Horrified

I always knew that many Americans are prejudice. I remember back in the late 60s a friend of mine drove south through the States with a friend. He returned with stories of how many times the two were stopped by police, explaining that he figured it was because he looked like a hippy and his travel partner was black. I was shocked and disgusted. It was then that I formed the opinion that the United States was much more prejudice than Canada. This opinion was reinforced when in 80s and 90s I travelled both Canada and the U.S. for business and saw many examples. I never saw examples on television or media, but I certainly I certainly did in meetings, in hotels, and out shopping. That was then.

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Over the last several weeks, I’ve seen the appalling videos of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents’ forcing people, horrified young women in many cases, to the ground. I’m in shock. What happened to stopping someone, asking them for their identification and proceeding in a civilized manner? Waiting outside job sites, going into schools and wearing masks is beyond scary. I’m sure there are good I.C.E. agents who treat people well, and I understand there are instances where they know the perpetrator is indeed a criminal; but what we’re seeing is not appropriate. What we’re seeing is akin to terrorism. Maybe some I.C.E. personnel should get some training from Canadian law enforcement.

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I could go on and on about the unbelievable antics of Felon Trump and his administration (his meddlesome involvement in the Russia/Ukraine war which could start a world war, the fake peace prize FIFA created, his criticism of European leaders, his reference to low IQs of intelligent Democrats, his takeover of the Kennedy Centre for Performing Arts, his self-proclaimed A++++ rating, and so much more) but I won’t. It’s all disgusting and no one in the world is impressed with his mercurial actions. I get it that some are trying to ‘suck up’ to deflect his next potential target. Come on, people. Someone has to stop the madness!

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Back to my point. Anyone living in the U.S. who looks like they might have Hispanic or Latino heritage must be living in fear. They represent about 20% of the American population and so many of them are hardworking, upright citizens. This resembles Hitler’s pre-WWII Brownshirts where people were snapped off the street and never heard of again.

Prejudice is running rampant in the U.S. – not just against Hispanic/Latino, but also against LGBTQ, Jews and Muslims, still Blacks and now anyone who speaks out against Trump. Canadians are horrified. We love many Americans.

Cesar Chavez, Sonia Sotomayor, Cesar Millan, Jose Andres, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have had wonderful positive impacts on society and the U.S.A. As a Canadians, there’s really nothing we can do. This Canadian hasn’t been to the U.S. in 3 years, and I won’t until they can demonstrate respect for others. I may never step foot on U.S. soil again.

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16 Days of Activism: Defined

Many are not aware of what these 16 days represent, so I felt it necessary to explain. The 16 days start on November 25th, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, through to December 10, Human Rights Day. The 16 days call for solidarity to end violence against women and girls everywhere. It’s about time the Ontario government recognized gender-based violence as an epidemic.

16 Days of Activism: Montreal Massacre

In Honour of Alzheimer’s Month 3

Being a caregiver to someone inflicted with Alzheimer’s Disease can be all consuming. Hopefully this might help…

Remembering Mom Part 3 – How to Help Your Dementia Loved One

Canada More Proud Than Ever!

As the world learns how strong and free Canada truly is, its people rejuvenate national pride. Social media is flooded with proclamations of how adults demonstrate strength, clarity, consideration, inclusivity, and poise in citizenship, leadership, and relationship-building. We’re taking the higher road.

An example is this week’s move to by the Canadian Government to halt the Digital Services Tax, which taxed all tech companies, not merely American ones, in order to resume trade negotiations and bring Donald Trump’s administration back to the negotiating table. While some Canadians were livid, many political reporters explained that in lengthy, all-encompassing negotiations, ‘give and take’ along the way is required to eventually be successful. The bottom line is it’s a strategic play. South of the border, though, Karoline Leavvitt announced that Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney “caved” with a smirk on her face. (Someone needs to slap that girl!) Of course the Trump team would brag about this as a win. We’re taking the higher road.

In rebuttal to Trump’s quips about making Canada the 51st State, Mike Myers, Canadian comedian and icon, appeared on SNL wearing a ‘Canada is Not for Sale’ t-shirt suddenly motioned and mouthed “Elbows Up”…a brilliant act inspired by the memory of hockey great Gordie Howe that instigated a national movement. Canadians are not offensive, but will react in defense. We’re taking the higher road.

Today is Canada Day, the national celebration of the 158th anniversary of our confederation. We are a sovereign country, part of the British Commonwealth, and despite some groups who threaten to separate, mostly united in our quest to remain the True North Strong and Free. We have an abundance of natural resources, creative people who are willing to work hard, free health care, minimal gun violence. In past we have relied upon the U.S. for military defense. Now we’re building up our own. In past many of our trading has been North/South. Now it’s East/West and across the seas. In past we’ve purchasing arbitrarily regardless of where it was manufactured. Now most Canadians are vehemently reading labels, researching and sourcing products made in Canada or anywhere but the United States. We’re taking the higher road.

We’re not saying we are better. We still love everyone. We don’t have a need to slander others. We apologize when we’re wrong. We’re trying to reconcile with those we’ve damaged. We understand we live on native land. We admit our weaknesses and the wrongs of our forefathers. We are taking the higher road.

With great pride, I say

Happy Canada Day!

What Keeps Us Young

I live on a street of small houses mostly built 75 to 100 years ago. Its residents are eclectic: seniors who’ve lived here for ages, young families who’ve purchased their ‘starter homes’, and because we live near a university, transient students in rental homes. There are often curb conversations about how busy the younger folk are. Occasionally we seniors chime in with what we handled (just as much, if not more) at their age, but most often we just listen and empathize.

I can remember when I was in my thirties and my Dad would telephone every Friday evening shortly after 6 o’clock (because that’s when the rates went down) to update us on what was new with him and my mother. I distinctly recall one that went something like this, “Well, nothing much is new here. The TV repair man came on Wednesday.” We were in fits of laughter. Can you imagine living a life where the most important news is that the TV repair man came?

Many of the seniors on our street are like my parents. With the exception of grocery shopping and garden tending, they literally sit in their houses all day long and watch TV. Many of them don’t cook – they either order out or snack. They don’t belong to any clubs. My husband and I shake our heads and just don’t understand it.

We think we’re busier than most people our age. My husband gets up every morning and goes to the river to talk to the fishermen and, in nice weather, spends most of his day outside with our dog and the vegetable garden. I go to yoga twice a week, try to go swimming once a week, walk the dog daily and sometimes join my better half outside. And, we’ve been involved small local issues such as going to council meetings for things that others complain about but do nothing.

I think we’re more social too. We’re one of the few older couples that socialize with the younger ones. This morning, for example, the young couple two doors down brought their two-year-old over to visit in our yard. They stayed for about 90 minutes and it was a joyful start to a Sunday. A child’s laughter is one of the best sounds on earth and this kid is always smiling and laughing. The father (he turned 32 yesterday) asked me this morning if Henry (age 75, he and his wife live 4 doors down) was okay because he hadn’t seen him in months. I replied, “Ya, he’s fine. He was out mowing his lawn a few days ago.”

That’s what initiated this blog. It hit me that other than the widow across the street (who is much like us) we don’t see the people our age out and about. It’s like they retired and gave up. What a shame.