The United States, in fact the entire world lost a great man when Pete Seeger died on January 27th of this year. I was away and missed the news, only learning of the folk music legend’s passing yesterday. For some reason I’ve been on someth…
Continue readingTag: In The News
Canadian Soapbox: True freedom fighters welcome dissent – Be at peace Pete Seeger
The United States, in fact the entire world lost a great man when Pete Seeger died on January 27th of this year. I was away and missed the news, only learning of the folk music legend’s passing yesterday. For some reason I’ve been on something of a Pete Seeger binge
Continue readingCanadian Soapbox: True freedom fighters welcome dissent – Be at peace Pete Seeger
The United States, in fact the entire world lost a great man when Pete Seeger died on January 27th of this year. I was away and missed the news, only learning of the folk music legend’s passing yesterday. For some reason I’ve been on something of a Pete Seeger binge
Continue readingCanadian Soapbox: All these train derailments making pipelines an easier sell….
Lac Megantic, Alberta, North Dakota, New Brunswick…it seems we can’t go a week these days without a train tragedy happening involving rail cars carrying crude oil. A buddy of mine brought this up, given that I’m admittedly something of a conspi…
Continue readingCanadian Soapbox: All these train derailments making pipelines an easier sell….
Lac Megantic, Alberta, North Dakota, New Brunswick…it seems we can’t go a week these days without a train tragedy happening involving rail cars carrying crude oil. A buddy of mine brought this up, given that I’m admittedly something of a conspiracy buff, but to that point it hadn’t even
Continue readingCanadian Soapbox: All these train derailments making pipelines an easier sell….
Lac Megantic, Alberta, North Dakota, New Brunswick…it seems we can’t go a week these days without a train tragedy happening involving rail cars carrying crude oil. A buddy of mine brought this up, given that I’m admittedly something of a conspiracy buff, but to that point it hadn’t even
Continue readingCanadian Soapbox: Charter of Québec values – Racist or pro-feminist?
What if a woman working in the public service wears a head scarf because of hair loss due to something like chemotherapy? Is that head scarf okay because it doesn’t have any religious significance? Could a Muslim woman claim that the head covering she is wearing is about fashion and has nothing to do her faith?
Canadian Soapbox: Charter of Québec values – Racist or pro-feminist?
There’s a bit of a divide in this Québec household, my wife and I disagree over Québec’s proposed values charter. Given that you’re reading this I’ll assume you know about the proposed law, so I’ll refrain from rehashing it. My view is that this law is an ass and
Continue readingCanadian Soapbox: Charter of Québec values – Racist or pro-feminist?
There’s a bit of a divide in this Québec household, my wife and I disagree over Québec’s proposed values charter. Given that you’re reading this I’ll assume you know about the proposed law, so I’ll refrain from rehashing it. My view is that this law in an ass and
Continue readingCanadian Soapbox: When I am elected Pope
Rome needs someone to lead, well Gordie is the man you need representing God. I will help the Vatican deal with many of the thorny issues it is now confronting.
Sexual abuse
Under my Papacy all those who bring forward allegations of abuse against RC priests will receive financial compensation. In fact I will take whatever amount is asked for and triple it. Some might scoff and claim this initiative will lead to bogus claims of abuse, and it probably will. But there was this guy a few years back who said something about giving to everyone who asks and to walk three miles when asked to go one. I think his name was Jesus. Will this bankrupt the church? Quite likely, and that brings me to the second plank in my Papal platform.
Cleaning up corruption
As everyone knows, money is always at the root of corruption scandals, even in churches. Get rid of the money and there’s no incentive to engage in nefarious scheming. Emptying the coffers and selling off buildings, real estate, relics and anything else of value to compensate for priests who sexually abused children will mean there is precious little do ré mi left.
Homosexuality
Back when the Bible was being written a prohibition on homosexuality made sense. God’s directive back in ancient times was to be fruitful and multiply, which is hard to do for a species such as ours if those being fruitful are doing it in a, errr…fruity way. Now however there is no such imperative, and let’s face it, in the animal kingdom God created, homosexuality is rampant. Even with Pitt Bulls: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/gay-pitbull-saved-death-article-1.1252264.
Birth Control
As noted previously, the be fruitful and multiply directive came out when the Earth’s population numbered just two, Adam and Eve. Under my leadership the Holy See will declare ‘Mission Accomplished’ on this whole multiplying idea. At seven billion or so I think we’ve overachieved on God’s plan, so condoms and birth control pills for all. Sorry but I don’t know how to pilot a fighter jet, so I won’t be able to do the GW Bush thing and land on an aircraft carrier to make this announcement. Instead well hang a vertical ‘Mission Accomplished’ banner from the obelisk in St. Peter’s square, a fitting gesture given that its a phallic symbol after all.
So there ya have it boys, the new and improved Roman Catholic Church as led by Pope Gordie. I’ll resign once the church is broke, provided you agree to replace me with a woman.
Canadian Soapbox: When I am elected Pope
With the Cardinals now in Conclave, (I thought St. Louis had their spring training in Florida) I figured it would be a good idea to outline the initiatives I will enact when I become Pope. Yes, I know I’m not Roman Catholic and my election will represent something of a miracle.
Continue readingCanadian Soapbox: When I am elected Pope
With the Cardinals now in Conclave, (I thought St. Louis had their spring training in Florida) I figured it would be a good idea to outline the initiatives I will enact when I become Pope. Yes, I know I’m not Roman Catholic and my election will represent something of a miracle.
Continue readingCanadian Soapbox: Can the French language survive in Québec?
Bonjour mes chers lecteurs, greetings dear readers. This blog posting comes to you from a Tim Hortons in the north end of Quebec City, one with wifi access. I ordered myself a grande café with un crème and un edulcorant, I also had a beigne. For those scratching their heads,
Continue readingCanadian Soapbox: Silent no more on ‘Idle No More’
I haven’t written anything on the ‘Idle No More’ movement yet, not because I haven’t been following it, but becaue the issues at stake are incredibly complex and answers are anything but easy. We’re talking about treaty rights here of course, treaties that were signed back when Canada was in
Continue readingCanadian Soapbox: Canada’s prison plans – Following a failed US example?
It has fallen off the radar of late, our current government’s plan to increase Canada’s prison population by expanding the prison system. Capacity is being increased substantially while laws have been changed to ensure more people are incarcerated and for longer periods of time. Much of this happened without much
Continue readingMadLibMadLib: Jim Lehrer, He’s Such a Nice Guy
Seen on Facebook: It wasn’t Lehrer’s fault, aside from not keeping the segments to 15 minutes. The rules were set by the Commission on Presidential Debates and he was (very nearly) following them. He clearly stated that following the initial two-minute answer there would be a back-and-forth between the candidates
Continue readingCanadian Soapbox: The Harper government’s growing say-do gap
We Canadians are a forgiving lot, we elect governments all the time that back track and flip flop on election promises…then we elect them again. Pierre Trudeau campaigned against wage and price controls, then brought them in. Brian Mulroney said he had no interest in pursuing a free trade agreement
Continue readingCanadian Soapbox: Who wants to make a movie depicting Judasim as a cancer?
I saw maybe half of Sasha Baron Cohen’s movie ‘ Borat’, I thought it was ignorant and stupid. When his latest movie, `The Dictator’ was released I watched the trailers and took a pass. Jokes and gags about racial, religious and cultural stereotypes aimed at marginalized segments of our society
Continue readingCanadian Soapbox: Memories of 9/11 the day three WTC buildings collapsed
Like everyone who was alive and of a certain age on September 11, 2001 I have vivid memories of that day. I was at my office in downtown Toronto when I first heard of a plane hitting the north WTC tower. I remember President George W. Bush saying that after
Continue readingCanadian Soapbox: Harper government fighting Québec’s law and order efforts
The federal long gun registry is back in the news. Québec has just won an injunction preventing the federal government from destroying the long gun registry, and has given Ottawa 30 days to comply by handing over the data collected on Québec gun owners. Those employed in law enforcement are
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