MY CANADA and changes from traditional normal
MURDER,
RAPE AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT
In this week’s Pre-Christmas news reports people must wonder if the world will ever come back to what was formerly considered normal. Mass murder in several countries, sexual assault and perceived rape discussions at least in Canada usurping almost every media conversation, Politicians disparately struggling to retain power while trying to convince voters their parties are our saviors seems to be a few of the headline issues.
Children in Pakistan and Australia have reportedly been murdered in large groups by terrorists, insane people or both. Anyone randomly targeting children for death is insane as proven by the example of terrorist killers murdering 130 children at a Pakistan military school. The killing is said to appease a religious order or perceived supposedly merciful God. The acts are all reported to be someone seeking revenge for a personal or societal wrong. That type of atrocity is not the action of a sane person or a group of so-called religious fighters. Try to imagine sending a child off to school and having to provide a casket for his or her body before nightfall because some idiot with a warped sense of reality decides to go on a murder rampage. Or think of the terror when some crazed individual with a knife is slashing and killing a victim’s siblings while the onlooker is awaiting the same treatment. The latest atrocity is a man stepping up to a police car and killing the two officers on patrol in an apparent act of revenge for another office killing a young man with his bare hands while making an arrest. If any of those instances are not insanity then what in world is that kind of craziness?
SEXUAL HARASSMENT CHANGES
A long respected and cherished television icon is accused of drugging and raping women for decades without having to face charges. A highly successful television interviewer is accused of beating and injuring women for years without getting caught and then fired from a major television network without charges being laid by the proper authorities. An announced law suit by the TV host is suddenly withdrawn without any announced reason. Does that mean there was a monetary settlement that stopped the publication of settlement terms if there was one? Several groups of university students, sports personalities and television hosts are accused of similar acts of sexual misbehavior or crimes against mostly unidentified women. The apparently slapped on the wrists often meted out by authorities without leveling criminal charges causes protests that are soon relegated to yesterday’s news. Are those normal practices that took place unabated over the years or something new since women are struggling for equality in every instance to their male counterparts? Is it okay for women to make those kinds of accusations without having to be identified as victims? The change, if it is a change, seems to have many questions and so few answers
POLITICAL POWER MONGERING
Canada is about to experience a year of political unrest, accusations and counter accusations about the good and bad actions of the people Canadians elected to represent us in parliament. Either in the spring or fall of 2015 Canadians will be asked to choose a group of 300 plus people to guide us through the next 4 to 5 years of global turmoil. About half the population of voting age give, or take a few percentage points, will exercise the right to vote. Some claim the low numbers turning out to cast a ballot is a travesty. But in reality whom are we voting for to lead this prosperous often envied country? Almost without exception the candidates chosen by the party will be a local individual or parachuted someone into the riding with impeccable proven loyalty to the particular party and its leader. The system although undoubtedly better than many non-democratic nations is flawed. The people chosen to represent us are loyal to the person selected as party leader. That person is given virtually dictatorial power as Prime Minister if a majority of party members are elected to parliament. Citizens in Canada do not choose a leader only those elected to parliament vote for a party leader. The flaw happens because to be appointed as minister or other higher paying position, loyalty to the party and the selected leader trumps all else. A member of any party disagreeing publicly with the leader and in retrospect probably the party is delegated to backbench status. That removes the person from contention for a greater career and thus affects the area the elected person represents. His or her ability to garner constituent wants and needs of his or her constituents are almost equal to that of an opposition member. The party is all powerful and as a rule will not deviate from the path an elected leader and his or her immediate advisors dictate.
In some instances and hopefully in 2015 the public reacts to giving any PM dictatorial power refusing to allow any party a majority allowing every party to become more involved in decision making. Minority governments are often proven to make the political field become more democratic. Opposition parties must support the party with a slight majority or face a collapse and another election. Most of the time neither the party in power or opposition relish asking the voters for another mandate since the option is too uncertain. Some, but of course not strong party supporters, believe it is the best system of government. Canadians in general often opt for such governance taking a chance on the parties being reluctant to force another election too soon.
CHRISTMAS WISHES
This week’s commentary is pretty negative for a pre-Christmas rant. On the other hand if a person is watching newscasts on any major network negativity rules the day, except of course for the heartwarming stories about people helping people to enjoy Christmas and the New Year holiday season.
To the numerous readers of MY CANADA essays or blogs each counted as hits on this website and celebrating the day, Shirley and I wish everyone a MERRY CHRISTMAS.
Hopefully we can write a pre-New Years essay/blog maybe reviewing 2014 political issues documented in MY CANADA articles during the past year.
In this week’s Pre-Christmas news reports people must wonder if the world will ever come back to what was formerly considered normal. Mass murder in several countries, sexual assault and perceived rape discussions at least in Canada usurping almost every media conversation, Politicians disparately struggling to retain power while trying to convince voters their parties are our saviors seems to be a few of the headline issues.
Children in Pakistan and Australia have reportedly been murdered in large groups by terrorists, insane people or both. Anyone randomly targeting children for death is insane as proven by the example of terrorist killers murdering 130 children at a Pakistan military school. The killing is said to appease a religious order or perceived supposedly merciful God. The acts are all reported to be someone seeking revenge for a personal or societal wrong. That type of atrocity is not the action of a sane person or a group of so-called religious fighters. Try to imagine sending a child off to school and having to provide a casket for his or her body before nightfall because some idiot with a warped sense of reality decides to go on a murder rampage. Or think of the terror when some crazed individual with a knife is slashing and killing a victim’s siblings while the onlooker is awaiting the same treatment. The latest atrocity is a man stepping up to a police car and killing the two officers on patrol in an apparent act of revenge for another office killing a young man with his bare hands while making an arrest. If any of those instances are not insanity then what in world is that kind of craziness?
SEXUAL HARASSMENT CHANGES
A long respected and cherished television icon is accused of drugging and raping women for decades without having to face charges. A highly successful television interviewer is accused of beating and injuring women for years without getting caught and then fired from a major television network without charges being laid by the proper authorities. An announced law suit by the TV host is suddenly withdrawn without any announced reason. Does that mean there was a monetary settlement that stopped the publication of settlement terms if there was one? Several groups of university students, sports personalities and television hosts are accused of similar acts of sexual misbehavior or crimes against mostly unidentified women. The apparently slapped on the wrists often meted out by authorities without leveling criminal charges causes protests that are soon relegated to yesterday’s news. Are those normal practices that took place unabated over the years or something new since women are struggling for equality in every instance to their male counterparts? Is it okay for women to make those kinds of accusations without having to be identified as victims? The change, if it is a change, seems to have many questions and so few answers
POLITICAL POWER MONGERING
Canada is about to experience a year of political unrest, accusations and counter accusations about the good and bad actions of the people Canadians elected to represent us in parliament. Either in the spring or fall of 2015 Canadians will be asked to choose a group of 300 plus people to guide us through the next 4 to 5 years of global turmoil. About half the population of voting age give, or take a few percentage points, will exercise the right to vote. Some claim the low numbers turning out to cast a ballot is a travesty. But in reality whom are we voting for to lead this prosperous often envied country? Almost without exception the candidates chosen by the party will be a local individual or parachuted someone into the riding with impeccable proven loyalty to the particular party and its leader. The system although undoubtedly better than many non-democratic nations is flawed. The people chosen to represent us are loyal to the person selected as party leader. That person is given virtually dictatorial power as Prime Minister if a majority of party members are elected to parliament. Citizens in Canada do not choose a leader only those elected to parliament vote for a party leader. The flaw happens because to be appointed as minister or other higher paying position, loyalty to the party and the selected leader trumps all else. A member of any party disagreeing publicly with the leader and in retrospect probably the party is delegated to backbench status. That removes the person from contention for a greater career and thus affects the area the elected person represents. His or her ability to garner constituent wants and needs of his or her constituents are almost equal to that of an opposition member. The party is all powerful and as a rule will not deviate from the path an elected leader and his or her immediate advisors dictate.
In some instances and hopefully in 2015 the public reacts to giving any PM dictatorial power refusing to allow any party a majority allowing every party to become more involved in decision making. Minority governments are often proven to make the political field become more democratic. Opposition parties must support the party with a slight majority or face a collapse and another election. Most of the time neither the party in power or opposition relish asking the voters for another mandate since the option is too uncertain. Some, but of course not strong party supporters, believe it is the best system of government. Canadians in general often opt for such governance taking a chance on the parties being reluctant to force another election too soon.
CHRISTMAS WISHES
This week’s commentary is pretty negative for a pre-Christmas rant. On the other hand if a person is watching newscasts on any major network negativity rules the day, except of course for the heartwarming stories about people helping people to enjoy Christmas and the New Year holiday season.
To the numerous readers of MY CANADA essays or blogs each counted as hits on this website and celebrating the day, Shirley and I wish everyone a MERRY CHRISTMAS.
Hopefully we can write a pre-New Years essay/blog maybe reviewing 2014 political issues documented in MY CANADA articles during the past year.
