Picture of the ....err.... Week

Taken during sunrise - Feb 2005.

*sigh*

I think it's pretty obvious I read the paper just about every day. Generally a news article catches my attention and I have comments. Thoughts. Well, I've been having many thoughts and many internal rants on a particular issue that is not going away. I see no point in attempting to explain the whole situation. Every time I try to type out an explanation, I just end up smashing my keyboard. Either you are an Edmontonian and have been drowning in it, or you are lucky enough to have escaped it. Although I have seen articles about it linked on some of my national news sites - which mean we are currently giving the country a lovely image of ourselves. It's a fixable issue, I think, and yet it can't be fixed!

I should have attempted to blog about this earlier when I still understood it - but move 1 didn't annoy me, just made me sigh with resignation. Move 2 made me think "Crazy Nut, get off my tv, you shouldn't be commenting on this." Move 3-9 just confused me. Move 10 finally made me angry. Every move since then has had me shaking my head, going huh?????

To sum up, and I know I'm not the only one thinking this: Martin Ignasiak, please resign. How can the police, the police commission and the public have a good relationship again without a clean house?

Todd Babiak's Article

Last night, I ripped out an article from the paper because I wanted to quote it. As I logged into blogger, I looked around for the article, trying to remember where I put it. Oh right. In the back pocket of my jeans. The jeans I just put in THE WASH! I managed to remove the very soggy bits of paper from my pants, but only in little tiny shredded bits.

Hey wait - thanks to the miracle of the web, I can find the article on line. The article, by Todd Babiak, was called Canada's tolerant culture: Gay marriage foes aren't Sponge-worthy and reflected on the oddity that is the current attack on Spongebob Squarepants because he/it/whatever appears to certain groups as a Gay Character. The quote:

Conservative American and British magazines have had fun characterizing Canadians in the last couple of years as marijuana-smoking gay-lovers. This has been a source of immense pride for millions of us who grew up without a national identity.

All I could think was SO TRUE, SO TRUE (while laughing, of course). The Canadian national identity is mostly built on the fact that we are NOT Americans. That's it - Not Americans. Oh, and we are polite. But in today's climate of the Christian Right having an extremely loud voice in the US, Canadians can also identify as being more liberal/tolerant/non-conservative. I realize that much of my readership is American, and I love you all individually, but I think it's pretty clear I don't love your president. I am Liberal with the big L. I'd be a Democrat if I lived in the states. I'd probably one of those people who apologized on the Sorry Everybody website. Which brings me to a very odd thought. The Red States are the Republican states, the blues ones Democratic, right? How did the Republicans get to be red? Here, it's the Liberals that are Red. And besides, weren't the Communists red? Better Dead Than Red wasn't it?

Quick - guess which way I'll vote if this "snap election" gets called! *L*

Reading the Paper

I have frequently said that I am not afraid to go places by myself. If a band is playing at a bar and I want to hear them, I'm willing to go even if no one else is available to go with me. The only place I'm not willing to go by myself is Blues on Whyte. Although it has the best music, the atmosphere just screams bring a friend to me. Preferably a big, scary one.

One of the places I've always considered to be fine is The Globe Tap Bar & Grill. I was there just a few weeks ago to see Trooper. If 2 friends hadn't been able to go with me, I would have thought nothing of going by myself.

So imagine my shock this morning at reading the Edmonton Sun headline:

Man dies helping friend

Where, you ask? At The Globe Tap Bar & Grill. Apparently I've missed out on some of the recent news events - there was a stabbing there in September as well. The details of this incident seem a little unclear in the report, but it seems the 23 year old man tried to help his friend who was being attacked. The 23 year old died of multiple stab wounds.

I don't know why I'm so surprised. It's not like these things don't happen absolutely everywhere. I forget that security is just an illusion and that this line I've drawn between Blues and other bars is completely arbitrary.

Letter to the Editor

The following letter to the editor appeared in the Edmonton Sun this morning. I'm still twitching with anger.

It seems that each time I turn on the TV the count of the numbers of dead from the tsunami increases by 10,000. Could it be that the numbers are being artificially inflated on purpose by these countries to squeeze more money out of the bleeding hearts in richer countries such as ours? Will the poor actually get any of this money or will it be stolen by those damn corrupt government officials in these countries? The media should be more cautious and question everything that is being done.

Dear Sir,

You obviously have not been watching the same news footage as I have been watching. You couldn't possibly be reading the same interviews with grieving relatives that I have been reading. Perhaps you missed the graphic descriptions of the recovery efforts. They are still finding bodies as they clear away debris, and it's been almost 10 days. I do not believe those numbers have been inflated. As for the media, I have seen reporters struggle to keep their composure as they report live from the affected areas.

If you are worried about corrupt governments taking the money, perhaps you should donate directly to one of the charities already working in the area. Do your research first so you can be confident that most of your money is reaching the people who need it. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) uses 10-11% for administrative costs. Save the Children claims that 90% of its donations go toward program services. Medicins sans Frontiers or Doctors without Borders has a rate of 85% of donations going toward aid, but it also does not accept money from the US government. According to CNN, Oxfam puts only 77% towards its aid programs. If you would prefer to donate closer to home, the Canadian Red Cross spent about 91% on program services in 2003 (assuming I can read a financial report correctly).

You still need to have faith in people and you can not let these people continue to suffer because you are worried about the possibility of corrupt governments. Perhaps you consider me to be just another "bleeding heart". At least I've done something to help. It's not much, but it's a start.

Update: A report on CTV tonight has Oxfam Canada claiming that 90% of its donations go toward its aid programs, which differs greatly from the CNN report. Perhaps the CNN report is referring to a different branch of Oxfam. They also reported that World Vision puts 80% toward its programs and that the Salvation Army claims that 100% of its donations are used for aid programs.

Trooper

I saw Trooper tonight at the Globe downtown. It was absolutely fabulous. There's nothing like screaming (oops, I mean singing) along to Raise A Little Hell or We're Here For A Good Time (Not A Long Time). Even the opener was good - Feverburn. I recommend checking out their show if you get a chance.

All my complaints are centred on the idiot people who go to concerts! Although odds are someone out there had issues with me and my front row stance, I still have some specific comments to make.

To the short redhead - every reason I had for supporting the anti-smoking bylaw has now been replaced by one. I never want you to have a cigarette in your hand in a bar again. Dancing and jumping around with a burning cig above your head is completely moronic! The rest of us truly appreciated the red hot ash falling down on us. Truly.

To the semi-cute guy with the full glass of Guinness - Why did you pay for that drink and then bring it out onto the dance floor still full? I'm sure my washing machine will appreciate drinking it more than you ever would.

And finally to the extremely drunk blonde chick - First of all, don't borrow clothes from your teenage daughter. It really doesn't suit you. If you are going to wear it, keep your shirt done up at least partway. It really isn't as funny as you think. And oh, those bruises on your back - they are from my elbow as I tried to keep you from knocking me over for the eighteenth time.

There's a weird buzzing in my ears. A sign of a good concert. Or at least that I was standing too close to the speakers again.

Quake

I had a wonderful Christmas this year. Spent time with my family, visited both my grandmothers, received a lot of great gifts. A digital camera was a highlight and I'm sure you will be seeing evidence of it.

Then I woke early on Boxing Day to the news of the horrific 8.9 earthquake centred off Sumatra and the following tsunami. I remained glued to the early pictures on CNN - until it was time to go the the Boxing Day Sales. That's how I spent my day. While others were frantically searching for loved ones, I was supporting my local economy.

This is an extremely tragic situation. When I listened to the news before I went to bed, the death toll was around 40,000. When I woke up, they were now confirming 52,000 dead. And that's only the initial damage from the quake and the waves. How bad will it be in the coming days, with no clean water and no uncontaminated food? Cholera. Malaria. So many water-borne diseases. These people need help.

For information on the relief efforts, visit Unicef, the International Red Cross or the Canadian Red Cross.

Gay Marriage Letter Writing - Update

A few days ago, I was extremely pleased to find a response to one of the emails I sent out regarding gay marriage. Laurie Blakeman, the MLA for Edmonton-Centre, had taken the time to reply. I have also heard from a friend that she got a response from Laurie Blakeman as well. So, if this issue is important to you, take the time to write to your MLA and MP. Apparently they actually get read!

I asked Laurie Blakeman for permission to post her email to me and it was granted.

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Thank you for your letter. I couldn't agree more and I'm not surprised
you live in Edmonton-Centre. You have expressed the prevailing point of
view for my constituents and the main reason why I am so delighted to
continue to represent such a tolerant and diverse riding.

You also did the right thing in writing to the Premier. He often
reacts to issues that I know are important to my constituents by saying
that it is no big deal and he hasn't had many (or any) calls or letters
about the issue. So I now know that at least one person besides myself
has made themselves heard on this important issue.
Thanks again for writing. Keep in touch.

laurie

Babies

Every time I read the news lately, I keep returning to the same stories over and over. I am strangely fascinated and disturbed by two news items in particular.

The first is the frightening incident in the States where Lisa Montgomery strangled Bobbie Jo Stinnett and cut out her baby. Montgomery claimed the baby as her own and proudly showed off the baby girl she called Abigail. Montgomery posed as a someone interested in purchasing one of Stinnett's puppies so she could get close to the pregnant woman. The baby, now named Victoria Jo, has been recovered and is doing fine. Bobbie Jo Stinnett was only 23 years old.

The second news item is closer to home. In BC, a newborn baby girl was found at a bus stop on November 27. She was stuffed inside a plastic bag. Currently, the BC government has placed a newspaper ad seeking the parents of little Baby Jane Doe. They are required to inform the parents that they plan to put the baby up for adoption and this appears to be the only way to notify the unknown family members. The parents have until January 13 to come forward. It has been implied by various officials that the mother would not be charged, but that they are interested in learning the medical and cultural history of the baby.

So here we have two very different women. One was so desperate for a baby she was quite literally willing to kill for it. Another woman wanted to get rid of hers so badly that she left it out where it might die. Baby Jane Doe required a ventilator when she was found. I can't understand either attitude. I feel so sorry for both babies, to grow up with such a sad history, to not be able to know their mothers. At least Victoria Jo can be comforted with the knowledge her mother loved her and I hope Baby Jane is adopted by a family who will love their new miracle.

Gay Marriage

Ralph Klein suggested we start a letter writing campaign regarding the issue of gay marriage. I realize he was talking to those who oppose gay marriage, but I thought it was an excellent idea. So here are copies of my letters. They do get a bit repetitive but I like what I had to say.

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To my federal MP:

Ms. McLellan,

I am a constituent in your riding of Edmonton Centre and am writing to you regarding the gay marriage issue. As you are deputy prime minister, I am confident that you are supporting the supreme court decision regarding gay marriage. I would like to thank you for representing my views. As a Albertan who supports gay marriage, I worry that my voice is not being heard.

I consider myself to be an average Albertan, who has benefited from all Alberta has to offer and who enjoys living in Edmonton. I also support gay marriage as I do not feel it diminishes 'traditional' marriage and only strengthens the institution by offering it to both heterosexual and homosexual couples who want to make a strong, true commitment.

Thank you.


To my Premier:

Dear Mr. Klein,

I am writing to you as I feel my voice is not being heard on the issue of gay marriage. I consider myself to be an average Albertan who has benefited from all that Alberta has to offer. I am college educated, I have a job I enjoy and a home I am proud of. But I do not feel like my voice is being represented by your government.

I support gay marriage. I do not feel it diminishes 'traditional' marriage and only strengthens the institution by offering it to both heterosexual and homosexual couples who want to make a strong, true commitment.

Thank you.


To my provincial MLA:

Ms. Blakeman,

I am a constituent in your provincial riding of Edmonton Centre and am writing to you regarding the gay marriage issue. I feel my voice is not being heard by the provincial government on the issue of gay marriage and have also written Ralph Klein on this issue.

I consider myself to be an average Albertan who has benefited from all that Alberta has to offer. I am college educated, I have a job I enjoy and a home I am proud of. I also support gay marriage. I do not feel it diminishes 'traditional' marriage and only strengthens the institution by offering it to both heterosexual and homosexual couples who want to make a strong, true commitment.

Thank you.

Watch Where You're Going

On Tuesday night, a car hit a 10-year-old boy while he tried to cross the street. The last news report I read regarding the incident said he was not expected to survive. Horrifying. Tragic. Anything I'm about to say does not take away from that.

I overheard someone talking about this accident, furious with the driver for not being cautious, for not paying attention. The news had said the driver was not speeding nor was he drunk. From what I have read, it sounded like 3 or 4 kids tried to run across the street, but not all of them made it. One car was able to stop. Another did not.

I am a pedestrian about 80% of my transportation time. I take the bus and I occasionally catch rides but most of the time, it's my favourite pair of sneakers and me. I am more than aware of the dangers of crossing the street. You have to look all the time! It doesn't matter if you have the right of way; you are a heck of a lot smaller than that truck bearing down on you. I see it all the time, a person smacks the yellow button to the pedestrian-activated crosswalk lights and starts walking. They assume all the cars are going to see the yellow lights and have time to stop. For starters, this is Edmonton. Ever heard of icy roads? It's hard to stop on a dime at the best of times, let alone at 60km on slick streets. And what if the moment you hit that button is the same moment that driver decides to change his radio station?

Apparently 2/3 of pedestrian accidents happen at crosswalks. Ok, this stat relates to the number of people who cross at crosswalks versus jaywalking, but it also says to me that people take their safety for granted more in a crosswalk than at a random section of street. The province is trying to do something about it, raising the fine for not stopping for a pedestrian at a crosswalk from $57 to $500. We've had public awareness campaigns, including the latest called "Look out for each other: Share the responsibility." I think it's the right message, but the question is will anyone hear it? Pedestrians have to take responsibility for their own safety and assume the car isn't going to stop until they see that it is physically stopping. Check each lane as you cross. Some guy in the second or third lane may think it's a great idea to pull around and go ahead - into you. Start watching where you are going and what's coming at you.

And don't even get me started on the idiots that ride their bikes across a crosswalk!

Ukrainian election

Yesterday, I felt triumphant over what I saw as a political victory. The ruling party in my province went from a high of 74 seats to 61, with 12 of those seats going to the parties I believe best represent my views.

Today I feel grateful.

I read about Ukraine and I watch the clips on the news, and I feel grateful. I am admittedly far too oblivious to the rest of world sometimes but this has truly captured my attention. Perhaps it is the close ties my community has to Ukraine. Nearly 10 percent of Alberta's population can claim Ukrainian ancestors, giving Alberta the largest Ukrainian population in Western Canada.

The presidential election in Ukraine has been marred by accusations of irregularities, vote rigging and fraud. Protestors have filled Kiev's Independence Square and created a tent city. Violence seems not far away.

Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, known to be pro-Russian, has been declared the winner by the Central Election Commission. The opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko, who is pro-Western, is said to have received 46.61% of votes to Yanukovych's 49.46%. But exit polls, financed in part by the US Embassy and other Western countries, found that Yushchenko was leading by 54% to 43%.

Yushchenko has said he is willing to hold another run-off vote, if the Central Election commission is comprised of different people, but he has also called for a nation-wide general strike. I truly hope the government agrees to another vote, but just can't see it. How will democracy survive in Ukraine without another vote? Even if Yanukovych agrees to an investigation of the election, it will always be suspect.

Russia is supporting Yanukovych and has declared the pro-Yushchenko protests to be illegal. The US has rejected the election results and is calling for a full review. Will this become an international tug of war?

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And in other news - I heard last night that Lt-Governor Lois Hole is now in palliative Care. My prayers are with her and her family as Lois Hole is a very special woman. I once had the honour of meeting her when she was Chancellor of the University of Alberta. She was at my graduation ceremony and shook so many hands as they crossed the stage. Somehow, she made me feel special in those seconds she held my hand, as if she was personally proud of my accomplishment. I have never forgotten that.

Victory!

I feel strangely victorious this morning. I make no secret of my politics. I lean left. Far left. If I was American, I'd clearly be a Democrat. But instead I live in Alberta, a prairie conservative stronghold. Lead by long time party leader Ralph Klein, the Progressive Conservatives (PC) held 74 seats out of 83 going into yesterday's election. The Liberals (slightly left) held 7 and the New Democrats (NDP - really left) held 2 (based on last election numbers and not including some party switching).

There was no hope in hell that one of the other parties would win. This election campaign was practically non-existent. I felt like most of the PC candidates didn't even care and that Ralph Klein could have robbed 6 banks naked and still not offended the majority of voters. One political pundit dubbed this campaign "Kleinfeld" - a campaign about nothing. The Liberals and the NDP tried to bring up issues but it's extremely difficult when the ruling party doesn't bother to respond. Klein attended only one leadership debate and didn't even bother going to a candidate forum in his own riding!

I do understand the voter apathy that was felt during the campaign. This was our third election this year, first the federal campaign with its associated dirt and then the province wide civic election which, oddly, was by far the most exciting this year. Add in the American election as we got blasted with that coverage as well and it's no wonder most voters would rather sleep. Voter turnout was around 45%, the lowest in provincial history.

As for why I feel victorious, maybe the Conservatives will notice they can't ignore us anymore. Sure, rural Alberta stayed Conservative (with one seat going to the new right wing party called Alberta Alliance), but Edmonton clearly reverted to the old days of "Redmonton". Even Calgary, Ralph Klein's playground, spoke up. The Liberals went from 7 seats to 17! The NDP doubled their seats to 4, giving them official party status in the legislature. The Conservatives went from 74 seats, once referred to as "Ralph's World", to 61, the first time they had lost seats since Klein become their party leader in 1992. Their share of popular vote slipped from 62% to 47%.

I realize they are still in control and that this is still clearly a conservative province, but maybe, just maybe they will hear the people who spoke up. 42% of the province voted Liberal, NDP or Green.

And it's a whole new ball game anyway now. Ralph Klein has declared this his last term. Who will rise to the top? And how divisive will the leadership race be?