I just caught the latest episode of HBO's smash hit "Entourage". Admittedly, during the early seasons, I enjoyed the program - though I had to put my own feminist inclinations aside to swallow some of the horrendous verbal slander agaisnt women (and visual, plenty of visual). I appreciated the fact that the show, like many of HBO's programs, was edgy and clever and perhaps was even highlighting the hegemonic social paradigms that women face, especially in "Hollywood". I reasoned that one of HBO's other hits, Sex and the City, didn't do men any favours - indeed, it perpetuated stereotypes of men as either sex hungry, unfaithful goons or overtly sensitive deebs.
And here we are, smack in the middle of the latest season of Entourage. Aside from little to no plot line, it seems every female character in the program is either a jealous shrew or a fame whoring one night stand. It used to be somewhat laughable that Vincent Chase so confidently bedded ladies but he used to form some meaningful relationships (didn't he?) in there somewhere, making the obligatory T&A shot obsolete.
With the exception of Perry Reeves' character, Mrs. Ari Gold, it seems all the current female characters (who last more than the Vincent Chase lay) are representations of needless misogyny. They are jealous, possessive and conniving. All the while, the boys come off looking like superstars with the ultimate dreamlife.
Entourage o Entourage, where has the cleverness gone? Me thinks it is time HBO put this senseless sexist show out to pasture.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Monday, September 7, 2009
Where have all the good people gone?
You take the high road and I'll take the low road...
Liberal campaign ads were released this past weekend. As I have Michael Ignatieff on my Facebook (woooheewwwww) I was privy to be the first to know about said ads and, as such, I promptly viewed them upon learning of their posting.
I must say - despite having made my dissatisfaction with the Liberal party known in the last year - the ads are good. Finally a party (not surprisingly but thankfully it is the Libs!) are moving away from the negative slander ads that have come to define Canadian electoral campaigning. Despite the useless and offensive ads the Tories released earlier this year which criticized Ignatieff for having too "France French" an accent, among other things, the Liberals latest batch of ads actually do what a campaign ad is MEANT to...Ignatieff explains why the Liberals SHOULD be elected, not why another party SHOULD NOT be elected.
Conservaties, NDP and even Greens...take note. Canadians are tired of listening to and watching the cheesy and dramatic slander ads that typify negative campaigning in Canada. This move on the Liberals part is wise and well worth a watch.
Catch a few on Ignatieff's facebook page here or on youtube here.
Liberal campaign ads were released this past weekend. As I have Michael Ignatieff on my Facebook (woooheewwwww) I was privy to be the first to know about said ads and, as such, I promptly viewed them upon learning of their posting.
I must say - despite having made my dissatisfaction with the Liberal party known in the last year - the ads are good. Finally a party (not surprisingly but thankfully it is the Libs!) are moving away from the negative slander ads that have come to define Canadian electoral campaigning. Despite the useless and offensive ads the Tories released earlier this year which criticized Ignatieff for having too "France French" an accent, among other things, the Liberals latest batch of ads actually do what a campaign ad is MEANT to...Ignatieff explains why the Liberals SHOULD be elected, not why another party SHOULD NOT be elected.
Conservaties, NDP and even Greens...take note. Canadians are tired of listening to and watching the cheesy and dramatic slander ads that typify negative campaigning in Canada. This move on the Liberals part is wise and well worth a watch.
Catch a few on Ignatieff's facebook page here or on youtube here.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
You gotta fight for your right (to vote for a political) party
I started off this blog with an election rant and no less than five months later I find myself taking to the web, yet again, over the issue of a Canadian election.
Michael Ignatieff has announced that his party will not support Harper's conservatives for the fall session of parliament. This could lead, potentially, to an election. If the NDP decides to support to governement, there is a chance that there would not be an election and while Layton claims to seriously consider this option - as no one believes another election is good for our economically reeling country - it seems that the reality of another election is staring us Canucks in the face. The NDP will support the conservative government so long as Harper and co agree to work with the NDP to accomplish certain goals and stipulations as outlined by the NDP. Unfortunately, as both parties sit on near opposite sides of the Canadian political spectrum, the NDP would likely find themselves later disappointed if they did indeed support Harper in a confidence vote now. If they don't fool themselves or if Harper gives himself away, they will vote against Harper and we are off to the polls!
What to say? What to do? Well firstly, I will stress the most important thing about an upcoming election. YOU NEED TO VOTE. Our last election was shameful, having the lowest voter turnout at less than 60% of eligible Canadian voters. Enthusiasm has been consistently low since Harper won his minority government back in 2005, but what we must understand is that without the support of voters, we will be subject to a vicious cycle of minority governements who hold little to no power, who are constantly being toppled and hence, we are constantly subject to money burnin' federal elections.
I understand, it hurts. What seems like constant campaigning, a plethora of signage cluttering up the country and the childish mudslinging which ALL our recent party leaders and members have succumbed to. But this is democracy. If you would rather not care about what was happening and have decisions made for you - perhaps you are better suited living under a dictatorship? Democracy only works when the people with the power make use of this power - and in the case of elections? The power is in the hand of the voter!
Let us end this cycle of minority governments by rallying together and finding support for the best party. Let us open our ears and listen to the arguments, let us read the various platforms and policies and come to our own informed decisions about who we want to run this country, to make decisions for Canada and Canadians. Voting makes the greatest statement, by forfeiting this right you are forfeiting the greatest privilege of a free democratic citizen. Believe that your vote will make a difference and understand that change can come!
The no confidence vote can (and will) be introduced at any time when parliament returns for the fall session on September 14th. Canadians will wait with baited breath to see what the outcome of such a vote is.
Michael Ignatieff has announced that his party will not support Harper's conservatives for the fall session of parliament. This could lead, potentially, to an election. If the NDP decides to support to governement, there is a chance that there would not be an election and while Layton claims to seriously consider this option - as no one believes another election is good for our economically reeling country - it seems that the reality of another election is staring us Canucks in the face. The NDP will support the conservative government so long as Harper and co agree to work with the NDP to accomplish certain goals and stipulations as outlined by the NDP. Unfortunately, as both parties sit on near opposite sides of the Canadian political spectrum, the NDP would likely find themselves later disappointed if they did indeed support Harper in a confidence vote now. If they don't fool themselves or if Harper gives himself away, they will vote against Harper and we are off to the polls!
What to say? What to do? Well firstly, I will stress the most important thing about an upcoming election. YOU NEED TO VOTE. Our last election was shameful, having the lowest voter turnout at less than 60% of eligible Canadian voters. Enthusiasm has been consistently low since Harper won his minority government back in 2005, but what we must understand is that without the support of voters, we will be subject to a vicious cycle of minority governements who hold little to no power, who are constantly being toppled and hence, we are constantly subject to money burnin' federal elections.
I understand, it hurts. What seems like constant campaigning, a plethora of signage cluttering up the country and the childish mudslinging which ALL our recent party leaders and members have succumbed to. But this is democracy. If you would rather not care about what was happening and have decisions made for you - perhaps you are better suited living under a dictatorship? Democracy only works when the people with the power make use of this power - and in the case of elections? The power is in the hand of the voter!
Let us end this cycle of minority governments by rallying together and finding support for the best party. Let us open our ears and listen to the arguments, let us read the various platforms and policies and come to our own informed decisions about who we want to run this country, to make decisions for Canada and Canadians. Voting makes the greatest statement, by forfeiting this right you are forfeiting the greatest privilege of a free democratic citizen. Believe that your vote will make a difference and understand that change can come!
The no confidence vote can (and will) be introduced at any time when parliament returns for the fall session on September 14th. Canadians will wait with baited breath to see what the outcome of such a vote is.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Jim Balsillie should fix my blackberry!
I am no business person but I own a blackberry. I SHOULD have an iPhone but my contractual obligations to a certain phone company make this impossible. I resigned myself to the fact that the maker of Blackberry, RIM, is a Canadian company and I should be pleased to be supporting them. My newly purchased blackberry is broken, already. Not from any misuse, I have been informed that most of the track balls - especially in the blackberry pearl - act up and that if I wanted it fixed I would have to send it into RIM and wait a few weeks to get it back. Breaking down so soon? I cannot believe a phone that costs people a cool few hundred is prone to such malfunction!
Imagine my annoyance to see much despised U2 (my distaste for them is purely post 2000 Bono) doing a blackberry commercial! As I cursedly jabbed away at the cheap piece of garbage phone RIM has taken the world by storm with, I decide I no longer side with Jim Balsillie on the whole Coyotes deal - I am team NHL! Are you there Jim? It's me, Maeve - use your fast amounts of money to put out quality phones that do not need replacing within one month of purchase!
Just when I think I can get a little peace, I read that RIM is the fastest growing company in the world. Oy vey, what a day.
Imagine my annoyance to see much despised U2 (my distaste for them is purely post 2000 Bono) doing a blackberry commercial! As I cursedly jabbed away at the cheap piece of garbage phone RIM has taken the world by storm with, I decide I no longer side with Jim Balsillie on the whole Coyotes deal - I am team NHL! Are you there Jim? It's me, Maeve - use your fast amounts of money to put out quality phones that do not need replacing within one month of purchase!
Just when I think I can get a little peace, I read that RIM is the fastest growing company in the world. Oy vey, what a day.
It's my blog, and i'll review if i want to
I had high expectations for the film 'District 9' - not because Peter Jackson had his name on it, not because it was seemingly going to have some of the finest computer graphics to date and not because I have ever been a science-fiction junkie. When I learned the premise of the film, I was intrigued. District 9 was not going to be the typical aliens-invade-humans-fight etc etc, beyond all the science-fictional premise and the incredible CGIs, it was going to be a political commentary.
When a mothership lands over the city of Johannesburg (the irony should not be lost on anyone), people of the world wait with baited breath for the invasions, for a war of the worlds. After three months of no movement from the ship, the government sends the army to cut into the ship to find out what the heck is going on. Over a million aliens are found in the ship - referred to as "prawns", because of their resemblance to the sea creatures - and are displaced in District 9, what is a mix of refugee camp, ghetto and concentration camp. It is, essentially, apartheid. It becomes a slum. Living in District 9, in the middle of Johannesburg, comes to be an issue over the two decade period. Crime within the slum is rising (and herein is an excellent sub-plot involving Nigerian gangsters), alien human interaction is becoming increasingly violent and human civilian pressure leads the South African government to build another camp, District 10, 200 km outside of Johannesburg. A private company, MNU, is hired give notice to the aliens of eviction and re-locate them to the other camp.
Here begins a film that raises important ethical questions in our society. While the aliens are given status cards and certain protective legal rights, it becomes increasingly clear that the interest in aliens is less to do with their non-human rights but with their biochemical warfare and weaponry. Further, the film brings to light the important question of media legitimacy and media control. To what length will governments and private corporations go to have the foremost technology in warring and weapons? While the story contends with large scale political issues and allusions (again, the film takes place in Johannesburg and the alien apartheid is extremely powerful), there is compelling and emotional heart to the film.
A refreshing take on the sci-fi genre, with stark political observations and commentary, filmed in an immaculate documentary style with incredible computer graphics, District 9 is a film not only to savour but one to elicit discussion for years to come.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Why Obama is the Bomb-A, Why Cheney is Lamey.
Tommy Douglas would be proud.
Our favourite president Ba-rock the vote is trying his darndest to reform healthcare in the United States - i.e losing your finger might not cost you 5,000 bones (no pun intended). The cost is an astronomical 1 trillion dollars over the next 10 years, a large but necessary sum to stabilize the skyrocketing health care costs in the US.
I can almost feel the collars tightening around the Republicans (and Blue Dog Demos) necks who may or may not have a conflict of interest due to their investments in certain Pharmaceutical corps. When all else fails? Scare tactics. War mongering, vote garnering, good ol' fashioned propaganda which leaves the mailable American mind desperately ordering the latest Swine flu vaccine.
But Obama won't let down. He called out these scare tactics today and, love him or hate him (if you hate him, you probably shouldn't read this blog) you have to respect the man's courage to stand up agaisnt some of the most powerful corporations and their investors in the "free world".
Somewhere Dick Cheney is crying into his anthrax-o's.
Image courtesy of (Jim Young/Reuters).
Monday, August 3, 2009
The Great Islam Debate.
Lately, I have noticed a recurrence in media xenophobia towards Islam.
I am not Muslim. But somehow throughout the years I have found myself fascinated with the origins of Islam. I am schooled in the story of the Prophet and well versed in Muslim history since his death in 632. I had an incredibly wise history teacher in high school who, in a post 9/11 world, knew the importance of teaching her students about Islam and teaching them not to believe everything the media demonizes.
And as everyone can remember, life was not good for Muslims after 9/11. The fact that an extremist terrorism organization, who happened to be extremist Muslims, wreaked such havoc on the United States did some serious damage to the perception of Muslims and the religion of Islam.
While the sting has faded a bit (though not everywhere), I still find that anytime a news story comes up where someone in the story is Muslim, public opinion is quick to judge the incidents as "religiously related". For example, with the killing of the three young Montreal women in Kingston and their relative (who, unfortunately for stereotypical reasons, turned out to be their father's wife number one of two) the press and readers were quick to assume that their deaths were "honour killings" - though several family members refute this possibility.
Islam is a peaceful religion but many non-Muslims don't see it this way. About twenty percent of the world's population is Muslim - how is it that such a small number of fanatics can chance the perception of an entire fifth of the planet?? At the end of the day, is it religion or regionalism? There are a few misconceptions about Islam I will address now:
First and foremost: TERRORISM. The big ugly word most often associated with Muslims these days. But really this is often just a case of regionalism. Islam was born in the Middle-East and almost all Muslims there are NOT terrorists. Unfortunately, the conception of a terrorist today is almost always Muslim. But the question is not about whether or not they are Muslim, it comes down to the fact that Americans are occupying a great deal of land in the MidEast nad people there are pissed! Give CNN a spin on it and all of a sudden "Moslims are seeking Jihad in the war against Freedom and Democracy"
UGHHHHHHHHHHH. The concept of Jihad in Islam IS a battle - but it is meant to be a battle within yourself to acheive the five tenants and principles of Islam.
I won't turn this into a lesson on religion but if you think about it Islam has little to do with the suicide bombers, the insurgents, etc. They may all be Muslim - and the chances are good considering what part of the world they live in - but that has nothing to do with why they are "terrorists". Americans (and Canadians, unfortunately) - most of whom are NOT Muslim - are killing hundreds of innocent civillians a year in Afghanistan and Iraq. Does that make them terrorists too? Let's not go there today. I merely mean to defend Islam.
Secondly, I find a hotly contested issue within Islam (and this is an issue that plagues both Muslims and non-Muslims a great deal) is the treatment of women. While many women make the choice to cover themselves up, in some places it is forced among other things. In Saudi Arabia, women are not allowed to leave the country without the permission of their father or husband. The Taliban, of course, are the worst culprites for treating women unjustly and their mysogonistic crimes run long and deep. But at the end of the day, and everyone knows it to be true, women are mistreated all over the world. I am not excusing it BY ANY MEANS, but I am highlighting the fact that so many people who are critical of Islam merely based on stereotypes of Muslim women should examine their own cultures too, and see maybe that there is no where in the world where women are mistreated.
Can we say Catholic Church much!? Or Hinduism?! Or Judaism? For the most part, anywhere where ORGANIZED religion is present women will be mistreated. The earliest fundamentals of most major religions rarely say anything about the subjugation of women. It is the later documents written during times of extreme male power that we see a shift.
Realistically speaking, most Muslim households are run by the women of the house. Does a woman really need to wear revealing clothing in order for us to believe that she is liberated? If a woman choses to to keep her body private isn't she more free than a woman who feels obliged to show her body in order to be validated?
There are two sides to every story.
I realize this is a rant of epic proportions - it is difficult to take on the defense of a religion when you are mostly agnostic and certainly do not believe in institutionalized religion. What I DO believe in is allowing people to worship what they believe in without passing judgement - so long as they are not hurting others nor passing judgement upon you.
Keep in mind that most, if not all, stereotypes about Muslims are erroneous. Open your mind and your heart to a religion that has a beautiful and deep cultural and social history.
For positive perspective on Islam through art - check out K'naan. K'naan was a Somalian refugee who came to Toronto during the civil war. He taught himself English and has become a successful singer/rapper - though you won't hear him singing about bitches n' hoz or how much he hates Mariah Carey. He sings about how lucky he is for having his faith - and he is a devout Muslim - and to have his freedom.
I am not Muslim. But somehow throughout the years I have found myself fascinated with the origins of Islam. I am schooled in the story of the Prophet and well versed in Muslim history since his death in 632. I had an incredibly wise history teacher in high school who, in a post 9/11 world, knew the importance of teaching her students about Islam and teaching them not to believe everything the media demonizes.
And as everyone can remember, life was not good for Muslims after 9/11. The fact that an extremist terrorism organization, who happened to be extremist Muslims, wreaked such havoc on the United States did some serious damage to the perception of Muslims and the religion of Islam.
While the sting has faded a bit (though not everywhere), I still find that anytime a news story comes up where someone in the story is Muslim, public opinion is quick to judge the incidents as "religiously related". For example, with the killing of the three young Montreal women in Kingston and their relative (who, unfortunately for stereotypical reasons, turned out to be their father's wife number one of two) the press and readers were quick to assume that their deaths were "honour killings" - though several family members refute this possibility.
Islam is a peaceful religion but many non-Muslims don't see it this way. About twenty percent of the world's population is Muslim - how is it that such a small number of fanatics can chance the perception of an entire fifth of the planet?? At the end of the day, is it religion or regionalism? There are a few misconceptions about Islam I will address now:
First and foremost: TERRORISM. The big ugly word most often associated with Muslims these days. But really this is often just a case of regionalism. Islam was born in the Middle-East and almost all Muslims there are NOT terrorists. Unfortunately, the conception of a terrorist today is almost always Muslim. But the question is not about whether or not they are Muslim, it comes down to the fact that Americans are occupying a great deal of land in the MidEast nad people there are pissed! Give CNN a spin on it and all of a sudden "Moslims are seeking Jihad in the war against Freedom and Democracy"
UGHHHHHHHHHHH. The concept of Jihad in Islam IS a battle - but it is meant to be a battle within yourself to acheive the five tenants and principles of Islam.
I won't turn this into a lesson on religion but if you think about it Islam has little to do with the suicide bombers, the insurgents, etc. They may all be Muslim - and the chances are good considering what part of the world they live in - but that has nothing to do with why they are "terrorists". Americans (and Canadians, unfortunately) - most of whom are NOT Muslim - are killing hundreds of innocent civillians a year in Afghanistan and Iraq. Does that make them terrorists too? Let's not go there today. I merely mean to defend Islam.
Secondly, I find a hotly contested issue within Islam (and this is an issue that plagues both Muslims and non-Muslims a great deal) is the treatment of women. While many women make the choice to cover themselves up, in some places it is forced among other things. In Saudi Arabia, women are not allowed to leave the country without the permission of their father or husband. The Taliban, of course, are the worst culprites for treating women unjustly and their mysogonistic crimes run long and deep. But at the end of the day, and everyone knows it to be true, women are mistreated all over the world. I am not excusing it BY ANY MEANS, but I am highlighting the fact that so many people who are critical of Islam merely based on stereotypes of Muslim women should examine their own cultures too, and see maybe that there is no where in the world where women are mistreated.
Can we say Catholic Church much!? Or Hinduism?! Or Judaism? For the most part, anywhere where ORGANIZED religion is present women will be mistreated. The earliest fundamentals of most major religions rarely say anything about the subjugation of women. It is the later documents written during times of extreme male power that we see a shift.
Realistically speaking, most Muslim households are run by the women of the house. Does a woman really need to wear revealing clothing in order for us to believe that she is liberated? If a woman choses to to keep her body private isn't she more free than a woman who feels obliged to show her body in order to be validated?
There are two sides to every story.
I realize this is a rant of epic proportions - it is difficult to take on the defense of a religion when you are mostly agnostic and certainly do not believe in institutionalized religion. What I DO believe in is allowing people to worship what they believe in without passing judgement - so long as they are not hurting others nor passing judgement upon you.
Keep in mind that most, if not all, stereotypes about Muslims are erroneous. Open your mind and your heart to a religion that has a beautiful and deep cultural and social history.
For positive perspective on Islam through art - check out K'naan. K'naan was a Somalian refugee who came to Toronto during the civil war. He taught himself English and has become a successful singer/rapper - though you won't hear him singing about bitches n' hoz or how much he hates Mariah Carey. He sings about how lucky he is for having his faith - and he is a devout Muslim - and to have his freedom.
Questions of the day
How is it possible that...
Karlheinz Schreiber is in jail and Brian Mulroney isn't (and y'all know he should be)?
That an American graduate student was fined $675,000 U.S for downloading and sharing music by four seperate record companies?
That civillian deaths in Afghanistan are up this year?
Yet another strain of HIV has been discovered?
Why the hell do we have to watch advertisements (not previews, I mean the full out car/cellphone/coke ads) before overpaying to see a movie???
*Sigh. There are answers to all of these questions but none of them appease me, nor do they appease most of the people wondering the same thing.
Also I understand that comparatively the last question is a bit trivial...but it is still something I wonder angrily about!
Karlheinz Schreiber is in jail and Brian Mulroney isn't (and y'all know he should be)?
That an American graduate student was fined $675,000 U.S for downloading and sharing music by four seperate record companies?
That civillian deaths in Afghanistan are up this year?
Yet another strain of HIV has been discovered?
Why the hell do we have to watch advertisements (not previews, I mean the full out car/cellphone/coke ads) before overpaying to see a movie???
*Sigh. There are answers to all of these questions but none of them appease me, nor do they appease most of the people wondering the same thing.
Also I understand that comparatively the last question is a bit trivial...but it is still something I wonder angrily about!
Friday, July 31, 2009
Remember when Nick asked Jessica for a Hummer?
Hummers - the car, of course. Or is that even considered a car?? It is a ridiculous space consuming mass of metal and I truly cannot fathom why any person in downtown Toronto (or in the 'burbs - you know who you are!) would need one of these vehicles. Weren't they developed for the US army!?
Honey don't need desert storm technology to drive to the grocery store!
I saw a woman driving her kids to soccer in a hummer! I couldn't believe my eyes! Where was the soccer game, Kuwait?!
I decided to research the hummer (puhhh-lease save me the asshole jokes). I came across the astounding statement that the new hummer is GREENER - whaaaaaaat?? A hybrid hummer?! Isn't that an oxymoron?? Like...freezer burn?!
Even if you have a blatant disregard for the environmental implications of such a car, why would you spend so much money on fuel for such a big, hideous machine when you could be driving a nicer one!? Those babies will run you up to 50,000 bones with all the fuel costs on top! I won't even bother naming all the other (smaller, more fuel efficient) luxury vehicles you could own for that price.
If we are truly facing a global environmental crisis, I say ban the HUMMER!
Honey don't need desert storm technology to drive to the grocery store!
I saw a woman driving her kids to soccer in a hummer! I couldn't believe my eyes! Where was the soccer game, Kuwait?!
I decided to research the hummer (puhhh-lease save me the asshole jokes). I came across the astounding statement that the new hummer is GREENER - whaaaaaaat?? A hybrid hummer?! Isn't that an oxymoron?? Like...freezer burn?!
Even if you have a blatant disregard for the environmental implications of such a car, why would you spend so much money on fuel for such a big, hideous machine when you could be driving a nicer one!? Those babies will run you up to 50,000 bones with all the fuel costs on top! I won't even bother naming all the other (smaller, more fuel efficient) luxury vehicles you could own for that price.
If we are truly facing a global environmental crisis, I say ban the HUMMER!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Deal or No Deal?
When it comes to the Canadian justice system, people have a lot to say (and complain about, apparently).
Personally, I am proud of the fact that we do not use Capital Punishment in this country because, for so many reasons, it simply does not work. Many believe in the mentality of 'an eye for an eye' but I am more partial to the camp that 'an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind' (thank you, Gandhiji). Aside from the many moral deliberations behind execution, financially it is more costly because the countless appeals that inevitably take place, not to mention the cost of execution itself which is a pretty penny. Furthermore, I cannot fathom how death is a punishment. I am constantly challenged on this - "you think Paul Bernardo deserves to LIVE?" Well, no...but I don't believe he deserves to die because that would be giving a man like him the easy way out. Bernardo thrives off brutality, rape and misogynistic torture - these things are his passion. There may be no greater punishment for any human than taking away their exercise of passion and I truly believe he is tortured daily by the fact that he will never, ever again be able live his desires.
So if life in prison isn't my issue, what is? How about the deal with the devil. When someone brings up Paul Bernardo, my first thought turns to Karla Homolka. Most people are aware of the specifics on what happened with our justice system during the Bernado/Homolka trial and I, like most others, believe this was one time our justice system failed us. Not only did the woman assist and enable Bernardo in raping and killing two young girls, but she also assisted in his rape of her OWN SISTER (which also resulted in death). Homolka makes a deal with the prosecution to give the videos of the girls' murders and she gets a measly twelve years in prison. Unfortunately, the videos showed that Homolka partook in the action much more than earlier anticipated. Contrary to the popular argument, Homolka was no victim. She was a sociopath who found another one and while this attraction is rare it does happen more than once.
Admittedly, my blood still boils thinking about this horrific mistake. But what is done is done and nothing will change the poor decision made by the prosecution in 1993. Flash forward to 2009 and today we received the sad news that the remains of Victoria Stafford were found outside of Guelph. I have been following this story lately because I am curious and nervous to see if another deal with the devil is in the works. Terri-Lynne McClintic and Michael Rafferty are the two accused of both kidnapping and murdering the young girl, though the video evidence clearly shows McClintic leading the young girl away from her school. It is all too similar to the Bernardo/Homolka dynamic. Most terrifying is the prospect that because McClintic "aided" police on a helicopter search of where she believed Stafford's body to be, she may possibly receive less of a harsh sentance - another stark similarity to Homolka.
I am crying out, for the sake of Victoria Stafford's memory, that there be no deal made for McClintic. In the end, she did not help the police at all and probably enjoyed the helicopter joyride before resuming her life in prison. I will be appauled if the prosecution even considers giving that woman a deal - because at the end of the day it was she who is seen on the security video leading the young girl away, leading the young girl to her death.
We need to learn from our mistakes. The families of Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy have to continue living knowing that Homolka lives her life normally, has children and works a normal job - everything their daughters would too be doing, if they were spared their from their cruel fate. I hope that the Canadian justice system does not fail Victoria Stafford's family in the same way.
Personally, I am proud of the fact that we do not use Capital Punishment in this country because, for so many reasons, it simply does not work. Many believe in the mentality of 'an eye for an eye' but I am more partial to the camp that 'an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind' (thank you, Gandhiji). Aside from the many moral deliberations behind execution, financially it is more costly because the countless appeals that inevitably take place, not to mention the cost of execution itself which is a pretty penny. Furthermore, I cannot fathom how death is a punishment. I am constantly challenged on this - "you think Paul Bernardo deserves to LIVE?" Well, no...but I don't believe he deserves to die because that would be giving a man like him the easy way out. Bernardo thrives off brutality, rape and misogynistic torture - these things are his passion. There may be no greater punishment for any human than taking away their exercise of passion and I truly believe he is tortured daily by the fact that he will never, ever again be able live his desires.
So if life in prison isn't my issue, what is? How about the deal with the devil. When someone brings up Paul Bernardo, my first thought turns to Karla Homolka. Most people are aware of the specifics on what happened with our justice system during the Bernado/Homolka trial and I, like most others, believe this was one time our justice system failed us. Not only did the woman assist and enable Bernardo in raping and killing two young girls, but she also assisted in his rape of her OWN SISTER (which also resulted in death). Homolka makes a deal with the prosecution to give the videos of the girls' murders and she gets a measly twelve years in prison. Unfortunately, the videos showed that Homolka partook in the action much more than earlier anticipated. Contrary to the popular argument, Homolka was no victim. She was a sociopath who found another one and while this attraction is rare it does happen more than once.
Admittedly, my blood still boils thinking about this horrific mistake. But what is done is done and nothing will change the poor decision made by the prosecution in 1993. Flash forward to 2009 and today we received the sad news that the remains of Victoria Stafford were found outside of Guelph. I have been following this story lately because I am curious and nervous to see if another deal with the devil is in the works. Terri-Lynne McClintic and Michael Rafferty are the two accused of both kidnapping and murdering the young girl, though the video evidence clearly shows McClintic leading the young girl away from her school. It is all too similar to the Bernardo/Homolka dynamic. Most terrifying is the prospect that because McClintic "aided" police on a helicopter search of where she believed Stafford's body to be, she may possibly receive less of a harsh sentance - another stark similarity to Homolka.
I am crying out, for the sake of Victoria Stafford's memory, that there be no deal made for McClintic. In the end, she did not help the police at all and probably enjoyed the helicopter joyride before resuming her life in prison. I will be appauled if the prosecution even considers giving that woman a deal - because at the end of the day it was she who is seen on the security video leading the young girl away, leading the young girl to her death.
We need to learn from our mistakes. The families of Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy have to continue living knowing that Homolka lives her life normally, has children and works a normal job - everything their daughters would too be doing, if they were spared their from their cruel fate. I hope that the Canadian justice system does not fail Victoria Stafford's family in the same way.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Why Unions and Recessions Don't Mix.
I want to preface this rant with a bit of background information on myself. I am somewhere in between Liberal and NDP, certainly have a lean towards the Left. I mostly have nothing but support for the rights and protection of workers. This being said, when it comes to strikes, I sit on the fence. Everything depends on time and place. And I have little tolerance for greed - from unions or from governments. Think twice about who you are hurting before you walk out on your job.
Okay....Couldn't not go here for the first official rant of the blog.
This strike in Toronto is really starting to grind my gears. For many reasons. Sooooo many reasons!
Today is DAY 18 of the labour dispute which has been plaguing the city of Toronto. It is bringing out the ugliest in Torontonians - the garbage the is piling up on the streets and in the numerous dump sites is enough to make the strongest willed stomach queasy. It is baffling! The amount of garbage our city is producing is embarrassing, not to mention disgusting. Having recently returned from India, many people asked me about the "cleanliness conditions" which I experience. Hell yes there is a lot of garbage in India (aside from the fact there are ONE BILLION PEOPLE THERE) but there is not more garbage in India than in Canada - we are just much better at hiding the stuff in the ground. But no more, our dirty little secret is out and the whole world knows or at least those who are visiting us. I am saddened by the dump site along the lakeshore west, which would be a primary entry root from Pearson into the downtown core. As a resident of this glorious city I was horrified, imagine what an impressionable tourist would think! I am even more saddened by the garbage pillin' and stinkin' up the downtown core.
Aside from this whole garbage mess, the children of Toronto are high and dry - literally! Most the pools in the city are closed, a whole whack of recreational programs are canceled and the city daycares are on strike. How ridiculously selfish can you get? This is only one aspect of this strike that outrages me. The list of affected services is astounding - from availability of wedding chambers to public libraries to animal services! The FERRY to the Toronto Island has stopped, imagine the implications of such a thing on the businesses of the island. (Or read this)
What really gets me is the whole reason this strike is happening in the first place. Canadian Local 79 and Union 416 are asking for job security, better pay raises and secure benefits. They are holding off until they are ensured their demands are met (David Miller's offer today of a 2009 freeze and 2010 1% increase was rejected). It is a very similar story we hear from city workers every few years or so...the difference is that this year we are plum smack in the middle of a RECESSION...say it with me now, folks:
R-E-C-E-S-S-I-O-N! R-E-C-E-S-S-I-O-N! R-E-C-E-S-S-I-O-N!
Or did I just imagine that whole media whoring, election causing (and near election causing), job costing, salary cutting, house losing, United States economy crushing global recession? Of course a union wants job security, EVERYBODY wants job security! You are asking for pay raises in a time when people are having to accept pay cuts in order to keep their jobs! It is astounding, truly, that the union would choose the poorest possible time to gain public support for their strike. Hell, they could write the book on pissing off Torontonians. The Canada Day fireworks were canceled! The unions gambled on taking advantage of an NDP Mayor, David Miller, who they know is a supporter of workers' rights and union protection. Frankly though, the City of Toronto is broke as a joke anyway, not to mention is falling victim to the recession fears...he ain't gonna budge much on giving you want you want.
I find my Indira Gandhi side coming out when I imagine what I would do if I was Mayor...
Fire 'em all and privatize everything. And if people have a problem with me cutting jobs during a global recession, I'll remind them why you can't strike for job protection during one and try to shut down a city.
I know Miller will not and cannot ever do something like that though, and I am petrified at what this means for Toronto and the summer of 2009. Enter the Provincial Liberals and Mr. McGuinty...time to exercise a little bit of back to work legislation.
In the mean time, my advice to the Unions: the only bigger mess you will have to clean up when you go back to work than the hundred of piles of garbage is the public perception of you. So buck up and wise up!
For more information on the strike, visit:
http://www.toronto.ca/labour-relations/index.htm#plans
Okay....Couldn't not go here for the first official rant of the blog.
This strike in Toronto is really starting to grind my gears. For many reasons. Sooooo many reasons!
Today is DAY 18 of the labour dispute which has been plaguing the city of Toronto. It is bringing out the ugliest in Torontonians - the garbage the is piling up on the streets and in the numerous dump sites is enough to make the strongest willed stomach queasy. It is baffling! The amount of garbage our city is producing is embarrassing, not to mention disgusting. Having recently returned from India, many people asked me about the "cleanliness conditions" which I experience. Hell yes there is a lot of garbage in India (aside from the fact there are ONE BILLION PEOPLE THERE) but there is not more garbage in India than in Canada - we are just much better at hiding the stuff in the ground. But no more, our dirty little secret is out and the whole world knows or at least those who are visiting us. I am saddened by the dump site along the lakeshore west, which would be a primary entry root from Pearson into the downtown core. As a resident of this glorious city I was horrified, imagine what an impressionable tourist would think! I am even more saddened by the garbage pillin' and stinkin' up the downtown core.
Aside from this whole garbage mess, the children of Toronto are high and dry - literally! Most the pools in the city are closed, a whole whack of recreational programs are canceled and the city daycares are on strike. How ridiculously selfish can you get? This is only one aspect of this strike that outrages me. The list of affected services is astounding - from availability of wedding chambers to public libraries to animal services! The FERRY to the Toronto Island has stopped, imagine the implications of such a thing on the businesses of the island. (Or read this)
What really gets me is the whole reason this strike is happening in the first place. Canadian Local 79 and Union 416 are asking for job security, better pay raises and secure benefits. They are holding off until they are ensured their demands are met (David Miller's offer today of a 2009 freeze and 2010 1% increase was rejected). It is a very similar story we hear from city workers every few years or so...the difference is that this year we are plum smack in the middle of a RECESSION...say it with me now, folks:
R-E-C-E-S-S-I-O-N! R-E-C-E-S-S-I-O-N! R-E-C-E-S-S-I-O-N!
Or did I just imagine that whole media whoring, election causing (and near election causing), job costing, salary cutting, house losing, United States economy crushing global recession? Of course a union wants job security, EVERYBODY wants job security! You are asking for pay raises in a time when people are having to accept pay cuts in order to keep their jobs! It is astounding, truly, that the union would choose the poorest possible time to gain public support for their strike. Hell, they could write the book on pissing off Torontonians. The Canada Day fireworks were canceled! The unions gambled on taking advantage of an NDP Mayor, David Miller, who they know is a supporter of workers' rights and union protection. Frankly though, the City of Toronto is broke as a joke anyway, not to mention is falling victim to the recession fears...he ain't gonna budge much on giving you want you want.
I find my Indira Gandhi side coming out when I imagine what I would do if I was Mayor...
Fire 'em all and privatize everything. And if people have a problem with me cutting jobs during a global recession, I'll remind them why you can't strike for job protection during one and try to shut down a city.
I know Miller will not and cannot ever do something like that though, and I am petrified at what this means for Toronto and the summer of 2009. Enter the Provincial Liberals and Mr. McGuinty...time to exercise a little bit of back to work legislation.
In the mean time, my advice to the Unions: the only bigger mess you will have to clean up when you go back to work than the hundred of piles of garbage is the public perception of you. So buck up and wise up!
For more information on the strike, visit:
http://www.toronto.ca/labour-relations/index.htm#plans
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
142 and going strong!
HAPPY CANADA DAY!
Today is the 142nd birthday of our home and native land Canada.
No rant necessary today, but I would like to pass on an excellent article written by Rick Mercer about being Canadian...(from the Metro Newspaper I found on the Go Train the other day - it still did the trick, I love Ricky!) So enjoy.
"Being Canadian means being lucky.
Today is the 142nd birthday of our home and native land Canada.
No rant necessary today, but I would like to pass on an excellent article written by Rick Mercer about being Canadian...(from the Metro Newspaper I found on the Go Train the other day - it still did the trick, I love Ricky!) So enjoy.
"Being Canadian means being lucky.
There are almost seven billion people on this planet and we make up around 33 million of them.
The odds of a random citizen on this earth being Canadian is about half of one per cent. It’s a long shot that delivers a hell of a jackpot. A citizenship, that for most of us, cost nothing to acquire, but yet is our most prized possession.
Being Canadian means we have freedom of mobility. If you want to change your name to a symbol and move to British Columbia — you wouldn’t be the first, you won’t be the last.
Being Canadian means we can worship whoever and however we want.
Which is why when we meet a member of the worldwide church of the Raelians (who worship a holy trinity of UFOs, extraterrestrials, and tantric sex), we shrug and say each to their own.
Being Canadian means that if your finger comes into contact with a band saw, you pop it in a plastic bag along with some ice, and it gets sewn back on for free.
Being Canadian means that in some places there is now a five cent surcharge for shopping bags to encourage cloth bags.
Don’t use these for a severed finger. In that case, pay the nickel and go with plastic.
Being Canadian means we are each protected under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
In Canada, Harold can marry Samantha, Carol can marry Johann and Ahmed can make an honest man out of Frank.
Being Canadian means you can vote.
And when we do, governments come and governments go — and yet not a single shot is fired.
Which is appropriate because in our nation’s capital, the Canadian flag flies proudly over a tower that we named Peace."*
*Referenced from Metro Newspaper, 29/06/09. Mercer, Rick. http://www.metronews.ca/edmonton/canada/article/253369--citizenship-like-winning-jackpot-rick-mercer
Monday, June 29, 2009
The BIG REVAMP aka selling out.
Okay, so times are a changin' and so am I.
Mostly, I decided that while I will continuously write (and rant) about Canadian politics - for indeed, there are few topics which arouse my rant index quite like good ol' pollies - my observational range does exceed the political realm and I am often left inwardly ranting or, worse, outwardly ranting to an uninterested/horrified audience.
So this is the compromise - I will release my rants on my blog and if you choose to read it, you are choosing to go down the war path as opposed to being blindly lead down and having a big shock when I drop the rant bomb.
Firstly, I will make the first and only apology now if I write something which you profoundly disagree with or which greatly offends you. Instead of insisting for an apology, you can just write a bitchy response in the comment section and I promise I won't censor them. I am God of this blog.
Secondly, if there is a topic which has been irking you of late that you wish me to rant about (I am not really sure why that would happen, but I am sure it could happen so I am suggesting it), I will gladly do so.
There, so for the few of you who actually do peruse the blog from time to time, the giant theme shift will be less confusing with this explanation.
At the end of the day though, I am only trying to ignite a bit of thought or maybe even laughter so really don't take anything too seriously. Unless I say so, in which case - print it out and make it your new bible (see afore referenced Godly status).
Thanks to everyone for the encouragement, I continue on with you in mind.
Mostly, I decided that while I will continuously write (and rant) about Canadian politics - for indeed, there are few topics which arouse my rant index quite like good ol' pollies - my observational range does exceed the political realm and I am often left inwardly ranting or, worse, outwardly ranting to an uninterested/horrified audience.
So this is the compromise - I will release my rants on my blog and if you choose to read it, you are choosing to go down the war path as opposed to being blindly lead down and having a big shock when I drop the rant bomb.
Firstly, I will make the first and only apology now if I write something which you profoundly disagree with or which greatly offends you. Instead of insisting for an apology, you can just write a bitchy response in the comment section and I promise I won't censor them. I am God of this blog.
Secondly, if there is a topic which has been irking you of late that you wish me to rant about (I am not really sure why that would happen, but I am sure it could happen so I am suggesting it), I will gladly do so.
There, so for the few of you who actually do peruse the blog from time to time, the giant theme shift will be less confusing with this explanation.
At the end of the day though, I am only trying to ignite a bit of thought or maybe even laughter so really don't take anything too seriously. Unless I say so, in which case - print it out and make it your new bible (see afore referenced Godly status).
Thanks to everyone for the encouragement, I continue on with you in mind.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Tough to be tender
Didn't you hear? Cancer is sexy. Well, more specifically, isotope crises.
At least according to Natural Resource minister Lisa Raitt it is.
The tape is OUT and so is the truth. Sloppy minister makes for sloppy aide. After last week's controversy with "secret" nuclear documents left at the CTV offices in Ottawa - for which Raitt offered her resignation and for which her press secretary Jasmine MacDonnell was fired - a new disgrace is plaguing the Natural Resource minister.
A tape recording has been released which was recorded accidentally and left lying around by none other than Jasmine MacDonnell (tough week girlfriend!) The pertinent recording was made in January 2009 during a prolonged car ride between Raitt and MacDonnell. The convo went something like this:
MacDonnell: "OMG...Isotopes? Like, WTF? Most Canadians sooo don't get it."
Raitt: "I know, right? But radioactive leaks are so hot right now. Cancer is sexy."
Well, something like that anyway...you can listen to the real conversation here.
Presumably, what will irk Harper more is the colleague bad mouthing which also took place in the aforementioned conversation. Raitt is heard to be criticizing health minister Leona Aglukkaq, saying she hoped Aglukkaq wouldn't "get anything hot" because Aglukkaq can't hold her own in the house and that her staff is only shielding her.
'Cause its one, two, three strikes - you're out! At the ol' ballgame...
At least according to Natural Resource minister Lisa Raitt it is.
The tape is OUT and so is the truth. Sloppy minister makes for sloppy aide. After last week's controversy with "secret" nuclear documents left at the CTV offices in Ottawa - for which Raitt offered her resignation and for which her press secretary Jasmine MacDonnell was fired - a new disgrace is plaguing the Natural Resource minister.
A tape recording has been released which was recorded accidentally and left lying around by none other than Jasmine MacDonnell (tough week girlfriend!) The pertinent recording was made in January 2009 during a prolonged car ride between Raitt and MacDonnell. The convo went something like this:
MacDonnell: "OMG...Isotopes? Like, WTF? Most Canadians sooo don't get it."
Raitt: "I know, right? But radioactive leaks are so hot right now. Cancer is sexy."
Well, something like that anyway...you can listen to the real conversation here.
Presumably, what will irk Harper more is the colleague bad mouthing which also took place in the aforementioned conversation. Raitt is heard to be criticizing health minister Leona Aglukkaq, saying she hoped Aglukkaq wouldn't "get anything hot" because Aglukkaq can't hold her own in the house and that her staff is only shielding her.
'Cause its one, two, three strikes - you're out! At the ol' ballgame...
eHELP! Sarah Kramer is spending all our money!
The CEO of eHealth Ontario, Sarah Kramer, was fired from her position this past weekend as a result of the on going scandal over hefty bonuses and ridiculous sums of taxpayer money being splashed out on "consultant contracts".
The eHealth initiative was implemented by the Federal government in 2000. The program aims to have complete electronic health records of all Canadians by 2015, so doctors are able to access information about new and transferring patients more easily, to reduce the amount of paper process needed in keeping physical files as well as reducing wait times and most importantly, the program hopes to reduce the amount of mistakes and mix-ups often made with paper files.
But, of course, no province is perfect! eHealth Ontario - within less than a year of it's creation in September 2008 - has been plagued with scandal. Unbelievably, CEO Sarah Kramer procured a $114,000 bonus (approved by the Board of Directors - many former colleagues of Ms. Kramer at Cancer Care Ontario) within four months of being the CEO of eHealth Ontario! She claimed it was a "carry-over" bonus from her job at CCO, but both companies only allow for a bonus which is made up of 15% the person's annual salary. Considering Kramer's salary is $380,000, this hefty bonus was more like a 30% bonus - twice the allowed rate by a Crown owned company.
Furthermore, it came to light that the company was paying consultants millions of dollars to barely perform. Over five million dollars was awarded by the agency in untendered, unofficial contracts...most of which belonged to business partners and ties of Kramer's. The so-called consultants hired by the agency were paid between $1,700-2,500 a day to read the newspaper and watch T.V.
The big news today is Kramer is out with a severance package of $317,000 - almost a full year's salary for the former CEO. Health minister Caplan claims legally there was little choice in awarding her more money (even though she is being fired by spending too much) because she could chose to take the province to court if they fired her sans-comp.
Outraged Ontarians are crying out for their tax dollars to be repaid, the blatant spending by eHealth Ontario could have possibly gone to a health care system which is constantly needing more and more governmental funding. Of course, this will never happen. The money that eHealth Ontario has blown over the last eight months is gone - happily financing the pockets of the upper crust Ontarians who, ironically, are the ones least in need of such huge financial pay-offs and bonuses.
Is this not a time of economic crisis?????
The first step has been taken by firing the superfluous CEO but next it is time to hold accountable the Provincial government for failing to monitor the preposterous amount of money eHealth Ontario has spent on absolutely nothing! David Caplan must step down from his position as Health minister because unfortunately he has proved that he cannot uphold one of the major responsibilities of the Health minister.
The McGuinty government not only owes Ontarians (and Canadians) a BIG apology but BIG ACTION. Whether or not the government chooses to hold Caplan accountable within the coming weeks is now a matter of speculation but so long as the Opposition calls for his resignation, McGuinty will barely be able to ignore it. Only time will tell if the Ontario Liberals can redeem themselves for this gargantuan mistake.
The eHealth initiative was implemented by the Federal government in 2000. The program aims to have complete electronic health records of all Canadians by 2015, so doctors are able to access information about new and transferring patients more easily, to reduce the amount of paper process needed in keeping physical files as well as reducing wait times and most importantly, the program hopes to reduce the amount of mistakes and mix-ups often made with paper files.
But, of course, no province is perfect! eHealth Ontario - within less than a year of it's creation in September 2008 - has been plagued with scandal. Unbelievably, CEO Sarah Kramer procured a $114,000 bonus (approved by the Board of Directors - many former colleagues of Ms. Kramer at Cancer Care Ontario) within four months of being the CEO of eHealth Ontario! She claimed it was a "carry-over" bonus from her job at CCO, but both companies only allow for a bonus which is made up of 15% the person's annual salary. Considering Kramer's salary is $380,000, this hefty bonus was more like a 30% bonus - twice the allowed rate by a Crown owned company.
Furthermore, it came to light that the company was paying consultants millions of dollars to barely perform. Over five million dollars was awarded by the agency in untendered, unofficial contracts...most of which belonged to business partners and ties of Kramer's. The so-called consultants hired by the agency were paid between $1,700-2,500 a day to read the newspaper and watch T.V.
The big news today is Kramer is out with a severance package of $317,000 - almost a full year's salary for the former CEO. Health minister Caplan claims legally there was little choice in awarding her more money (even though she is being fired by spending too much) because she could chose to take the province to court if they fired her sans-comp.
Outraged Ontarians are crying out for their tax dollars to be repaid, the blatant spending by eHealth Ontario could have possibly gone to a health care system which is constantly needing more and more governmental funding. Of course, this will never happen. The money that eHealth Ontario has blown over the last eight months is gone - happily financing the pockets of the upper crust Ontarians who, ironically, are the ones least in need of such huge financial pay-offs and bonuses.
Is this not a time of economic crisis?????
The first step has been taken by firing the superfluous CEO but next it is time to hold accountable the Provincial government for failing to monitor the preposterous amount of money eHealth Ontario has spent on absolutely nothing! David Caplan must step down from his position as Health minister because unfortunately he has proved that he cannot uphold one of the major responsibilities of the Health minister.
The McGuinty government not only owes Ontarians (and Canadians) a BIG apology but BIG ACTION. Whether or not the government chooses to hold Caplan accountable within the coming weeks is now a matter of speculation but so long as the Opposition calls for his resignation, McGuinty will barely be able to ignore it. Only time will tell if the Ontario Liberals can redeem themselves for this gargantuan mistake.
Friday, June 5, 2009
A 'faint hope' at distraction?
When all else fails - tug some heart strings.
The Tories are looking to remove the 'faint hope' clause from the Criminal Code of Canada, originally instated in 1976 when the death penalty was abolished, as Minister of Justice Rob Nicholson announced today. The clause allows prisoners convicted of First and Second-degree murder to appeal for an earlier parole than initially sentenced. The process is by no means quick 'n easy, there is a considerable amount of effort that has to go into the application process by the applicant, the judge and the potential jury.
Naturally, as most questions of crime and punishment go, the faint hope clause has often provided a good deal of controversy to Canadians. How could it be conceivable to release a person convicted of murder back into the public? Is a life sentence not then made obsolete? Will rehashing the past for families' victims not further the monumental pain they have already experience?
Conversely, is the purpose of prison merely a means of punishment or also a means of rehabilitation? Shouldn't prisoners have some hope if it is proved they have changed? Is it undemocratic to disbelieve the judgment of a jury who believed in the rehabilitation?
It is hard to argue that a person who has committed the horrific and irreversible crime of murder should be allowed back into the public, particularly difficult to argue with the families of the victims. Murder is a travesty and the punishment should always be severe - but have we lost all confidence in humankind that we fully believe a person cannot change?
Whatever the perspective, reviving this former election promise at this particular time should not be seen by anyone as anything else but life support for Harper's government. Public opinion of the party has been in steady decline, mostly because of Harper's smear campaigns (outside of elections, no less) and the ballooning national deficit. The Liberals are hardly the answer to Canadians' prayers but with election talks looming, it wou
ld seem the Reds are no longer in the red and are making a big effort to come out strong against Harper.
So the faint clause, now? Of course. By appealing to emotive voters and on the fence supporters with a "fulfilled election promise" (even if it has been on the very low priority back burner for almost a year), Harper is hoping to revive the gung-ho git'er done image of his Conservatives. Harper's flagrant use of a highly emotional and sensitive Canadian issue as an election tactic is downright dirty.
Both the Liberals and the Tories are planting election seeds, while the NDP is having none of it. Ignatieff goes to Quebec to talk ARTS. Harper reverts to his highly supported 2006 election promise of repealing the 'faint hope' clause.
It is too little too late for Harper. Layton comes off as sympathetic for holding his stance on a more generous EI and Ignatieff smooths over the sore issue of Harper's art cuts (particularly sensitive in Quebec). And Harper? He tries his luck with a bill that he should have passed a year ago if ever, a bill which appeals to the emotive side of Canadians and voters.
References:
CBC - (05/06/09): "Tories to repeal 'faint hope parole' clause"
Globe and Mail (05/06/09): "Tories move to eliminate faint-hope clause from Criminal Code."
The Tories are looking to remove the 'faint hope' clause from the Criminal Code of Canada, originally instated in 1976 when the death penalty was abolished, as Minister of Justice Rob Nicholson announced today. The clause allows prisoners convicted of First and Second-degree murder to appeal for an earlier parole than initially sentenced. The process is by no means quick 'n easy, there is a considerable amount of effort that has to go into the application process by the applicant, the judge and the potential jury.
Naturally, as most questions of crime and punishment go, the faint hope clause has often provided a good deal of controversy to Canadians. How could it be conceivable to release a person convicted of murder back into the public? Is a life sentence not then made obsolete? Will rehashing the past for families' victims not further the monumental pain they have already experience?
Conversely, is the purpose of prison merely a means of punishment or also a means of rehabilitation? Shouldn't prisoners have some hope if it is proved they have changed? Is it undemocratic to disbelieve the judgment of a jury who believed in the rehabilitation?
It is hard to argue that a person who has committed the horrific and irreversible crime of murder should be allowed back into the public, particularly difficult to argue with the families of the victims. Murder is a travesty and the punishment should always be severe - but have we lost all confidence in humankind that we fully believe a person cannot change?
Whatever the perspective, reviving this former election promise at this particular time should not be seen by anyone as anything else but life support for Harper's government. Public opinion of the party has been in steady decline, mostly because of Harper's smear campaigns (outside of elections, no less) and the ballooning national deficit. The Liberals are hardly the answer to Canadians' prayers but with election talks looming, it wou
ld seem the Reds are no longer in the red and are making a big effort to come out strong against Harper.So the faint clause, now? Of course. By appealing to emotive voters and on the fence supporters with a "fulfilled election promise" (even if it has been on the very low priority back burner for almost a year), Harper is hoping to revive the gung-ho git'er done image of his Conservatives. Harper's flagrant use of a highly emotional and sensitive Canadian issue as an election tactic is downright dirty.
Both the Liberals and the Tories are planting election seeds, while the NDP is having none of it. Ignatieff goes to Quebec to talk ARTS. Harper reverts to his highly supported 2006 election promise of repealing the 'faint hope' clause.
It is too little too late for Harper. Layton comes off as sympathetic for holding his stance on a more generous EI and Ignatieff smooths over the sore issue of Harper's art cuts (particularly sensitive in Quebec). And Harper? He tries his luck with a bill that he should have passed a year ago if ever, a bill which appeals to the emotive side of Canadians and voters.
References:
CBC - (05/06/09): "Tories to repeal 'faint hope parole' clause"
Globe and Mail (05/06/09): "Tories move to eliminate faint-hope clause from Criminal Code."
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
The big, electoral elephant in the room.
Ottawa, we have a problem.
Is it just me or is the prospect of a summer election a terrible, terrible idea? For everyone. All politicians, all parties, all voters, all non-voters and all Canadians in general.
But let's back up. How is it possible that less than a year has gone by since our last federal election and already we are facing the possibility of again going to the polls? Our last federal election came only two years after the 2006 election during which the Tories finally got their minority reign of terror - excuse me - government. The Liberals choice of leader backfired big time because the party became more fragmented and barely able to come to inter-party decisions, let alone be an effective opposition for Harper's conservatives. (Not to mention Harper could bully wee Stephane in the house as much as he pleased without really fearing for a witty English comeback. Admittedly, French debates were another story). Dismayed enough with another election and having to chose the "lesser of evils" (as opposed to the best party for the job), Canadians' apathy towards the politics of their own nation worsened. Millions of dollars were spent on an election which ultimately succeeded only in annoying Canadians - to the point of a records low voter turn out - and in giving Harper's conservatives a slightly larger minority government. But at the end of the day, nothing had seemed to change much in the eyes of most Canadians - money was being sp
ent, paper was being wasted, and all the same major players were, instead of explaining why they were best, crying out on why their opponents were worse.So, Dion makes arguably his best move since becoming Liberal leader and exits stage right, where Michael Ignatieff enters stage left as interim leader and eventually is chosen by Liberal party members as the official new leader. Oh yeah, and something exciting happened in there and Canadians cared about politics briefly but then Mr. Harper decided to prorogue parliament and we forgot all about it. Now, at first glance, Ignatieff seems almost nightmarish to oppose Stephen Harper. He is well spoken in English and in French (except for that pesky Parisian accent, tisk tisk) - almost too well spoken, often coming off as arrogant and elitist - his presence on the Canadian scene was certainly lacking considering he taught at various Ivy League and prestigious universities for several decades abroad. He is involved in artistic endeavors, he is MP for a relatively affluent neighborhood in Toronto (the horror!) and he is not particularly public about his religious affiliations - though he is Russian Orthodox. He is Harper's anti-Christ. And that is exactly why he is the most suitable leading opposition to the Tories, because it came a time to fight fire with fire. Harper is notorious for his slander attacks and for a strict control of his cabinet and Dion simply did not have the presence to stand up to the constant barrage of finger pointing and mud slinging Harper and his ministers (when they are allowed to speak) are best at. Mr. Ignatieff - Intelligent? Certainly. Arrogant? Maybe. Capable of effectively opposing Harper on the floor? Definitely. It seems to take a lot more to fluster Ignatieff than just accusations and constant references to past Liberal failure. And in a way, that is where his similarity with Harper lies. Because, whether you love him or hate him, Stephen Harper can hold his own on the floor in parliament. He is almost non-chalant about responding to opposing party accusations (particularly when they are made by Layton and the NDP). So here we find Canadians in an interesting position. Because Canadians are getting sick of Harper's slander campaigns, of the Tories deficits and broken promises and of constant cabinet shuffles which make our heads spin.
Now, amidst heated debate over EI, our national deficit (Thanks Flaherty, stand up job as always) and a case of the forgetful ministers' aides, it seems that Ignatieff is in a "tough spot" on whether or not to bring down the Canadian Federal parliament and call an election. Most Canadians, if polled, would say NO MORE ELECTIONS, STOP WASTING OUR MONEY! And rightly so. The incredible amounts of money it takes to put on elections and run campaigns is staggering and could easily be put towards something, ANYTHING but another election! But, Ignatieff insists that the Tories are leaving him little option despite his efforts to create a cohesive government that can make real decisions to help the average Canadian.
The problem is no one is playing grown-up here. The House has become so bitter that instead of deciding what can get done together, it is a constant battle on what cannot get done and how it is everyone else's fault. No one in any party is ever held accountable for anything and as such there is constant ammunition from all sides to point out the inefficiencies of one another.
Enough is enough. This aforesaid summer election would be a terrible idea. You think voter turn out was low in the fall? Try having on mid-July during cottage season. It seems that the idea is so petrifying, most Canadians are acting like it isn't going to happen. Like a sort of national denial, where everyone complains about the government but refuses to consider the distinct possibility that we might actually be going to the polls again for the third time in three years. Denial ain't just a river in Egpyt, it is a political mentality in Canada.
And so, if an election is called? As Russell Peters would say, Somebody's gonna get a hurt real bad.
What Canada does not need is another election. Unless we completely restructure our governmental system, we need to make our Parliament work. There will be a perpetual minority government as long as the parties continue to bicker with each other and instill hopelessness in the hearts of Canadians. The parties need to work together by compromise, negotiation, discussion and most importantly action. Voter confidences needs to be restored and money can be best saved and put towards our economy during this recession. At the very least, parties need to tell us why they are going to do what we need them to - NOT why other parties are not going to do it. Canadians too need to shed their apathy towards politics and speak up, make our voices heard. This is what we want and this is why we do not want an election.
And so we wait with baited breath in hopes of avoiding another election... but ultimately only time and the decisions of our policy makers will tell whether or not we hit the polls in the summer heat. And if this is the case? Vote. That is all there is to it.
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