My condolences to Fort Hood, due to one man's actions

My deepest condolences go out to the friends and family of the victims of the recent shootings at Fort Hood. Such an act is beyond horrible and saddens every bit of my soul. I am sure Maj. Hasan will pay for his actions, and rightfully so. What does scare me however, is the fact that he is Muslim. I knew the emotional and sometimes irrational sides of certain people would kick in and see this as a connection to religion instead of the person. Today, that became blatant and in my face as I read the words of Bryan Fischer, the Director of Issues analysis with the American Family Association. Here are a few words he posted on the AFA website shortly after the shootings:

• “It is time, I suggest, to stop the practice of allowing Muslims to serve in the U.S. military. The reason is simple: the more devout a Muslim is, the more of a threat he is to national security. Devout Muslims, who accept the teachings of the prophet as divinely inspired, believe it is their duty to kill infidels. Yesterday’s massacre is living proof.”

• “the more devout a Muslim is, the more likely he is to lie to you through his teeth,”

• “You invent a jihadi-detector that works every time it’s used, and we’ll welcome you back with open arms. This is not Islamophobia. It is Islamo-realism. The barbarians are no longer at the gate. They’re inside the fort, and it’s time for the insanity to stop.”

I knew words like these would be uttered eventually, but even though I knew it was coming, I still choke on each and every one of them. To judge an entire group of people by the actions of one person is absurd, ridiculous, and well, just plain stupid. Should we ban all White males from being the heads of major corporations? After all, are they not the ones who have been stealing from companies for years and put us in this financial mess in the first place? Or should we ban all Catholics from the military? Does anyone remember that guy a few years back that killed a few people in a building in Oklahoma? Right, it wasn't a few, it was 168. Timothy McVeigh was Catholic. Should we ban all Catholics because of this? Of course not, it is just plain stupid. Please see this for what it was, 1 person, not a race, not a religion, ONE person who committed a horrible act. Once again, my condolences and I am sorry for your loss.

November 11, a day to remember, a day to mourn, a day to ask, why?

On November 11, at the 11th minute of the 11th hour, Canadians all over the world stop what they are doing and honour those who have fought, those who have come back, and those who have never returned, with two minutes of silence. Today, most of us will take in a ceremony at a legion or cenotaph somewhere in this vast country. We wear our poppies proudly until today, when we will lay them on the cenotaphs, or pin them to a wreath. We owe so much to these men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. It makes my heart warm to know children understand as much about our Veterans as I did as a child, as it is one thing we make sure we pass down to future generations. However, it does sadden me as well. We are not passing down all the truth to future generations. I am sure many of my own generation are unaware of the additional sacrifices paid by our First Nation Veterans who have fought side by side with their countrymen and women. While they enlisted and fought side by side during the wars, we all know they were not allowed that equality back in their own country. But what many do not know, as a reward for fighting, the Canadian Veteran's Settlement Act allowed Canadian Veterans (certain Veterans) returning home to buy land at very, very cheap prices. However, many of the Native soldiers who were fortunate enough to return home, were not only not allowed to buy the same land, but usually were not even told about the program. Instead, many returned home to their First Nation communities to find the government had seized huge portions of their reserve land to compensate non-native soldiers. Whole First Nation communities still mourn the loss of thousands of acres of land they were forces to surrender, as if they had lost a war. When these soldiers returned, many did have the option of getting the vote in Canada. Remember up until the 60's First Nations people were not even allowed to vote in their own country. Many feel this was the point we first became Canadian. Anyhow, a vet returning from the war could get the vote, if he were to become white. He had to give up who he was, where he came from, basically forget who he really was, in order to be Canadian. Many did this and in doing so, were not longer considered First Nation/Indian by the government. By society, that was a different story. How could one fit into a society if society did not want one there in the first place? Over 5200 First Nations people have served our military. Many are still waiting to receive even the basic benefits non-native veterans receive and have received for many, many years. Is it because prior to this year we were not even considered human? After all, the Canadian Human Rights Act did not apply to anyone living in a First Nations Community until this year. As we honour those brave soldiers today, on November 11, it is a day to remember, a day to mourn, a day to ask, why?

Good bye CBC, you racist organization

So for at least the 12th time in a couple weeks, I have gotten the boot from CBC. This time, as a report comes out that once again hides the truth behind a murder of a First Nations man by the RCMP. I know the inquiry has found that Chase McKay of the White Bear FN committed suicide by police back in June 2008. However, how can one conclude a person has committed suicide if (1) they are not around to ask, (2) they left no note, and (3) it was not self-inflicted. Comments made by readers assume those suffering from mental illness are just random idiots, etc. To me, this is an all to typical finding when it comes to violence to First Nations from police. RCMP Shooting was death by suicide. Want another example, look here Ceramics to find the story behind Elwood Friday and his treatment for looking drunk, while actually having medical issues. There is very little information on this story, but you can find some. I suggest you look him up to find out how stereotypes promote racism towards FN people by the public and the police.

My latest letter to CBC, please check the link above to the cbc story to see if it gets posted. My name in the comments is justkickin.
I am so sick and tired with cbc and whoever it is moderating these postings. Everytime I post anything that somewhat brings up the topic of racism against FN, Black folks, and others not in mainstream society, it does not get posted...EVERYTIME. However, any attack on said groups, racist comments and all, are allowed to be posted on here. Everyone is entitled to have their opinions heard, as long as they agree with the CBC's opinions. Shame on you CBC for being a contributor to racism. It is organizations like you that keep me in work. But then I wonder why I am wasting my time typing this, a no one will probably see it. I have posted at least a dozen comments over the last couple months that have not gone published, including one to this article about how it is unfair to call someone a random idiot while assuming they have a mental issue..nothing wrong with that statement.. I dare you cbc, print this so people will know how you folks operate.. my views should be heard...along with the racist ones you allow...I DARE YOU

Yes Virginia, there is a Santa...

He is red for sure, Republican red, goes by the name of McDonnell, and has a sack full of goodies for you Virginia. Please, please, PLEASE tell me it ain't so. What did you do, just one day short of a year, when you overwhelmingly voted true blue and helped elect Obama to the presidency. I wonder what could have changed for you to vote the likes of Republican Bob McDonnell into office? Now I am hearing over and over "it is time to take back my America" and "bring back the good old days". Are you seriously talking about the good old days of Bush? Or the good old days of daddy bush? Or are we talking the good old days when it was ok, no, fashionable, no, a required mindset, to hate your neighbor based on the color of their skin? Oh hold on a second, as I see a problem with that last statement and I apologize. In the "good old America", it was indeed difficult to hate your neighbor due to their skin color...since chances are...YOUR NEIGHBOR LOOKED LIKE YOU! Now that I think of it, yes, I do believe that is exactly what Virginia is talking about. Why you ask? All you have to do Virginia, is look in the bag your Santa is carrying to see what gifts he is bringing to you. Shall we look together. According to McDonnell's thesis he wrote a few years back, I do not think you will find any jobs for women. I think the words were something along the line of "working women are detrimental to the traditional family". Unmarried couples will no longer be able to use contraceptives. What happened to the state having no place in the bedrooms of the citizens? Oh, and what happened to all the people who said the Federal govt is grabbing on to too much power... should we give them the power to dictate our lives in our homes? On that note, he still believes that marriage should be limited to one man and one woman, but in the same breath, strongly believes that people should not be discriminated against based on gender, orientation, or marital status...amazing what one can say when talking out of both the mouth and the ass at the same time. Sounds like his ass and mouth are having a slight disagreement.
Virginia, oh dear Virginia, please, please..PLEASE tell America there are cameras hidden all over the place and you are going to jump out and yell "GOTCHA" soon, as the shock on my heart from that scare will do less damage than what is being done on it right now by your voting actions. For all of you who are still saying "take back our America" while holding your hand on your heart and saying those words you all hold dear " I pledge allegiance to the flag..." remember who wrote those famous words, yes, that's right, the one and only Francis Bellamy, and in case you did not know, he was a Christian SOCIALIST!!!
...twas the morn after the election and all through the state,
Folks were waking up to a big old mistake,
The ship they were on, I think they just sunk'er
Why the hell did they elect Archie BUNKER???????????????????

Yes Virginia, there is a Santa, and he is hiring, but save your resume, I am not sure he will hire a woman

Welcome to page 9 of the Chronicle Herald

So as a continuation of my blog from September 16 "5 arrested in raid in Preston", my point has once again been proven. Today in the Chronicle Herald, an article ran on the drug raid yesterday in Cole Harbour and Dartmouth. Get this... ON PAGE 9! Please read the previous blog if you are unsure about what I am talking about. I checked the CBC website and found exactly what I expected...nothing. Well, not exactly nothing. There were three comments:

• Put them in prison for life (11 disagreed)
• Unspecified(small amount), no weapons, what a waste of officers time and tax payers money (11 agreed)

• So what? The government is a big drug dealer anyway (18 agreed)

As predicted, CBC did not even run the names of the communities in the headline "12 charged in Halifax-area Drug raids" News flash, none were in Halifax. Last time I checked, Dartmouth and Cole Harbour were part of HRM, but not part of Halifax, nor is Preston, but they ALWAYS make sure that is known.
Amazing, and proves my point. A couple months back when a raid happened in Preston, people were all over this site wanting to get rid of the neighborhood, saying how it was such a horrible community. When I mentioned these raid happen all over the place, not specifically in one community and dared to even mention to check with your neighbors, as they may be dealers (think about it, what a great cover, selling drugs out of a middle class white community, police will never think of looking there), people were all over me. Correct me if I am wrong, but this raid was in Cole Harbour, and those names don't quite seem to fit the names people on this comment site THINK..yes THINK fit the names of people who should be charged in these raids. If you want to see then names, try not to get too tired flipping all the way to page 9, but they are there. Let me tell you, that Cole Harbour is nothing but a slum and crime community...sound familiar?

Do I want to Speak on Columbus Day...let me think about it!

First I want to personally thank Glenn Singleton and the staff at Pacific Educational Group for organizing once again an amazing Summit for Courageous Conversations in Baltimore. The feeling you get attending such an event with 500+ people passionate about anti- racism is, for lack of a better word, overwhelming. I was excited enough to be presenting my Historical time line workshop, on Columbus Day... in the US, and sharing the truth about terrorists like Columbus and Cornwallis to 25 or so people. However, on Monday, the day of the national celebrations of a glorified boat captain (I do not use the word explorer to describe these men. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Alrdrin are explorers, the others more like tourists visiting a place where someone already was/is), I was asked to speak to the entire conference for a couple minutes about Columbus. Talk about a dream come true...but only a couple minutes? Sure that is all this history deserves in a classroom, in the curriculum, but 2 minutes to to undo 517 years of lies...hmmm... I got it let's focus on present day

Here is a copy of what I said:

Columbus, South Carolina
Columbus, Missouri
Columbus, Indiana
Columbus, Wisconsin
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus State University...in Columbus, Georgia
Washington, D.C.
There is actually a statue of Christopher Columbus right here in Baltimore on the Inner Harbour, next to Christoper Columbus Building. Yesterday there was a parade through this very city to celebrate Columbus. Now I am one who loves geography, so I got out my maps and looked:
Hitler, Montana
Hitler, Arizona
Miloshevich, Kansas
Aldof Consolidated School
I could not find any of these places. If we are ok to name places after one person who committed genocide, why not others?

I would like to read you a few statements from the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, 1948:

Article 1
The contracting parties confirm that genocide, whether committed in time of peace on in time of war, is a crime under international law.

Article 2
In the present convention, genocide means any of the following acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group as such:

1. killing members of the group
2. causing severe bodily or mental harm to members of the group
3. deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part
4. imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group
5. forcibly transferring children of the group to another group
   

Were Canada and the US guilty of genocide? In Canada, First Nation children were forcibly taken, sometimes by gunpoint by the police, from their homes and sent to Residential Schools, in order for them to learn how to assimilate into a society that did not want them there in the first place. If they made it through alive, which many thousands did not, where could they go? Home? No, they no longer spoke the language or knew their culture. Into the dominant society? No, they were still not wanted there. The destruction is still being felt, generations later. Our students are disengaged from school at grade 3 and dropping out on average at grade 9. Many generations destroyed by one act. I ask you, where did this start and when will it end? Our Prime Minister, this year, stood up in the House of Commons, actuallystood up and issued an apology for the treatment of children at the Residential Schools, which was the first time in our history a group representing First Nations was allowed on the floor of the House of Commons...FIRST TIME. However, just a couple weeks ago, this same Prime Minister actually stood on the floor on the United Nations and said (Canada)"...we have no history of Colonialism" I guess that apology was nothing more that words.
As we observe Columbus Day today, I ask you, when did this genocide start, should it be celebrated, and when will it end? Thank you


I did not have enough time to finish my thoughts, so here it goes. This convention was written in 1948, after WWII. That year there were 72 residential schools open in Canada. The last federally run residential school officially closed its doors in 1996. Should Canada be held accountable for this genocide? Today, in 2009, Canada and the US still practice genocide through our biased judicial systems. A disproportionate number of Black, Latino, First Nation, men and women are being incarcerated as compared to Whites. For identical crimes, the first group is more likely to receive higher sentences, at higher security levels, for no other reason, except for the colour of their skin. In many of these cases, in relations to drugs, you will see the first group sentenced to federal time, while the second group is given a chance at rehab. Now, what happens when these folks have kids? The province/state steps in, removes the kids and puts them where? Many, many times, they are completely removed from their own cultural and racial identity., please see Article 2(5) above

What is media, I mean, who owns media and why they say what they do

Media is more influential today than it has ever been, even more so than the reports from the mid seventies on the cold war and the general hatred spread towards Russians. Canadians, the same as Americans, have always depended on the media to tell us what to think, how to think, and how to judge others. When I look at the media, I do not look so much at the message, but first and foremost, at whom the message is coming from. I am not talking about the picture of “whiteness” that is on the screen, but the people you do not see. The people who have the say in what is put out there, those with the deep pockets, those who have the privilege to tell society what is the norm.

Up until the election of Obama as the 44th president of the US, the only time (generally speaking) you would see a person of colour in the news was if he was gunned down by the police for threatening them not with a weapon but with a cell phone. Instead of reporting the MURDER as done by the police, the focus is on the previous records of the victim. This happens all too often. One of the big offenders of this portrayal of people of colour as violent is the show COPS. Do you ever see them following an officer in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Connecticut? Do these areas not have crime?

The portrayal in sitcoms is even worse than the news. The recent hiring of Adam Beach, a First Nations actor, to the cast of Law and Order was a big day for FN people everywhere. Finally a FN actor not being type cast. After only a season, the last scene he was in saw him getting hauled away in the back of a police car. What does this tell society? First Nations people have always had a rough go with the media, from the cartoon antics of Bugs Bunny, the Flintstones, the Jetsons, even up to current children (teen) cartoons like the Simpson (who have a license to attack everyone it seems) to children programming on YTV that portrays the “noble savage” otherwise known as the Hollywood Indian. These are shows, produced by the dominant society, for, get this, their children! If these negative stereotypes are a thing of past generations and if society continues to let the media dictate what the dominant society believes and holds true, then how far have we truly come, where did we really come from, and where are we heading next?

5 arrested in East Preston drug raid

Ok, so there was a drug bust in Preston today (Sept 16) Not a huge haul 147 plants, a bit of coke, and so forth. Typical raid as far as raids go. What pisses me off, is not so much how this is being reported, but once again, the asinine, ignorant remarks coming from the readers of CBC's web site, who feel it is their life purpose to show their bigotry and ignorance towards a specific community that they have never been to nor probably ever will. Every community has its criminals, not just black communities. How many raids have there been in Colby Village? What about Portland Estates? Lawrencetown? Ross Road? how about the South end of Halifax? If you can't remember, you are not alone. These hit the news, usually page 4, 5,...of section B and disappear just as fast. When these raids take place in a community other than they typical white community, seems "those people have no sense of community" or "those people have no respect for anyone". Umm, what about the grow-ops that are happening next door to you as you read this, stealing YOUR power, or how about the meth lab you neighbour has in their basement? can you imagine the damage if that thing explodes? talk about no respect for your neighbours! So if all this is happening in YOUR communities, why is it the CBC readers think black communities have the monopoly drug raids and criminals? Does Jimmy Melvin live in Preston? I thought not. Speaking of which, it seems a lot of these folks get their misconceptions from a select few. They see a black guy arrested for drugs and suddenly all black folks are drug dealers. If this logic held true, all white males would could be either, say thugs with no respect for those around them, aka JM, or say terrorists, as Timothy McVeigh, or all old white males are pedophiles thanks to the actions of a few priests. Or perhaps all corporate white males are theives because of the actions of Conrad Black. See, this logic does not make sense. So if it does not make sense and you still believe it, what exactly does that make you?

Beat Obama with the GREAT WHITE HOPE

Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins has found a way to defeat the political agenda of the Democrats. According to remarks she made during a forum in Hiawatha, Kansas, "Republicans are struggling right now to find the great white hope". She also named three colleagues who could possibly be the next party leader, all three are white. In 1908 Arthur John Johnson, aka, Jack Johnson, won the World Heavyweight Boxing title, and the term "Great White Hope" was born in search of a white boxer who could actually beat Johnson. Congresswoman Jenkins, I would like to ask you what rock you have been living under, or are you so wrapped up in your own white privilege that you had no idea that the term "Great white hope" could be so offensive? Now I know you have been backpedaling, saying that it was taken completely out of context, however, unless you can please send me a picture and location of that rock you have been living under for your whole life, I do not believe you. Then again, maybe you are telling the truth. Maybe you honestly did have no idea that the term is offensive. Perhaps you are so wrapped up in your own white privilege you can not see the true meaning of the words that spew from your own mouth. I would personally like to thank you...thank you from the bottom of my heart, for once again providing the undeniable proof white privilege exists. Unless, of course, you can email me the picture of that rock

Townhall meetings, healthcare, Rosa, and Hitler..who would have thunk it

So I have been watching, reading, listening to pretty much everything I can about the goings on in the US of A as of late regarding the town hall meetings and Health Care Reform. To recap, a Black woman attending this meeting was sitting in her chair with a rolled poster sitting on a chair in front of her. A reporter approached her inquiring as to the contents of the poster. Turns out it was a picture of Rosa Parks. A White gentleman ( and I use that term to be polite)...to hell with it, this asshole, gets up, walks over to the Black lady, destroys the poster and sets back down. As the police or glorified security roughly escorted the lady from the premises, the audience had the audacity to cheer them on. For those of you who may have watched this incident on any channel OTHER than CNN, what you saw was a vocal, agitated Black woman being escorted out of the hall. you did not get the whole story. What you did not see is the footage of the police confronting a White male, female, and child holding signs, then laughing and walking away...as the signs stayed. What you did not see were the posters being held by White folk showing Obama as Hitler. What you did not see was the White folks holding signs calling Obama the "n" word. No, what you saw was the Black lady being escorted out after SHE was assulted by the White male. And for what? Having a poster with Rosa Parks rolled up on a chair in front of her...how dare she!
So what does this tell us? White privilege exists...of course. Why did the police treat a Balck lady..who was assulted remember, as a criminal and escort her...no forcibly remove her from the premisis, and at the same time, say nothing to the asshole who assultes her..or nothing to the assholes holding signs using the "n" word or the Hitler posters? So what else does it tell us? People, no those who fear they have something to lose with the Healthcare Reform (the haves vs the have nots) are not impressed with the idea of giving a little to help those in need. After all, is it not many of the haves that have been helping themselves to what little the have nots have for years? People no, the privileged, have an issue helping those who need help (taking from themselves to help others. No, because as I recall there was a special on ABC back in February where Diane Swayer went to visit the poor of Appalachia (everyone interviews was White) and low and behold, the day after the special aired, offers of money, scholarship, and all came pouring in for the poor White folk. So what does this prove? The haves do not mind helping out the have nots...as long as the have nots look the same.
By looking closely at what is happening and what is being said during this volitile time in the US, it is so easy to see that race is not just playing a part in the current atmosphere of heathcare reform, it is playing first, second, third, catcher, pitcher, outfield...and umpiring. This is so obvious, someone as dense as Rush Limbaugh should even be able to get it...but oh yeah, I forgot, now that there is a Black President, racism is over...WHATEVER

The Bear Facts

First of all, I apologize. This is so off topic. I must start by saying I am by no means against hunting. It has long been a means for my ancestors to survive for thousands and thousands of years. I for one, do not partake in the annual hunt as hundreds of thousands of folks in Canada and the US do each year. The closest I get to hunting for my own food, is fighting over the marked down steak at Superstore with twenty other hungry bbq warriors. My fish either comes in a beautiful garment made of beer, flour and a few other ingredients...or laying on a cedar bed with a quilt of dill, red onions and little bit of olive oil. I do, however, love the wilderness. When I am out walking through the woods, trail or no trail, I always keep one thing in mind. No matter how much I feel at home surrounded by the trees and animals, I am trespassing in their backyard. So when I read an article like the one on the CBC website August 14 "12 killed bears were a threat to public", I am sadened. As the urban sprawl continues throughtout Canada, we have to keep in mind, for every foot we expand, two feet are taken from the homes of wildlife. We take our garbage, dump it right in the middle of the bear's livingroom and when they come around because of all the food smells, we consider them dangerous and kill them. We all seem to suffer from the not in my backyard mentality. News for everyone, it is the bear's backyard as well. Over the past number of years, the number of bear attacks are increasing. Are the bears to blame for this? Or are we to blame for taking away the bears territory. Now I know, a lot of people are going to disagree with this and say that we are human, the bears are animals, we have a right to the land. I can not remember seeing a story about a group of bears clearcutting a forest to make way for a new bear mall. I can not remember a story of a new bear open pit mine opening up. And I sure as hell ca not rememeber a story of a group of bears wanting to bury toxic chemicles in the Canada Shied area. I ask you, who is the smater being, us or the bears?
Speaking of woods, have you ever noticed how unhealty a forest of only one type of tree looks? Let's say for example, you take a wood lot and cut down everything but red spruce. Notice what happens. The ground cover starts to change. Eventually there will be no low ground coverage to hide the small animals, no will there be anything for the small animals to eat. Everything will be covered with a blanket of moss, with an occassionla fern. Is t his a healty forest? No. So what does this tell us? In order for a forest to be healthy, there needs to be a large mixutre of trees, some softwood, some hardwood, and all the various ground covers. When forests are mixed like this, you end up with a more balanced environment. Hmm...sounds a lot like us. Let's take our lesson for the day from trees. If we have only one homogenous group of people living together, is this a good thing? How boring would that be if everyone was the same? Would we survive? Probably. Would we thrive? Probable not. Would we be missing something? Absolutely...what that is, is for you to figure out. I know. (I guess this was not as off topic as I thought)

The meanings of Privileged language

I will be quick and to the point. I am very curious about the language not only society chooses to use but that of the media. I can remember seeing many protests or picket lines around Nova Scotia over the years. As a matter of fact, from what I recall, quite a number of them have been public civil servants (you know, the whole" I pay your salary" jobs..trust me, I can not stand this saying either). Now the issue I have here is the language used to describe these picket lines...just that PICKET LINE, or even more rebellious, how about protest ( a little more powerful sounding that demonstration). How many of us have heard of these picket lines not letting anyone through? no vehicles, no bodies. How many of us have heard of folks getting a bit, shall we say, roughed up by these lines? How many of us have heard the tongue lashings these folks throw out on these picket lines. So my question is, why do we chose such soft language to describe these lines, but when the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation near Nelson House, Manitoba, forms a picket line, WHICH, keep in mind is blocking vehicles only and letting people through, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, aka the CBC, runs the headline "Natives blockade norther Manitoba dam project"?? BLOCKADE?? That sounds more like a demonstration to me.
By the way, if you are wondering what exactly are they demonstrating against, no, it is not that it is sacred ground. No, it is not over land that was stolen. It is over promised jobs. Now, for those of you who say they are protesting over jobs that were promised to Natives...WRONG..they are protesting over jobs that were promised to LOCALS, it just so happens that locals in this situation happen to be from a First Nations community. Just the same as if the dam was being built in Guysborough (or fill in the blank with any small town Canada or US name) and most of the jobs were promised to said town. Now, if said town were upset and decided to demonstrate against what was promised, I am damn sure the CBC would not use the word "blockade" in the headline...CBC...smarten up, or is that too much to ask, after all, I pay your salary

Opps, they did it again

For a long time now I have been talking about the bias and racist reporting coming form newspapers across the country. Many people look at the paper and just don't see the things myself and many others do. It is so easy to see, and I would like to thank Lynn Barr-Telford from Statistics Canada for calling the Canadian Press to task on such an issue. On July 22, 2009, papers across the country reported on a study recently released. The article was entitled "Native poverty, jail linked" The article goes on to link Native poverty as a result of high incarceration rates. However, according to Stats Canada, "Our analysis did not examine income levels, and the word poverty did not appear in either our news release or in our report" as per Barr-Telford's letter buried on page A7 Opinions section (I would put a link to the letter, but I can not seem to find it on the Chronicle Herald website) Since the word "poverty" was nowhere in the study...OR the press release, why did Sue Bailey of the Canadian Press feel it was her responsibility to embelish the story? Is this what we can expect from the empolyees of the Canadian Press? I do think this has helped prove my point. While I am on it, should the papers also need to print a retraction instead of hiding it on page 7????

Honour killing...question for you

Not much to say, but one question to ask yourself:

• Gabriela Babineau smothered her child, 3 years old, 1995
• Susan Smith strapped her two toddlers in the car and pushed it into a lake. For nine days she told the world they were kidnapped by a black carjacker. Why? Her boyfriend didn't want kids
• Eric Crutchfield killed his 6 year old daughter with a shot in the back
• Socorro caro shot and killed her three sons while they slept
• Feb 2002, Texas, mother drowns her 5 children in the tub
• Marilyn Lemak, Chicago, smothered her 3 children...with her bare hands
• Manuel Gehring, killed his children and buried the bodies "somewhere" along the highway, never been found
• Mohammad Shafia, allegedly killed his daughters in Kingston

This is just a very small list of children who lost their lives by their parents own hands. In 97 alone 62 children under the age of 12 were killed by their parents. My question is, why is it that only one of them has been automatically been deemed, by the public and the press, and honour killing?
This is a horrible crime, makes me sick just thinking about it, but please, do not make judgments until all the facts are known

Fuck off, we're full??? Racsim and facebook

This morning on facebook I was invited to join a group called "FUCK OFF, WE'RE FULL---> Canada. First I apologize for the language, it was theirs...not mine. Now don't get me wrong, I tried to stay off of Facebook as long as I could, and as my children can attest, I managed to stay off for a LONG time. However, it is a great Forum to discuss issues of the day. It is also a great place for the whole privilege piece to come into play. This group is all about how immigration is ruining Canada (remember, a country that is made up of approx 95% immigration). I have decided to copy my one and only posting to this group here, as I am sure it will not be on the site for vary long:

First of all, the only reason I joined this group was so I could post here. Once posted I will be leaving.

1. The national anthem was FIRST written in French, not English, wow...and you call yourself Canadian. It was not even proclaimed the national anthem until 1980, and the Englis version was not approved until 1968 by the Senate

2. For those of you who say immigrants should learn our ways...how many of you have been to a sweat? A sundance? Even smudged? I take it the silence means very few.

3. For those of you who say immigration should stop, remember, 95% of Canada's population is immigrants, from the past 400 years.

4. For those of you who say that stuff was in the past (treaties, etc) get over it. I say stop celebrating Canada Day, Confederation was in the past...GET OVER it

5. The problem here is something called privilege. When someone feels something is being taken from them (ie, jobs) what they are really saying is "hey, that job should have been mine.... but it was TAKEN away from me.. I deserved it." Why? Because I have privilege and when I did not get that job, it is unjust because a piece of that unearned privilege has been taken away. (if you honestly do not believe in this whole concept of privilege, you have just proved to yourself it does indeed exist, because EVERYONE else knows it is there. If you do not see it, you got it

5. As for the whole taking jobs thing. I hear people whining about immigrants working at corner stores, driving cabs, etc Are these the jobs they are taking away? APPLY FOR THEM dumbass! At the same time, please keep in mind that those immigrants that are working at the cornerstore, or driving you around in a taxi, could be much more of a hero than you. Chances are, they could easily save your life, as they are probably doctors, but due to our racist policies, are unable to practice.

So I have been a little busy, does not mean the attitudes are gone

So it has been a while since I last wrote anything. Does this mean there has been very little to write about? Does this mean the whole systemic racism thing has solved itself and no longer exists? A quote from the editorial section today: "We are a Christian country, pioneered by mostly Christians. We always said the Lord’s prayer in school and saluted the flag every morning. It seems to me that we are letting minorities take over what we stood for for hundreds of years" (Heaven help us *in response to the atheist ads in the bus) see article here First of all, Mr. Rafuse, we are not a Christian country, we are a forced upon Christian society. Christianity was not on this soil until the likes of Champlain, Cartier, and the boys landed on the shores and thought the best way to take over, I repeat TAKE over, was to get the folks living here for well over 13,000 years to become saved. Saved from what I ask? Saved from the physical, mental, and sexual abuse that was delivered daily like communion? Saved from unholy act of speaking your own language? Saved from peace and closeness with the Earth that came with our ceremonies? What exactly was Christianity saving us from? So, you are upset because "we" are letting minorities take over what "we" stood for for hundreds of years. Let me ask you Mr. Rafuse,...how does it feel? Think long and hard about that. Remember, you are talking around 400 years of what "we" stood for. For the First Nations that number is well over 13,000 years of what WE stood for. So when I am told by folks like you "that was the past" "that was so long ago. get over it" "treaties mean nothing", I say to you Mr. Rafuse, that thing you stood for, for hundreds of years, that was in the past... GET OVER IT

Why is it still ok?

So, I was walking to the library at Acadia University the other day and came across a cardboard box that had been placed by RedBull. This was for a doddle contest. If you look closely you will see the drawing that I found most offensive. It shows a First Nations character in "full Indian headdress and war paint", pointing a gun at the White Sheriff. This picture is wrong on so many levels. First, the stereotypical portrayal of First Nations, and second, as the violent aggressor. If we look back in time, the opposite is true, the oppressor on the other side, the mass murders, the genocide all prove this true. As I scanned the box, I did not notice any other groups being stereotyped. I did not notice the Muslim being portrayed as a terrorist, as this would be racist and wrong. I did not notice the US president being portrayed as a primate (remember the New York Times..even they did not get this one), as t his would be racist and wrong. I did not notice an Asian person being drawn with those eyes from the days of Bugs Bunny, or the facial characteristics that were once drawn of those of African descent, as all this would be racist and wrong. So why is it, that First Nations, and stereotypes are still fair game? Why is it that schools across this country, and the US, middle schools, high schools, colleges and universities, as well as professional sports teams, can get away with using stereotypes and likenesses of First Nations people and culture? And to those who say it is done as an honor, out of respect, I say go to hell! I dare you to ask a First Nations person if they are honored with the Washington Redskins, The Atlanta Braves (remember the tomahawk chop!!!), the Cleveland Indians, the Seminoles, the Warriors, the Redmen.. not to mention the mascots!!
A letter has been sent to Red Bull asking for the removal of these offensive boxes from all Universities. An apology has also been asked for. Will they be removed? Will the apology surface? I say no. After all, this is the same company that sets up on school grounds and offers its addictive, potentially lethal products to kids for free. Why expect anything different from a company with no morals.

Inclusion, not just for school

When you mention inclusion in schools to most parents, the conversation always falls to the outdated “Special Ed” classroom. Parents look at this in one of two ways: This is so great for my child, or my child will suffer from this. From my experience, the latter is usually the parent of a child who would not have fallen into the category of “Special Ed”. These parents fail to see the benefits of inclusion in the classroom. If these parents would get the opportunity, as I did, to see 60 elementary students forming a circle around one child (who without inclusion would not have had the opportunity to go camping) and cheering her name as she climbed a tree, they would see the benefits that all children get from inclusion.
When society thinks about inclusion, I believe this is the topic that is at the front. However, inclusion goes far beyond the classroom, and far beyond abilities. First Nations (FN) have never been included in mainstream society. As a matter of fact, when it comes to FN, the opposite holds true, exclusion. For many years, up to and including today, the Federal Department that is in charge of the “health and welfare” of FN people, the Department of Northern and Indian Affairs, employed very few FN people. Decisions are made without consultation of First Nations people themselves over and over again. Relocations such as James Bay, bending of their own rules, as in the case of Indianbrook Fisheries, mandated two year elections (the main reason very few enterprises will negotiate with FN governments), Residential schools ( I use the term schools lightly, prisons fits better), have all done nothing but help build a distrust of Mainstream society in FN communities. A lack of understanding of FN issues, life, culture, and society, from mainstream Canada has led to mistrust, cultural stereotypes, animosity, and sometimes hatred from mainstream Canada towards FN people. So, where do we go from here?
Education is the key. A strong understanding of the lives of FN people. An understanding of what it is like to be a stranger in the land your ancestors walked on for thousands of years. An understanding of the system we have to navigate constantly to get through this life. A willingness to forget all the things you THINK you know, and replace it with things you DO know. A willingness to see that Canada has a system set up that has two sets of rules, one for FN people and one for the rest of Canada. A willingness to understand that if we live in our communities, we can not start a business, as we are unable to build equity in homes we are not allowed to own, unlike mainstream Canada. A willingness to understand that the drug and alcohol abuse is a mechanism to deal with the pain and hurt mainstream Canada caused with Residential schools (and remember, not just the survivors are hurting, three generations and counting are suffering due to the abuse their grandparents and great grandparents suffered) A willingness to let our voices be heard in decisions that affect us (for the first time in the history of this country, June 11, 2008 was the first time a FN organization was invited, no, allowed in the House of Commons)
It is time for inclusion of FN in the Canadian society, but mainstream Canada, please remember, we do not want you to say we can be included, we do not want your permission to be included, we just want it to happen.

Take that mask off....pardon me???

Seems like Metro Transit has been in the paper quite a lot lately. First for operators who get upset and threaten drivers, and now for full out racism towards Muslim women. The bus driver not just refused to let a woman on the bus who had her face covered by a veil, but also yelled at her "It's the law" I know the Criminal code quite well, and I do not recall the section where a veil on a bus is mentioned. If this bus driver knows the law so well, I would love for him to educate me as to its whereabouts. According to the Union, the driver "did the right thing" by calling for clarification... clarification for what? Did she have a shirt on, I would say yes. Did she have footwear on, yes. What is there to call for clarification for? According to the rules, a person must be wearing a top and shoes. Let's assume the driver did do the right thing by calling for clarification (you know what they say about assuming though). If this was the right thing to do, why did it take over 10 minutes for him to do so? So the Union is apologetic for the actions of the driver, but defending his racist actions in the same breath. Now, my beef is not with the driver, not with the union, it is with the ignorant comments that follow this story on the cbc website http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2009/03/13/ns-bus-muslim.html
It is making me sick to my stomach just to type these, please please PLEASE, I beg you, these are NOT my words in any way:
This woman should not have to cover her face. My God, smelling your own breath all day.
Unfortunately, she is victim of some dark age custom that has not let go.
Why couldn't she take her mask off? MASK.... Dark age custom (take a look at some of the Christian rituals) By the way thank you buddhawest for seeing the "flaming bigotry" in that

My favorite...There is no need in this country to dress like a terrorist.

To you I ask, how exactly was it that Timothy McVeigh dressed? How was it that Dr. Theodore John Kaczynski (The Unibomber) dress (that's right DOCTOR)? How was it that all the terrorists who have bombed abortion clinics across the US and Canada dressed? How is it that all the gunmen who have gone into schools and work places across the country dressed? Dare I say the terrorist uniform of Levi's and a t-shirt
Got to end this here. All this is making me really cranky on a Friday night. By the way, Metro Transit, I seem to remember the days when Mardi Gras was in downtown Halifax. How many people wore masks on the bus then???

Too many to talk about, whiners abound

I have been reading a lot of posts recently, on Facebook groups, CBC discussions on articles, and have seen a common theme. "Minorities stop whining". "Pull yourself up by the bootstraps", if you have never had the opportunity to own boots, how is this possible.
I just finished reading through post about a article in where a local drugstore had a display case, under lock and key, for certain products for Black folk. Yes, under lock and key. Along side you could buy products such as you aussie shampoo, brylcreem, clips, barrettes, combs, and any of the other millions of products geared towards White folks. While reading through the comments people insisted the store had a right to lock up anything they feel neccessary. They had a right to protect their property. I totally agree to this, yes, they do have a right to protect their property. But are they protecting it properly? Since statistics in the US and Canada show the majority of shoplifting is done by White mid to upper income females, should they not be locking up the aussie shampoo? what about those barrettes? This is not protecting your proprty. This is buying into the stereotype that Black folk are theives, and not law abiding like the "norm" of society. Like I said, buying into and perpetuating the stereotype. The same stereotype we see on shows like Cops, Law and Order (remember Adam Beach, in his final show, even he was hauled away in the back of a police car.. I wonder if he was dropped on the outskirts of Saskatoon like so many before), even the current season of 24 has the Whitehouse being taken over by a poor country in Africa who the Americans are trying to save. The same stereotype that shows a black man on the front page of a local newspaper being put in the back of a car (caught) and a White guy's picture, small as possible, buried in the paper even though he is wanted for robbing a bank.
The other comment I noticed over and over is that minorities should "stop whining". I find it interesting that pointing out an injustice is considered whining. Is it whining that is going on in the South end of Halifax because they want to divert tucks onto the throughway for the train? No, it is called a community rallying together. Is it whining when a group of Black folk get together to protest the newest racial profiling case, aka "driving while Black", by the police? Why do these two questions get different answers. I find it quite ironic that when White folk are telling minorities to quit whining, they themselves are the ones doing the whining.

What's in a name?

A few months ago I was in a workshop about How to Teach Biracial and Multiracial Students: Racial Literacy for Today’s Classroom. The Presenter started off the session with a simple question, “What are you?” I choose to sit at a table where I knew I would have allies. I will admit, being a person from a biracial background and one who all to clearly knows the meaning of White Privilege, based on outward appearance and outward appearance only, I was getting looks from participants not of my table. To those around me, I was out of place. Sitting at my table were an African American male, two African American females, as well as a male and female of Latino descent. We were sitting at a table in the centre of the room and all along the perimeter was White Privilege. Keep in mind, we were there for similar reasons, to gain the ability and experience to talk about race.
When the question was posed by the facilitator, “what are you?”, and interesting thing happened, no one talked and all eyes pointed to our table. Finally after the longest 30 seconds of my life, and I am sure of the facilitator’s life, someone answered the question, “I am Irish American”. A few seconds later, “I am Russian American”, followed by “I am Italian American”. Not one person from my table spoke up. I found this fascinating, everyone who labelled themselves during this small exercise, had white privilege. They all felt the need to define themselves. It got me thinking, why do these people, who from outward appearance seem to fit the loose definition of race we were all taught growing up, feel the need to differentiate themselves from on another by labelling? Why were the people sitting at my table not labelling themselves? Is it because they did not feel the need to do so, or was it because they knew everyone in the room had already given them a label because oft heir outward appearance?
As the session went on, one male from another table asked an interesting question, “Ok, so what do we call these kids who are biracial? What is the new safe term we can use?” As I looked around the room, I could see many of those in a privileged position hanging on, waiting for the wonderful answer to all their problems from the facilitator. In the meantime, I could feel a real shift in the aura around my table. We all sat there, not looking at the facilitator, not looking around the room, but looking at each other. I could not take the silence any longer. People were no longer wanting to talk about race, they simply wanted the “quick fix” to all their problems. I blew up…no sorry, spoke up. The following is a recap of my words: Why is it that the dominant Eurocentric society feels the need to give those around them a label? What is it that gives you the right, the power, the justification to do so? These names you give, YOU choose, are they ever what the group wish you to use? If you want to know what to call someone, here is a novel idea…ask them! Let’s take a look at naming though history. Seeing how we are in America, how about we look at the term that is given for Native Americans, Indian. Where does that come from?
From this question I got all the typical Columbus answers one would expect. When I shared the truth about this term, people flat out denied the true history of the meaning.
As educators, we must realize the hidden meanings some of labels we use for people carry. Unfortunately, the only people who seem to see the hidden meanings in these labels are those the dominant society choose to label.

Disturb the flow and create change

I once heard an analogy to describe the work of anti-racism as walking on a moving sidewalk similar to those found in an airport. People generally get on these and continue to walk. When you look at those with privilege (the dominant society), they are all going their same way, in the same direction on that moving sidewalk. It is comfortable, it is easy. There are no obstacles in your way. This is the blinders that let the privileged society ignore racism and the privilege it gives them. Now, what happens if someone stops moving? Absolutely nothing. Things go on as it was. These people that stop are those who recognize that yes, racism does exist. However, by only noticing racism, just as stopping on the moving sidewalk, you still move forward. You may be moving at a slower pace, but you are still moving with the flow, with society, with the dominant society, with the privilege racism gives you. What happens if you stop, turn around, and start walking against the flow? Is it uncomfortable? Yes. Does it break the flow of people on the moving sidewalk? Yes. Does it make others angry, upset? Definitely. This is the same as someone realizing the free privilege society gives one based on the colour of their skin and trying to do something about it. By walking against the flow, by creating that disturbance, you are making people uncomfortable, you are making yourself uncomfortable. But we must remember, the best way to learn is to be in that uncomfortable state.

Which way are you walking?

Take a History Lesson.. Just which history are you talking about?

In the Chronicle Herald today (Feb 12) there was a letter in the Voices of the people section (A12) talking about the just recently canceled re-enactment of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham; a battle that entrenched the defeat of the French in Canada. The writer goes on to state the outcome of this battle allowed English Canada to "show its true colours as one of the brightest examples of democratic society, as the French were allowed to stay and flourish. Democratic you say? If the English were so democratic, why were the First Nations of Canada not allowed to vote in the democratic atmosphere (in a land that was taken, stolen, appropriated, conquered, use whatever language you want, it all boils down to theft) until March 31, 1960. So you are saying the English were oh so democratic since the battle in 1759, so how does this explain the 201 years in between. Does not sound so democratic to me. There is no universally accepted definition of the term democracy, however there are two held principles that are generally agreed on. The first principle is that all members of the society (citizens) have equal access to power and the second that all members (citizens) enjoy universally recognized freedoms and liberties. Easy to get around I guess. Do not count First Nations as "citizens"(once more, in their own homeland, stolen)
If you are going to give a history lesson, be sure to give the whole history lesson and not just the side to support your argument, no matter how one-sided your argument may be.

Ethnic cleansing in Grade 4?

A class in a school in New Brunswick has made the news because one grade 4 student was upset about a recent exercise the teacher assigned (see story here). The students were asked a question based on the following scenario: Imagine an Acadian francophone on a planet with an anglophone, a black African, a Chinese person, and an Aboriginal person. The planet is going to explode and you can only fit 3 people in the rocket. You have 10 minutes to decide. Which three should be saved? Are you kidding me? Why is it a grade 4 student (who is adopted from Ethiopia, and from the interview I heard on the radio yesterday, one of the only children of colour in the school) the only one to see the problem with this exercise. The teacher saw nothing wrong with it. The principal, during an interview, said there was nothing wrong with the exercise. Some of the conversations created between the students were great. Some students said the francophone, anglophone, and aboriginal should be saved, because they can communicate. some said the same group should be saved because they were the first ones here (who is teaching history in this school and whose history are they teaching?) This exercise is wrong on so many levels. With so little information given to the students, their decisions had to be made on stereotypes and outward appearance. This sounds like a training exercise for genocide 101. How can anyone justify and defend this exercise. Remember the most dangerous people are those who think they know what they don't know

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Nothing like a good old fashion drug raid to bring out the BEST in people

This past week we have seen the arrest of a First Nations band manager for possession, trafficking, and weapons offences. While scanning through readers' comments, it appears the accused's actions speak for a whole race. Amazing the number of racists events like this bring out. Some of the posts I read include: "Reserves breed drug use", "Corrupt politicians", "What do you expect", "Bet he plays the Native card","typical, those people will defend him", "The sad part about this is you will most likely see this guy back in business soon. Most likely going to see the native card pulled on this. I wonder if drug trafficking is mentioned in the treaty. .", " Chief must of been sleeping on that day or nursing a hang over"," No wonder First Nation's people are in such dire straits", The list goes on and on. So why is it the actions of one individual, guilty or not, are representative of a group? Let's look back at the recent events in Halifax involving two families heavily involved in the drug trade. There were almost daily shootings, one in front of the Children's Hospital. These two families are located in the same area. I did not recall seeing any comments stating the actions of these groups represent the actions of all white folk. Saying something like that would be , well, just plain silly. So why is it, the actions of individuals of colour, African Canadian, Latino, First Nations, to the dominant society, seem to represent the group as a whole? Racism at its finest

A picture says a thousand words

Looking through the paper this morning and I noticed a trend that seems to be long running. Just curious, but do you think posting a picture in the paper of a suspect of a bank robbery, who is still out there, is more important than posting a picture of a suspect of a person who is in custody for a robbery? Ok, I agree, both are crimes to be reported, but what makes one priority over the other? I find it ironic, no, surprising, no typical, that the picture of a black male being put into the back of a police car warrants a large picture on page two, but a suspect in a bank robbery, who is white, in a predominately white community (Cole Harbour), and still on the loose, gets his tiny picture on page seven in the small Across Nova Scotia section. This seems to happen over and over in the paper. The same type of crime, different coverage.

York University study on racism in Canada, my response the paper did not publish

I understand the point Mr Duffy was trying to make with his article "Do the right thing, stand against racism", Jan 11. However, some comments made confirmed the results. The experiment conducted at York University showed us one thing, the exact opposite of Duffy’s assumption. Duffy said he is “not willing to assume the silence of those young people means they were indifferent to intolerance”. To me, this shows perfectly well the indifference to intolerance of the dominant society. If you have a room full of people, a racial comment is made by a white person towards a black person and not one, not a single white “participant” says anything, they are just as guilty. We, as adults, teach our children bystanders to bullying are just a guilty as they bully. Why is it inappropriate for kids to do, but justifiable by excuses when an adult does it? To top it off, when the students are asked to pair up, the people in the group are more willing to pair up with the white person who made the inappropriate comments rather than the black person. I saw all the usual excuses, let me say that again, excuses, in the article for not dealing with racism; the danger aspect, the intimidation factor, the whole what can “we” do. As I read the article, I was reminded of the work of Peggy McIntosh on White Privilege. This experiment as well as the article, reaffirmed her work, and the writings of anti- racism activist Tim Wise. We have to remember that race is a social and political construct developed by the dominant European (white) society to justify such things as slavery and colonization. Race means absolutely nothing until our minds give it a meaning. These students gave it a meaning. What meaning will you give it?

Chronicle Herald Jan 2 2009 Equality reached its meaning?? Pardon me?

According to the article by Kipling in Jan 2 paper it would seem that equality will finally reach its meaning in the U.S. After all, they did elect a black man to the presidency. If this truly means equality has finally arrived, does that mean the end to racial profiling by police? Does that mean that black males will no longer be three times more likely to be pulled over and have their vehicles searched, even though white males are four time more likely to have illegal drugs in their car? Does this mean an end to new prisons and the beginning of new schools? After all, equality is here, so does that mean prisons will no longer be disproportionately filled with people of colour, even though the majority of crimes are committed by white males? Has equality really at long last reached its meaning because a black man is the president of the United States? Lets ask those who feel discrimination every day. Those who are denied a mortgage because of the colour of their skin even though they are better qualified to pay it. Lets ask those of colour who have their resume thrown in the garbage because their name does not sound white. Lets ask those who are overlooked at a counter, as if they are not there and the person behind them is waited on. Has equality really reached its meaning? I say no.

Well, I have finally done it!

so, I have finally done it. Started my own blog. After reading, reading, and reading some more, I figured it was time to put my own thoughts about racism on the web. My goal here is to post at least once a week, on articles I have read in the newspapers, online, and stories on the news. Stay tuned.