Time for Marois to show some leadership

I'm an anglophone Quebecer, I do speak French, however given that English is my mother tongue I am obviously most comfortable expressing myself in Canada's other official language.

When out and about with my wife we invariably default to English in our conversation.  The resident love goddess is just starting to learn French and will be beginning full time classes in the new year. We've never had an issue or a confrontation, in fact I often have to ask politely to be spoken to in French.  

With that being said, it is obvious that recent events here in Quebec are causing me some concern.  This evening's news had a story about a woman who, along with her young son, were hit with eggs, apparently for speaking English.

Global Montreal News Item Here

This comes after a recent story and video showing pro-separatists driving over, and wiping their feet, on the Canadian flag.

I haven't blogged on this before because Quebec is my home, and I find the vast majority of Quebecers to be warm and inviting people.  There are bad apples in every bushel and Quebec has a few certainly.  But  I didn't think drawing attention to the few bad apples would serve any purpose, other than to stir up anti Quebec sentiment, of which there is too much already.

Unfortunately stories like this are becoming too common, and its time for the political leadership in Quebec to take a strong and principled stand.  Je parle à vous Mme Marois.  Réne Lévesque had his flaws like everyone, but he knew how to stand up to extremists.  Does Pauline Marois have it in her to be a true leader like the founder of her party?

Sadly politics in this country has degenerated into a marketing strategy.  Polling the electorate and identifying the issues important to a core group of supporters large enough to get you elected.  Leadership used to be about outlining a direction for a society and then convincing people  that you're right, polls be damned.  

Mme Marois needs to show this type of leadership.  She has to be forceful in repudiating the actions of some of her most militant separatist supporters.  Is Quebec a modern and enlightened democracy that believes in tolerance, or a xenophobic hateful society?

The PQ's slogan during the most recent election was "C'est à nous de choisir".  Alors Mme Marois, c'est maintenant à vous de choisir! Are you going to pander to fear and intolerance?  Or do you have the royal jelly to be a strong and forceful advocate for the principles of inclusion, tolerance and ultimately democracy.

A final word on internet dating

Its been a long time since I've written anything about dating in general or internet dating in particular.  There's a reason for that, on September 22nd of this year I took the plunge and am now happily married to a wonderful woman.

While I didn't meet my resident love goddess via The Internet , I know several couples who have formed lasting relationships after meeting through a dating site, some of whom have gone on to get married.  And let's face it, Internet dating is here to stay.  While there might have been some stigma attached to it in the early days, now that social networking has become such an integral part of everyday life, using an on-line introduction service is becoming the norm.

Recently I was asked my opinion on Lifemates Canada, given my experience with on-line dating, and I must say I like their approach.  Unlike many sites Lifemates does not come across as being all about numbers, getting as many registered users as possible.  Rather they seem far more interested in engaging their customers through innovative and thoughtful offers.  For example they partner with restaurants so that their members get special treatment.  

Another positive aspect is that they actually invite complaints on their review and complaint pages.  Now that's being proactive.  By encouraging their customers to list their issues it enables staff to address and rectify problems and make improvements.  Getting out in front of challenges is the best way to handle them and goes a long way in satisfying customers.

Speaking as a newlywed who's thrilled to be in a committed relationship, and as an individual who had his share of being single, I would encourage anyone sitting on the fence to get out there.  There is plenty of competition among various sites offering introductions to prospective partners.  Find a site that meets your needs and expectations, you've got nothing to lose, the love of your life might be waiting for you.  

Here's one last link for those looking for an independent site that reviews different introduction services:  Genka Dating Reviews

Get out there and start enjoying life.  

Why do a majority of Canadians want abortion back in the criminal code?

Canadians, thanks to our Charter of Rights and Freedoms, have certain rights.  Almost all, however, are not absolute.

We have the right to assemble, provided it is peaceful.   We are protected from search and seizure, unless the grounds are deemed reasonable.  We have freedom of expression, but it is limited in that we can not exercise that right if it promotes hatred.

By and large, Canadians are okay with this.  Being a mature democracy most citizens recognize that very few things in this world are absolute, except for death and taxes.

Maclean's magazine's most recent issue has an article about Canada's most contentious absolute right, abortion.  It details a legal case about which I was not aware, Regina v. Ivana Levkovic. The case reportedly involved the discovery of the body of a newborn baby girl on an apartment balcony after the accused had vacated the building and was no longer residing there.

The legal fun centered around what to call the 'baby', for the simple reason that pathologists were unable to determine whether the 'baby' had been born alive or dead.  This is important because in Canada a 'baby' has no standing in law until it is fully emerged from its mother, and alive.  

Canada's Supreme Court reserved judgement on the case just two weeks prior to parliament voting on a motion to study at what point human life begins.  As pretty much everyone knows, that motion was defeated.

Anyone who is interested knows the history, Canada has been the only western democracy in the world without any restrictions on abortion for going on 25 years.  Abortion was removed from the Criminal Code when our Supreme court ruled in favour of Dr. Henry Morgentaller in the case of R. v. Morgentaller:

"The precise point in the development of the fetus at which the state's interest in its protection becomes 'compelling' I leave to the informed judgement of the legislature".  

That was written by Bertha Wilson, considered one of the most progressive and liberal of Supreme Court justices.  Justice Wilson left it to our elected officials to determine that point.  Canadians are still waiting.  

The Maclean's article cites an Ipsos Reid poll done just this past July that says 60% of respondents, and 62% of women, would support legal restrictions on abortion during the last trimester.  

That's a pretty significant majority of Canadians, a lot more than any of our governments ever get elected with.  And why do they support putting abortion back in the criminal code?

I think cases like R. v. Levkovic are the reason.  Or the story from 1996 about a pellet gun being fired into a womb in an effort to kill an unborn fetus/child/thing.  Thankfully cases like these are rare, but sadly they do happen.  Laws are made, not for the majority of law abiding citizens, but for an incredibly small percentage of the population who engage in activity the majority considers criminal.  

Most Canadians are reasonable, we recognize that individuals should have rights and freedoms, but we also recognize that these rights don't always have to be absolute.  Abortion is a taxpayer funded medical procedure after all, and as with all things paid for out of the public purse, Canadians are entitled to their opinions.

You can read the full article here:  THE RIGHT WORDS

Beyond The Power of Your Subconscious Mind - Book Review

Before undertaking to read and review C. James Jensen's book, 'Beyond The Power of Your Subconscious Mind', I had already read many books of a similar nature, titles like 'The Magic of Believing' and 'The Secret'.

I had already formed the opinion that people are very much like ice bergs, that what we perceive as our potential is but a fraction of the power that lies below the service.  In human beings that potential rests within the subconscious, and whether its used actively or passively, its power is immense.

We're all using it every day.  Sometimes we use it actively by imprinting a message of health, wealth, happiness and prosperity. More often though we use it negatively by letting ingrained and programmed feelings of doubt limit and keep us from achieving our true potential.

Mr. Jensen has updated a 50 year old book by Dr. Joseph Murphy: The Power of Your Subconscious Mind.  Obviously the world has changed a lot in the past half century, but the message of the original book and the updated version by Mr. Jensen represent what I consider to be universal truths.  This new book however brings new light on the subject and includes information that was not yet available to the original author.  

Fifty years ago we didn't yet have the ability to measure things like the frequency of human brain activity, now we do.  Not only that but we can measure and quantify at which times our brains are most receptive to receiving messages, messages that can overwrite all the negative programming that was ingrained in us at an early age.

- What's wrong with you?

- You never do anything right!

- All good things must come to an end.

Parents unknowingly are handicapping their children every time they repeat negative bromides like these.  We all know people who have achieved more than others despite a seeming inferiority.  I'm sure everyone knows of at least one person who has overcome obstacles to achieve success.  Obstacles can come in many forms, maybe a lack of education or the absence of financial resources.

Why do some people succeed despite lacking in areas such as finances and education, while others who have all the advantages still fail?  

I put it down to one thing, belief.  But for belief to truly work it has to have taken root and flourished, not just the conscious mind, but in the subconscious mind first and foremost.

C. James Jensen's book will help those dedicated to tapping the hidden power deep within themselves.  This is one of those books you will likely want to go back to time and again.  Old habits die hard, and old personalities die even harder.  By using and applying the teachings of 'Beyond the Power of Your Subconscious Mind' over and over again I truly believe that anyone can make a marked change in any and all aspects of their lives.  

Full disclosure as always, I received zero compensation for the writing of this review.

To order a copy of this book you can visit: Amazon.