2009 In Review

Well it's nearly the end of the year... I think it was very early in 2009 that I began writing this blog...

What was most important for me this year.. without a doubt the events of this past August...my best friend and spouse and I celebrated 40 years of marriage. We really enjoyed celebrating it with friends in both Regina and Ottawa.

We also waited for and enjoyed the very recent news of the arrival of our fourth grandson.

(Friends of ours will receive a more personal account of our year in a few days)

The country of ours...well...somehow we did not have a federal election. Though I would not have minded one (it is the 'highest expression' of a democracy), I am glad one did not occur. Our electorate is quite polarized and I don't really know how an election would have turned out.

Some things I liked about the year in our political life in Canada -- well it's hard to say... maybe one bright light was the Ontario government's decision to have a new advisory group provide input into social policy - adjustments to welfare rates may be one result. But the province has a huge deficit brought on by the economic downturn so nothing may result from the group's work...

Lots of things not to like about the year past in the political world...our federal government's mean streak especially in dealing with critics and several Canadians seemingly abandoned when in trouble in other countries, and our almost absence or foot dragging on dealing with environmental issues... I was embarassed at our country's receiving of 'fossil' awards in Copenhagen.

Last winter's conflict in Israel and Gaza was most distressing. Both sides committed war crimes (according to human rights groups) yet neither appears to be taking that issue seriously...

The Sri Lankan civil war ended but justice has not arrived in that part of the country.

More locally I was continually amazed at how hypocritic and demonic' some of our talk show hosts in our city can be in their discussion of current events. Last winter's regrettable transit strike brought out the worst in their continuing war against public services and unions. Their attitudes towards Afghan detainees was most upsetting.

The continuning strife in Iran seem to predict interesting times in the month ahead.....

Federal Cabinet Ministers' Ratings

Just saw CTV's rating of our federal cabinet ministers....most make sense with a few notable exceptions.

They rate our Foreign Affairs Minister as a A- - saying he kept a low profile... gee how much lower could it get...

All he did all year was parrot an unsupportable line that people stranded in other countries were there for reasons beyond the control of the Canadian government... this despite clear evidence to the contrary. His line of reasoning always provoked (at least in my mind) the wordsl 'give me a break'. THe positive actions he apparently took in the Bahari case means I would have scored him a low C or a D.

A 'B' to the Minister of Justice... a normally non-partisan minister who seeemed to always be taking 'shots' at political opponents.. no wonder some of their so-called 'justice' bills are held up. The government's 'law and order' agenda seems to reflect ideology...maybe this is the way they appeal to their so-called base

I have difficulty grading our Immigration minister as a A. His Kairos speech in which he distorted that worthy NGO's position on the Middle East situation is not an event worthy of a A rating.

But their ratings of the Health Minister and International Trade Minister seem reasonable given everything they did this year...

And the Name is...

Cairo. I can never say my children were not creative in naming their children. Cairo is my fourth grandchild. Others have such 'usual' names as Trey, Giovanni, and Dayvan.

Regardless of their names I have the typical grandpa or zayde attitude.. they are nothing but wonderful.

Using this quiet time to 'catch up' and am receiving lots of congratulatory messages on our new grandson from as far away as Egypt and Great Britain

Wonderful Day

Late this morning an as yet not named young man arrived in this world. He is the newest member of our family. Our fourth grandson is now alive and well.

We are proud to once again become grandparents.

Seasonal Musings Plus Other

For those who celebrate Christmas - a significant holiday for Christians - Merry Christmas. May the message in the Christmas story - goodwill and peace be an ever increasing factor in your lives and those of all people.

For those who celebrate Christmas as a 'secular' day for family and friends - Have a good holiday season.

2009 was a fascinating year. We went through an economic downturn. Many lost... some won...

Interesting to hear that some of the heads of commercial outfits in the USA whose greedy behaviour started the worldwide recession, are now behaving just as they did before the recession started. And they were supported by massive bailouts of public money.

Sort of makes you wonder what kind of economic system we have in this 21st century.

The Past Decade's Most IMportant Event

Saw lots of discussion on media today about most significant events of past decade. Without a doubt the horrible events of September 11, 2001 stand out the most. So quickly the world changed that day. Thousands were killed, likely thousands were injured.. and millions affected world wide.

So much has changed since that day...

"Pot Calling the Kettle Black"

Heard a great example of this yesterday. One of Ottawa's most right wing talk show hosts was complaining about what he called 'CBC listeners' demonizing him in emails resulting from his appearance on a recent CBC radio show.

It was almost humorous listing to him. He criticized several writers for making comments about him...

But if one listens to his radio show anyone demonizing him pales in comparisons with his demonizing others who disagree with him. He is far better at demonizing 'others' than CBC listeners or anyone else for that matter. No one can approach this fellow in terms of demonizing others.

Mean Streak

I cannot understand the increasingly 'mean streak' shown by Canada's national government. The most recent example was their arbitrary cut off of Kairos - a Catholic service agency. A high level Cabinet Minister accused the organization of being anti-semitic.. only because it criticized certain policies of the Israeli government.

The current government recently went so far as to distribute literature in a number of areas of Canada accusing our main opposition party of being anti-semitic.

This bunch in power don't seem to understand one can criticize government all over the world but not get accused of being anti this or that group of people.

As a semite I can criticize policies of the Israeli government... but in the current federal government's eyes, that makes me an anti-semite.. an accustion that is totally and completely wrong!!

Mr. Kenney.. you don't speak for me.. you and your colleagues should restore KAIROS funding

Copenhagen - Good or Disappointment

Well we have an agreement in Copenhagen.., but cannot tell if it is a good one or just so-so. Have been monitoring twitter for up to date tweets on the climate change conference.

It would be nice if it was a good one to SIGNIFICANTLY reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But if media reports are accurate, most folks will be disappointed.

But on the other hand some progress is better than none.

Like many many others will watch as more details emerge...the reality is our economies will have to change and become less driven by carbon.

Various Stuff

Attending lots of events surrounding the Jewish festival of lights - Chanukah - all those potato pancakes...becoming stuffed with latkes...

Still unhappy with events in Copenhagen.. or more rightly.. unhappy at continuing attitude of Canadian authorities....

Mind you saw one suggestion for Canada which would improve our environmental impact in a significant way... Canada as a wealthy country should make a substantial contribution to helping developing countries cope with the effects of climate change. Will our political leaders have the ability to seize this opportunity?

It's amazing how otherwise bright folks still question the science of global warming and climate change. Just a touch of cold weather brings out all the conspiracy theories. Chatted about this with two other folks last evening who judge the degree of climate concern with this week's weather in Ottawa..how myopic can one be??

Copenhagen Shenanigans

What fun it must have been today in Denmark thanks to some clever pranksters - had lots to chuckle about.. the first news release; then the second news release; and then apparently a video.. all hoaxes.. oh what fun some people had at the expense of the current federal government.

But it has a tragicomedic feature. OUr Canadian government is on the 'wrong side' of the environmental file ever since it came to power. Major reductions in greenhouse gas emissions WILL affect our economy. I only wish our political leaders would join the efforts to update all economies to recognize the new environmental order.

Governments of our two largest provinces appear to get it. Why cannot our federal government?

December... December

Gee like all Decembers.. times are crazy and busys. Why is it all the socials of the year occur in December?

Happy 61st Birthday

Today is the 61st anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - a monumental point in history

Wouldn't it be nice to be able to wish the Declaration a happy birthday. Wouldn't it be nice if human rights abuses were only in our 'history'? Meaning wouldn't it be nice if no one suffered human rights abuses anywhere in this world?

I could list those countries where practices amounting to human rights abuses still exist today. But the list would be too long....organizations such as Amnesty International catalogue over 150 countries in which serious human rights abuses exist.

People all over the world including here in Canada must continue to work towards creating a situation where all peoples everywhere can genuinely wish each other and the UDHR a 'Happy Birthday' on some future December 10.

Afghan Detainee Controversy in Canada

From where I sit I think our federal government just doesn't get it....international law prohibits torture or doing anything which may contribute to torture.

Given the apparent 'culture' in Afghanistan our government regardless of political stripe should have avoided placing detainees in detention in a culture of torture. We need an independent judicial inquiry. It's all really simple to understand.. assuming one wants to understand.

"They Blew It"

The report of the RCMP Complaints Commissioner according to media report severly slams the RCMP for how they handled the tasering of the Polish man at Vancouver airport in 2007.

Some time ago I had a chat with a relatively new RCMP member who summed up all the commentary on the four officers' handling of the whole case.. they just blew it.

My sense is the three word title of this post describes their behaviour that day. Tragically there was a totally unnecessary loss of life.

A Huge Country We Have Here

Well after seven driving filled days we are back home...great to be ensconced in usual quarters.

What a variety of scenery in this country...flat prairies; beautiful lakes; wonderful valleys and rivers...

Experienced snow squalls.. not very nice if you are driving on already snow covered roads.. but appropriate levels of caution one can safety arrive at destinations.

Saw daughter and boyfriend, and two grandsons during our time away.. all are good which is great