It's Remembrance Day 2015, and this year it will be for me like no other I have ever known. A day of sadness and celebration.A day to mourn all those who sacrificed their lives for this country.And a day to give thanks that this other tragedy, this other gaping wound of war,
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Montreal Simon: Stephen Harper and the Bloody Harvest of War
As I'm sure you remember, during the early years of the war in Afghanistan there was no greater chicken hawk than Stephen Harper.Until he realized it wasn't winning him enough votes, and he decided to cut and run.But while he has been able to run away from a lot of things, like
Continue readingwmtc: dogs, apartments, and anxiety: in which diego returns to school
As I mentioned (almost a month ago now), our pack of four is moving to a new den. We’re going to stop renting houses, as we have done for the past ten years, and move back to apartment life. Although I’ve adjusted to the idea, I’m no happier about it.
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Harper’s Army and the Final Betrayal of Cpl. Stuart Langridge
I've written several posts about the tragic story of Cpl. Stuart Langridge, who killed himself seven years ago after serving his country honourably in Bosnia and Afghanistan.I told you how the military didn't accept that he was suffering from PTSD, they didn't treat his illness, they treated him like a
Continue readingMontreal Simon: The Con Clowns Go After the Veterans Again
Oh no. Not Erin O'Toole. Not Stephen Harper's shiny tool. Again.Why it seems like it was just yesterday that he was making an absolute fool of himself, claiming that marijuana doesn't help veterans with PTSD, and that it's dangerous.Despite considerable evidence to the contrary.Now he's going after veterans with PTSD again,
Continue readingMontreal Simon: The Return of Sgt. Doiron and the Betrayal of Cpl. Langridge
They brought Sgt. Andrew Doiron back to Canada today, and I was glad to see that thousands of Canadians turned out to welcome him home down the Highway of Heroes.Once I thought that reception was too militaristic, and too American. But now I think it's right that we should value every life,
Continue readingwmtc: u.s. war resister corey glass speaks out from europe
Corey Glass, war resister from Canada by way of Indiana, speaks out from his travels in Europe in the current issue of NOW. I’m not going to bother to tell you that the Iraq War was wrong or quote the UN handbook on refugees, Geneva Conventions, Nuremberg principles or trials. Nor
Continue readingPolitics, Re-Spun: On Ghomeshi
Years ago, in the house of a queer friend from Atlantic Canada, I joked about Jian Ghomeshi and how he rudely and aggressively hit on her once. She laughed, I laughed, we laughed. She was queer – I thought he was queer. It was comedic gold. I didn’t think anything about it,
Continue readingwmtc: kevin vickers, nathan cirillo, and canada’s response to recent acts of violence
I’ve been thinking a lot about Kevin Vickers. By now the world knows Vickers’ name: he is the sergeant-at-arms of the Parliament of Canada, and his quick thinking and courage undoubtedly saved lives. Vickers shot killed Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, who had already killed one person and appeared intent on killing others.
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Violence is NEVER EVER a choice that a man should make. Ever!
A longtime outspoken advocate for survivors of domestic violence, renowned actor Patrick Stewart gave this touching impromptu speech about his own experience with domestic violence in response to a fan’s question about what non-acting work he’s most proud of. Stewart, who grew up in a home where his mother
Continue readingwmtc: "just because it’s broken, doesn’t mean it’s not beautiful": ashlea brockway and brokenart mosaics
The Brockway family, 2013 I want to tell you about an exciting venture: an opportunity to help make art more accessible for all, to help a low-income woman start her own business, and to help the family of an Iraq War resister, all at the same time. I hope you’ll
Continue readingwmtc: paris day three encore, in which I admit ptsd is forever
So it turns out it’s not just my snoring that’s keeping Connie up at night. It’s noises “that sound like you’re upset,” says my mother. Allan recently told me that I cry or startle or semi-scream in my sleep on a regular basis. The incidents I think of as rare
Continue readingPolitics, Re-Spun: How the Conservative Government Dishonours the Military
So Canada is leaving its occupation of Afghanistan. I never liked the mission. I never liked the context. I never liked the propaganda. I never liked the transformation of some kind of Canada into this occupying Canada. 162 killed and 2,179 wounded? But here’s the very very hard question. Who
Continue readingPolitics, Re-Spun: We Support The Veterans Transition Program
Submitted by Robin and Stewart on Mon, 10/07/2013 – 12:59 1999 saw the rise of the Veteran Transition Network (VTN) through the sponsorship of BC/Yukon Legion Branches and the University of British Columbia. Its mission is to help Canadian Veterans across the nation re-integrate into society, local communities, and with
Continue readingPolitics, Re-Spun: PTSD Update!
Updates from Kate and Robin and Stewart are below, as they approach the end of their campaigns! Kate’s Long Way Home has passed 1,000 kilometres on her way to Ottawa. Post by The Long Way Home. Robin and Stewart’s Marathon for Veterans is closing in on its fundraising target. There is still
Continue readingPolitics, Re-Spun: Robin & Stewart – Our Veterans
Robin & Stewart – Our Veterans Submitted by Robin and Stewart on Mon, 09/23/2013 – 14:40 “Canadian soldiers bravely put themselves in harm’s way, prepared to sacrifice for their country. By some estimates one in five will return with the invisible wounds of PTSD” (War in The Mind). The complexities
Continue readingPolitics, Re-Spun: PTSD Service Dogs: Not Widely Known, But Critical
Lots of stores, places, etc. have “no pets” signs up. That’s fine, but there are usually exceptions for service dogs. Preventing a visually-impaired person from entering a restaurant except without their service dog would be mean and generally intolerable. A long time ago, however, it was quite common to deem
Continue readingPolitics, Re-Spun: Medric Cousineau: Walking for PTSD Support
Along with Kate MacEachern and The Long Way Home and Robin & Stewart’s Marathon for Veterans we have another action in support of PTSD and Veterans, this time including service dogs! Medric Cousineau walked 1000 km to Ottawa to raise $350,000 for 50 service dogs for 50 veterans. The spirit
Continue readingPolitics, Re-Spun: PTSD: Transitions Are Weighty
Kate MacEachern and The Long Way Home Post by The Long Way Home. There is a kind of trauma when people leave chapters in their life: graduating, retiring, marriage, childbirth, death. It takes lots of time to adjust. And it takes a toll on one’s people. And if someone does
Continue readingPolitics, Re-Spun: PTSD: No Room for Denial
What if NO ONE knows your name? Belonging? It’s pretty important. We don’t always have to go where EVERYone knows our name, but we do need to have people. People who know, understand and affirm us. People with mental health issues, however, are often made to feel not so normal,
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