Lots of us have students who don’t quite fit in and spend all their time alone, friendless. They might have been bullied for being different, and we can’t always solve the problems they have trying to better communicate with other people. But the vast majority are completely harmless. Lot of
Continue readingTag: gun control
Politics and its Discontents: The Kids Are Alright
You may note that in the title of this post, I chose the informal version of all right, lest there be any doubt about the ideology of many young people today. Hardly conservative in their propensities, it would seem that many of them are awaking to the potential for power
Continue readingMontreal Simon: The March For Our Lives: Turning Sorrow Into Resistance
Before the March For Our Lives began, I knew it was going to be an extraordinary event.Because those young Americans had already impressed me with the way they had confronted the horror of gun violence. And the way they had turned sorrow into resistance. I also knew by the way the
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: May They Inspire Us All
Their voices, I hope, are growing too loud to be ignored any longer: Recommend this Post
Continue readingMontreal Simon: The March For Our Lives And The Revolt Of The Young
They were still building the stage yesterday evening as the sun went down on Washington.But today hundreds of thousands of students and their supporters will be there taking part in the March for Our Lives. Their message for the politicians couldn't be clearer.Read more »
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Donald Trump: Comic Book Hero or President Chicken?
The voices in Donald Trump's head are screaming so loudly these days, he's been shooting off in all directions.One moment he's all for raising the age limit for buying a gun, the next moment he isn't.And of course this is just a really bad joke.Read more »
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Who Speaks For The People?
The NRA’s Dana Loesch? Or Parkland student Delaney Tarr? You decide. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Crowdsourcing, Anyone?
Like millions of people around the world, I have been deeply impressed and moved by the passionate conviction with which young people, spearheaded by the survivors of the horrific shootings in Parkland, Florida, are organizing and demonstrating to bring some sanity to the gun laws of the United States. Their
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Conspiracy, Anyone?
Probably because I am in possession of a reasonably well-functioning brain and had the benefit of a good education, conspiracy theories have never held any particular allure for me. You know the kind I mean, the ones about faked moon landings, undersea ufo bases, and the machinations of the Illuminati
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Lost in the Madness of the Land of the Trump Beast
When I was a boy no book made more of an impression on me than did William Golding's Lord of the Flies.And no scene was more horrifying than the one when the gentle Simon comes across the Lord of the Flies himself, a pig's head on a stake.And as the
Continue readingDead Wild Roses: 10 Seconds Could Save Many Lives…
I think, perhaps, the American public – so disassociated with what democracy actually is – has already begun the labourious task of wallpapering over the elephant in the room. http://appropriately-inappropriate.tumblr.com/post/170959554865/saphire-dance-my-kid-is-in-middle-school-and Is there a more obvious example of how undemocratic a supposedly democratic national is (hmm..18 years of being at war
Continue readingMontreal Simon: The Parkland Massacre and the Revolt of the Young
Most school massacres in the United States follow a depressing and predictable pattern.First there is the horror and the shock. Then there are tears and teddy bears, and candles, and heartbreaking pain and sorrow.And then the dead are forgotten by those who didn't know them or love them.Until the next massacre tears
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Guns for Jesus
New Rule – from now on, as in “henceforth,” those who wish to praise Jesus had better be packing heat. The Cheeto Benito has spoken. Responding to the latest massacre (I think it’s still the “latest”) at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, the Trumpster opined that, but
Continue readingMontreal Simon: The Heroic Healers of the Las Vegas Massacre
I am trying to avoid watching TV stories or reading anything more about the Las Vegas massacre.Even though I am still curious about what could have driven someone to commit something so senseless and so murderous.I can't handle any more of that misery and that madness.But I do want to take
Continue readingMontreal Simon: The Fear and the Loathing in Donald Trump’s America
At times it seemed to me like Hunter S. Thompson had come roaring back from the dead, to write one more chapter of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.One where a 64-year-old man holed up in a hotel room with 23 guns opens fire on a crowd below for no
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Donald Trump’s Merry Gun Christmas
It's going to a bleak holiday season for millions of Americans who still can't quite believe that Donald Trump is their president.Just like we Canadians can't believe that's really Santa.But of course Trump supporters will be celebrating, and so will the National Rifle Association.Because they're hoping that he will be bringing
Continue readingAlberta Politics: They can still feel shame! Conservative leaders duck and cover in wake of Saturday’s disgraceful display
PHOTOS: Chris Alexander, at the moment the chant of “lock her up” began from the right-wing mob at the Alberta Legislature Saturday. Does this look to you like a man who is “shocked, taken aback, mortified even”? Me neither. Below: Michael Chong, Deepak Obhrai, Rona Ambrose and Brian Jean, all
Continue readingAlberta Politics: As assumptions give way to knowledge, we have an opportunity to learn from the shooting in Munich
PHOTOS: Into the evening Friday, the mood in the Bavarian city of Munich was surreal (Polizeipräsidium München image). Below: The scene of Friday’s shooting in Munich. The person I know best in Munich described the mood in the Bavarian city Friday …
Continue readingDead Wild Roses: Gun Violence – Who You Shoot Matters
Some peoples lives are worth more than others. In the context of American society one of the deciding factors of how much your life is worth is determined by the colour of your skin. Here in Canada a similar skin tone gradient applies as being First Nations in Canada gets you the special police […]
Continue readingDead Wild Roses: Societal Priorities – Gun Control
Something might be slightly askew with the American political process.Filed under: Culture Tagged: funny-sad, gun control
Continue reading