Iceland's coalition government has fallen apart due to the strain the economic crisis has placed on it.
I guess they are not as ideal as some attempted to lead us believe.
- blenCOWe
Monday, January 26, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Someone at DND is Thinking!
Apparently the Department of National Defence wants a cut of the pie when Mr. Harper's stimulus package for the economy is included in next week's budget. Now my initial reaction when I read the headline of this article was that DND was getting greedy, calling for more money at a time when the focus should be on ensuring the economic security of Canada's citizens. The money to be used to upgrade Canada's current fleet of LAV-3's.
I have to admit as I read the article and then again, the idea began to grow on me and for two main reasons. First of all, Canada needs these vehicles. Let's face it, every couple days we hear about IED's going of and injuring Canadian soldiers. Now while we focus on the people, and rightly so, it must also be noted that we also lose equipment to damage; equipment that is sorely needed to protect our soldiers. One of the major problems facing our forces is that they lack some of the equipment that they sorely need and these vehicles are included in that. Therefore it is good thing that Defence Minister McKay is pushing for this.
The second reason this makes sense is that the contract for these vehicles would be served in Canada. These trucks would be built in London, Ontario and serviced in Edmonton, Alberta. This would provide a boost to the slumping auto industry and help to counter some of the losses that Canadian workers have faced as a result of plant closures by the "Big 3."
I think it would be safe to say that this avenue would not just be to the benefit of Canada's military but also to the people who work in Canada's automotive sector. This would be a rare case where Canadians could "have their guns AND their butter." Mr. Harper should include this relatively inexpensive ($1.3 billion) plan into next week's budget and economic stimulus plan. It would show that he and his government are thinking strategically for Canadians, both home and abroad, and would likely help to rebuild some of the confidence that they lost at the end of 2008.
Pony up Mr. Harper!
- blenCOWe
I have to admit as I read the article and then again, the idea began to grow on me and for two main reasons. First of all, Canada needs these vehicles. Let's face it, every couple days we hear about IED's going of and injuring Canadian soldiers. Now while we focus on the people, and rightly so, it must also be noted that we also lose equipment to damage; equipment that is sorely needed to protect our soldiers. One of the major problems facing our forces is that they lack some of the equipment that they sorely need and these vehicles are included in that. Therefore it is good thing that Defence Minister McKay is pushing for this.
The second reason this makes sense is that the contract for these vehicles would be served in Canada. These trucks would be built in London, Ontario and serviced in Edmonton, Alberta. This would provide a boost to the slumping auto industry and help to counter some of the losses that Canadian workers have faced as a result of plant closures by the "Big 3."
I think it would be safe to say that this avenue would not just be to the benefit of Canada's military but also to the people who work in Canada's automotive sector. This would be a rare case where Canadians could "have their guns AND their butter." Mr. Harper should include this relatively inexpensive ($1.3 billion) plan into next week's budget and economic stimulus plan. It would show that he and his government are thinking strategically for Canadians, both home and abroad, and would likely help to rebuild some of the confidence that they lost at the end of 2008.
Pony up Mr. Harper!
- blenCOWe
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Where Were You?
Throughout my years I have often heard people say that they remembered exactly where they were and what they were doing when some of the most important events in history occurred. I have heard where people were when the Allies won the Second World War, when JFK was assasinated, the American pull out of Vietnam and, of course, the fall of the Berlin Wall that marked the end of communism.
In my relatively short time on this planet, two events come to mind that have had this kind of effect. On September 11, 2001 I was sitting in my Grade 10 Science class at Belle River District High School. The Principal came on to the P.A. system and announced what happened. It was one of those moments where after the announcement there was a moment of silence because of course no one really knew what to say/do and what it really meant. That moment is one that I will never forget and I will be able to say down the road (... like today) and say I remember exactly where I was when it happened.
The other moment occurred today. Years from now I will be able to say that on January 20, 2008 I was sitting at the Bridge Street Cafe in Sackville, NB when the United States inaugurated its first black president. Watching the coverage online, scrambling to find a steady feed whenever the server would boot me off because of the incredible strain from people attempting to watch the inauguration. Listening to Barack Obama's speech that I am not ashamed to say was pretty moving for me. I can honestly say that it was pretty inspirational and while I may not remember the exact words he said, the message will likely stick with me for a long time.
But now that the moment is over now, I believe it is time for everyone, especially the media, to take a big step back and realize that Obama is not the second coming of Jesus! There is so much anticipation about the change and good that President Obama is going to enact that there is almost no way that he can live up to these expectations. They say that the first 100 days set the tone for the entire presidency, well, it seems that if he doesn't close Gitmo, create peace in the Middle East and solve global warming in his first seven days then everything will be lost!
Now I'm not trying to rain on everyone's parade, I think Obama was an excellent choice for president, but let us all try to relax and let the commotion calm down. He is a man with a message of change but just a man and let's try to remember that. Let's not make the mistake of judging him on what he says but by what he actually does. To do this, though, we have to wait and see what happens so lets all just chill out with the anticipation and notions of grandeur.
- blenCOWe
In my relatively short time on this planet, two events come to mind that have had this kind of effect. On September 11, 2001 I was sitting in my Grade 10 Science class at Belle River District High School. The Principal came on to the P.A. system and announced what happened. It was one of those moments where after the announcement there was a moment of silence because of course no one really knew what to say/do and what it really meant. That moment is one that I will never forget and I will be able to say down the road (... like today) and say I remember exactly where I was when it happened.
The other moment occurred today. Years from now I will be able to say that on January 20, 2008 I was sitting at the Bridge Street Cafe in Sackville, NB when the United States inaugurated its first black president. Watching the coverage online, scrambling to find a steady feed whenever the server would boot me off because of the incredible strain from people attempting to watch the inauguration. Listening to Barack Obama's speech that I am not ashamed to say was pretty moving for me. I can honestly say that it was pretty inspirational and while I may not remember the exact words he said, the message will likely stick with me for a long time.
But now that the moment is over now, I believe it is time for everyone, especially the media, to take a big step back and realize that Obama is not the second coming of Jesus! There is so much anticipation about the change and good that President Obama is going to enact that there is almost no way that he can live up to these expectations. They say that the first 100 days set the tone for the entire presidency, well, it seems that if he doesn't close Gitmo, create peace in the Middle East and solve global warming in his first seven days then everything will be lost!
Now I'm not trying to rain on everyone's parade, I think Obama was an excellent choice for president, but let us all try to relax and let the commotion calm down. He is a man with a message of change but just a man and let's try to remember that. Let's not make the mistake of judging him on what he says but by what he actually does. To do this, though, we have to wait and see what happens so lets all just chill out with the anticipation and notions of grandeur.
- blenCOWe
Friday, January 16, 2009
Enough Already!
I'm beginning to get really tired of hearing Israel's blanket excuse for attacking civilian establishments and non-combatants. The "Hamas was firing rockets from so-and-so site" has pretty much lost whatever credibility it had.
First they attacked the Islamic University in Gaza, next a United Nations school and now the United Nations headquarters in Gaza. It may just be me but its seems like the Israeli attacks are being targeted at those establishments where a strong voice of opposition to the claims of self-defense could originate. Israel is making sure that the only voice heard is theirs and no news of the actions they take themselves can be heard.
This strategy leads one (at least me) to think that the IDF may not be acting in self-defense but lashing out in anger; possibly committing crimes against humanity. If this were the case, Israel would definitely not want word of the crimes it was committing to leak out for everyone to find out about. That is why it makes sense that Israel is proceeding as they are. They want to hide what is really happening in Gaza so that they do not attract more negative publicity than they are already receiving. Israel cannot afford to lose what few allies it has, especially the United States. If it were to come out that Israel was committing war crimes then it would likely lose the support of the US and then would likely suffer the wrath of the international community.
I wonder if there will be anyone left to speak out against Israel when they are done?
- blenCOWe
First they attacked the Islamic University in Gaza, next a United Nations school and now the United Nations headquarters in Gaza. It may just be me but its seems like the Israeli attacks are being targeted at those establishments where a strong voice of opposition to the claims of self-defense could originate. Israel is making sure that the only voice heard is theirs and no news of the actions they take themselves can be heard.
This strategy leads one (at least me) to think that the IDF may not be acting in self-defense but lashing out in anger; possibly committing crimes against humanity. If this were the case, Israel would definitely not want word of the crimes it was committing to leak out for everyone to find out about. That is why it makes sense that Israel is proceeding as they are. They want to hide what is really happening in Gaza so that they do not attract more negative publicity than they are already receiving. Israel cannot afford to lose what few allies it has, especially the United States. If it were to come out that Israel was committing war crimes then it would likely lose the support of the US and then would likely suffer the wrath of the international community.
I wonder if there will be anyone left to speak out against Israel when they are done?
- blenCOWe
Monday, January 5, 2009
CUPE Committee Advocates Censorship and Ban
So apparently the Ontario University Workers Coordinating Committee of CUPE has proposed that Israeli academics be banned from teaching or speaking at Ontario universities.
I guess there's nothing like starting the year off with some good old fashioned racism!
I tend to avoid writing on topics related to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. As far as I am concerned, it is a dispute with no fair and equitable resolution in sight or even possible. That said, I find this proposal to be ridiculous and an assault on academia.
Maybe this is just the student inside me speaking but one of the major attractions that I have had to academia is that it tends to serve as a forum for free-thinking and, more importantly, free speech. The proposal to remove all Israeli academics from campuses unless they condemn the assault on Gaza and the bombing of the Islamic University in Gaza.
According to article I read this is, this proposal is meant to be a calculated political response to the recent escalation in Gaza. Well... academia is not the place to do this! This proposal will only hamper any discourse. Censorship has no place in the university classroom, it will serve to provide an incomplete perspective on issues and perpetuate the kind of ignorance that helps to create and further these conflicts.
Now don't take this as my statement in support of either party in the conflict. I condemn senseless killing of any group of people, not to mention the intrusion of politics into the classroom.
I know, I know, that's a funny thing to hear from a political science student.
If CUPE feels it necessary to make a political statement on this subject, make a public announcement or lobby the government. Don't use the academic community as your political medium. You do not represent the students in this community so don't attack the quality of their education. Students pay good money to study from these academics and gain the best educations they can. They should not suffer from your politics.
- blenCOWe
I guess there's nothing like starting the year off with some good old fashioned racism!
I tend to avoid writing on topics related to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. As far as I am concerned, it is a dispute with no fair and equitable resolution in sight or even possible. That said, I find this proposal to be ridiculous and an assault on academia.
Maybe this is just the student inside me speaking but one of the major attractions that I have had to academia is that it tends to serve as a forum for free-thinking and, more importantly, free speech. The proposal to remove all Israeli academics from campuses unless they condemn the assault on Gaza and the bombing of the Islamic University in Gaza.
According to article I read this is, this proposal is meant to be a calculated political response to the recent escalation in Gaza. Well... academia is not the place to do this! This proposal will only hamper any discourse. Censorship has no place in the university classroom, it will serve to provide an incomplete perspective on issues and perpetuate the kind of ignorance that helps to create and further these conflicts.
Now don't take this as my statement in support of either party in the conflict. I condemn senseless killing of any group of people, not to mention the intrusion of politics into the classroom.
I know, I know, that's a funny thing to hear from a political science student.
If CUPE feels it necessary to make a political statement on this subject, make a public announcement or lobby the government. Don't use the academic community as your political medium. You do not represent the students in this community so don't attack the quality of their education. Students pay good money to study from these academics and gain the best educations they can. They should not suffer from your politics.
- blenCOWe
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