Archive for the ‘Social Commentary’ Category

Does the Government work for us or do we work for the Government? Tonight – What if the constitution no longer applied?

What if the whole purpose of the constitution was to limit the Government?

What if the president, meant to be an equal to congress has instead become a democratically elected term limited monarch?

What if the president assumed everything he did was legal just because he is the president?

What if he could interrupt your regularly scheduled radio and TV programming for a special message from him?

What if he could declare war on his own?

What if he could read your emails or texts without a search warrant?

What if he could kill you without warning?

What if the rights and principals guaranteed in the constitution have been so distorted in the past 200 years as to be unrecognizable by the founding fathers?

What if states were mere Provinces of a totally nationalized and fully centralized government?

What if the constitution was amended stealthily, not by constitutional amendments dually ratified by the states but by the consistent and persistent expansion of the federal government in our lives?

What if the constitution was no longer the supreme law of the land?

What if you need a license to speak or protest…What if the Government didn’t give the license?

What if the rights to keep and bear arms only applies to…..

This is part of a 3 minute message left mistakenly on my voice mail, obviously originating in the United States but wrongfully dialed to our very Canadian number. First of all, I can’t believe the degree to which fear mongering exists in this political rant. Secondly, I’m glad that my phone service cut if off as this was my business line; which I pay for. I stood there listening, baffled by what I was hearing. Really? This is the tactic used to entice or sway voters, mobilize the masses or whatever this is used for? Maybe someone can explain to me where this came from or better yet its usefulness. All that came to my mind was one word, PARANOIA! This is insanity, no wonder there are people who are so fearful of their Government and each other.

I’m not sure of the outcome of this call but whatever its point was to be, it was going to take a long time to get there. If it was to question the current political climate, doesn’t this just fuel more instability and who is this person I’m listening too? Did they just wake up and say, “Hey! I’ve got an idea! While my country women and men are on what appears to be a very long and involved path to picking a leader I will record this commentary and use the phone lines to spew more rhetoric. I’m sorry, but all this verbal diarrhea can’t possibly being doing much good especially since the poop flowed upward, north of the U.S. border, rather than down to its intended victims. This wrong number may end up costing me if they won’t adjust the charges but I have a feeling it costing others far more in the grand scheme of things.

If you live in British Columbia you have heard that a large number of BC Teachers Federation members voted to withdraw from volunteering at student activities. This includes, graduation ceremonies, sports, theatre and band; basically anything that involves additional work outside of normal instructional hours. There are those teachers who support this kind of action and then there are those that have hit the media to say “I don’t think anyone should be able to tell me what to do on my  own time.” These same teachers admit that they have either experienced direct or indirect contact with fellow members that feel they are wrong to go against the collective. I’m sure it is an uncomfortable position to find oneself in, after all, they are colleagues.

On one hand the teachers who have opted to continue volunteering may respect opinion and appreciate the need to seem united on issues but when an issue seems to impact the kids more than the Government they find themselves questioning its validity. I mean, really? How is stopping  graduation for thousands of students, interrupting or dismantling championship competitions and generally disrupting the lives of children everywhere going to help garner support for the cause? It is a lose, lose situation.

Having teachers spend their extra time coaching or mentoring can mean all the difference in the world. Sometimes, for those of us who have benefited from giving teachers, they were the only positive role models kids had or have. Kids involved in these extra-curricular activities built friendships and trust. Kids who are particularly vulnerable to quitting, stay in school longer due to programs such as the ones available through volunteerism. It has always given those that didn’t feel they belonged elsewhere in the system, a place to belong. It is in those activities that kids use their natural talents and build self esteem in ways that can be life changing.

You can’t do Graduation again, you can’t get that scouts eye another year to get a scholarship if you are no longer on the team, you can’t compete for that Provincial win any day, it is today! How in the world do the very people who claim to be doing this for the kids come to the conclusion that this action makes sense? I’m not anti-union, I’m anti-stupidity and yes, I feel this is a move that is foolish. When you have the supposed wisdom these people profess to have could they have not come up with something else that did not directly hit the kids? Their studies in this school year has been interrupted by job action and now this, I just feel bad for the children.

I applaud the teachers who (despite being bullied, made to feel shame, those who have been confronted or harassed) stand up and say “No, I’m not going to use the kids as pawns in this, the show, grad or competition must go on!” Don’t you think it is ironic that while teachers champion anti-bullying the BCTF spokesperson and some members have very strong statements that sound very close to strong arming those that seek alternatives to this action? My hope is that more teachers will stay true to their values and do what is right by the children across this Province and leave their joy-filled activities alone.

When I heard that Ontario is now going to legalize brothels I questioned for a moment whether I was I was still living in Canada. Based on a false sense that brothel’s protect prostituted women and girls, the misinformed courts have opened up the flood gates for all the ills that have plague other countries who tried and failed to legalize prostitution.

If you are reading this post I’m going to ask you to become informed and contact your MP. If you are not willing to stand up against the exploitation of girls and women, have no interest in sending a message to human traffickers that Canada is not the place to do business, if you would not care if your daughter, sister, mother or friend ended up in circumstances that allowed men to purchase them for sexual purposes…then go ahead and click to another blog or go back to whatever you were doing before you landed here. It’s your choice and thankfully YOU have one.

However, if you are moved to support victims of exploitation, learn more about the Nordic Model and want to send a message to our Government read on.

Please get in touch with your local MP. Write a letter, email or call. Do whatever it takes to change this decision; we only have a few months to do so as the Crown attempts an appeal.

Contact:

Parliament: www.parl.gc.ca

Justice Minister of Canada: rob.nicholson@parl.gc.ca

Prime Minister Stephen Harper: pm@pm.gc.ca

Email and cc all of the above. There is a great letter you can download Letter Outline – provided by EVE.

Here is what you need to know:

Read the rest of this entry »

March is Women’s History Month in the U.S.A, Australia and UK. Canada celebrates women’s history in October. The key thing for me is not when it is recognized but that it is recognized at all. My goal is to share with you why this history matters.

I don’t know how many conversations I have had in which my enthusiasm for telling stories of women’s history results in people’s realization of just how little they know on the topic. More questions come forward to which I try to respond and for the women in the room, especially, I see them go from interest, to pride and then to frustration. The frustration comes from a greater awareness that all this history isn’t common knowledge; a sense of being cheated. Invariably, the conversation progresses to how many males in history we know versus women.

To me, it has to go beyond the conversation of women missing from the history books and instead go to, how are we going to ensure that the legacy and accomplishments of those past and present don’t continue to get swept into a quiet dusty corner of the library or book store? In fact, for a moment I want you to consider when you last stepped foot into a book store or library. Could you easily find the books on women’s history? I know that if you found it at all, the section would be very small. Despite the extent to which women have participated in the advancement of this world there is still not enough emphasis on writing, presenting or educating the public on their contributions.

Why should you care? Why should we care about learning any history? Simply put, it opens our minds in a way that very few things can. It gives us both the pain and the pleasure, the dream and the journey, the learning that comes from intelligent ideas through to tangible mistakes. History gives us blueprints for the future and commands us to recognize sacrifice in the pursuit of goals. Through history we a drawn into a play of characters and circumstances that help us identify so many attributes within our ourselves. Sometimes there are stories we hold in high regard and other times there are things we wished were not a part of our human experience. We gain our pride and self esteem when we can look at an individual (or individuals) in history who embody the characteristics we want to cultivate or may possess.

When women get left out of the history lessons in our schools, books and media, then we essentially only learn a fraction of what has happened, is happening or could happen. It is an inaccurate accounting of events and by that omission we are not only obtaining misleading information but have created a false representation of women’s roles in society. This distorted interpretation fuels the lack of communication and respect that can exist between girls and boys, women and men. It is difficult to have a fair discussion on the relevance and contributions of women when everything thus far has been taken out of context.

Self esteem and dreams are built often by the seed of one comment or influential encounter. It is a piece of knowledge from or about a woman who broke barriers, changed the course of history, patented a product, invented a cure, contributed through military service, traversed the globe, built a business empire, fought for rights or died for her beliefs. All of these examples can be the seed that changes our lives. Girls will benefit from this identification on multiple levels but society benefits through the skill development and contribution that comes from an empowered woman.

This is not the sole responsibility of women to ensure historical information is accurate, it needs to be something that all educators, parents and general public take on as an important project.  Understanding the significance of women, away from mainstream portrayals and often exploitative illustrations, assists in the elevation of our relationships both personally and professionally. There is no other forums in which we would appreciate only hearing half the data. We would most likely feel slighted if someone fails to give us a full accounting of the facts or paints a picture that is unflattering. Yet, we have been apathetic to the missing pieces of our collective history, mainly because women were deemed irrelevant.

What can I do? It is time to honor women and to recognize that if you appreciate history at all then we must add in the stories of those whose contributions have been sorely missed. If you are unable to rally your schools or libraries to see the value in expanding the knowledge of women’s history then choose to pass along what you’ve learned to your children and anyone else who will listen. The story you tell may change one person’s perception of women or propel a girl towards what she previously thought was an unattainable dream.

It’s another day and another dollar is trying to be squeezed out of tax payers to make teachers across this Province feel better about their jobs. While the BCTF is looking for approval to strike, many people in the Province can’t help but wonder “When will this insanity end?”

We are bombarded by ads and rhetoric that suggest it is all in support of the students but so much of the discussion seems to be around wages, paid leave and benefits. In a previous post on this topic I looked deeply into just how many “benefits” teachers already get and that is over and above the increasing number of days off. I am unsupportive of their plight and I don’t believe most of what is being discussed addresses the needs within the school system. Such as:

Infrastructure: Aging buildings and portable classrooms have been talked about for years. It stands to reason that upgrades to and expansion of schools in the fast growing areas of our Province, would be a primary focus given both need and safety concerns for the students.

Classroom materials: Recently, I had a conversation with someone who mentioned that it was not uncommon for teachers to buy materials for their students because without their intervention those materials would not be available. Wouldn’t it be prudent to ensure that money be allocated to necessary learning materials for the students.

Special Needs Assistance: There is an increased need for Special Education Assistants within our classrooms, as we have more students that require specialized support across this Province. These professionals are needed to assist the teacher with the learning, behavioural or physical challenges that accompany some children. While the responsibility may lie with the teacher to develop a learning plan, in partnership with family/student, it is the assistant’s job to implement that plan on a day to day basis. However, not all teachers do that effectively and given my relationship with several people involved in this process I can tell you that there are teachers who do not properly value the role of S.E.A’s. These people are not glorified babysitters and if it appears that they are, it would only be due to an absence of involvement from teachers and school administrators. So, increasing the hiring of S.E.A’s and support services would be best for the students.

In all three of these examples I can not find one reason to support wage increases, benefit top ups or more days off. If it is really about the children than you tell me how increasing anyone’s wage will solve the real issues facing today’s schools? A strike will have an impact on what is already a school year rife with disruptions. No supervision, no report cards, no partnership between administrators and teachers has most certainly caused adverse effects. It is not the high functioning students that we need to worry about in this dispute, it is those who are falling through the cracks. There are many parents who most likely don’t even have a clue that their child is behind or failing.

The children and their parents don’t have options in all of this but teachers do. In fact, they have so many options for their future it is mind-blowing. I’m tired of listening to the complaints coming from people who are using “students” as pawns. I’m annoyed when I hear about their desire for a 15 % wage increase when most people are facing roll backs. It is hard to feel sympathetic towards a group that can put upwards of $900 a month into their pension when I can’t even afford to put $900 a year into mine. I’m saddened that many kids come out into the job market unable to spell, understand math or struggle to read.  Their lack of preparedness and learning challenges then become the responsibility of people like me, who provide support services to fill in the gaps. 

We all have tremendous responsibility. Though, I appreciate that teaching is a hard job, I can think of many others that are equally important to our development and health. Teachers are an essential service, and as such, should not ever be allowed to put the education and supervision of our children at risk.

If you are a woman looking to get into the film industry, creatively directing, producing or even writing, don’t expect that the red carpet is going to be laid out for you. The Celluloid Ceiling’s 2011 report has just come out and the data compiled by Dr. Martha M. Lauzen is again screaming “Not Welcome!” Dr. Lauzen, who conducts research on the roles of women in film and television, has provided statistical comparisons that are eye opening.

In this report it is clear that the film industry moves at a snails pace when it comes to the inclusion of women in behind-the-scenes roles. If you take the examples alone that 95% of the top 250 films of 2011 were directed by men or that 77% of those films had no female writers or 38% of films hired 0 – 1 woman in the roles considered, one can only conclude systematic exclusion is still very much alive. It isn’t that women are not enrolling in the cinematic arts programs, they are, or that there is a physical limitation preventing their participation or that women aren’t interested in film and television; that too is a myth.

Even as consumers, when it comes to moviegoers and box office sales, men and women are almost equal in most categories. As for attendance, according to the Motion Picture Association of America’s Theatrical Market Statistics 2010 report, in 2009 women purchased 55% of the movie tickets. By 2010 nearly one million women between the ages of 40 – 49 who previously were considered frequent moviegoers, scaled back their trips to the theaters. We can speculate on why that may be but certainly from the perspective of women’s interest in film, one million paying customers is not something any industry would like to lose. The Numbers – Movie Market Summary 1995 – 2012

It’s coming down to numbers but ultimately there is a larger issue that can’t be swept under the rug. Consistently, women are unable to secure employment despite having the credentials, desire and expertise.  Not every woman’s experience with discrimination will be the same, we can always find examples in any industry of women who say “I made it.” However, how many more are standing at the glass peering in with a camera, script or critical eye waiting to be allowed access? Given this latest study and report it would appear there are a hell of a lot of women’s names missing when the film credits roll.

It shouldn’t be an against- the-odds affair, the culture of hiring needs to evolve with the times.  When one gender is controlling the entrance into a field or the advancement of the other gender they are stifling their own growth. The lack of balance and diversity makes its way through the product to the consumer. In an industry where creativity is key you would also think that collaborative and visionary people from all walks of life would be encouraged to become part of the projects.

As consumers we are affected. The majority of programs and films are simply not being produced in a way that represents the efforts of women, no matter how you slice it. Women’s roles are being written, produced and directed by men which is hardly necessary with so many women waiting to be involved. We are allowing this to go on because we have been fed garbage excuses that help protect those in power from opening the doors to women and minorities. Film and television is supposedly designed to speak to, entertain and reach the masses, therefore, protectionism should not be welcome in this arena. It is time for the old white males to move away from the doors and allow talented women to work along side as equals. Maybe then more women who work behind-the-scenes will enjoy a moment of proudly positioning their Oscar on the mantle.

Postscript: Great video brought to you by Women in Hollywood

For Your Consideration: Women Directors Missing From the Oscars

It was September 2010 when a girl was raped while attending a rave in Pitt Meadows, British Columbia. As if that was not disturbing and tragic enough, almost immediately after the attack, images appeared on Facebook. A group of young males who witnessed the rape decided rather than assist they would film.

When I first blogged about this story Internet – Its Role in Victimization the sympathy for the young woman and her family was mixed with pure disgust that social media could be used in such a way. It was completely frustrating to know that despite the efforts of family and police, the swift reach of the Internet took away any hope of protecting her from further humiliation. So, here we sit February 2012 hearing the sentence of one of the teens who posted the sexual assault on Facebook. Originally charged with production and distribution of child pornography he plead guilty to a lesser charge and received 12 months probation for distributing obscene material. He must also write an essay on the Harmful Impact of Social Media; a pros and cons account of its use.

Is that enough? There is so much more to the acts he participated in that would not even be remotely acknowledged in such an essay. He failed to protect a human being from rape. Even if he felt that his own safety was at risk, or most likely his reputation would be tainted, nothing prevented him from removing himself from the scene and dialing 911 for help. The necessities of preserving her life and safety meant nothing. Instead this boy filmed and distributed the crime. Social media was the tool used to distribute something so perverse but subsequent to that is his detachment from that experience. His lack of respect and empathy really needs to be addressed.

However, it wasn’t only just his desensitization to her suffering. The entertainment factor depicted in the abuse and rape was played out that night in front of at least 12 other young men. They too were immune from impact and their collective code of silence speaks volumes to just how deep this case goes. As we go further down the rabbit hole, we see social media’s role > which is partnered with the Internet > which in itself has become a playground for pornographers. In an age when access to pornography and graphic images of the torture, rape and abuse of girls and women abound (even on mainstream TV) looking at an attack against a woman in real life, for some men, becomes nothing more than harmless amusement. A spectacle that one knows they shouldn’t be watching but can’t take their eyes away from.

If any essays were to be written, it may have been prudent to explore the harmful affects of pornography on our society with an additional sentence that dealt with the realities of rape and abuse against women and children. How about, sensitivity training and mandatory counselling to find out how he got to the point where he could be so far removed from feeling anything towards this girl. Countless images are downloaded every day that depict women and children in various situations of degradation. With Facebook and YouTube, acts of violence can be captured and preserved for the world to see. The young woman in this story lives with the fact that the crime against her, her image, remains out there in cyberspace. The social aspect of this media was and is being obscenely misused.

When this boy completes his essay I believe it should be placed up on a police Facebook page so that we as a society can judge whether he understood the full impact of his actions. Meanwhile,  two other males are about to face trial and sentencing in relation to this case. Colton Ashton McMorris is charge with sexual assault and is awaiting trial along with Dennis John Allen Warrington who is charged with making and distributing child pornography. All the others, who chose not to cooperate with the investigation remain at large. Hiding like cowards and most likely still believing that what transpired was “her fault”, not theirs.

After surviving a brutal attack which resulted in contusions and a brain injury, Charles Dixon entered the courtroom one more time, (as he thought) hoping Lady Justice would reach out and recognize his suffering. The sentencing of Del Louie was about to take place when his counsel decided to implore the judge to consider Mr. Louie’s aboriginal status and fetal alcohol syndrome before coming to any final decision.

Instead of jail time, Mr. Louie has the potential to be released into the community (or home) with conditions; known as conditional sentencing. Due to the overwhelming representation of aboriginal people in jails within Canada, courts are trying to find alternative paths towards accountability and rehabilitation. However, using aboriginal status as a get out of jail card is not sitting well with victims and many in the general public. Mr. Dixon heard an apology from Louie but he is not happy about the prospect of seeing his attacker remain outside of jail.  Can you blame him?

Dixon and his family have had their lives turned upside down while battling through recovery from injuries, dealing with a medical condition and loss of income.  His circumstances are not being respectfully considered. Something seems wrong when a delay occurs and a plea for compassion surfaces in order to lessen the harm to the offender. I subscribe to what is fast becoming a myth that “If you do the crime, you do the time.” I can move towards leniency only when all parties agree that it is in the best interest of EVERYONE involved. However, I’m not sympathetic to the “I’m an Aboriginal” defence.

The over representation of our aboriginal people in jails is truly unfortunate and so is the high rates of substance abuse that has devastated communities and families for generations. It would be my dream to see the aboriginal people rise above the challenges, move past the historic trauma and forward to healthier living, work opportunities and education. (We could all use that) Prevention, treatment and opportunity would bring prosperity in its most holistic sense. However, sending a message to anyone that special status in our country provides you with an opportunity to not go to prison, sets up a whole host of other problems.

Countless victims feel cheated from justice not because of misrepresentation of facts but purely base on racial and cultural accommodations. This can fuel resentment towards the aboriginal community for such special provisions and conversely, have blame and anger directed upon non aboriginals who don’t subscribe to alternative sentencing. Does the general public ever really know the success rate of these conditional sentences and alternative cultural therapies that have been incorporated into judgements? Even if they are successful is it OK to make such arrangements irrespective of the impact on victims? How do we ever reach common ground on anything when it is always about dividing citizens up into two very distinct camps?

We should be under one law and it should not be too hard to recognize that when a person like Mr. Louie beats up a man he must face the judge and have his future be based on his criminal act, not his race. We have many sad cases out there of people who were raised under extreme and difficult circumstances but not all of those individuals make the same choices to hurt, maim or kill other human beings. Individuals struggling with mental health issues and substance abuse will always make up a considerable portion of our offenders. There are valuable programs through the aboriginal community and elsewhere that people can tap into; caring practitioners trying to help others find support. If our jails were better equipped to deal with some of the problems people like Mr. Louie face, then we wouldn’t be having this discussion. But, because we can’t save them all or others drop the ball, society and in particular victims are forced to listen to how we can help the poor offender.

I hope Mr. Louie is remorseful and I do hope he gets extra assistance to manage anger, life and F.A.S but I also think he needs time in jail. It’s called accountability. Mr. Dixon survived and he deserves to be the person we most care about in all of this. 

LOVE CONQUERS ALL –

Wonderful news since my last post! After hearing about the elderly couple Ken and Dusty McKay, who after 62 years of marriage had been placed in separate care homes by Interior Health, I am elated to now report they are reunited. I’m sure this comes as a result of both media attention and public outrage as there was some pressure to bare on the health authority.

Everyone with an ounce of compassion could appreciate not only the need to eliminate the stress this caused for this couple (and their family) but more importantly that their precious bond be protected. There are many marriages that do not survive 20 years never mind 60+, we must not only celebrate such commitments but also make sure that only death parts life companions not bureaucracy.

Elderly Couple Reunited

You would think the healthiest medicine is to be with the one you love. However, two seniors found out that after 60 years of marriage the thing that would come between them was Interior Health. IH is a health authority that was set up to serve communities in the interior of British Columbia. It provides many services which includes Seniors Care and boasts on its website “we’re working hard to provide a range of health care options that promote independence, choice and dignity.”

For Ken McKay and his wife Dusty that appears to be difficult to obtain. Instead, they found themselves separated when six months ago Dusty’s medical care needs exceeded his. The emotional toll this has taken on both of them was hard; tears welled up as I watched on Global BC news Elderly Okanagan Couple Appeal for Same Home. To hear what they were having to deal with was truly heartbreaking. Here is a man and woman who have survived through all the ups and downs that life brings, afforded so much time on this earth to spend together in love and marriage only to be ripped apart by a system whose roots are in health and care.

How is it healthy to remove from a person’s life their companion and confidante? How good can any care be when it places such pain, frustration, heartache and loneliness in two people’s lives? Where is the dignity when as we age other people make decisions for us that they would never wish upon themselves? At what point does our choice to live and die in the arms of the one we love become a logistical problem that must be handled by outside entities?

All too often seniors find themselves being dictated to and cast aside. We are a culture that houses our seniors more often in wait to die centers rather than creating strong at home care and independent living an affordable reality. It should not be so hard for this man and woman to receive the support necessary under one roof. We should embrace that option as a true sign of compassionate care till the end! To see this man break down in the way he did, apologize for his emotion and still try to fight to be united with his wife, is so admirable.

Sixty years of unity should not end as it has for others in the past because our health care authorities didn’t have the vision to provide a workable solution. Shame on the Interior Health and may everyone reading this realize we may one day find ourselves in a similar situation…who will speak for us? When we can’t take care of the people who need us most, it is not they that are weak, it is us.