Vicious, Unprovoked and Cowardly

That's what you can expect to hear when you walk up to a guy on the street, punch him in the face, breaking his jaw, and then stand over him yelling pleasantries, like, "FAGGOT!!! HOMO!!!"

Especially when it all gets caught on videotape.

In sentencing Michael Kandola to 17 months in jail, Mr. Justice Joel Groves added, "It is hard to believe that something as innocent as two men holding hands could cause such a visceral assault. In Canada, people are free to choose to live their lives as they choose, regardless of sexual preference."

So, in essence, Judge Grove has found Kandola guilty of a hate crime.

Many people argue that hate crime laws are unnecessary because we already have many laws on the books prohibiting violence against others.

That is true and often that is enough.

But what are we to do when a person or group assaults another person or group because the latter is Catholic, white, male, female, gay, Fijiian, left-handed, a member of the Cello Players of America, Jewish, black, Japanese or Swiss?

The Sublime Cleanliness of It All

Although I stopped subscribing to daily delivery of The Vancouver Sun newspaper some time ago, I still have a peek in cafes and on line fairly regularly.

The Sun is to be highly commended for their current serious on B.C. Municipal Elections Donations.

This is a series and it is a well-written, thorough and well-researched revelation.

Article after article chronicles monies being given by very interested parties to local councillors who then mysteriously vote directly in the favour of the kind donor.

Clicking through this link HERE will lead you to most of the stories.

The Maple Ridge/Jackson Farm piece and the Langley Firehall story are particularly intriguing.

In the latter case, the headline pretty much captures the gist:

Langley Township councillors who voted for full-time firehall got donations from firefighters

A few weeks ago, when the contestants on American Idol were wrecking the song book of Lennon & McCartney, one of the saps sang, "Can't Buy Me Love."

Ellen Degeneres laughed and ad libbed, "That was fine, but you actually can buy love, by the way."

Simon Cowell, a man with a few coin, howled with sly recognition of this ugly old truth.

Well, apparently, in B.C. you can still buy a good vote and a good old politician when you really need one.

Often, for as little as $500.

I repeat, Little People.

If you want me to run for office, deposit large amounts of cash in small untraceable bills in a brown paper bag on my door step, guarantee me a chauffeur-driven Cadillac, and always call me, "Sir."

In a pinch, "Your Highness," or "Your Holiness," will do.

Then There's Always This - Wow!