Archive for the ‘News Stories’ Category
The 2008 US presidential election is the first one of the 21st century. As such it seems to have one foot in the same old rhetoric while the other one is in a social networking site where you too can be a friend of the candidate along with some 529,324 other people. Even the media seems to be just as unsure of it’s position; this probably comes from trying to cater to one generation via the internet, another through print, then there are those TV viewers. But I digress, one minute someone is commenting that ‘we have heard this before’, next a speech is condemned as being overly new age and therefore out of touch with the working people.
Seemingly stuck in the middle of all this redefining of politics for the new century is the 44 year old, Michelle Obama. She is an attractive, well educated and self-confident woman. As a mother she is trying to give her two young daughters some semblance of normalcy in the midst of the political mayhem. The ‘problem’ appears to be that Michelle is also very articulate with a mind of her own. Instead of criticizing her maybe it is time for the realization that the ‘First Spouse’ of this new century needs to have just those qualities.
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” We who see ourselves as citizens of the world live a life fully conscious of Darfur and of Tibet, of human slavery and the violations of human rights. Recent natural disasters complicate the picture because no matter how we feel about those who are ruling a country, when disaster strikes the most basic of human rights must prevail. The immediate right to shelter, food, clean water and medicine. Then we must follow through with the resources that allow homes, villages and a sustainable life to be re-built.”
For the people of China & Burma: Red Cross
‘Only after disaster can we be resurrected”
- Chuck Palahniuk, Freelance Journalist, Satirist and Novelist
Today’s post is neither witty or light hearted in view of the current situation in Tibet. I will just be a lone voice expressing great sadness for what is happening to a gentle people, a noble country and an ancient religion.
Visit International Campaign for Tibet for up to date news, information and resources.
Even though I live in Canada, I am fascinated by American politics. I would definitely be a Democrat and I am watching the candidates with interest.
I would vote for Hillary. I have read her ‘Living History” which may not have been touchy/feely enough for the critics it did however show the true depth and measure of the her professionally and politically. Unfortunately, she seems to have lost something since the last debate (and) or she has a different voice in her ear with campaign advice. My advice, speak out loud and clear the American public is more ready to hear you than those around you may think.
As for Guiliani, (yes, I know he is Republican candidate) you were meant to have an impact on US history but it is not as a presidental candidate. Instead while less lofty in title it would have been no less important in historical impact.
Not sure about Mr. Edwards, still watching him; he could gain political momentum or merely fizzle out.
And then there is Obama, you want to be the dawning of a new day in politics and there is no doubt that it is needed. I give you the same advice as I did Hillary come forth with a well designed & realistic vision, the public is ready.
Well, as I have no influence only time will tell. If only Canada’s politicians weren’t so boring and where are the female leaders? If things change in that direction I will write about them too, really I will!
I want to thank Michael Vick because people now know that dogfighting is not an isolated event, it is not in some back woods; it is a prevalent and money making ‘sport’. Mr. Vick has given it a face and a name and that has put it on the front pages. One such article is Newsweek’s “Inside the Grisly World of Dogfighting”
There is power in a famous name that stretches further than the talent with which it is associated. It doesn’t matter whether the publicity is through a Bono, Clooney, Gore or Sting what matters is that it takes Africa, global warming or the rain forests from a small piece on page eight to magazine covers, tv screens and more importantly they gets us talking and paying attention.
Whether we are famous, infamous or mere mortals we are citizens of the world; our degree of responsibility should not be limited to where the child cries from hunger, where a women is oppressed or where the animal suffers. Rather we have a duty to be informed and to do something in any way that we can.
As for Vick if he is found guilty he will probably lose everything & hopefully he gets the maximum penalty. If he feels any sorrow I suspect that it will be motivated by regret that he got caught. To be involved in something so heinous would indicate that he doesn’t have the humanity to feel remorse for what he did to the dogs & the other creatures that are used to bait and train with.
Vick has abused his name, however he brought publicity to something very ugly and maybe, just maybe something good will come out of that.
They are everywhere, crawling on the floor, in vehicles looking like deer on cocaine in the headlights, ducking out of clubs & into over-priced rehabs or sprinting away from accidents. Yes, they are the misunderstood, life is so difficult, no I don’t have a substance abuse problem sector of the human race that we call celebrities.
What they need is a reality check. A reminder of what life for the rest of people on the planet is really like. A reminder that their money doesn’t buy happiness but it does buy opportunity. Go to college, start a business, be philanthropic; get over yourselves and rejoin the real world.
I live about half an hour from Calgary, Alberta & it is no secret to anyone with access to a newspaper that due to the oilsands things are booming here. There is a lot to be said for growth and prosperity but when you live in the middle of it there is also the ugly side.
Starting with the unpleasant battle for dwindling green space, deer are routinely struck on the highway during rush hour. Bikers vs joggers vs dog owners are all vying for their park rights.
You cannot get tickets to concerts or sporting events becuase corporations have bought them to impress clients. The cheap tickets that are left aren’t worth the inflated price.
I bought my husband seats to a football game for his birthday. We walked all the way up, our seats were taken by others who won’t move and there was no one official to help. Anyway it was rowdy.
We tried the same thing so that we could see Santana; when the concert started it went from being the ‘nose bleed section’ to the ‘BC bud section’. Neither was my idea of a pleasant evening out.
Going deeper, the homeless are middle class people who don’t need to “get a job” they have one. They just cannot afford sky high rents and houses to buy are scarce and expensive.
Investors are buying the rental buildings and raising rents to ridulous heights so that they can get their share of the wealth. Not caring about the 72 year old gentleman or the mother with the disabled child who can no longer afford to live in the building.
And then there is the man who no one will rent to because he has a seeing eye dog.
He cannot get a cab either, then neither can the man in the wheelchair.
A young man’s appendix burst & a woman miscarries in hospital waiting rooms because there are no beds.
School roofs are leaking & class rooms are old with peeling paint.
The streets paved with gold are looking a little tarnished to me.
We were having dinner with some friends the other night and were at that point in the evening when the conversation was hovering over general topics. The American in the group mentioned that the Queen’s 80th birthday was coming up and asked if we cared. The three of us who are English answered in chorus “of course”.
It is really hard to explain why but it is ingrained in you. The royal family is just part of the whole package and you couldn’t imagine England without them anymore than you would ship half of your own family off to a desert island and leave them there.
Our Prime Ministers come and go but the Queen remains the symbol of who we are and in many ways who we have been.
So, from my corner of Alberta, Canada I wish her a very Happy 80th Birthday.