Perhaps the strategy Harper is using is one which he hopes will force an election. We really can't afford an election right now. Besides that, the other parties are not in a position to take the leadership. A coalition government would probably be a short run. I don't think any of the parties can push through a majority government right now. I think we need some new leadership, in all of the parties. It almost feels like we are in a leadership limbo as a country. It's been a long time since we have been infused with fresh thinking, new ideas and a leader with passion and charisma like Trudeau. We need some change.
As for the proroguing... I think we have to start to think about the things that are not being said. What are the possible reasons for this move by the government that are not being offered up. There is more to this than just the budget. What reasons are not being given? What other benefits might a suspended session offer the sitting government? Does this give Harper more latitude to do things during these two months without being noticed? And if so, what? Are there pieces of legislation on the table that the government did not want passed? How could a delay benefit the governments position on an issue? And what about the timing of the announcement? A few days after Christmas and before New Years. A time when people are on vacation, still in their sugar and turkey comas from the holidays. It feels like the timing was strategic. The government was probably counting on the fact that people were likely not paying attention.
As someone who participates in democracy, whose concerned about how our country works and what decisions our politicians make, I am frustrated. On one side, my frustration stems from watching the democratic process get continually compromised at the whims of a leader who seems to me to be playing political games as a means to give his party the upper hand. I know politics is about strategy. I would also hope it is about compromise, collaboration and making positive strides towards what is in the best public good. I have to ask whose agenda and whose benefit does proroguing ultimately serve? My answer would be the conservative government. The answer should be, the people.
The second point of my frustration is apathy. Why are more people not talking about this? Why are more people not upset? Are Canadians really this politically disengaged? But it is my hope that we are engaged. I hope we do care. As much as debate is at the core of democracy amongst politicians, our elected officials, I think its also integral among the people. If we cannot talk about these things, we cannot contribute our opinions, we cannot participate in the process. Participation is at the core of democracy. If we are are fortunate to live in a democratic country, where we have a voice that truly comes without fear of persecution, do we not also have an obligation to participate in that democracy? I feel we do.
Participation begins with understanding, taking an opinion, but it continues with how you use that knowledge. Each individual has power, the point is how we apply our influence. Your voice matters. Your opinion is important. Your ideas are valuable and you have a right to share them. You also have a right to question the things you do not understand. A good place to start might be with your local MP's office. They are all accessible, and it is there job to represent you. It is your job to tell them how.
If you know who your MP is, you can get their contact info here:
http://webinfo.parl.gc.ca/MembersOfParliament/MainMPsCompleteList.aspx?TimePeriod=Current&Language=E
If you are not sure, you can check this site by entering your postal code. It will tell you who your local MP is: http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Compilations/HouseOfCommons/MemberByPostalCode.aspx?Menu=HOC
Ok. I am jumping off the soapbox now.
If you made it this far into my rant, thanks for taking the time to hear me out.
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