Establishment elite gang up on a Senate Page

The main stream media seem hell bent to protect the environs of the Senate. Their attack on Senate Page Brigette DePape has been relentless. And I have to say I am disappointed in the reaction of the NDP, Liberals and Elizabeth May.

All three opposition parties have lined up to denounce the silent act DePape made in the Senate chamber during the Throne Speech. I am not totally surprised by the Liberal reaction, but I am with the NDP and green party. At worst I would have expected Layton to say It was the wrong place but in a Democracy this follows a time honoured tradition of non-violent protest.

We all know our rules allow the Conservatives a majority Government, even when 60% of Canadians choose another party to support. With the media falling all over themselves to out do the other in maintaining Harper's rights, dismissing the act as disrespectful and wrong, misses the ethical and moral place DePape actions stem from.

In a system where one can win absolute power without the majority of Canadian voters, acts like DePape's may be the only way we can assert the rights of the majority of Canadians. For a more thoughtful response to the MSM condemnation check out these well thought out articles.

Fast Facts: Silently Speaking Truth to Power
by Shauna MacKinnon
Is it DePape’s protest that is insulting
The Senate Page that did!  Jian Ghomeshi CBC Q

Regrets - its never too late to fix it!

How many of us live with regrets?  I expect most of us do.  Bronnie Ware was a palliative care nurse for many years who has compiled a list of the top five regrets people expressed while in her care.  You will find the list here.

In reading the list I can say I too have experienced many regrets.  The regrets have actually been the subject of discussion in recent times with people from my work place, from home and with complete strangers I have met in coffee shops.

This post is here likely due to my recent discussions with some of the people I care for deeply.  The subjects of the discussions are based on ego in some fashion.  Things like, I'm not getting the recognition I deserve for my body of work,  I hate my work, I don't want to go away, I don't have anyone to look after me, I wish I had someone to mentor.

These discussions can be quite painful.  They fill up space in our thoughts to the exclusion of what we really have, which is right now.  Now is the only thing we have real control over.  What happened before has happened, we can't change that.  We can plan for tomorrow but that hasn't come yet and could be derailed.  Shouldn't we be enjoying life.

My home family group here in Toronto includes three others.  We were looking forward to a good year. Then one has a serious health issue, another hates his job and another is feeling desperately lonely.  What is common among these people is that each one is accomplished in their field, two are accomplished academics and the other is revered for his service and dedication.

I was fortunate, maybe lucky or just maybe smart.  I met Steven, (that was the smart part). I wish my family here had met him.  Steven was my partner for a small portion of his life, which ended on June 9, 2002.  Steven showed me we have today. We need to live now.  Enjoy today, make the most of it.  Yesterday is gone, can't change that, Tomorrow we don't know what that brings. All we really have is now.

If all we really have is now, why do we spend so much time and energy about things we can never change.  If we are with loved ones, why are we burning energy on what tomorrow brings.  Wouldn't it make sense to spend the same energy being happy.  Wouldn't it make more sense enjoying what it is you are fretting about missing from tomorrow.

I use to regret the lack of recognition I received for my efforts in the fight for gay or social justice work. That was until I found I didn't really need it.  I know what I have done, and oddly enough, its the little things that make me smile, like the Privatised Highway worker in BC who took my advice and now has a financially secure retirement, or the 15 year old gay boy who sought comfort and is now a proud gay man, or the logger in BC who was anything but NDP, who thanked me for helping him be heard or the smiles I receive from distraught folks I assist in my current work place.

It seems we all get rapped up with what others think of us when we become adults. We lose our child like approach to life, of accepting where we are and enjoying the now. Steven helped me to understand and embrace that child like approach. It is that openness to others that makes me attractive to those I love.  That allows people to approach me.

I have one regret that I need to ditch.  I have been very lousy in staying in touch with friends and family.  Seeing the list of regrets I linked to above has made it evident I want to be better.  Lets see how well I do on that front.

Being gay has contributed to much to my being. It often meant earlier in my life that I felt I needed to hide who I was.  That takes much energy.  That saps you.  Yet we still have a life to live and in the end, it really isn't any different from others.  We all want to be accepted.  We all want to be loved. We all want to be comfortable in our own skin.

I love my family, I love my friends. I miss many of them and wish I could see them more regularly.  I have about twenty five people I want to reach out too in the next two months.  I should be able to accomplish that. That's my goal.  I expect that once I contact these old friends and family, I will reduce the number of regrets I have when I leave this world behind someday.

Notwithstanding what I have said above, the fight for social justice continues, living and enjoying today doesn't mean putting on blinders. I continue to pursue a better world for others. And I close with a thank you to Bronnie and her list and to Brigitte De Pape. Jian Ghomeshi's essay on Ms De Pape has reminded me of me, many years ago.  I take up her challenge in making tomorrow better than today, while enjoying what I have now!

25 gayest moments on Broadway!

OUT magazine posts the 25 gayest moments from broadway.

Have a look, 


they 25 different youtube videos 


  of these moments!  

11 Things The Bible Bans, But You Do Anyway

One last post on the night, you likely have sinned and maybe didn't even know it.

Here is a look at things you shouldn't do if you don't want to end up in hell. Unless of course you think you are living in hell already.

11 Things The Bible Bans, But You Do Anyway

Canucks battle songs

If you don't like Hockey, you may get annoyed at me for the next two weeks. Just sayin.  Im a hockey fan and it goes back to my days in Quesnel, where we cheered on the Quesnel Kangaroos.  I know its a weird name for a hockey team but when they started, the guy who did it thought the guys all jumped around like kangaroos, so the name stuck.  The guy who got them going was Chuck Beath.  My Dad worked for him for a few years.

So there could be a few Canuck postings here, as I enjoy their journey to the Stanley Cup from here, the Center of the Universe, (that's Toronto in case any of you are not from Canada). My big TV and surround sound will be annoying those above and below me on game night.  But then I have listened to their music for three years so some Canadian content shouldn't bother them too much.

Here is a youtube video of some guys celebrating the Canucks, its a catchy number and just a little bit fun, hope you enjoy...

LGBT Lanark

Some of you know we have a place in Lanark county.  It's  farn but that farm hasn't been a real working farm in 40 years.  Its a great place of retreat from the bustle of living in the Centre of the Universe, Toronto for those of you unaware.

I just learned that there is a Queer group that hosts events and attempts to keep people updated on issues pertaining to being queer in the county.  You can find them here at  LGBT Lanark..  And they have a dance planned for June 18th.  Here is the info...

On Saturday, June 18th, LGBT Lanark County is going to celebrate Perth’s first ever gay pride day with a dance at the Perth Civitan Hall (Highway 43, East of Perth).

The dance will run from 8:00-12:30pm.  Tickets can be bought in advance at Shadowfax in Perth for $15 or can be purchased at the door for $20.  Note: a reduced rate is available at the door for those who require it.  Tell Mama will be performing and Penny the DJ will rock the house!  Send us your music requests early!

It totally rocks that there is an active queer community in Scott Reid's federal riding and Randy Hillier's provincial riding.  

Liberals screaming Fire, but is anyone listening?

Its fun to watch the Liberals scream FIRE over the NDP and Jack Layton's comments on the constitution.  It seems the Liberals' have no plan or any intention of working with Quebec, the only province not to sign onto the constitution.  Layton and company have made it clear.  If we want to maintain a united Canada, we need to provide the winning conditions for both Canada and Quebec in Quebec.

Its the right position to take.  It is dramatically different from the "Father Knows Best " attitude of the Liberal party.  The party of Dion and Iggnatief and Martin have seen huge losses in Quebec over the years to the point that they are barely relevant in that province.  Still if you were to listen to the high and mighty voices coming from the mouths of the Toronto centered LPC, the NDP at worse are separatists in Quebec and best totally naive.

Its that kind of patronizing attitude that has seen the LPC fail as a national party and reflected in their current standing in the House of Commons.  I note that now the Liberal party is toast, they finally give the title "interim" leader to Bob Rae.  You guys are just too predictable.

Liberals of course have always dreaded the constitution issue since 1995. It was a difficult situation and they responded to it by buying votes rather than taking up the tough questions about living together.  It kind of reminds you of a couple where one of them has taken the other for granted.  They see their failing too late then offer up some trinkets so make up for the indifference.

The NDP are not afraid to debate the issue of Quebec.  They know it is a tough issue to talk about, but that is what well founded families do, they talk.  You don't sweep it under the rug.  Not one person in Quebec thinks of the NDP as the new BLOC. They know the NDP is a federalist party, hell bent on the road to making Quebec and Canada work.

And the latest poll shows NDP up and everyone else down.

Lightning Storm in Toronto

The CN tower seems to attract the lightning, it was a loud and colourful show last night as a storm swept over Lake Ontario through Toronto last evening.

This picture of the lightning striking the CN Tower is well, Lightning! More photos of the storm at BlogTO.