Last night Vancouver was the stage for the first time of Ultimate Fighting. Thousands flocked to be treated to the spectacle of two men battering each other until either one dropped to the floor or the referee stopped the fight. Ultimate fighting combines the martial arts, wrestling and boxing. Man, apparently,is not satisfied with one of these sports, but his thirst for something more thrilling has brought together the elements of these three spectacles.
In Roman times, the emperors of Rome treated his subjects to the sight of gladiators fighting each other to the death or confronting wild animals until either the man or the animal died. We condemn bull fighting as a cruel sport. We have severe judicial penalties for those who take part in dog fighting or cock fighting. We used to consider boxing as the noble art of self-defense. Is there any nobility in seeing a
man like Mohammed Ali suffering now from Parkinsons disease as a result of the blows he received to his head? We now consider wrestling and the martial arts as sports that are not ferocious enough to satisfy our need for excitement.
So now, we are willing to pay $300 to witness Ultimate Fighting. Even the Mayor of Vancouver was present at last night's first exhibition of this so-called sport here in BC. Afterwards, he signified his approval of how the event was managed.
How far are we willing to go to satisfy our basest desire for excitement? Is this the kind of example that we want to set for our children? Aren't there sufficient cases of young people fighting and killing each other? Where is society heading?
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
The Forgotten people of BC
Last week a news item that was splashed on the pages of the Vancouver Sun and echoed in the local TV news broadcast caught my attention. The headline in the news was:"Canadian seniors to outnumber kids by 2021". Apparently this was something that might be a catastrophe in contrast to kids outnumbering seniors in 2021. However that might be, according to Statistics Canada, "Canada's population is expected to age rapidly until 2031 when the entire generation will be at least 65 years old.
Since seniors will form such a substantial part of our population, and I will be speaking especially about the 65 years old in BC, you would expect that our Provincial government would be making a major effort to prepare for this event. One would expect the government to be budgeting for the construction of more Senior Centres and preparing to meet the requirements for medical attention that such an increase in 65 year olds will bring.
One hears almost daily about the needs of the homeless. Millions must be spent to build homes and shelters for them. Unfortunately, these are either people who have chosen for the most part this way of life, and do not feel comfortable living between four walls, or should be obtaining psychiatric care in an institution. We do not
hear the voices of advocates for Senior care. Yet, seniors have worked all their lives, have paid their income taxes, and built this country to be what it is. Our Provincial government to balance its budget has made seniors targets of their cuts,reducing the subsidies to those living in Seniors Homes so that these seniors are left with very little in their pockets after paying for their care. Senior Centres that provide programs for seniors health saving the public medical services millions of dollars are being told that they will no longer receive the few thousand dollars that were provided to pay the salaries of a few coordinators.
I would like to compare the treatment of senior citizens in BC to what is happening in some countries. In Scotland seniors travel free on the buses and trains. In Sweden seniors pay 40 percent of the fare on all public transport. This BC Liberal government cannot be proud of their social record, topping it all with the HST that will hurt seniors most of all
Since seniors will form such a substantial part of our population, and I will be speaking especially about the 65 years old in BC, you would expect that our Provincial government would be making a major effort to prepare for this event. One would expect the government to be budgeting for the construction of more Senior Centres and preparing to meet the requirements for medical attention that such an increase in 65 year olds will bring.
One hears almost daily about the needs of the homeless. Millions must be spent to build homes and shelters for them. Unfortunately, these are either people who have chosen for the most part this way of life, and do not feel comfortable living between four walls, or should be obtaining psychiatric care in an institution. We do not
hear the voices of advocates for Senior care. Yet, seniors have worked all their lives, have paid their income taxes, and built this country to be what it is. Our Provincial government to balance its budget has made seniors targets of their cuts,reducing the subsidies to those living in Seniors Homes so that these seniors are left with very little in their pockets after paying for their care. Senior Centres that provide programs for seniors health saving the public medical services millions of dollars are being told that they will no longer receive the few thousand dollars that were provided to pay the salaries of a few coordinators.
I would like to compare the treatment of senior citizens in BC to what is happening in some countries. In Scotland seniors travel free on the buses and trains. In Sweden seniors pay 40 percent of the fare on all public transport. This BC Liberal government cannot be proud of their social record, topping it all with the HST that will hurt seniors most of all
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