Climate Change Proposal To Doug Ford, with love

A lame 'plan' from the Ford government is up for comments till January 28, 2019. So write them [up till 11:59pm]. The link has a comment 'button' for commenting. Here's a few key ideas taken from The People's Climate Plan.

1. Commit to and invest in 100% renewable energy by 2030, and stop spending taxpayers’ money on expensive, dirty energy sources. Take advantage of low-cost electricity options, including the adoption of energy conservation strategies and the purchase of Quebec water power.⁷
   
2. Do not misuse public money. Account for the money that was raised in cap-and-trade auctions, which was earmarked for things like public building retrofits. Do not spend $30 million in tax dollars taking the federal government to court to fight a carbon fee that will be returned directly to Ontario’s schools, hospitals and households (an average family will receive $300 in 2019).⁸
   
3. Create jobs and save Ontarians money by accelerating the adoption of renewables, significantly increasing energy efficiency programs, and restoring incentives for building retrofits and the adoption of solar, heat pump and geothermal energy. Modernize the building code to ensure new buildings achieve net-zero emissions by 2020.⁹
   
4. Ensure that green transportation choices are accessible and affordable for Ontarians, including reliable low-carbon public transport, electric vehicles, supporting grid systems, and safe, active options like walking and cycling.¹⁰
   
5. Ensure Ontario’s long-term prosperity by taking full advantage of green tech opportunities and our skilled workforce. Build infrastructure to help skilled workers in construction, manufacturing and transportation secure long-term employment in clean tech, rather than in polluting, fossil-fuel dependent industries that are unreliable job providers.¹¹
   
6. Account for the social cost of carbon and choose an effective way to fund green initiatives. Reconsider using our tax dollars to pay polluters in a system that already failed when adopted in Australia.¹² Any system chosen should show reduced emissions in line with ambitious climate targets.
   
7. Conserve and protect our cherished wilderness and green spaces including Ontario’s Greenbelt. Protect at least 17% of lands and inland waters by 2020; they are our most effective carbon sink.¹³
   
8. Create a plan that is SMART - Specific, Measurable, Accountable, Relevant and Timebound - including short and long-term targets, concrete details, clear timelines, and a system to transparently and frequently measure progress. Include ongoing meaningful public consultation, e.g., a working group comprised of academics, scientists, front-line workers and city representatives.
    
   

Prolifers Are Not Pro-life And How To Convert Them

Listening to today's broadcast of We Are U of T , the show discussed the disgust with the anti-abortionists. Sadly, the argument is all-ways framed with respect to a women's right. While this may be true, such an argument, or more of a slogan, does not penetrate the 'pro-lifers' ears/minds/heart.

Why not? In a word: indoctrination.The pro-lifer has been told a dogma and steps in line to follow the leader - be it parents, church, mosque, politicians, etc. It is quite the task to get someone to listen who has such a 'solid foundation' of indoctrination.

Then comes the pro-choice woman, clearly full of privilege - a student of the University of Toronto - one of the most difficult schools in Canada to enter. She is full of herself. She is right. The others are wrong. While playing a victim, as many of the show's guests do, mainly claiming only Whites have privilege, she lauds her 'rightness' and their 'wrong-ness'. She does bring up some good points. But the 'attitude needs to go'! She is filled with hate for her 'enemies'...just as her enemies hate her.

So how can she reach and 'convert' the pro-lifers? Well, first, she should read the bible. That is what the pro-lifers supposedly use as a basis. The bible actually clearly states that abortion is right and the will of God. See my discussion, here. They will be shocked but still,"good luck with that". It is very difficult to discuss when someone thinks he/she is right.

And that includes the smug pro-choicer. [Not saying all - but the ones on the show certainly are]. We all need to listen, try to under-stand the "other". But if both "sides" think they are right...I'm sure the reader knows how that goes.

Perhaps a better approach is to focus on the fact that most pro-lifers are not pro-life at all. One third of Americans identify as evangelicals . If you want to dialogue with them, you need to understand the psyche and the bible. Like Eric Hoffer, in The True Believer states, all groups have unifying agents, such as hate, imitation, self-sacrifice, etc. This is true of both parties discussed above. But with the bible being  mainly a social justice, anti-authoriatarian, anti-self-indulgence text, the pro-lifer is obliged to know and obey these principles. In fact, Jesus demands we die to our selves and for our neighbour. See my many articles for support .

Most pro-lifers support war. They support TAKING the life of fetues, children, women, men, animals, ... yet are against abortion! What? 2,000,000 dead in Iraq for U.S. imperial "interests". Well, gosh darn it, that is just fine! Driving, flying is just fine too. Devouring your neighbour, the Earth, all...just fine. Remember that driving is the #1 killer of kids in Canada/U.S. The list goes on - all fine. But don't kill the cells in a woman's body. Don't! Come on.

Oh, and don't take anti-biotics [anti-life] as they kill billions of bacteria = life. Oops...we need to be selective in what we 'classify' as 'life'. And let's forget that the body rejuvenates - literally rebirths itself - every 7 years. The amazing body is a war zone killing off living organisms without end: or we will end. But somehow the cells called 'fetus' are different. 

They/we all need to make system changes that support all life. With over 50% of the U.S. budget spent on the military = death instinct = insanity = anti-life = * . It's time both sides: all strive for life. That means sacrifice. What? Take the bus? What I can't fly to Florida, Europe, ....?

Don't we all NEED to be truly pro-life? Most on the left and wherever they are wandering around, expect the government and corporations to change. But they take no personal responsibility. See other post here to see how to do better. We need serious structural changes so that the poor are not dying... so that the air is not dying...so that the insects are not dying...so that our gut biome is not dying [billions of life forms,again]...

We need to live as the punk band Flux Of Pink Indians said: "Striving To Survive Causing The Least Suffering Possible".
The end. Or is it? If we don't change it will be soon. Good luck everybody else, as the Asian woman driver says as she switches 7 lanes without signaling. Oops.....blame Family Guy for that one! Such insensitivity. That should be censored. I think Asians are the best drivers! Should that be censored for mentioning race? Oh yea, it's only ok to criticize the 'whites'. Oops again. Sorry about that. Where's Jordan Peterson when you need him?

What Makes A Man?

It's really quite simple      
There's a little box
If you can fit through the little door
You are a [real] man

Most men make it through the little door
Sadly, so do many women
It's like a club
A real sad, dysfunctional club

In the box you find there are a lot of rules
A LOT! If you break any
You are instantly shamed, beat up, cast out, labeled
Maybe even raped

Strong
Tough
Leader
Stoic

It's okay and lauded to show anger
Violence is just and just-i-fied
Big trucks and fast cars are accessories [so are 'hot' 'girls']
Taking up a lot of space is mandatory

Domination is a great goal and character trait
Dominate nature with your truck, boat, plane, big house, big steak, ...
Dominate your girl friend
Dominate your kids

Be in control
Control others
But you don't need to show self-control
You can let that temper fly - a sign of strength and man-hood

Remember, many women are part of the boys club too!

Those that get ousted might show 'feminine', whimpy things like
gentle-ness
com-passion
empathy
vulner-ability
'soft-ness'
need
sad-ness
care

But who needs them in our club?
Even though many 'real men' battle depression
Even though they have no intimate friends
They won't reach out

That's what booze is for
That's what violence is for
"Let's go beat up that 'fag'/activist/'nigger' [remember lynching?!]/trans/["illegal"] immigrant/poor country/nature...."

Keep moving - keep running - from your-self

"I just wish I had someone to share my pain with"
"Why can't I touch an-other man without being condemned as 'gay'
"Why can't I cry?"
"Why must I amputate vital parts of my-self [so that others will accept me]?"

Living in fear
Living in fear of emotions other than happiness and anger
Living in fear of getting close
Living in fear of my real pain and lone-liness

Why can't I be authentic?
Why can't I like colours?
Why do you shame me when I tell you your words hurt me?
Why don't you call me when sad?

It takes more strength to be real
It takes more strength to show empathy
It takes more courage to be 'soft'
I won't let you control me

So let's go to the game
Let's yell as our team hits, beats, smashes the other team
We can bond through violence
Even better: let's go to WAR! - the ultimate show of strength and violence

Climate Change Is NOT The Problem: It Is A Symptom

While most "intelligent" people won't argue that climate change is real, it in fact, has been well established as the Swedes stated back in 1905. And the oil companies such as Exxon firmly established this fact back in the 70's. Those who "don't believe" are oil execs, religious fanatics, greedy people who know it requires change and those who believe the Youtube videos sponsored by those same oil execs.

Worse are those that proclaim everything is just fine. Proclaiming that we will still have enough food and that the world population will level out at 11 Billion results in more passivity. On "A Day In The Life of Earth" episode of The Nature Of Things we are assured that everyone is "moving up" the economic ladder. We are told there are 1 Billion rich. Hmm, actually things get worse every year. There are 6, yes SIX who own as much wealth as the other 3.5 Billion, according to Oxfam.

More people live in cities now than those in the countryside. That means less food grown by the majority. That means fewer hold control of our food supply. That means more toxic chemicals used and more destruction to the soil. Soil is life. Without nourishing the soil, the plants and animals "naturally", they deteriorate and become life-less and sick. And when we eat them, we become sick. C-A-N-C-E-R.

But how can the 9 Billion people [year 2050] be fed? What land will be left? Do we need to farm every possible mm of land? Farming devours the natural landscape which is essential to clean the air and water. There are OTHER non-human animals that deserve to live aren't there? Well, they can't live on farmed land. Organic or not! Though organic doesn't devour all the microbes in the soil, it still means wiping out forests, plains, etc. to grow food for humans. The rest of the eco-system suffers.

The world IS over-populated. This is the real problem. Look around. Is there drinkable water near you? Do the rivers flow to the ocean? Can you hear the frogs at night? Are you taking responsibility for your food, waste, transportation, etc.? Is the soil improving or becoming deserts? Are the animals healthy? Are the humans healthy? Is the air clean?

Humans - "civilization" - has invaded and shaped the geography of the land more than "nature" has. According to the same Nature Of Things show, 75% of the earth has been changed by humans.Where are 11 Billion people to go? Few people, who do have land, in Canada/U.S.even grow their own food. When asked why, many say, "it's so cheap in the store"..."I can't be bothered"... Sure you can get the Mexican to be your slave labourer. But is this fair? Is this just? Many just want to "play" in their retirement. Ignorance is bliss. I deserve.

I am entitled
I am narcissistic
Serve me
Jesus/Buddha/Mohammad/the universe will make it all better

Magical thinking
Everything is fine
Come with me
Let's fly to that beauty-full beach
Let's go for a Sunday drive

Life is good
I worked hard
I deserve
I
Me
It's all about ME

Where Do The Children Play?

Mommy

Let's go to the park

And play

I wanna climb that big tree again

Can we, please

I wanna go outside

And run around

Try to catch me if you can

Sorry, Justin

But the tree is gone

All the trees are gone

The park is gone

All the parks are gone

Highways, malls, banks and condos

Shiny glass

Let's go look at their majesty

What? Why? 

Well, Justy, the trees don't do any good

We, a-dolts need to make money

And buy stuff

That's how the world works, my dear

But, Mommy, they're no fun

And I don't wanna work

I wanna play

I want my tree

And the birds that sang to me in the tree

And remember the cute babies in the nest in the tree

I was the king of the castle in the tree

I know, my dear

But soon you'll learn

That only money matters

Even if our sanctuaries are gone

We even need to invade countries

And destroy their trees and parks

So we can bring back their resources

It's a-dolt stuff, you won't under-stand

But why don't people come play with me?

Why do adult want to fight and cut down the trees?

And the people in those banks and malls are not very friendly!

They keep asking me for money.

They don't want to share

Like you taught me to do

I don't want all that crap

I want my trees and birds and butterflies and bees and...

But, Justin, we need jobs and money

We even need all these pipelines to ship dirty dirty tar sands "oil"

We can't leave all that crap in the ground

We can make a lot of money

That way we can buy the stuff

We're convinced we need

And the food that we could have grown

Oh, and bottled water, since ours is polluted by the tar sands, cars, pesticides...

I don't under-stand you a-dolts, Mommy

You guys don't know how to play

Or be happy

So what am I supposed to do?

Where can I play, Mommy?

Where can I go that is quiet and dark at night

A place to breathe fresh air

A place to say Hi to my friends

My friends are gone

I'm so sad, Mommy

All I have is my phone to play on

I miss the trees

and the birds

and the butterflies

and the bees

and the frogs

and the spiders

and the running

and the climbing

and the singing

and the talking

and the listening

and the fun

Priests Rape : Who Needs To Go To Confession Now?

Finally the raping of kids by priests has hit the mainstream press. What do we expect of priests when they are "ordained by God" [as all religious/political leaders claim]? We must blindly obey them.

We MUST submit. Submit to God
Submit to "his representatives on earth"
Submit to priest, iman, guru, "spiritual" "leader"
Submit to parents
Submit to king
Submit to cops
"and so on"

Don't trust the kids
When they report uncle Billy touching them
Don't say such things
He is a christian/good man/party leader/....

Don't THINK such things!
Victims doubt them-selves
Trauma SILENCES

Parents silence
Religion silences
Military silences

Don't cause trouble
"Be" "nice" and quiet
Be a good boy/girl/worker
Go a-long

Trust authority
You must be wrong
You have a wild imagin-ation
Maybe it's time to see a psychiatrist

To avoid the pain
Johnny drinks and yells
A LOT

He's told to not feel
Especially as a man
"Be a man"
"Big boys don't cry" [or report]

"Get over it"
"Move on"
"It is what it is"
"Have a nice day"

Quoting the bible, koran, .....
"The authorities are appointed by God"
"Thou shalt not question"
"Thou shall submit"

Caesar, Hitler, Trump declare the same:
Obey - conform - fight for your NATION - hate - WAR [We Are Right]

Even the text [the bible] that authority say they obey, condemns them and what they do/represent:

"Can a corrupt throne be allied with you -

one that brings on misery by its decrees?

They band together against the righteous

and condemn the innocent to death" Psalm 94

Meanwhile Scott Pruitt told the American people to obey authority, "quoting" the bible...
Convenient!

"They set up kings without my consent;

they choose princes without my approval." Hosea 8

Authority loves power - not justice - not love - not doing the right thing.

"You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted;

you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,

defending the fatherless and the oppressed,

in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify NO MORE." Psalm 10

Let's hear these quoted from the pulpit - church/mosque/state/school/twitter....

Ford: Guess Who's Subsidizing Polluters Now?

The first thing Doug Ford, Ontario's 26th premier did was to end Ontario's cap and trade and emission reduction programs. Yet he says he knows we want clean water, air....Connection, Doug!

Just like Trump, Ford is attacking the people. We are part of the air, land, water....We are dependent, like children on our environment: our habitat. You are not for the people when you attack and support those destroying our habitat. Let's remember we share it with infinite other beings - to whom we are dependent and should be grate-ful for.

The elimination of cap and trade will "cost" Ontario between $2 and $4 Billion!!!

So where will this lost money come from? He did not account for this - or much - but was still elected. Duh! What an uneducated public! Did Mike Harris and Harper not do enough damage?

Oh, but we need more attacks: let's reduce the price of gas by 10 cents. Hmm. Who will pay for that then?
That's about $1.19 Billion . So the taxes that were going toward roads, social services, etc. will be lost. They will be made up through cuts to social programs. "Oh, but I'm here for the little guy [sic]". Lies.

The car is  the major polluter today [well, the drivers are, really]. Not only do we have 2000000 dead in Iraq for the oil, ISIS as a result, 4-5,000,000 refugees [Iraq alone!]....but drivers kill 1,300,000 people yearly worldwide. And that is not talking about the wiping out of entire eco-systems for roads, mines for resources for the roads, oil spills, Tar Sands devastation, water, land, air pollution.... When will it end?

Time to at least get out of the car, support other forms of transportation....get involved politically....locally and nationally. See other posts for ideas. Time to defeat the old adage: Give me convenience of give me death

Where Did The Birds And Bees Go? Hello Mall!

You love the little cute birdies
But you complain
You don't see them
any-more

Why not?
What happened?
What did you do?
What did you NOT do?

Well let's see
You cut all trees
To put your big house
In their place

The birdies used to live
In them
In fact, their home was bulldozed over
Just like a Palestinian home by Israel

Many birds need vast areas
Like thousands of acres
Or they won't inhabit the area
Pave-ment is no substitute

Cut the trees
Plough the land
Plant your vegan food
The birds die

Make that 'pure' green lawn
Monoculture of non-native species
That feed no one but your ego
And the chemical companies' bank account

"Wow, Johnny, how did you get such a nice lawn?"
"Well", says Johnny, "instead of planting a garden for food,
I sprayed lots of pesticides, insecticide and fertilizers on it".
Suddenly the birds eating the poisoned worms died

A pain-filled death
But Johnny has no idea
He drives everywhere listening to great tunes
So he doesn't hear their cries of agony

And his windows are sealed shut
With the A/C on full blast
Sheltered from the real-ity and consequences of his stupidity and self-indulgence
Life is good, he smiles....

But the micro-organisms
And the frogs
Are poisoned out of their homes
Abandoned by human 'kind'

The insects are gone - their habitat replaced by lawns, high-ways, ....
Place of importance
So the birds search for food
But the dandelions that were insect homes

Wiped out
In accordance with your neighbour's wishes [must get his approval]
And the ads telling you what to think/do about your lawn/life
To many their lawn is their life - and death of others


But, hey, LOOK
A mall is being built on more of THEIR land
No need to whine
Let's go shopping

But we can't live without
The frogs, the birds, the water, the air
Fill up your bag and credit card
To avoid the empty-ness of loss connect-i-on

With one an-other
With our brothers and sisters that are non-human
Yet are more human than us
Just watch the birds

Four mouths wide open
Waiting for mom and dad to bring  worms
And they do so all day long
Nourishing...not hurting others

As people destroy their homes
As people bomb others' homes
As people make convenience their god
As people  ignore the dying and silent ones

MLK Was Not Constipated

Constipated people

Grumpy people

Clinging to their pettiness

Dirty floor

After a most beauty-full

Snowfall in April:

“It would be beautiful

IF in December”

Huh?

It stands out more now

Trees covered with white gold

Out-standing glory

Petty people

With no-thing to say but shit

With-holding glee

With-holding play-full-ness

Whiny little brats

Using all the earth’s resources

In the blink of a moment

Without a blink of the eye

Hearts covered in fear, anger and resent-ment

Having and taking so much

But giving nothing

Not even a shimmer of gratitude

On a national/world scale

The 3 evils Martin Luther King’s death anniversary smashes in our faces:

Racism, materialism, militarism

Abound in leaps and….

But the peepers still come out

Calling out for mates

The joy of spring surpasses

The little people that fill in the marsh for their McMansion

The toadies can see at night

They know their environment

And do nothing to damage it

It is all they have

Yet “civilized” people continue to escalate in numbers

Far beyond the habitat can bear

Using more and more

Devouring their habitat

Is this not insane?

To consciously devour “your” air, land, water

Instant grat-i-fication

Instant and long term cancer death trap

There is a way out

It requires sacrifice from the spoilt brats

It requires thinking, caring, act-ing

For other living be-ings

Tech will not “save” us

Start by getting out of your car/plane

Stopping war for the fuel for your car/plane/toxic herbicides and fertilizers

End your greed and lust for MORE and MORE and MORE and….

Time to grow up

Time to take respons-iblity

Time to end your dominance

Time to plant some roses to smell!

Marjory Stoneman Douglas Killing: Militarization Of Everyday Life

The U.S. military

Is the largest in the world

Spending more than the next 7 countries

Combined!

"Do what we say

Or we'll kill you"

Is the government's mantra

Good Christian ethic

Cops kill

And don't get punished

Especially if it's "just" a black

Cops more important

Politicians lie

Nothin' happens

The mass stays passive

And/or ignorant....ah, bliss...

1 in 4 kids don't have adequate food

Teachers have to feed the kids in schools [like W.Virginia]

But there's almost $1,000,000,000 for bombs

And "security"

Security you say......Don't trust your neighbour

Don't trust anyone except authority figures:

Cops, Docs, Lawyers, Politicians....

Or anyone with a gun strapped to their body like an appendage

About 6% trust politicians

About 86% trust the military:

Esteemed by the prez

Esteemed by the media

The military IS our foreign policy

America is #1

We are exceptional!

Watch out MF's

So when some kid thinks it's ok to storm a school

Armed with assault weapons

Armed with a life of being told to not feel anything but anger

Armed with the answer to all the worlds' problems: P O W E R

How can any one be surprised?

90 gun deaths everyday in good ole U S A!

Where the second amendment keeps the nation

And hence the world safe and sound

Hear the sound of the school bells ring

Hear the sound of clang in the politicians pockets

[thanx NRA for supporting the gun industry...and free-dom of course!]

Hear the sound of teeth grinding as we all live in fear of each other

Hear the sound of agony as we lose each other to violence: here, in war, in car 'accidents', in....

Lock your doors

Get your gun

So you can shoot your neighbour who wants your stuff

Welcome to "America"

The country with the most inequality of any

People living in fear

Why not equalize pay among all?

No more greed - no more need...

How 'bout some of the Christian love you spout about

"Love thy neighbour"....feed your neighbour...embrace your neighbour

Lay your life down for you neighbour

Die for your neighbour 

Jesus said to turn the other cheek

Do the exact opposite of the instinctual [or conditioned] retaliation

Love even thy enemy

Do hence forth andl "make America great again"!

"I AM Independent", she firmly stated...

I'm totally in-dependent
I don't 'need' any-one
I'm totally self-sufficient
I can handle any-thing

I am goddess
I am shaman
I am capable of doing any-thing
I can full-fill all my dreams

I can't live with-out my phone
I can't live with-out my car
I can't live with-out the grocery store
I can't live with-out my job

But I need a mechanic to fix my car
But I need a dentist to fix my teeth
But I need a 'geek' to fix my electronics
But I need a psychologist to help me deal with those weak people


We used to value inter-depend-ency
We used to value commun-i-ty
We used to be able to admit our help-less-ness
We used to be humble

We have been lied to
You are invincible
You are perfect
You are wonder-ful

We have little tolerance for the ordinary
We dream big
We live big
Our hearts and lives are full of greed and self-indulgence

We can be rich
We can be power-full
We can go where-ever and when-ever we want [after I ask my boss]
We are celebrity

Our fantasy is real
We don't settle for any-thing less than ______________
For we lack empathy
For we ride above the clouds


Smash: We find our-selves through others and institutions
Through face to face inter-act-i-ons of love, work, learning, ....growing
With others, through others: serving rather than be-ing served
This is cult-ur-e

This is life
The worship of the individual
Has sunken down deep into the murky waters of narcissism
Drowning us in misery and dissatisfaction

It's time to join
Others
Hand in hand
Ex-pressing needs and reaching out to help

It is through inter-dependence that we find mean-ing
When we unite with others and all creation
Esteeming commitment and discipline
This is real person-hood.

Sexual Harassment Reporting/Occurence: 11 Reasons Of Shame

1.       Women are considered as objects to be viewed, used and abused. Media, including Hollywood garbage films, fairy tales [including Grimes], religion, many institutions, and most businesses support this disgusting belief/practice.

2.       We live in very hierarchical societies. Men [some] are at the top. The rest of us are to strive to “get ahead” and strive for wealth, power and fame. Our schooling, work, cultures, religions again support this. People fear those “above” them. Most fear losing the approval of “superiors”.  We have no power and can lose our jobs due to some whim of the boss. This is very much the foundation of capitalism and what some call “democracy”.  We “need” a leader. What would we do if we shared power in all areas of our lives? Imagine.

3.       Age-ism still controls our societies. The young should [silently] obey elders. This is highlighted and esteemed in many cultures, including indigenous cultures – as a means of oppression. On the other hand, youth is romanticized and idealized in many respects.

4.       Civilization demands conformity. We are like herd animals. We fear not fitting in. While we pretend and fantasize about the lone heroes and rebels, they are rare and disdained on most levels. Again this is taught and reinforced in all groups, cultures, religions, etc. Many deny this, yet others, including indigenous and more traditional cultures esteem conformity. In fact, all groups are unified through this mechanism.

5.       Our world is extremely Macho. Men must not cry. Men can do what they want. Men are tough. Sports and the fetishism of sports reinforces this maladjustment! Note the millions or billions that follow sports that are violent and competitive. While competition can be healthy, when athletes drug up and do almost anything to win – to be the hero [with corporate sponsorship/endorsement] – something is wrong. Men still are praise to “conquer” women sexually. And both sexes are esteemed for dominating Nature: the destructive car is the weapon.

6.       We are insecure and seek the approval of others – even above the approval of our-selves. Putney has termed this “indirect self acceptance”. Some like M.Scott Peck thinks that the good father is good not because he cares about his child but to receive praise from his neighbor.

7.       We lie to justify silence. “Oh I don’t want to make the situation worse”…”I didn’t know what to do”…  As therapist Alice Miller states, we need to break down the wall of silence. Good luck everybody!

8.       We fear confrontation. While many clearly don’t, but some do. So we would rather be dishonest to ourselves and to others than be “uncomfortable”. Again we fear disapproval and being outcast from the group. The lamest attack on the victim is “you’re too sensitive” [when it is the other that really is…ie. Don’t reveal my faults or I will attack/belittle you].

9.       Imitation is the key to success in life. How oft is the different child and then later, adult considered “weird”, “strange” etc. They may have few or no friends because they don’t imitate the crowd. Perhaps they don’t think, speak, buy, wear, etc. the same as the rest. 

10.   Lastly, until we realize that most of the problems are structural, nothing will change. We need all levels of religion, culture, work, school to change. See my previous  article that discusses how religion tells women to cover themselves while men are free to do what they want. We also need to acknowledge that many men are verbally and physically abused. This barely gets discussed. Part of the problem is that men fear coming forth: they are told to be silent, “silence is strength”. There are very few if any supports for men. And a “real” “man” would never break the code of silence.

11.   The final is sexualization. This occurs when non-sexual needs are misplaced as sexual ones. Most men dare not ask for a hug when sad [most men never know/admit they have such a “weak” emotion]. No, instead, but most men and many women will gladly punch you in the face. To touch somebody in a sexual way should be replaced with a revelation of our true deep feelings and needs. Affection and empathy are most likely what are needed in such cases. But who has the courage to ex-press such needs and be vulnerable.

Remembrance Day* Ode: What Happened To The War To End All Wars?

Let us remember those who died
In an-other "war to end all wars"
We keep hearing the same line
Yet  continue to line up

To die
"Defending" our country
More like the few who own
The country

It's not "our" country
It's the financial barrons who own all
It's the arms manufactures smiling as the Prez tweets war
It's the racist, sheltered, hate filled who ignore Jesus' command to "love thy enemy".


Big money in war
Big money in killing
Big corporations and small men making billions
Big devastation of bodies, families, land, water, present, future...

"I served my country"
Really? How? Why? Who told you that?
Did you question their ass-umpt-i-ons?
Did you question the motives?

I was told "We're blowing them up to bring democracy"
Wow, we are good people
Yet I see them devoured by our weapons of mass destruction
We are devoured by lies of mass destruction

Didn't anyone ever consider diplomacy?
Didn't anyone ever consider disarming EVERYONE?
Didn't anyone ever learn, as we did in Sunday School, to not retaliate?
Didn't anyone ever tell you that throwing stones [esp. super big ones] does hurt?

Yet we see the same profiteers jeering for more war
The lust for power, money and hegemony [ok, and oil]
Or is it the lust for blood
And the thrill of murder?

Or perhaps it's more
That those making the decisions
Are not on the front lines?
Like the poor who need a job

Put the presidents out there
Make him die for his country
Or for the corporation that pays him a hefty dividend
Money and corruption and corrupt souls are his buddies

Huh? An economy of violence: U.S. spends 60% of budget
On murder - More than the rest of the world
And who appointed a dotard as world leader?
We all need to be leaders/co-operators: not one man [or dotard]!

The romanticizes of war must end
The real suffering must be felt by the purveyors of violence
The truth that more war is not the answer must come forth
The blind sub-mission of soldiers, cops, all of us needs to stop!

If we refused to go to war
There would not be war
If we refuse to support this system
The system will shut down

It's time to stop being loyal to a party, ideology or a nation
And to unite with all creation: our human and non-human brothers and sisters
To bring life and healing and com-passion [feel with]!
To stop the hate and follow that Sunday School lesson!


*November 11 in Canada

Can A Doll Be A Muslim Or A Terror-ist?*

Governments are be-coming more right-wing and racist [along with fascistic].... Trump has led the way to hate - whether it be Mexicans or Muslims. He wants to force Mexico to pay for "the wall". Likewise, keep the Muslims out by an invisible wall.

Austria and Quebec are both discriminating against people covering their faces. While this may not affect huge numbers, it is clearly directed toward the Muslim population and unacceptable.

Interestingly, there are more terror-ist attacks in the U.S. committed by white right-wing "nut jobs" than Muslims. But it's easier to stir up hate for Muslims. Let's remember the attack on Iraq was essentially state sponsored terrorism: using violence to destroy another government, people, land, air....

While some Muslims in the West do "choose" to cover their faces or heads, in many countries they have no choice at all. This is not discussed. And why is it that only women cover? Why don't men? This applies to many religions and cultures. Is this not an indication of sexism? Is this not the result of living in patriarchal societies? It is quite astonishing that this discussion is rare-ly brought up.

We can justify any-thing when we are well indoctrinated. We see this in all areas of society, religion, culture... Just as many here are indoctrinate to hate people that are different, we follow along without questioning. When someone points out biases, sexism, patriarchy, etc. it is easy to run from these real-i-ties by the adage "I chose to think/do/wear..." . We see this in Evangelical churches in the West also, where women are considered less worthy to be leaders both in the home and church. When confronted, the chant is "the bible says...". Likewise others say "the koran says..".

It's easy to "point the finger" [or the gun] but when we do this, there are 3 fingers pointing back at us! Much of the problems begin with blind obedience to a text. To say a text is sacred and inerrant is itself inerrant! Reducing issues/life to black/white simple answers should make us all un-comfort-able. Yet we are told to seek comfort, security and peace in empty platitudes and obedience.

Rather, let love guide us. This includes justice, equality...which all must stem from Com-passion [feel with]. Only compassion can save us from dominating others. We also need to consider the domination of nature [which we are part of!]: the land, air, water, ... all the way "down" to micro-organisms: all of whom we are vitally dependent on.

* The pic is of a doll! and "she" is neither Muslim nor terrorist. She is just a little cold...it IS Canada after all! :)