Jay's Blog part Deux

Today I have become a year older and hopefully over the last few years a lot wiser. I look back at how some of views have charged and realize that things and situations charge when you get older. I look to expand on these in future blogs but for now enjoy the rest of my night as I had a great day.

Recently, with all that is going on right now several statues of historical figures have been vandalized as they have been deemed racist. One of these is a couple of our first Prime Minister of Canada Sir.John A MacDonald. Statues of him in Montreal and Kitchener Ontario have had painted on them. This has put me in a bind as I have studied and admired the man for many years. As a matter of fact I have  looked up to him and shaped some my political views based on his. I can honestly as a father of confederation he is a big reason why Canada is not a part of the United States and cling to our British roots. My uncle posted a picture of a vandalized statue on Facebook and suggested (he a bigger admirer of Sir John A than I am) that he would put him aside. I found this difficult as I see him as a nation builder especially at a time when our country is very divided geopolitically and also by racial strife. He managed to help bring English and French Canada into a single country independ...

In the midst of what is going on with COVID-19 and worldwide protests against racism(also some riots) there is a leadership campaign going on in Canada. This is for the Conservative Party Of Canada which is the official opposition here and is sufficient because the next leader could become the next Prime Minister of Canada. Party members are voting by mail-in ballot in August. The candidates here are: Peter McKay former MP for Central Nova Nova Scotia and a former cabinet minister in the Stephen Harper government. Was also the last leader of the old Progressive Conservative Party Of Canada until they merged with the Canadian Alliance in 2003. Erin O’Toole MP for Durham Ontario and a former Minister of Veteran Affairs. Ran unsuccessfully in 2017 leadership race finishing third. Derek Sloan rookie MP for Hastings-Lennox and Addington. Leslyn Lewis a lawyer from Toronto who does not a seat in the House Of Commons. While there are four people in this race, it is clearly a two horse race be...

Until recently I thought the idea white privilege was a myth. I am white but I also come a working class background and work a blue collar job. Growing up in the GTA I saw people around me from all walks of life have more than me. I didn’t feel privileged as I had to work for everything I got and had very little handed to me. But I have realized that there are other factors to privilege besides economical background. While not a racist I never saw my skin note as making me privileged in society. First, I am privileged in that my appearance doesn’t automatically put a target on my back. I don’t usually have to worry about police pulling me over or many people viewing me with suspicion. I can walk into a store and/or shopping center without people thinking I am automatically going to steal something or be followed around. I can walk walk around most areas without being harassed. Second, my name on a resume is less likely to disqualify me from a job or a profession.Unfortunately there i...

With what’s going down in the United States in their major cities with the protests and in some cases rioting and looting going on. There are some things that have to be said about it. There is no question that there is systemic racism in Western culture and that the racial divide has gotten bigger over the last few years. It is also a democratic right to protest injustice in society and anyone has a right to participate. After all many things have been accomplished by this such as the civil rights movement(which I will touch more on in a bit), better conditions for the working class, rights for women to vote etc. However, those who chose to riot and loot are only negating the work of the demonstrators who are calling for change. I know these a only a small few who commit these acts and there are those who this as an excuse to commit these acts. Unfortunately this often begets more violence. One just has to look to the civil rights of the 1960’s led by Dr. Martin Luther King. They h...

On the heels of what is going in North America and to kinda follow up with my last post here are some verses from the Bible on racism with a little bit of commentary. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek ; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. Romans 10:12 ESV In Christ all ethic and racial differences are obliterated as we are all brethren in Christ. The is no superiority as we are all fallen and are in need of a saviour. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. John 13:34 ESV We are commanded to love one another just as Christ loves each of us. We are all united as we are all created in the image of God. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. 1John 2:11ESV It is impossible to love God and hate our brothers and sisters. It is s...

Many of us have heard about the death of George Floyd an African-American man who died of suffocation while being arrested for allegedly passing a counterfeit 20 dollar bill at a Minneapolis grocery store. The officer who put his knee on Floyd’s neck and cut of his oxygen off was been charged with manslaughter. The other officers on the scene were fired as a result. This has sparked numerous protests in various US cities (some of them have turned violent). Also, has bought back attention to use of excessive force by police especially on African-American males and the problems of race relations in America. There was clearly the use of excessive force for a guy who allegedly passed a counterfeit bill. He probably was confused at first and maybe disoriented which may be seen as aggression but there no reason use a hold such as this. When I worked as a DSW many years ago part of my training was using holds to subdue violent  behaviour and one of this we were taught was to never to co...