Guns on our streets...

There can be little doubt that getting guns off the streets is a most positive approach to reducing particular types of crime. Lets us therefore express out appreciation to those leaders who were instrumental in bringing forth the program in Ottawa and let us hope that other communities will follow this example. Yet, I wonder what took those leaders so long to adopt this additional approach to crime prevention.
Now the more difficult job is to get guns away from the criminal element and from those who have illegal weapons in their possession. Governments can develop programs to do this. If we place a high value on lives of innocent civilian, rich rewards should be made available to individuals who supply information that results in getting those illegal guns off the streets and which also lead to the prosecution of those individuals who are in violation of our laws. Action is required, why not now?

The above words have been sent as a comment on the third part of a continuing article relating to guns to the Ottawa XPress.  (http://www.ottawaxpress.ca )

Democracy play by Murrell

It was with a measure of pleasure that I read both the article by Matthew Harrison and the comment by Steve Landry in the Ottawa XPress ( http://www.ottawaxpress.ca )regarding the play Democracy written by John Murrell. I was inspired by both to attend a performance of the play but time has almost run out and other obligations now prevent me from attending.

Most Canadians learned something about the American Civil War from the movies like the great 1939 Oscar winning Gone With the Wind starring Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh. I had the “misfortune” of having to study American history while attending high school in the United States and later as a more mature person, the great good fortune to have studied American history at university where I became enthralled with the study of American history and in particular, the Civil War. To have listened to the words written by John Murrell and voiced through the personalities of Walt Whitman and Ralph Waldo Emmerson, as these gentlemen might have met during the American Civil War, would have been a delight. Now, I am left with the opportunity to read the play.
  
Although the play Democracy was written in 1990 and awarded two prizes in 1992, John Murrell was awarded many other prizes and honours for his work in the theatre including a $50,000 prize, awarded by the Canada Council for the Arts in 2002. This was the Walter Carsen Prize for Excellence in the Performing Arts. It recognized John Murrell’s “highest level of artistic excellence and distinguished career achievement.“  

Sex, as the world turns...

Today, I read a column under Shotgun in the Ottawa XPress newspaper, (http://ottawaxpress.ca), written by Sylvie Hill, to which I wrote the following comment:

Sex, as the world turns…

There can be little doubt that the Catholic clergy around the world is sexually active. This is natural and understandable. From times immemorial there has been much admiration for the celibate Catholic clergy. How difficult must it have been for many priests to remain celibate? This celibacy regimen has been the root cause of some religious personnel to wander. Without confession and repentance, death would lead to eternal damnation and hell fire for these people. Yet, risks were taken and some caused problems for those with whom they had relationships and affairs. In Europe there are stories told of women relating that hell is filled with fallen priests. Who better to tell such stories as those who should know? As well, children who lived in residential schools and orphanages were subject to religious personnel who took advantage of those in their care. Stories continue to come out about the lives that have been harmed by those who took vows of chastity. There are many Catholics and many others who wish that the clergy could marry. It is believed that a better service could be provided by those who are full members of society, who have a better understanding of family life and sexual relationships between individuals. Will the Church ever become modern, up-to-date and understanding of how human beings interact? Will the Church ever reform? There is a need for another reformation where women will be able to lead the Church at the highest levels. There is a need for women to take their places as priests, bishops cardinals and ultimately popes. Will this ever happen? There is hope!

Not to rush to judgement...

The Right Honourable has proven to be decisive in some of his earliest public actions. As well as might have been expected by some astute observers of the historical political scene in Canada, nothing should be more surprising of a leader who needs to take action to meet some political needs than to do so. There is no need to say, “Just watch me,” as a warning of things to come. He just does them. This is Canada where the prime minister is all powerful!

It was not too long ago that a prime minister set up a “special fund” to meet his needs to preserve Canada by heavy advertising of the Canada Fact in the Province of Quebec and which lead to some elements of corruption, all the while his eyes were closed, all the while he would be able to claim somewhat that he had taken the high road. Not for a moment do I believe that his hands were not involved, even indirectly while wearing gloves so that his fingerprints would not be identified. A smart man can play the role of a fool and play others in the final analysis as fools while playing with golf balls! We had a prime minister who diverted funds to “his own city” providing employment for many of his constituents and perhaps to a few personal friends there and elsewhere. To the victor we give the spoils. And if Stephen Harper were not to do the same, some of us would wonder why he did not even though we would not approve of such actions. More Canadians need to become realistic in the expectations that they lay on their leaders.

Stephen Harper in not dumb! He knows what he is doing even though one might wonder. He could go down in history as one of the greatest. Give him time and breathing space.
Now as to the writers in our rags, they must produce lines that can hold the reader. That is their jobs. For that they are paid. If they have overly high expectations they may not be realistic and may be very disappointed and this will be reflected in their words. How objective are they really being and is objectivity either expected or desired?

Most Canadians want results from their government in terms of good programs that move the country ahead socially; programs that do not take away the view that we are a moral and upright people who believe in fairness and justice. This PM may be able to do this. He may be fast on the draw; he may not be the brightest but if he has chosen some good advisors, he will be the better leader for it.

Give our PM time to think over his rash actions, give him time to seek the best possible advice; give him time in these early days to prove himself.  It is much too early to condemn him for some of his earliest decisions. Give him the benefit of the doubt. The merits of his early actions may be revealed in time to have been wise. He may come in for high praise in the future. This should be our honest hope and not self-delusion.

Permit me with my patience to have hope for the future.

Now, after the election...

December and January were months of rest from writing blogs. Why?  I trust is was because I was hiding or running away from sharing my thoughts and ideas relating to Canadian society and the issues or news commentaries of the day. So much of the news from day to the related to Canadian politics and the anticipated election.
  
During the election campaign and shortly after, I did write a few articles, speeches, poetry and letters. One item was a comment on an article written in the Ottawa XPress concerning my view that the time devoted to the election campaign was far too long. With television and the radio, with magazines and newspapers, with rapid travel from place to place by air flights and on high speed roads highways and with many local meetings to address the issues, we do not have the same need for the time that was required in earlier days for the public to be exposed to political thought and issues of the day. The following is the article written on January 28.

What a waste of time...

Over fifty days spent telling the public what is needed to make our country better than it was during the many days that we were "governed" by parliamentarians, to my simple way of thinking was a waste of time. Most voting decisions were already made when the election was called. How many individuals really changed their minds and if they did, why? Because of promises? In all the days spent in power, the Liberals and other party members did not do all the things which during the campaign they promised. Who do they think we are? Stupid? Well, I guess we are and we get what we have voted for, another minority government, which will be followed by other governments and we will still have, for example, inadequate medical care, crime in our streets and the poor will remain with us. Need I say anything about taxes? The social problems that we have today we had last year and the year before and next year they will still be here. And, this is what we call democracy? Well yes, we vote and live with the results. What ever changes? We will have another election within a few years and a repetition of words after words, promises after promises and another fifty plus days of wasted time!

After the election, the following commentary was written on January 24.
  
The battle lost and won...

The Liberals are out, the Conservatives in, and to the winner, the spoils. In Canadian politics and government, we find that the Prime Minister is one of the most powerful "rulers" imaginable. He makes appointments to the Senate, the Supreme Court, to Commissions of great variety and boards innumerable. He names members of his cabinet who meet in secret and pledge allegiance to their master and if they do not support him, they can be simply replaced of demoted. Should the P.M. not wear a crown? Stephen Harper soon to become the Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper may show the world what honesty and integrity in government really means. The Canadian public has spoken (or voted) and the Conservatives have won. Now, what does the future hold?

Yesterday, the Right Honourable had his cabinet sworn in. There were a few surprises and some expressed concerns about a couple of appointments for they seemed to run contrary to what some may have supposed should have been the case. All too often the public or media personalities have expectations based on what has been spoken or written by members of the ruling party, as if those words have been carved in stone or that what was spoken is a form of absolute promises without any changes of heart or a response to a need as determined by the prime minister. Canadians should become realistic. The party in political power needs to “rule” and the blueprints and the tools used are those deemed to be the right ones. I say, let the party in power “rule” and let criticisms be made after programs are in place or decisions made which can be addressed in Parliament. The public need not second guess the prime minister on everything that he does. He needs breathing space and the time to get on with governing. His job and that of the Conservative Party is great. Canadians need to give the government the opportunity to get underway.