Sshhh...We're Canadians

A comedian of very middling talent spoke recently about how dull and unassuming are we Canadians.

Our great gesture is the non-committal shrug.

We'll go along with practically anything as long as it doesn't actually bite.

Old comic territory, for sure.

But the Globe's Jeffrey Simpson has written a very good column today, listing the dozens of important matters that are left entirely unexamined in Canadian public life.

Aging population, health care, national energy policy, refugee/immigration issues, poverty, climate change, aboriginals, Afghanistan, and productivity for openers.

Just think about this.

The major broadcasters are sending you dozens of pathetic self-serving little messages these days about how Local TV Matters.

Yet...Can you name one regular political talk or interview segment that appears on Global or CTV or CITY?

Of course, here on the Wet Coast, we have award-winning baristas and an array of flavorful roasts. We have the sea and the mountains. And we have Boxing Day sales.

Alfred E. Neuman for President.

Juvenile

Whether or not someone actually tripped the Olympic torch bearer or not is a moot point.

Protest and public demonstrations are among the hallmarks of a free and open democratic society.

But the operative word is "peaceful."

You can stand anywhere you like, as far as I am concerned, and register your disagreement with public policy or the fashion of the day. This is healthy and to be invited and honored.

But the moment you start pushing and shoving and jostling and then worse, you have descended into Iran.

The Winter Olympics do have hold great interest for me.

I am unhappy with what I see as many suspensions of basic civil rights to further the mechanics of the The Games.

Finally, I just don't want to be inconvenienced by traffic nightmares for three weeks.

So, if the terrorists don't mind, I will fly away to Italy and come back when the hoopla has somewhat subsided.

But tripping Olympic torch bearers?

That's not legitimate disagreement.

That's sick.

Fall Out

Flight 253, and the effects therein, are not going away:

- Just when you thought it was safe to return to investing in the airline industry...$50 Billion loss over the last decade. Not a typo...$50 Billion. Airline stocks fell yesterday and trips by the score are being cancelled. Which tells us that the terrorists are jubilant and tiumphant.

- Al-Qaeda issued one of its most lunatic statements to date: "We have people who love death as much as you love life." Can you even begin to get your head aroud that one? I can't.

- A number of Britons have travelled to terrorist training camps in Yemen. The Islamification of Europe is on and its working.

-

Airport restrictions denounced as 'security theatre'

Beef up intelligence, keep terrorists from ever reaching airports, industry tells government: ‘Airports are not a good last line of defence'

- Stay in your seat for the last hour before landing? That'll be great for old guys like me with prostate problems. Will anyone mind if I quietly and discreetly pee in a coffee cup?

Present Laughter

Attempted bombing raises fears about al-Qaeda in Yemen

That is one of many headlines round the world today following the "incident" aboard Northwest flight 253 approaching Detroit.

But it hardly begins to cover the depth of the problem, does it?

What about Denmark, Holland, London?

Chattanooga for all we know.

In recent weeks, I have read two major articles and watched one video all with the same theme - the "Islamification" of Europe.

Did you know that there are now more mosques in London, England than churches?

That the largest mosque in the world in being built in London?

Denmark and the Netherlands, deservedly known for decades as open and tolerant and inviting countries are reversing long-standing government policies of inclusion and diversity.

Why?

Because Muslims have moved into those countries in huge numbers, eating up welfare payments and health benefits.

Women in tents dominate the city streetscapes.

Gays and Jews are routinely beat up.

Mohammed is the most popular boy's name in Malmo, Sweden.

It is unsettling to say the least to listen to myself, a squishy liberal, tarnishing entire peoples with a single brush, fearful of people because of their appearance or their name or their professed religious beliefs.

But that is where I am on this sorry date.

Denmark has now declared that immigrants must study Danish history and social customs and live (somehow) by Danish social mores.

Good luck.

At least eight years ago, a dear friend of mine who lives in Europe told me this:

"Judaism can be seen as a Religion of Laws. Christianity a religion of Forgiveness & Compassion. Islam is a religion of the sword. Beware the future."

Well, the future is here.

The 19 who perpetrated 9/11 and Mr. Abdulmutallab who was dragged off that plane in Detroit are mere signals.

They have already seriously altered how we do business and how we travel and how we live.

I am not worried about al-Qaeda in Yemen, although I probably should be.

I am worried about the radicalized lunatic exchange student(s) at SFU.

And I am worried about flying to Italy to see old friends and more cathedrals and paintings.

Good luck to us all.

Unchanging Dark

In 1967, when I first began working with Native Indian ex-convicts, the recidivism rate for aboriginals in Canada was 97%.

97%.

That is not a typo.

Of every 100 male Aboriginal inmates released from a prison in Canada at that time, 97 could be assured of a return trip.

And soon.

Inmates and guards alike used to joke with someone being set free, "We'll keep your bunk warm for you, Buddy."

How much have things improved over the years?

Not much.

Here's the front page of this morning's Globe:

"Courts falling short on effort to keep natives out of jail

Ten years after landmark ruling, prison numbers tell a dismal story

Statistics tell a dismal story. Aboriginals amount to fewer than 4 per cent of the Canadian population, yet accounted for 24 per cent of those admitted to provincial or federal custody in 2006-2007 – up from 21 per cent the previous year. In Ontario, twice as many aboriginal youth are being jailed as non-aboriginal youth who commit the same offence."

Everyone is to blame.

Aboriginal communities and people themselves.

Courts, police, parole, probation, me and you.

We won't spend the necessary money on good rehab programs, substance abuse treatment, early childhood ed, you name it.

And native peoples are not demanding enough of themselves and their children.

Success, pride and hard work are the interlocking circle that makes for better lives.

Not easily come by, of course.

But they are always there, waiting for the willing.

Until then, we live with a national disgrace.

One that has persisted for over 40 years.

How much longer?

Deja Vu

Over the last few holi-days, the NFL Network has been runningand re-running a very special football game in their Classic Games series.

It is the January 10, 1982, NFC Championship match between the Dallas Cowboys and the San Fransisco 49ers.

Dallas, "America's Team," came into Candlestick Park full of themselves and their press releases confident that they would destroy the upstart who-are-they-anyway 49ers who had suffered through so many years with some great players but bad management and many losing seasons.

Now the Bay area team had Bill Walsh coaching, but he was at that time a guy with a record something like 22-37.

And they had a young, slight Joe Montana from Notre Dame at quarterback.

It was a great game and the final minute was unbelievable.

You can see it below in the video.

So...I watched this thing two days ago and I knew the outcome and I've seen "The Catch" only about 900 times over the years.

Nevertheless, I was sitting on the edge of the sofa, bouncing up and down, almost unable to watch because of the tension.

When The Catch happened, I leaped up screaming as if this were right here in front of me in real time.

Craziness, I know.

But great fun.

This game marked the end of Dallas' great run and the beginning of the 49ers dynasty.

San Fransisco went on to the Super Bowl to beat Cincinnati and quite a few championships after that.

The Catch

"The Rent" is Now for Public Viewing...sorry about that

Yet Another Test

Low Key

The Globe & Mail was heavy and thick this morning.

With what?

Twaddle, that's what.

It was all about "decoding" and "parsing" the decade.

Better it should have been parsniping.

(That's a Jewish sentence structure...although parsnips may not necessarily be considered a Jewish vegetable. Pickles are a Jewish vegetable and I know many people who have pickle trees in their back yards...although that doesn't necessarily make them Jewish, just people with exquisite taste and very high hopes.)

The Globe.

One of the many reasons I don't go to parties (The main one being that I'm rarely invited...) is that there is always one genius standing around the cheese and crackers table parsing and decoding practically everything in sight.

Some people just feel that it is given unto them to interpret the last 40 or 400 or 4000 years to everyone.

I say, "If you can make a convincing argument, Buddy, and convince Scribner or Knopf or someone to swallow your story whole, good on you, but in the meantime, let me at the appies and get the eff outta the way."

So all of the talent at the Globe got together and told me that Y2K didn't happen and that texting did. And MJ died and Tiger is in hiding. And "The Song of Bernadette" never did get remade for Tori Spelling. (I made that one up.)

Look why don't they just keep it simple?

Send out a one-pager on December 26th.

"Nut job tried to blow up a plane over Detroit, everything else is cool, shop till you drop."

I took my own advice yesterday.

I walked for about 90 minutes on one of my all-time favorite walks - English Bay.

I've been walking that walk since the first day I arrived here over 40 years ago.

I've walked in many wild and weird and wonderful places, and English Bay continues to be great.

Yesterday it was sunny and unseasonably warm and thousands of others were walking as well.

Lovely.

Today, a quiet stroll to the 'hood, a double espresso, a couple more lamb chops for the grill and that's a wrap, kids.

Cherish a day or two without da news.

These are a Few of My Favorite Things

What follows below are just a scarce few of the many, many zillions of things that make me laugh and sing and cry and dance and generally, between all the troubles, remember all the great joys and pleasures of this inexplicable mad journey.

The sun is shining here today.

Walk off that cake.

Near the water...

Soupy & Bob Costas - Wait for it...

Hartman/Coltrane - Wait for the Voice...

West Side Story - The Opening

Rhapsody, Part I

Rhapsody, Part II

Peggy Lee

Rosemary Clooney

Fred/Cyd Dancing in the Dark

Tony/Stevie