A blast from the past

A blast from the past

I have to say that the irony of this title was not immediately apparent - although why it wasn't escapes me.  When I chose the title, I was thinking back to the past, and wondering just how long it had been since a rocket attack from Gaza had actually penetrated the Iron Dome defense and had harmed anything.

But this picture is not from the past... it is from today.  A paint factory was hit by a rocket.  Somebody is going to pay a price for this.

I am Here

I am Here

Chris Hadfield, the Canadian astronaut who became world famous for his outreach to children while orbiting the earth on the Space Station is about to publish a book.  The book contains photos of every continent, taken from space during a single, 92-minute pass around the globe.  The cover of his book features a snapshot of the US-Canada border showing the Detroit River, which separates Detroit, Michigan, USA from Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

Some have speculated that there is significance in this photo - that from space, there are no "borders".

I find it significant because, if you view the photo under a high-powered microscope, it's possible to see my home, my car, and even me - flipping the bird to a fellow driver.

Thank you, Chris, for capturing me at my best.

Father's Day Cruelty

Father's Day Cruelty

On a day meant to honour fathers, I received the news that my cousin - a great husband, father, and grand father - passed away after losing a prolonged battle with cancer.

In deference to his immediate family, I won't mention his name here, but I will say that in many ways, he provided me with the love, guidance and assistance that I no longer had after my own father passed away a decade ago.

At the end, after he lost the ability to speak, his eyes and smile were still very expressive.  I am grateful to his wife for informing me of his deteriorating condition, and giving me the opportunity to visit him at the hospital before he passed away.

He will truly be missed.

Ontario Election Day

Ontario Election Day

Today is election day in Ontario.  It is just past 9:00PM - the polls have just closed.

I voted, and I hope you did too.

Before I indulge my overwhelming desire to look at a news site to see who won the election (both province wide and in my own riding), I wanted to say a few things...

I've been reading about people who don't vote, and the supposed illegitimacy of the entire system - where "leaders" can be elected, despite the fact that fewer than 50% of voters actually cast their vote.

Whose fault is that?

As I see it, there is only one reason people don't vote:  Cynicism

Many people would disagree, arguing that a majority of people don't vote because they're apathetic.  But to me, apathy is just a form of cynicism.

If people believed that their votes would have a real effect on what goes on around them, do you think they would say "Sorry, I just don't care"?  Instead, I would argue that people, as individuals, believe they DO NOT have the power to affect change - in other words, they are cynical.  They have resigned themselves to the inevitability that no matter who wins, nothing will change.

I've heard it argued that politicians - well aware that the majority of people don't bother to vote - conduct their campaigns in a way that will mobilize the minority that DO vote to come over to their side.  Whatever side that happens to be.

If potential voters were less cynical, they would take the time to dig beyond the hype, to research the platforms espoused by the various parties, and to hold up to scrutiny the voting records of their own representatives.  Yes, this would take some effort, but it would be worth it.  Taking control of your own governance is not only a right we have in a democracy - it is a responsibility we owe to ourselves, our children and our fellow citizens.

Now, I'm off to see who won...

Obama just doesn't get it!

Obama just doesn't get it!

A couple of things before I go on.  First, if I was American, I would probably be a Republican.  Second, I was happy to see Obama win the presidential election instead of the McCain/Palin ticket and was pleased when he was re-elected.

I thought it was time for America to be governed by someone with charisma and intelligence - someone who could attract good people to help in the back-rooms while he was the "face" of the nation.

It worked well for Ronald Reagan... one of the most beloved presidents in American history.  He was a people person who looked and sounded good on TV, and surrounded himself with top-notch advisors.

Unfortunately, Obama has proved that he is not an intelligent leader, but rather a member of the intelligencia.  He is a true liberal, naive in the ways of international politics, and only a couple of rungs higher that that pussy, Jimmy Carter, who nearly caused the U.S. to lose the trust and admiration of all its allies in his disgraceful turn in the White House.

Obama was shameful in his surrender to perceived lack of public support for a strong response to Syria's use of chemical weapons.  He was disingenuous and downright hurtful in his back-stabbing of staunch ally Israel during the recently scuttled peace talks with the Palestinians.  And now, he has committed the ultimate sin - trading the lives of five high-level Afghan terrorists for the release of one American serviceman, who, many say, was an outspoken opponent of the American involvement in Afghanistan and was in the process of deserting from the army when he went missing.

Does Obama think this trade will bring his party any positive press going into the mid-term election?  Does he believe this act of the "commander in chief" is on par with the mission he green lighted to kill Osama bin Laden?

I read that when Secretary of Defense Hagel made the announcement at a military base that the American serviceman, held for five years, had been freed in exchange for five Guantanamo detainees, there were no cheers from the audience.  My guess is that the audience knew the awful precedent that had been set.  Why Obama bowed to the pressure to rescue a serviceman who, on the one hand, was described as someone whose "health and safety appeared in jeopardy", and on the other hand, was described by National Security Advisor Susan Rice as being "in good physical condition" and was "said to be walking" is completely beyond me.

How can any of America's allies rely on the word of the American leader to provide military support when necessary after a string of botched foreign affairs decisions?  My main concerns are regarding the defense of Israel against the nuclear threat posed by Iran and the civil war in Syria.  I pray that Israel doesn't have to rely on the word of Obama to defend its own existence.