I was born in a British colony. As a child I was led to believe that the white man was superior to the non-white. At least, everything that I saw convinced me that this was true. The white man enjoyed wealth, position in society, the best paying jobs, was among the ruling class and lived in bigger houses with servants to tend to his needs. If you were born white you did not have to struggle to get a good education, you did not have to get good grades at school, but you had the pick of the best jobs in government and industry. This is what the colonial system was about,jobs for the boys.
When I went to Ireland and England to further my education in universities, I discovered that non-whites in these societies were not considered any different. The only difference was that it was not thought to be in good taste to openly vaunt the white man's superiority. Even in academic circles you were not given an open door to relations between students. You could go so far but no further especially in friendships with female students.
After I completed my first degree, and decided to change universities, and go to London, I discovered that although I had graduated first in my class, I had been denied a post-graduate scholarship on the grounds that I was not an Irish citizen.I do not remember ever meeting a non-white Irish citizen. On completing my post-graduate degree, the dissertation for which was awarded the distinction of being permitted to be published under the name of the university, I began my search for
a position on the teaching staff of a university. I was hopeful that I could lecture in the University College of the West Indies in Jamaica, since I was born on one of these islands. I soon realized that the white man had a decisive role even there.
I will continue my tale about my search for an academic position in my next blog.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Thursday, July 1, 2010
The Religious right in Canadian politics
The July, 2010, issue of the Quebec French magazine, l'Actualite, published an article reviewing the book, The Armageddon factor, written by the journalist, Marci McDonald. The title of the article is Stephen Harper and the religious right. This article is written in French by Chantal Hebert. I am a subscriber to this magazine, and what the reviewer said about the contents of the book piqued my interest.
We have heard a great deal about the religious right's hold on the Republican party and its influence on the policies of George W. Bush. What I didn't realize was that it also controls so many of the decisions of the federal Conservative party in Ottawa. However, I wanted first to test the truth of the statements made by Marci McDonald.
I found articles in Canpalnet Ottawa showing that since 2006 the Government of Canada has "deliberately set out to silence the voices of organizations or individuals who raise concerns about government policies or disagree with government positions." There has been a definite pro-Israel policy in the attitude of this government in its silence about the actions of the Israeli army in its bombing of a UN school and other UN locations in Gaza, its recent attack on a flotilla carrying aid to Gaza, actions condemned by other UN representatives but not by Canada. In his recent visit Mr. Netanyahu described Canada as Israel's friend.
Most recently, at the G20 meeting in Toronto, Canada was foremost in its aid to developing countries for maternal health, but the power of the religious right was demonstrated by the proviso that no portion of this aid was to be used for abortions. Is the Prime Minister becoming more and more the hostage of the religious militants in his party?
It seems that the author is correct in stating that the "Canadian religious right has never been so well placed to influence the political federal life".
We have heard a great deal about the religious right's hold on the Republican party and its influence on the policies of George W. Bush. What I didn't realize was that it also controls so many of the decisions of the federal Conservative party in Ottawa. However, I wanted first to test the truth of the statements made by Marci McDonald.
I found articles in Canpalnet Ottawa showing that since 2006 the Government of Canada has "deliberately set out to silence the voices of organizations or individuals who raise concerns about government policies or disagree with government positions." There has been a definite pro-Israel policy in the attitude of this government in its silence about the actions of the Israeli army in its bombing of a UN school and other UN locations in Gaza, its recent attack on a flotilla carrying aid to Gaza, actions condemned by other UN representatives but not by Canada. In his recent visit Mr. Netanyahu described Canada as Israel's friend.
Most recently, at the G20 meeting in Toronto, Canada was foremost in its aid to developing countries for maternal health, but the power of the religious right was demonstrated by the proviso that no portion of this aid was to be used for abortions. Is the Prime Minister becoming more and more the hostage of the religious militants in his party?
It seems that the author is correct in stating that the "Canadian religious right has never been so well placed to influence the political federal life".
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Satisfying man's basest instincts
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?
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?
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
Saturday, May 22, 2010
The Islamist Trojan horse
About two weeks ago I received an e-mail from a friend. This e-mail puzzled me because my friend is a Muslim, and the article that he sent me is very anti-Muslim.
This article is the speech of Geert Wilders, Chairman, Party for Freedom, the Netherlands, at the Four Seasons, New York. Its title is America as the last man stnding, and underlines the imminent threat of radical Islamism to our society. He
states that Islam is not a religion but a political ideology comparable to communism or national socialism.
After reading this e-mail, I decided to read The Islamic Threat: Myth or Reality by John L. Esposito, reviewed by Daniel Pipes in the Wall Street Journal. Mr. Pipes ends his review by blasting Esposito for his failure to "recognize the hostility and ambition of radical fundamentalists and to consider the implications of growing Muslim populations in the West".
I have called my blog the Islamist Trojan horse, because like the people of ancient Troy we have opened the gates of Western civilization to masses of immigrants from Muslim countries, with fundamental Islamism hidden in their midst. In Europe, Muslim neighbourhoods are to be seen around Paris, Amsterdam, Marseille and Malmo in Sweden. In these quarters very few indigenous residents are to be seen, and Islamic laws rule. A total of fifty-four million Muslims now live in Europe, and considering the birthrate among the Muslim population, 25 percent of the population in Europe will be Muslim in th next 12 years.
The majority of the Muslim population are law-abiding, but the economic recesion has given birth to young discontents ready to listen to the preaching of fundamentalist Imans. We have the recent cases of Shahazad, the failed Pakistani born Time Square bomber, a USA citizen, and Nidal Malik Hasan, a Major and psychiatrist in the American army, who went on a shooting rampage.
Wilders's final words are: "WE have to take the necessary action now to stop this Islamic stupidity from destroying the free world that we know".
This article is the speech of Geert Wilders, Chairman, Party for Freedom, the Netherlands, at the Four Seasons, New York. Its title is America as the last man stnding, and underlines the imminent threat of radical Islamism to our society. He
states that Islam is not a religion but a political ideology comparable to communism or national socialism.
After reading this e-mail, I decided to read The Islamic Threat: Myth or Reality by John L. Esposito, reviewed by Daniel Pipes in the Wall Street Journal. Mr. Pipes ends his review by blasting Esposito for his failure to "recognize the hostility and ambition of radical fundamentalists and to consider the implications of growing Muslim populations in the West".
I have called my blog the Islamist Trojan horse, because like the people of ancient Troy we have opened the gates of Western civilization to masses of immigrants from Muslim countries, with fundamental Islamism hidden in their midst. In Europe, Muslim neighbourhoods are to be seen around Paris, Amsterdam, Marseille and Malmo in Sweden. In these quarters very few indigenous residents are to be seen, and Islamic laws rule. A total of fifty-four million Muslims now live in Europe, and considering the birthrate among the Muslim population, 25 percent of the population in Europe will be Muslim in th next 12 years.
The majority of the Muslim population are law-abiding, but the economic recesion has given birth to young discontents ready to listen to the preaching of fundamentalist Imans. We have the recent cases of Shahazad, the failed Pakistani born Time Square bomber, a USA citizen, and Nidal Malik Hasan, a Major and psychiatrist in the American army, who went on a shooting rampage.
Wilders's final words are: "WE have to take the necessary action now to stop this Islamic stupidity from destroying the free world that we know".
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Thoughts born from The Bishop's Man
This is not a review of Linden MacIntyre's book, The Bishop's Man. I read this book recently, and what he relates about the priest, who is the Bishop's agent to get rid of priests who go astray, and get them out of the public's view brought me to think about some of my expeiences with the Catholic clergy.
I went to Catholic schools, and the majority of the priests that I have met were good people. There are, however,some who do not match up to the picture that has been painted of what Christ's chosen should be. Unfortunately, these are people who occupy positions of authority in the Catholic church. As a result of my bad experience with these upper echelon of the clergy, I would say that they are the last persons to whom you should go if you are in need. They are examples of those who are always willing to receive, but never to give.
The priest in the Bishop's Man asks himself why he chose to become a priest. He does not know the answer to this question, but he does know that he suffers from great loneliness. From my own school days, I know how young men are made to believe that they are being called by Christ to follow him, and that resisting this call endangers their immortal soul. If you are a good student and seem to be religious in tendency, you become the target of recruitment to the priesthood.
These are some of the thoughts that came to me on reading this book. On the whole I think that the author struck the nail depicting the priest and the bishop.
I went to Catholic schools, and the majority of the priests that I have met were good people. There are, however,some who do not match up to the picture that has been painted of what Christ's chosen should be. Unfortunately, these are people who occupy positions of authority in the Catholic church. As a result of my bad experience with these upper echelon of the clergy, I would say that they are the last persons to whom you should go if you are in need. They are examples of those who are always willing to receive, but never to give.
The priest in the Bishop's Man asks himself why he chose to become a priest. He does not know the answer to this question, but he does know that he suffers from great loneliness. From my own school days, I know how young men are made to believe that they are being called by Christ to follow him, and that resisting this call endangers their immortal soul. If you are a good student and seem to be religious in tendency, you become the target of recruitment to the priesthood.
These are some of the thoughts that came to me on reading this book. On the whole I think that the author struck the nail depicting the priest and the bishop.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
The Hated HST SEQUEL
Today, Saturday 1st May the hated HST became law in BC. On Thursday, Gordon Campbell and his Liberal caucus cut short the debate on the HST bill, and passed the legislation into law. There was no regard for democratic freedom of speech or the opposition of 85 percent of the BC population to the HST. It is now obvious, something that the Liberals have been hiding from us, that we are boxed in for five years by the agreement that the Liberals signed with th Federal government. Even if the petition we are signing is succesful, we have to grin and bear it for the next five years. Even if the NDP win the next election this Liberal yoke on our necks will continue for this period of time.
During this time the food banks will flourish even more, because the poor will get poorer, and will have to get help for their daily meals. The buying power of our incomes will become smaller, and it is possible that inflation will climb. Economists have told us what the effects of high taxes on the economy are. The underground economy will increase in size, because people will try to avoid paying the HST using cash and making deals to obtain services. This is what happened after Mulroney and his Conservative government introduced the GST.
At the next Provincial elections, will British Columbians forget and forgive the Liberals, just as Canadians hve done for the GST? That is what the Provincial Liberals are hoping for.Will you remember the HST, and still vote Liberal?
During this time the food banks will flourish even more, because the poor will get poorer, and will have to get help for their daily meals. The buying power of our incomes will become smaller, and it is possible that inflation will climb. Economists have told us what the effects of high taxes on the economy are. The underground economy will increase in size, because people will try to avoid paying the HST using cash and making deals to obtain services. This is what happened after Mulroney and his Conservative government introduced the GST.
At the next Provincial elections, will British Columbians forget and forgive the Liberals, just as Canadians hve done for the GST? That is what the Provincial Liberals are hoping for.Will you remember the HST, and still vote Liberal?
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