Archive for the ‘Steam Rising’ Category

While spending my day decorating for Christmas  I listened to the radio and couldn’t help but hear the ongoing drama that is unfolding with BC’s New Democratic Party. Carole James continues to fight off Jenny Kwan who has used her clout and claws to attack James and rally other hungry wolves to encircle the pack leader.

Now, I’m no leading authority on politics but I am a voter and I’m getting mighty sick of BC politicians. What makes me even madder is when a party like the NDP implodes just as it ascends in the polls. That ascension might have been enough to give the one party rule we’ve been living under a run for their money, if not win. But No! Instead they choose this time to question leadership, leak information and undermine the value of voting  NDP.

The one party I have never voted for was Liberal but I’m not a big fan of any particular party. I, like many I know, have become disillusioned and though I tried to support the Green Party for something different they seem too weak. When you have a chance to give people an alternative party to follow, the Green’s should have been dumping every dollar and hour they had to getting their message out. There is a couple of problems I see, they have not enough people who have a presence and voice that the majority can take seriously and the policies outside of environmental concerns are not articulated well to the average voter.

So, while I waffle between the Greens and the NDP I now find myself not wanting to vote at all. Purely disgusted after watching one party slaughter themselves, observing leaders who do not know when to call it quits due to expanding egos and reduced thought of overall party success. Generally, each party wastes time with their political speak; assured that we the voter will buy it all again.

I want to publicly thank Gordon Campbell for finally stepping aside, though I think that was a strategic move for which we have yet to see his true intent. I want to plead with Carole James to see the writing on the wall, for some reason the charisma is not there and you obviously have lost NDP supporters both internally and externally. As for you, Jenny Kwan, thanks for taking the most inopportune time to be “virtuous” and essentially putting your own party into an even bigger tailspin in the eyes of voters.

A politician is a politician is a politician…cut from the same cloth.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation uncovered, through the access of information law, some interesting facts about Canadian Native Leaders…at least 80 are “living high on the hog.”  One band councillor earned $978.468 in tax free money, for what??  There are people that sit on boards for free and probably do as much as that person does if not more. Granted, I have no proof, but “Hey, if we find out who it is maybe they could share how they warrant almost a million dollars for supporting/governing a population of 304 people. Our Prime Minister doesn’t even make as much as some of these people do and look at how many citizens he governs and decisions he makes in one year.

I’m peeved about this. If this is true, people in those communities should be outraged! If you have travelled through or are living on a reserve you can certainly see that not everyone is living so mightily. There are needs that are clearly evident despite multiple programs designed on and off some reserves to support its citizens. Still the money at the top doesn’t quite trickle down. Even the elected officials did well for themselves earning over $100,000 per year. I sure hope somebody can track the amount of man hours and contribution those people made to earn that salary. Some of the people interviewed on the news stated it was not uncommon to see limos as a mode of transport for their band leader(s) and officials.  Really? What the heck do they need a limo for?

I’m not saying don’t earn money, if it is legitimately earned and well represented in the time, energy and education spent to get where they are, have at it. However, when we keep hearing about the poverty, the multiple housing and social issues that plague various bands, it is hard to support a broken system. Instead of looking outward to where historically everyone went wrong maybe this is the reality check that says “Might want to look from within, the person ripping you off lives next door.”  “The person or persons who are not helping you get ahead are your leaders.”

There was at least one petition starting on a reserve to address their discontent with the issue and I do hope more join in. This is insane to think that those dollars were allocated appropriately, especially given the population numbers some were overseeing.

Should we be angry about this? I think we should be. After years of having some leaders paint many citizens of Canada as not caring about the past, present and future of the native peoples, I’m mad enough to say “Look in the mirror buddy.” “Spread the wealth as there are lots of great people in your community that would like to prosper and be shown more respect.”

One of my real challenges with driving is trying to avoid cyclist. Oh, I know, it is an environmentally friendly mode of transport and healthy for the body but what drives me nuts is the risks a cyclists takes. I’m not talking about the obvious fact that they are on two wheels in a four wheel world but that they can’t seem to make up their minds as to who they are.

I know that when I’m driving my car there are rules to adhere too. I can’t drive on the sidewalk, blow a red light, circle around at the last minute or not signal my intentions. Yes, not everyone adheres to the rules but for the most part there are still some things that distinguish us as vehicle drivers.

Conversely, I encounter on my daily driving trek more than enough cyclists who can’t identify what they are…motorist, cyclist or pedestrian. It is a free for all, whatever they feel in the moment.  Here are some examples: Crossing the street without waiting for the lights to indicate green for go, flying off the sidewalk to reenter the driving lanes, barrelling at high speed down a hill without stopping at the light that is clearly marked red. Weaving in and out of traffic that is slow or stopped for a reason. No helmets, no signals, no common sense!  It’s a guessing game as to who they are when it comes to using our roadways.

As Vancouver prepares more bike lanes to accommodate this schizophrenic bunch we the driving public have to figure out each individual cyclists personality. Is he a person who is adhering to the rules of the road? Is she going to signal or should I hang back and wait just in case? Is he going to stop at the light or crosswalk or decide to go through because “Hey, he can… he is only on two wheels!”  Does he hear the voices of those around him or is he tuned out by a device in his ear, impairing his safe driving capacity?

It is a joke, I counted only two cyclist out today in this cold, rainy weather and both had a different perspective on what it means to use our roads. We spend all this money to accommodate this seasonal bunch, supposedly to keep them safe and they can’t even oblige us with some sense that they care about themselves or others.

License and ticket them! License all bikes, as if they are cars, with insurance added. If they want to use the road along side me then pay for it. Not just through tax dollars, we all do that, but through good old fashion licensing, registration and insurance. Decide whether they are vehicles and have them follow the rules accordingly.

If I see a cyclist out of control or not driving properly I should be able to take down his/her license and call it in to the police. Multiple driving infractions means they lose their bike privileges, impound the two wheeled vehicle. As you know, we are all told that driving is a privilege, not a right.

As a cyclist if you are a responsible driver then you have nothing to worry about. However, if you are one of the road owning, not paying attention, melon waiting to smash, undecided about your identity cyclist, then either get off the road or grab some sense. Drivers have enough to deal with, without having to share space with annoying cyclists!

In the news of late is a series of high profile stories that have something in common – crimes against women.

In follow up to the gang rape of a young girl at a rave in Pitt Meadows BC, a 16 year old boy has been charged with Child Porn Distribution after he posted the images on Facebook. Of course, his identity remains concealed as he is nestled in the protective arms of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. What is equally shocking about this story is that police have only two youths that have provided information, at least 10-12 other individuals that witnessed the rape have not come forward. Sickening!

Another story dominating the news: A Border Guard is on trial for allegedly sexually assaulting women during illegal strip searches he conducted; outside of the main building. This breach of trust is severe and as the trial continues I just can’t help myself, I’m willing to convict based on the transcripts we are hearing from the victims. I guess I don’t have the ability to accept that all the women involved, who don’t know each other, could all be misrepresenting the truth about what happened. Sorry, sometimes I can’t be impartial.

Finally, there was the truly sad story of the death of a girl in Delta who was attacked by a killer  in broad daylight; she was 15 years old. Laura Szendrie was by all accounts a vibrant soul, well loved friend, a good student who was out to meet her friends at a local, well populated park. Instead, police are now gathering evidence and hopefully tips to solve this brutal crime; it remains the unknown and there in lies the fear. Who is this person? Why? Will he strike again?

What I don’t get with this story is the latest drive by media to pursue the fact that apparently some Hell Angels showed up at this girls funeral. Some media proceeded to thread the story to, “Two Hells Angels were caught speeding down the highway after attending a funeral.” Who cares! (It is often amazing to me that as much as mainstream media complains about us Bloggers sometimes news coverage is just as nutty in what they choose to write about or show us.)

I don’t know why I needed to focus on these stories, maybe just the fact that each include girls and women who have been victimized and still we ask “Why?” and feel powerless.  Across the country, across the continent, across this world there are probably many stories just like these. Assaulting women is so prevalent; it is a part of our society. We appear to be incapable of changing this fact. Laws that have no teeth breed minimal sentences, early releases and no post assault protection. Many men don’t step up to take responsibility for their own gender’s role – take back the night, the day or anything else on behalf of women. The expectations/conversations continue, yielding suggestions on what women should do to protect and inform themselves as if we are already not bound enough or feel the pressure to keep our eyes and ears open. There are so many reasons to bury our head in our hands.

Why do we continue to grapple with these situations? I’m guessing because there are so many contributors to the problem we can never get to a place of resolution, at any level. The cases mount up, the life and death of women and girls become our evening news, we remain powerless to change what has challenged us for hundreds of years. The oldest prejudice in the world remains firmly intact, misogyny still rules!

(For those who may be interested in a book that explores the oldest prejudice check out the following)

A brief history of Misogyny: the World’s Oldest Prejudice  author Jack Holland

How the Internet played a hand in the re-victimization of a 16 year old girl who was gang raped at a party.

If this story hasn’t hit you yet, it is time it did. However, not in the way it has for many teens and others right now who are passing along the pictures of this brutal and very public rape on Facebook. Over one week ago a young girls life and the life of her family were irrevocably changed as she endured a rape at a party in Pitt Meadows, BC by an 18 year old boy and allegedly others. Meanwhile, one 16 year old male filmed and then posted the images, sharing with people in his life and beyond.

Despite efforts by police and Facebook monitors, it seems there is no way to stop the images from circulating, further victimizing this poor girl and her family. It is viral and in its truest definition has infected and continues to infect our lives in ways we may not clearly be able to comprehend.

The Internet unto itself has all the markings of a good tool to better our understanding of so many things; connecting us, shaping us and minimizing the vastness of this global village. It is also used to disseminate some of the most evil and disgusting representations of human behaviour; with little to no ability to recall what has been shared once it has been loaded. The relationship we have with this technology and the freedoms we chose to adopt with its existence means we can’t stop what is now developing in this story, perpetual violence.

Previous to global viewers it was the fear of any rape victim to go to court, face her accuser and endure the barrage of questions from those that would come to attack her character on the stand. Now, a victim can potentially live out every detail of this event through social media, which holds minimal protection laws or even morality to stop the flow of information and images. Protecting victims rights no longer applies and all the heads that created our free flow of information on the web, either can’t or won’t stop the madness.

We have entered into a time when people capture everything they do on film or in print with no civil/moral compass or even commonsense to light the way. Exposed to so much, so soon through television, video games, movies and the Internet our youth (and adults) are becoming desensitized to the point that standing, watching and even filming the torture of another human being, means nothing. It did not repulse the observers to view such a violent act instead apparently it gave opportunity to join in. It didn’t cause anyone to act on behalf of the victim. Instead, at least one individual male filmed it with the full intention of taking his porn to the socially charged and connected market of Facebook junkies.

The willingness to broadcast themselves (and others) is mirrored 24/7 and so what recipients saw probably wouldn’t shock many of them.  It isn’t like any of these kids hadn’t seen depictions like that before; actors or animated characters have often demonstrated the same contempt for girls/women. It isn’t like we could even quantify at this point the amount of verbal or visual references to victimization of girls/women that are embedded in their minds; hard-wired in without any true understanding of its significance.

That significance showed up with comments that blamed the victim or came out in the phrase that was offered by one boy in an awkward attempt to support the victim “….she’s not that type of girl.” As he wanted to articulate she didn’t deserve it, he implied that some type of girl would. There is no girl that would, but he hasn’t seen or heard evidence to the contrary.

Instead, a steady diet of images of girls and women being victimized or playing roles of “whores” who find themselves dispensable or deserving of bad treatment, is served weekly. Depictions of bondage, torture and rape are common place in their plugged in, supposedly non-realistic world, whereby either someone comes to the rescue of her or the girl eventually enacts her own vigilante style justice. Often described as “sexual content” in movie/game ratings and websites,  it would be hard for any teen or even adult to discern the reality of rape from the pleasure and truth about consensual sex.

The re-victimization of this girl continues because we have a society that has broken all the tenets normally associated with dignity, civility and respect. It is not that rape or torture did not exist before, it did. It is not the breakdown of the family, as I heard suggested by some ill-informed caller on a talk show covering this very case. Single parent homes have always existed. It is not about this girl or any other. For me it appears to be just another example of societal breakdown – the culmination of years of anything goes, the thought that people (mainly youth) can truly distinguish between reality and fantasy when that line has become so blurred. Through everything that is viewed or read we can see making it look as real as possible has become the expectation. Therefore, when it is really happening it now has less of an impact.

The Internet and the media we use everyday is not the cause of this tragedy, it is also not helping. As the images circulate for weeks, months and maybe years ahead on the web we may need to rethink what we want for our future.

How much victimization are we willing to allow in the name of protection of freedoms that currently blanket the Internet, social media and other sources of entertainment?

Can we honestly say to this girl, “It is OK, this will all die down soon, just ignore it?” How does she or we ignore this?

When it is a gun that hurts somebody we say, “Well, it is not guns that kill people, it is people that kill people.” That is fact, a gun can not change nor act of its behalf to change the outcome of a human decision. The Internet, however, and everything of the like can. There are great minds behind the sites and the emergence of this technology that I believe could change this and act in the best interest of our society.

Tell me what freedoms are we protecting that you can justify to this girl, right now? Though many use Facebook and other means to reach out to support this girl, it still seems odd to me. It is like getting consoled by the hand that continues to slap you; a passive friend one minute and an aggressive foe the next. The long reach of the Internet, social and other media never leaves you alone.

I can’t even begin to express the sadness I feel for the victims of Robert Pickton and their families. As this tragedy unfolded from discovery of evidence through to the court process, it seem unfathomable that it could take so long for police to get and prosecute this man. Years go by and still we are hashing through the truths that emerge about the case and subsequent blunders/miscommunication between two police forces.

The voices grow for an inquiry as we seek more answers. We want to show our respect for the women who lost their lives; to act and speak on their behalf. To implement protocol and accountability to prevent future breakdowns.  To deal with the frustration and feelings of helplessness that comes from an injured system.

It goes without saying it is hard to find closure in this when we are talking about so many lives; whether we assign 26, 49 or 100 it was one death too many. There is no doubt in my mind he (and maybe others) were able to continue killing because of the way we as a society view these women. They are disposable, living a high risk life with multiple issues and we are simply not prepared to appreciate, empathize or look deep into their existence and our role.

They stayed under the radar of police and news worthiness because it wasn’t a series of women in my neighbourhood disappearing on their evening stroll. Thankfully, eventually the media played and plays a role in keeping this top of mind. Why am I thankful? Without that spotlight, featuring the families and organizations that aim to expose the inequities of justice, we the public would go on to the next tragedy and these women would fade even further from our view and consciousness.

Can an inquiry help? I believe it can. Providing, concrete steps are taken to ensure understanding and compliance with recommendations.

Inquiries can be time consuming and expensive but those are not good enough reasons to silence this particular issue. We have a responsibility to get to the bottom of this, we can not trust that this was only one bad situation that won’t be repeated. Yes, the Vancouver Police Department has some openness, maybe the RCMP will come around to examination of the facts but we the public must exercise our due dillegence! Many lives were lost on their watch, it was a mass murder of women.

These mothers, daughters, sisters, cousins may have lacked the self esteem and ability to advocate for a better life. Abandoned, abused, abusers or survivors it is important we do right by them once and for all. As I sat at one social gathering a few weeks back, the topic of Pickton came up.  One guy said, “He did us a favour.” Briefly proceeding to say “those women deserved it.” As he went to continue his venom I turned around and said “I don’t agree with you!” “They didn’t deserve it, I have met with women who have lived and worked on our streets, they don’t deserve this!” I chose not to continue dialogue with this man, it is a waste of breath. The use and abuse on women continues because of attitudes such as that.

I want justice for each of these women. If it can not be in the form of a voice in court or a sentence increase, then at least let us here the truth and implement change that addresses not only the systemic breakdown but gives rise to a new way of supporting women to not need or be lured into the survival sex trade. Prosecute Johns heavily and put a magnifiying glass on the street pimps and traffickers that make women vulnerable to people like Pickton. Give answers, tell me what went wrong and fix it!

What do you think? Should there be an inquiry and what would you hope comes from it?

Here it is the birth of a new category, inspired by my need to let off steam with rants. Steam Rising was suggested by my friend and colleague Jill, it’s a nice companion to my alter ego which celebrates Esteem Rising… I love it! In the past I have added rants in my blog posts but now there will be a place for you and I to easily find them. So, look out here it goes…

In the news – something always gets me hot under the collar:

Bears about to be trapped on the North Shore of Vancouver. For those of you unfamiliar with that location it is a picturesque area of our city that climbs its way from shore to mountain peaks, heavily populated and apparently dealing with unwanted bears. More bears than normal, they say, are becoming a nuisance. Garbage diving and even a past report of a break in to a home whereby the bear raided the kitchen for food.

This makes me sooo mad every time I hear these stories. Here’s the solution “Go live somewhere in the concrete city!”

Let’s see, I will build my half million to million dollar plus home on a mountain side and complain that bears and other wildlife are encroaching on my land. Every time I write about this I get incensed by the stupidity! Where did you expect them to go? Further up the mountain? Move to a new neighbourhood? Learn to respect your digs? As developments are built so goes the food sources for these animals and the ability to become dependent.

There is always going to be nuisances in our neighbourhoods. Take for instance the human animal, it too can garbage dive, break in to your home and  raid your cupboards, it can maim you or attempt to hurt you in the pursuit of what it needs. Sometimes we trap them but then they are released right back into our community to chronically re-offend. It’s a by-product of living how and where we live…so live with it!

Sex Offender released with a high risk to re-offend. William Thomas Williamson (even his name is slightly crazy) gets out after six years in prison and gets to roam free. Of course, we don’t know as yet where exactly he is residing. That might be helpful. They need to tattoo something on the forehead of these guys just so we better identify the creep if he is in our neighbourhood. Maybe a device implanted that gives a shock and sends a signal to authorities if he comes within feet of areas he is not supposed to be in. Does that sound cruel? Sorry, I’m inclined not to care.

Smokers helping to fuel the fires around our Province. Yes, those unhealthy souls that ramp up medical costs/usage also like to flick their cigarettes causing fires to erupt in all sorts of dry areas. Roadways and parks particularly the dumping ground for spent butts.  As a former smoker, years past, I know how hard it is to quit but if you are going to continue to not be responsible for good health at least try to be responsible enough to not set stuff on fire!

Well, I feel better already. You may not, as I have taken you through my rants but I find it a healthy release. Amongst all the beautiful things in life we appreciate there is also the things that give us a furrowed brow. You listen or see it, process it, discover its absurd nature and then erupt. Steam rising from within and with one great exhale I spill forth, “Ahhh… I feel so much better.”