The Rant of 2006 - The State of Our Union

The State of Our Union: The Rant of 2006

January has not been a very good month for me (nor was it any kinder to many of our other fellow citizens
around the world). It blew in fiercely with the shooting death of Jane Creba in Toronto, which then proceeded to
whip into a storm, amidst our federal elections and the accompanying declarations of mandatory sentences, hand
gun bans, and increased border security. It was at that point that I felt something was going really wrong with
2006, that somehow we’d gotten off to a very bad start. I’m sure Paul Martin and Ralph Goodale would agree, that early January was when it all started to go downhill.
I’m not an idiot or an ideological zealot of any kind. I mean, I attended post secondary school for a total
of seven years, full-time. I accumulated an incomprehensible student loan debt while I also struggled in the
shadows of illegal (and sometimes shameful) activity to support myself and my son as I went to school . I still
lived below the poverty level. I learned from first-hand life experience, and from the teachings of my school
professors that the current prison system is ineffective, and that stiff penalties for crime do nothing to deter it, and
may even exacerbate it. I’ve also been reading for the past six months on the practices of journalism. Blindly
patronizing the independence-killing Chapters, I purchased books on how to break into the writer’s world, here in Canada. Apparently, a novice freelance journalist begins with the local newspapers, submitting pieces that follow the guidelines of the Canadian Press Stylebook. (This irritatingly authoritative instructional manual is now in my collection of ethnocentric texts that require a 21st century overhaul to reflect the diversity and equality, however elusive, that apparently represent Canada).
So I began to write. I did my research with Statistics Canada, consulted the opinions of numerous experts,
and crafted a highly-logical and immediately relevant piece based on my knowledge and research, and related it
directly back to the current situation at hand in our country. Assured that it would assist voters in making a more
informed decision by revealing the hidden complexities between crime, ethnicity, poverty, and systemic biases, I
gladly sent the piece off to a number of publications both here and in Toronto. A week went by with no response. I was checking the papers daily, and then on Friday I saw that the argument was to be presented in the Vancouver Sun’s Westcoast Weekend edition, by some tenured columnist at the paper. The revised article revealed none of the unpalatable truths presented in my submission, but rather altered the argument to support an entirely counterproductive approach to crime. (This is a very long story, and for those of you who are interested in the contents of my submission, or the details of my heated e-mail conversations with Editor-in-Chief of the Vancouver Sun, Patricia Graham, please, e-mail, call, I’ll tell you all about it).
To make a long story short, I started to do a bit of investigation as to why the media here in BC is so
blatantly one-sided. I stumbled upon Canada’s conspiracy theory of the new millennium, with more than enough
evidence to back it up. This evidence (garnered from public, government, and private sources) concerns
high-ranking government officials, large corporations, and partisan participation in backroom government
operations. I even found actual speeches made by these “players” where they openly implicate themselves in the
manipulation of public opinion and government policy creation.
There was no where to send the information here in BC - the media lock-down was already in place.
(Once again, for the complete set of details, information, research, etc. involved in this grand conspiracy theory,
please call or e-mail me, and I’ll find a way to get it to you). During this time, I had also applied for a job at the
CBC, the only viable place I believed to be remaining, for ethical journalism to thrive. I sent them the information,
all of it, as a part of my resume. I sent the information, all of it, to a lawyer in Toronto who apparently works to
protect minority rights within society and the media. I sent the information to Gilles Duceppe. I photocopied it, I
bound it, and I sent it overnight delivery to all of these places. As of yet there has been no response from any party that has received this crucial and highly relevant information. All of them have the power to act, none of them chose to do so.
When Hamas won the elections in Palestine, I was shocked and hopeful for the people of Palestine - with
their choice came the hope of a future, free of occupation. At the same time, it dawned on me, that Hamas winning would be terrible news for the rest of the mass-socialized Western clan. But I had hope. I stayed tune. Maybe the leaders of the Western world would, as they should, accept what democracy has produced and work with it in the spirit of global diversity, choice, and cooperation. I should have known better than to hope.
It’s no wonder no one wants to run the Liberal party these days. Who needs a party affiliation, or even a
political one? Heck, people like Derek Burney, a key corporate member of BC’s media giant CanWest Global, and key member and lecturer in numerous energy and defense corporate boards, can just walk in, and advise our new leader of “transition” actions behind closed doors! Who needs government with power like that??? Even the previous front-runner of the Liberal leadership race, Frank McKenna, could tell you that. Rub elbows at a few major corporations for a number of years, have those corporations make contributions to the Liberal party and it’s election campaigns, and suddenly Paul Martin’s appointing you Ambassador the United States. Frank McKenna has plenty of friends in high corporate places, and judging by the looks of our government and it’s actions, that’s where all the power is anyway these days. And there are people who know this besides me, and no one chooses to do anything about it.
Last night’s “State of the Union” address by the American president had me drinking Malox like it was
our rapidly disappearing fresh water supply. And of course, there’s Canada’s Stephen Harper trying to play
“first-rate” here in Canada, racing to keep up with the proverbial US Jones’ by altering military chains of
command and wasting no time in establishing more Canadian military muscle, both at home and abroad. Oh yes,
let’s not forget his balking at the Kyoto accord either, which would ensure Ralph Klein and his fossil fuel rich
Alberta could keep burning and selling the quickly disappearing commodities (coal/oil) for centuries to come. We
are starting to look like Americans in training.
I sat tonight, in front of the TV as I most always do at 5 PM, and watched one of my favourite programs
on the CBC, with George Strombolopolous. I watch it more intently now, wondering if the program got my job
application, if they’ve even read the things I’ve sent them. There’s a lot of new ideas on the show, good
perspectives that seldom come out anywhere but on the CBC. After all, it was the CBC, not any other network,
who gave me the most unbiased insight into the Hamas/Palestine/Israel/Gaza Strip situation. They seem to be the
only ones left.
I sigh to myself as George interviews a television personality in front of a commercial newsstand. The
camera shifts from face to face, as they exchange thoughts on Hamas, Stephen Harper and Oprah. In the
background, there’s People magazine with Jennifer Anniston on it, there’s Oprah’s “O”, there’s a dozen other
repulsive pop-culture titles with shiny gloss covers of skinny girls with too much paint on their faces, and there’s
George and his guest empathizing with the plight of the Palestinian people, all the while not wanting to appear as
if they had taken any side. In between what seemed to be purposely featured magazine covers (Forgive me if I’m
wrong, but this is how it appeared, and if this is the case, it can only mean that the CBC is having to accept
corporate funding to run their programs, and as such it might be governed by a corporate mandate as well,
regardless of what is written or what is purported about our public media devices). were the blue glimpses of
Adbusters latest magazine, “The Biggest Ideas of 2006”. (Everyone in the world should read that magazine, and it should also be less expensive. Just my opinion.)
The program faded in and out of my conscious awareness, as I sat through a star-studded commercial for
Motorola, and then another ad for Cialis (which happens to be a drug which assists men with their
non-functioning, flaccid penises when they would rather have them otherwise). This is on our PUBLIC
TELEVISION NETWORK. If you’ve read Adbusters latest issue, or if you’re anyone with any sort of concern for the future of our society, the fact that these sorts of things are occurring on our ONLY public broadcasting stationis cause for outrage and grave concern.
In a world where we struggle to free ourselves from mental pollution, when we are struggling to gain
clarity and insight into situations and events, how can we possibly be effective if our sources of information are
polluted as well?
On the National, they are currently running a story on a well known, well respected doctor in Canada
who was awarded the Order of Canada, based on his extensive and influential research into health, nutrition and
immunology. The only problem is, that most of Dr. Chandra’s research is fraudulent. The university which
employed him to teach the next generation and to do research, will do nothing about it. The federal government
will do nothing about it. Nationally recognized, Dr. Chandra contributed to Canadian society by falsifying
research to allow nutrition and pharmaceutical companies (including his own) to exploit the purchasing public.
(This sort of story does nothing for the opinion of Indo-Canadians held by some Surrey residents. My friend
believes that most Indo-Canadians are corrupt and will do anything to beat the system, yet the individual knows
little of the poor economic situation faced by a large number immigrants and visible minorities in Canada today,
regardless of the their high levels of education. The individual perceives only the increase in numbers of
Indo-Canadians in their community, while also knowing little about government quotas that need to be reached in
order to sustain Canadian economic growth. This half-blind perspective is enhanced by the proliferation of the
gangster/villain image of Indo-Canadians constantly portrayed in our local papers and news media. This is where
a lack of valid and pertinent information is damaging to society, and the concept of censorship by omission should
not be disregarded by ethical journalists).
Here’s an idea: there are a plethora of post-secondary institutions here in Canada that require funding to
survive. There are a plethora of people in this country who are willing to do almost anything for a buck, especially if they don’t get caught (this is not limited to criminals, but includes doctors, lawyers, educators, journalists, pollsters, CEO’s, etc., really anyone who’s been born into this capitalistic society, that values wealth above all else). There are a plethora of pharmaceutical and food companies who are willing to pay big bucks for the right kind of information, especially the kind of information that will give them an edge over their competitor or allow them to begin selling their product without further regulatory hassles. The mentality exists in this country, and others, that profit is the primary concern. This means it is placed above the health, safety, and welfare of others. Profit is the only concern.
In between the news stories like the one on Dr. Chandra, the CBC runs those make-me-puke “Cialis”
commercials. It is up to the viewer to decipher the hidden meanings, the elusive truths, the lies, the theories, the
seemingly obligatory promotion of one thing or another. The CBC has lost it’s explanatory power, it’s value to the nation and the common people, by falling into the hands of corporate controls and mandates, and by not explaining to their viewers that they have been forced to do so, due to lack of government funding.
Sure, you can argue that it’s a necessary evil, something required to keep the non-partisan programming
flowing, but no evil is truly necessary. Do we as Canadian citizens who work 8-10 hours a day, who are burdened with debt and already mistrusting of our government, need to be responsible for solving the riddle presented in the mixed messages sent to us by the CBC? Is there not the individual or united power of those working at the CBC to inform the Canadian public of the adverse effects (on people, their minds, families, environment, etc.) of the global corporate mandate that seems to be turning us all into monothinking sheep? Can’t we all admit that we have been adversely affected by this and that something must be done to bring about lasting change?
It seems rather obvious and simple on the surface. Media, publications, politicians, speakers, whoever...
they are all either talking from the left or from the right, or maybe somewhere in the middle, but generally (unless
you’re the ever underrepresented NDP) either they are conservative or liberal in their views, yes? I say NO.
The idea of Conservatives, Liberals, two-party systems, I am going to assert, are all illusions. They may
have functioned some time earlier in history when resources weren’t as scarce and populations were less polarized by superficial and financial differences, but not anymore. They currently serve to provide our society with the illusion of having a choice, with the illusion that the values of one party or another actually stand for anything tangible. This illusion of free choice assists in the proliferation of the corporate mandate, which really couldn’t care less whether you take communion on Sundays or frequent your local swingers club with your underage sex partners, as long as you support the ideologies, institutions, and political leaders that will ultimately lead to corporate profit. The new divide is not between people and people, between right and left, between liberal or conservative, republican or democrat, environmentalist or oil main.. The divide is between profit and people.
From now on I propose a more honest party system, if it is to exist at all. If it’s corporate interests you’d
like to serve, take up a gold membership with the Profit Party. If it’s the interests of your fellow man you serve,
join the People Party. Suburban icons of political independence like Chuck Cadman could enter into the People
Party, with folks like Mother Theresa, Jack Layton (if he means what he says), Gilles Duceppe, and other socially
conscious folk. Then, for the others who have no concern for the future, future generations, environmental
impacts, ethics, or anything else that gets in the way of them and their corporate buddies earning exponential
incomes at all costs, we will have the Profit Party. (I personally would nominate Hemptown, and it’s CEO’s that
used to work for Nike and Adidas during the heyday of ignorance and silence about sweatshops, to lead the Profit Party. It’s a stellar example of a corporation that relies on it’s pseudo-social responsibility to prey on People’s desire to make the right choices, both globally and locally. It’s one of those corporations that’s leading the way with marketing in the 21st century, designed to make those who hate to buy, buy. Read all about them, their corporate policies, and all the fine print that makes them exempt from any sort of responsible behavior on their website. Just so as you know, I happen to own a few articles of Hemptown clothing - I do not pretend to be immune.)
Based on this new system of categorization, it would be far easier to solve world problems, find unity
within and without borders, and actually get on with the business of running the planet and sustaining societies.
The beauty of this new conceptualization is that is can even be applied retroactively to countries, people,
organizations, and their actions in the past.
Sifton? Obviously he belongs to the Profit Party because he built the railroad and industry in British
Columbia at the cost of immeasurable suffering and pain on the part of people. Trudeau? He belongs in the People Party, for his brash associations with other People Party supporters. This same logic can also be applied to the actions of individuals, groups, or countries. All you have to do is merely ascertain whether the action was
undertaken to help people, or to further a profit aim. Things can get a little tricky when you look into situations in
the Middle East, often because the Profit Party likes to disguise it’s actions as pro-People, in order to garner the
popular support of the larger, yet more destructible, and easily emotionally influenced People Party.
It seems as if the CBC has been usurped by the Profit Party, and is being turned against loyal People Party
members in an effort to confuse and control them. In order to maintain the strength of the People Party, I would
ask that those people who work at the CBC, find it within themselves to recognize their duty to the party of their
birth, the People Party. We ask that they do whatever is in their power to educate and liberate members of the
People Party that have been caught up in the same web that they now find themselves.
Although we of the People Party may be poor, tired, exasperated, confused, scared, reactionary, or
ignorant, we require those of you who are not, to help us find our strength. For those of us who have strayed into
the seduction of the Profit Party at the expense of our fellow citizens in the People Party, we ask you to reconsider. There is no room for People when Profit has had it’s way with our world. The People Party is deteriorating and fragmenting at a faster rate than ever before, spurred on by the pervasive and divisive forces of mass propaganda and increasing disparity.
The People Party is not based on exclusion, stratification, or discrimination. It includes men, women, and
children, of all ages, ethnicities, shapes, colors, and sizes. It includes sick and healthy, rich and poor, Muslim
Christian, Buddhist ,Jew, Animist, Tribalist - you name it. The People Party consists of Blacks, Caucasians,
Asians, Arabs, Africans, Latinos, and all human beings from all corners of the globe. Do not be fooled by cheap
imitations, that come in the form of exclusive and rigid institutions and ideologies, that work to seduce members
away from the People Party. Do not fall prey to any form extremism, exclusion, isolation, domination or slippery,
self-centered legitimization - these are the tools of the Profit Party and have no place among People. Be wary of
falling prey to the stereotypes, structures, and institutions that the Profit Party impose upon your life. Scour your
texts, your newspapers - monitor all your sensory inputs for evidence of the Profit Party and it’s permeating
ideological mandate, and guard against it.
The best defense against the destruction of the People Party and it’s accompanying habitat (our planet), is
awareness, openness, honesty, empathy and respect. With these five defenses in place, with these open unbiased
eyes that look both to the past and to the future, we of the People Party can guard against any further assaults on
our psyches, and hence our unity, and we will be in a position to grow in strength and numbers in the coming
years. There is no room for error, no excuse for failure in any action you take. Every choice matters, and it is up
to each and every one of us to make a difference, and begin to chose people over profits with every breath we take, every need we fulfill, every desire we have, and every luxury we indulge in.
Do not despair if mistakes are made, or have been made in the past. With each mistake comes a valuable
learning experience which always brings knowledge and understanding upon acknowledgment. The key is in the
acknowledgment.
What do we need to acknowledge? Have we as Canadians been far too long venerating the actions of our
forefathers in settling this land? Have we acknowledged and repaired our mistakes with this country’s true people, the numerous First Nations tribes across the continent? Have there been instances in the past where we as Christians have killed and conquered in the name of our God? Would Jesus have approved of that? Would it not be fair to assume that terror begets terror? That hate begets hate? Do not we as Christians, we as Muslims, we as Jews, all share the same fundamental belief that “thou shalt not kill?”
Questions like those can be difficult for everyone, especially when we are all responsible. But the
questions need to be asked so that the answers will begin to lead to workable solutions for all the world’s People. Denial, avoidance of consequences, and comfort above equality and reality, are all a part of the corporate ideology that runs so deeply through our nation. I can take solace in the fact that I am not the only female to feel insecure without makeup. We can take solace in the fact that it is no one individual, religion, political system, or nation, that is responsible for the current state in the world.
The most difficult thing to reckon with however, is that we each have an individual and personal
responsibility in correcting the mistakes of our forefathers. We urgently need to begin thinking, speaking, and
acting in a new, sustainable, and completely inclusive manner, that is free from stratification, domination, and
righteousness.