ROTHENBURGER: Residential schools are nothing to celebrate, but they’re certainly something to acknowledge and to learn from, not on one day but on all days.

A new national holiday around the issue of reconciliation is a good idea if it’s

Kamloops residential school, in the late 1950s
(Image: Government of Canada)

done right.  If it’s just going to be about the sad legacies of residential schools, never mind.

And — let’s speak frankly — if it’s going to focus only on the bad things brought to our country by the European “settlers,” as they’re now popularly called, that’s not going to work either.

I’m having trouble visualizing 10,000 people showing up at Riverside Park or at the Powwow grounds to listen to stories about the terrible things that happened in residential schools but I do see such a day becoming little more than an excuse for predominantly white civil servants to take another stat holiday.

FELDSTED: Trudeau had the option to ignore the heckling. He chose to engage instead, aggressively bullying, demeaning and censoring the woman for her question

From the Canadian Press / CBC News …  Aug 20, 2018

Hate speech and the politics of division are creating a "dangerous path" for Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday as he vowed to steer clear of such roads and to continue calling out those who rely on "extremist" methods to make their voices heard.

Dear Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, these
are actual extremists, and racists

 

Trudeau made the comments when asked whether he went too far in accusing a Quebec woman of racism and intolerance as she heckled him last week during a rally in Quebec.

The prime minister responded to the woman by accusing her of intolerance and racism and saying her sentiments were not welcome.

READ ON … it gets better  https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-defends-racism-comments-1.4792040?cmp=news-digests-cbc-news-politics

Trudeau calling out grand-motherly woman for
asking when payment will be made to her provincial
government for costs of illegal border jumpers
that he has welcomed in to the country

Accusing this woman of intolerance and racism, is a rude and shameful way to avoid taking fiscal responsibility for immigrants. Dumping the responsibility and costs of housing and caring for illegal immigrants on provinces, primarily Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec, is a strange way of pulling people and communities together.

All three provinces have asked Ottawa to reimburse them for costs incurred. Ottawa has made about $50 million in interim payments, promising more sometime in future.

JOHN TWIGG: And then there are the single-issue zealots, such as extremist environmentalists and various gender identities, who also can and do influence political outcomes.

Today we have a guest commentary fro0m long-time political activist, John Twigg.  It came about after John Feldsted’s recent post entitled, “Diversity Wars” part #1 and #2 (CLICK HERE) .  As always, please take a moment to let us know your thoughts, by adding them to the Comments Section below.  Now, here’s John Twigg;

It probably would be prudent for me to say nothing about this very sensitive topic, namely multiculturalism and partisan electoral politics.  However, because the issue is so important (not merely in my own opinion, it's evident from the Feldsted column, the daily news [e.g. Danforth] and from many other indicators) ... I WILL add my say.

First, I respect and welcome the diverse cultures that have made new homes for themselves in Canada; over the decades I have been friends and friendly with people from many of them. But that said, it should be more obvious to more people, that ethnic and cultural factors are now too often more problematic than they should be to the common weal (ESL people are welcome to look up the meaning).

Job Creation -- Fiscal Responsibility -- and a Social Conscience. These are solutions that are neither right or left wing

One year ago, an editorial in the Victoria Times Colonist had the headline, “B.C. Liberals face new reality”.  The editorial stated that for the BC Liberals:

The challenge lies in shifting some longstanding mindsets. The Liberals must find ways to make a more activist program acceptable to their base.

It should not, in principle, be hard to support strengthening the social safety net. The case for investing in education and skill training is likewise easy to make. And who disagrees with the need for more affordable housing, or the urgency of combating homelessness and drug abuse?

The difficulty lies in reconciling these projects with a party philosophy grounded in personal responsibility and small government. No simple matter.

Darn right that's going to be a difficulty for them, and what was true then, remains true one year later.   

For the BC Liberals, it has always been difficult to understand what, and where, they stood … other than the fact the weren't the NDP.  Oh, and they were also (like the old Social Credit Party) the only way to keep the demon socialists out of power. 

They have tacked both left, and right, although mostly left.  And pinning them down on anything is pretty much near impossible.

Who CAN however, potentially fit in smoothly with what the writer is suggesting?  In my opinion, it could be those of an broad-sweeping conservative approach.  I have long stated my belief that the mindset of small "c" conservatives is that the resources of taxpayers MUST BE used wisely ... and that TRUE balanced budgets are essential to good government.

FELDSTED: Diversity Wars ... Part 1 and 2

Diversity wars … part 1

Justin Trudeau’s ruminations about ‘diversity’ is incomprehensible; I don’t think he has any idea of what cultural diversity is.

I grew up in a community that was diverse, with many families speaking different languages at home. They came from different cultures, had different customs, and attended different churches. We struggled to adapt, and adopted English as a common language for communications. With the exception of those of British heritage, we were all in the same boat.

We were mostly farmers and fishermen. We were independent and self-sufficient and understood that made us vulnerable. Accidents, illness and misfortune have no favourites. Anyone can face difficulties that are hard to overcome.

We built churches, community halls, hospitals and schools that served us all. People donated labour, materials, and expertise. It did not matter where you were from or what language you spoke at home, or which church you attended, if you knew the right way to do something, your help was welcome.

If a church suffered wind damage, fire or flooding, another congregation would offer use of their facility until the damaged church could be restored or rebuilt. We could not deprive neighbours of worshiping as they saw fit.  If a farmer fell ill during critical times, neighbours would rush their harvest, haying or planting, so they could help the family in distress.

I recall an instance when winter roads became impassible, except with a tractor and wagon, and a carefully planned route. Which was why someone would announce they had to go to town for supplies, and ask if anyone needed something. Those were the days of party-line telephones, and the first part of the trip was to compile lists of neighbour needs.

I recall a spring flood where our sleepy little river became a raging torrent, cutting off part of our community. Local boaters came to the rescue, knowing where and how to cross safely. Neighbours on the other side offered their vehicles for supply runs, and the boatmen got supplies ferried back.

I also remember a fire threat that brought out the whole community. The fire was in a peat bog adjacent to a forest, and we knew if the fire got to the forest, many farms would be at risk. I was still a kid, but big enough to carry two pails of water which I did.  I carried them from the river, to the fire site, until I dropped from exhaustion. I was no hero; just a scared kid in a frightened community trying to save neighbours from devastation. Thank goodness the men of the community succeeded. Some stayed for days, checking for hot spots, and adding water until they were certain the underground fire could not flare up again.

I am going to repeat a line from above: We were independent and self-sufficient and understood that made us vulnerable.