I don't know what to make of the tragic shooting of Nathan Cirillo at the War Memorial in Ottawa. It appears that both cases of young Muslim converts killing soldiers in the past two weeks were isolated incidents of homegrown terror by deranged killers. They were not acting on the orders of foreign terrorists.
I'm not impressed with Muslim extremists acting violently in the Middle East or anywhere else. But I don't think I'm less safe. I know that I'm more likely to be hit by radical cyclist in Toronto than be a victim of a terrorist act.
I was not impressed by our finger wagging Prime Minister hiding in a closet when the shooting started. He was not whisked into the closet by the RCMP or bodyguards. That was not the act of a brave man.
Some people are upset by the way Muslims have targeted Christians for violence in the Middle East and elsewhere. I'm having trouble getting worked up by that. In the not too distant past Protestants treated Catholics like dogs in the city I live in. Denied them access to stores, public establishments and work. It was the accepted policy of the establishment.
By in large Christians have it pretty good. We have the biggest cars, fancy cell phones and HD flat screens. I'm not complaining.
My only act of defiance was that I did not vote for the Muslim woman that was running for school board Trustee in my district, as she was wearing a veil. She was supported by Michael Layton but I was offended that a left leaning Muslim woman would cover herself in veil while Muslim men could dress as they pleased. I don't accept that they wear a veil because they want to. I just don't get too worked up about it as I think all religions have false ideology.
Saturday 25 October 2014
Nathan Cirillo
When I was 16-years old growing up in Hamilton I was looking for a summer job. My two older brothers served in the Canadian Armed Forces Reserves. Paul served in the Navy with HMCS Star, Brian was with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (RHLI) out of the James Street Armouries. I vaguely remember going downtown trying to choose which reserve group to join. I ended up with the 23 Service Battalion but I have no idea why I chose that group. But I do remember that I did not want to join the Argylls because they wore kilts. In 1980 it was not cool in Hamilton to wear a kilt. It may not be cool today. After 10 months in the Army Reserve I was off to Cornwallis and basic training for the Regular Forces. What I learnt in the Reserves was invaluable in getting me through basic training.
I bring up that story today because of Nathan Cirillo, of the Hamilton based Argylls, who was tragically murdered at the Ottawa memorial of the unknown soldier. To hear his background story you can't help but to be impressed with this young man. He was a far better soldier than I ever was. He was older at 24 and much more mature. By the time I was 21 years old I was a 4-year veteran and out of the military.
I have been following the story and have been moved by the outpouring of support for Cirillo and his family. In particular the city of Hamilton has adopted Nathan Cirillo as a proud son of Steeltown.
Fellow Hamiltonian Bereza and I are attending the Ti-Cat game in Toronto today. I'm sure there will be a fitting tribute to a fallen son of The Hammer at the game.
I bring up that story today because of Nathan Cirillo, of the Hamilton based Argylls, who was tragically murdered at the Ottawa memorial of the unknown soldier. To hear his background story you can't help but to be impressed with this young man. He was a far better soldier than I ever was. He was older at 24 and much more mature. By the time I was 21 years old I was a 4-year veteran and out of the military.
I have been following the story and have been moved by the outpouring of support for Cirillo and his family. In particular the city of Hamilton has adopted Nathan Cirillo as a proud son of Steeltown.
Fellow Hamiltonian Bereza and I are attending the Ti-Cat game in Toronto today. I'm sure there will be a fitting tribute to a fallen son of The Hammer at the game.
Calling out Harper
The right wing politicians never fail to prove their true mettle than during a crisis that effects their own personal safety. Few people will call him out for it but our finger wagging Prime Minister Harper hid in a closet when a gunman ran into the Parliament building this week.
Harper did not have RCMP handlers or bodyguards that forced him to seek safety. He was with fellow Conservative MP's in a caucus meeting. They had no idea he was in the closet while they barricaded themselves in the room.
Harper, who never picked up ball to participate in sports as a young boy, never served his country in the Armed Forces, one of the most physically weak men to hold office portrays himself as a tough guy. When the rubber meets the road ones true character comes to light. People will give him a pass but I know that he is a man of words not action. If you were in a foxhole and the shooting started you would not want Harper to be at your side.
The right wingers in the US and Canada like to portray themselves as the guardians of patriotism and love of country. They send other peoples sons to fight their battles and when the bullets fly they cower in closets while the real heroes restore order.
Harper did not have RCMP handlers or bodyguards that forced him to seek safety. He was with fellow Conservative MP's in a caucus meeting. They had no idea he was in the closet while they barricaded themselves in the room.
Harper, who never picked up ball to participate in sports as a young boy, never served his country in the Armed Forces, one of the most physically weak men to hold office portrays himself as a tough guy. When the rubber meets the road ones true character comes to light. People will give him a pass but I know that he is a man of words not action. If you were in a foxhole and the shooting started you would not want Harper to be at your side.
The right wingers in the US and Canada like to portray themselves as the guardians of patriotism and love of country. They send other peoples sons to fight their battles and when the bullets fly they cower in closets while the real heroes restore order.
Sunday 19 October 2014
Catholic Trustee Update
In an incredible coincidence I actually know the principal involved in the soccer parent incident. I know one school principal in the GTA and it is this woman. I don't know her very well and have spoken to her maybe twice in the past decade. I know her through her husband. When I wrote the post last night I had no idea she was involved in the incident. A buddy pointed it out last night.
I note that trustees were going to follow-up with the parent before they reinstate the no-trespass order. Sure let's make sure he is ok with the order. The principal is still off work One of the trustees cited the Catholic teaching of forgiveness as a reason they called a special meeting to overturn the no-trespass order.
The Catholic Cardinal is back from Rome where they made sure that homosexuals and divorced Catholics were still not welcome in the church. Maybe he can weigh in on this issue? I know it is not abortion but he may want to throw his two cents on the matter.
I note that trustees were going to follow-up with the parent before they reinstate the no-trespass order. Sure let's make sure he is ok with the order. The principal is still off work One of the trustees cited the Catholic teaching of forgiveness as a reason they called a special meeting to overturn the no-trespass order.
The Catholic Cardinal is back from Rome where they made sure that homosexuals and divorced Catholics were still not welcome in the church. Maybe he can weigh in on this issue? I know it is not abortion but he may want to throw his two cents on the matter.
Saturday 18 October 2014
Ward 19
I voted in an advanced poll today in the Toronto municipal election. We will be replacing arguably the world's most infamous mayor in 10-days time. There was a line-up at my polling station and word is that there are record numbers of advanced voters in the city.
I voted for John Tory but I do not believe that he will be anymore than a caretaker mayor. He lacks vision and guts to make tough choices. The city needs new revenue streams to build transit. Tolls, sales taxes, entertainment taxes, hotel surcharges to name a few. Tory's transit plan is weak and lacks a realistic funding formula. He was the best of a bad lot. I did vote for Michael Layton for my local councillor. I checked out the contenders bios and it was a weak field.
I must say that there are about 50 to 60 candidates for mayor on the ballot. More people will vote for the Toronto mayor than any other position in the country. There are enough eligible voters for the equivalent of 27 federal ridings. More than all of the people in the Maritimes and Newfoundland combined.
I did not vote for a school board trustee. Partly because I don't care and mainly because I do not know what the candidates stand for. A parent of a grade-7 girl in the Catholic school system threatened a school principal and janitor after his daughter was cut from the school soccer team. The janitor stepped in to defend the principal. You can imagine what kind of asshole this parent is. The school authorities banned the man from school premises.
The Catholic trustees called a special meeting to overturn the ban. The man was bragging about the incident. One of the gutless trustees explained that the man as remorseful. The same man that was bragging about overturning the ban. Incidentally the school principal has not returned to the school since the threat. The provincial labour ministry stepped in and reinstated the ban. This case illustrates the garbage that runs for trustee.
I voted for John Tory but I do not believe that he will be anymore than a caretaker mayor. He lacks vision and guts to make tough choices. The city needs new revenue streams to build transit. Tolls, sales taxes, entertainment taxes, hotel surcharges to name a few. Tory's transit plan is weak and lacks a realistic funding formula. He was the best of a bad lot. I did vote for Michael Layton for my local councillor. I checked out the contenders bios and it was a weak field.
I must say that there are about 50 to 60 candidates for mayor on the ballot. More people will vote for the Toronto mayor than any other position in the country. There are enough eligible voters for the equivalent of 27 federal ridings. More than all of the people in the Maritimes and Newfoundland combined.
I did not vote for a school board trustee. Partly because I don't care and mainly because I do not know what the candidates stand for. A parent of a grade-7 girl in the Catholic school system threatened a school principal and janitor after his daughter was cut from the school soccer team. The janitor stepped in to defend the principal. You can imagine what kind of asshole this parent is. The school authorities banned the man from school premises.
The Catholic trustees called a special meeting to overturn the ban. The man was bragging about the incident. One of the gutless trustees explained that the man as remorseful. The same man that was bragging about overturning the ban. Incidentally the school principal has not returned to the school since the threat. The provincial labour ministry stepped in and reinstated the ban. This case illustrates the garbage that runs for trustee.
Wednesday 1 October 2014
Confirmation, Age of Reason, Atheism
In the Catholic Church you are baptised as an infant. Depending on where you live the Sacrament of Confirmation is performed at or near the age of 12. The idea is that you have reached the age of reason and understand what you are committing to. I was confirmed at the age of 12. A friend at work is planning a party after her daughter's upcoming Confirmation. It was with this occasion that I have raised a general objection to the practise of confirming kids at this young age.
There is no doubt that kids at age 12 understand the basic tenants of the RC faith. They may even be fully invested in the church dogma and practises. My objection is that they are not old enough to commit to the Church. They are not endowed with free will, a right to object, independent thought, or the courage to object to their their parents wishes. In my opinion Confirmation should be considered and entered into as an adult. Ideally the Sacrament would be administered between the ages of 25 to 30. The RC church would have far fewer committed members but at least they would have made an informed decision.
If you are like me and a sceptic of all faiths, I recommend the documentary on Netflix called the Unbelievers by two of the leading atheists Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss. I was watching the video and I recognised a Canadian accent in Krauss. Sure enough he grew up in Toronto.
The basis for the Unbelievers and most leading atheists is that advances in science have rendered all religious faiths as highly probable hoaxes.
Just basic facts like a 13.8 Billion year-old universe, a 4.5 Billion year-old sun, earth formed 3.5 Billion years ago, single celled life forming as the earth cooled, dinosaurs ruling the earth for hundreds of millions of years, our ancestors basically primordial chipmunks burrowing in the dirt at the time. Modern humans only existing for the past 200,000 years. Our sun has existed for only 1/3 of the time since the formation of the universe. Humans evolving as self aware beings for a tiny fraction of the existence of the universe. How could all of this have been created for us?
The God's that ancient Egyptians and Greeks worshipped like Ra, Zeus have come and gone. I suspect that Christian, Jewish, Muslim and eastern religions will also fade from practise in the future.
Science doesn't have all the answers, but just in our lifetime they have explained much of the mystery of the universe. I just think we know enough now to debunk modern religions.
I only feel bad for my friend's kid who will have to cancel her Confirmation party because her Mom works with some nutter that is questioning the origins of the universe. Can't we just eat cake?
There is no doubt that kids at age 12 understand the basic tenants of the RC faith. They may even be fully invested in the church dogma and practises. My objection is that they are not old enough to commit to the Church. They are not endowed with free will, a right to object, independent thought, or the courage to object to their their parents wishes. In my opinion Confirmation should be considered and entered into as an adult. Ideally the Sacrament would be administered between the ages of 25 to 30. The RC church would have far fewer committed members but at least they would have made an informed decision.
If you are like me and a sceptic of all faiths, I recommend the documentary on Netflix called the Unbelievers by two of the leading atheists Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss. I was watching the video and I recognised a Canadian accent in Krauss. Sure enough he grew up in Toronto.
The basis for the Unbelievers and most leading atheists is that advances in science have rendered all religious faiths as highly probable hoaxes.
Just basic facts like a 13.8 Billion year-old universe, a 4.5 Billion year-old sun, earth formed 3.5 Billion years ago, single celled life forming as the earth cooled, dinosaurs ruling the earth for hundreds of millions of years, our ancestors basically primordial chipmunks burrowing in the dirt at the time. Modern humans only existing for the past 200,000 years. Our sun has existed for only 1/3 of the time since the formation of the universe. Humans evolving as self aware beings for a tiny fraction of the existence of the universe. How could all of this have been created for us?
The God's that ancient Egyptians and Greeks worshipped like Ra, Zeus have come and gone. I suspect that Christian, Jewish, Muslim and eastern religions will also fade from practise in the future.
Science doesn't have all the answers, but just in our lifetime they have explained much of the mystery of the universe. I just think we know enough now to debunk modern religions.
I only feel bad for my friend's kid who will have to cancel her Confirmation party because her Mom works with some nutter that is questioning the origins of the universe. Can't we just eat cake?
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