test blog 5

This is the part where I worry that there'll be no food. What a wild week it is here at Casa L-sock. I bit off a little more than we could comfortably chew. We painted the bathroom and the bedroom (looks amazing), did a ton of errands, chose photos to print, are hanging pictures... it's like we just moved in. It's not that any of these things had to be done for wmtc5, but the party is a great excuse to finally do things that have been on my long-term to-do list for years. It's a bit crazy, but we're getting it all done. I'm not really worried about the food, by the way. It's more nagging doubt than waking nightmare. Potlucks involve a lot of trust. Since coming to Canada, I've met the best people, and they won't let me down. Plus, if they want to eat, they have to bring food. Plus, free beer!

From Embassy : Iraq War resisters deserve fair treatment By Gerard Kennedy Should someone be imprisoned for sharing the views of most Canadians on the Iraq War? That is the question being posed in part by my Bill C-440, soon to be considered at second reading in the House of Commons. Iraq War resisters are US military personnel who left their service and came to Canada seeking a country that would be sympathetic to their objections to that war, and the role they were asked—and often coerced—to play in it. Like the Vietnam War draft dodgers and war resisters of an earlier generation—or even United Empire Loyalists of two centuries past—their conscience caused them to walk away from the society they grew up in, with heavy consequences for their future. They made themselves citizens of no country rather than go against their ethical objection to what they saw. Can Canada accept such applicants without offending the US? Undoubtedly it may offend some there, but our friendship will withstan...

Conservatives in every country decorate themselves with "support our troops" pins, but that support is rarely more than window dressing. In that respect, Conservatives in Canada are no different. The outgoing ombudsman of Canada's Veterans Affairs, retired colonel Pat Stogran, spelled out how the Harper government is mistreating and cheating wounded veterans and the families of soldiers killed in Afghanistan. Naturally Harper accused Stogran of "sour grapes," but I don't think the Canadian public is that stupid - or that besotted with this arrogant government. Considering Harper already has been flooded with angry emails from his own constituents over MPs' expense audits, it appears that the ice under Harper's teflon skates is getting considerably thinner.* The most important thing is that we stop creating veterans. The imperialist US war in Afghanistan is not worth a single Canadian - or US, or Afghan - life. But as long as Canada continues to squa...

On August 10, Canada Post announced it will no longer accept mail bound for Gaza, as Israel Post will no longer be delivering it. Canada Post says it can no longer accept outgoing mail destined for the Gaza Strip because there is no guarantee the items will arrive. Israel Post has reportedly informed its Canadian counterparts that circumstances in the Gaza Strip “beyond their control” have prompted them to cease mail delivery. Canada Post said it has not been able to find alternate routes to move the mail in the area but has vowed to continue looking. Gaza-bound mail received by Canada Post will be returned to sender. Independent Jewish Voices were among the groups that slammed the decision. “This is the latest in an ongoing series of Israeli outrages against the people of Gaza,” said Sid Shniad, spokesperson for Independent Jewish Voices (IJV), referring to Canada Post's announcement this week that letters to Gaza will not be accepted because the Israeli postal service will not ...

Since when did a boatload of refugees become "illegal immigrants"? When I heard Public Safety Minister Vic Toews refer to the 490 fleeing Tamil people off the coast of British Columbia as "illegal migrants," I thought (sarcastically), hmm, I wonder where that lingo came from. More US-isms creeping their way into Canadian government. Toews says Canadian intelligence should stop asylum seekers at the source . So what would that look like on the ground? Should our tax dollars be used to prevent people from escaping crisis situations around the globe? Should Canada be in the business of aiding governments that have criminalized separatist movements? Do we want to help governments lock people up so they can't make their way to a better life - the way so many of our ancestors did ? Very Canadian, Mr Toews. You do the country proud. I'm not usually sarcastic, but these lying bastards bring out the worst in me. Fear and loathing of refugees is not new to Canada. The...

It's Prepare For Wmtc5 Week at chez Lgirl-redsock. I've purposely left everything for this week, and now we have to be super organized and super busy. I also have lots of things to blog about, and can hopefully squeeze out some writing time. Wmtc5 - celebrating five years in Canada, our new Canadian citizenship and Cody still being with us - is Saturday, August 21 . If you're in the area, not a troll, and haven't got an invite, email me. If anyone has dollhouse-sized Muskoka chairs and a dock, please bring them to our fake lake ! I wanted to get some, but it became too complicated, and I had to jettison that from the list.

Bill Siksay - who seconded Bill C-440 , the private member's bill in support of US war resisters in Canada - has sponsored a historic private member's bill to include the rights of transgendered people in the Canadian Human Rights Act . Bill C-389 is only one of Bill's many excellent private member's bills , which include calling for the establishment of a Department of Peace, and supporting conscientious objection to paying taxes for military purposes. Yvon Godin 's private member's bill would require justices on the Supreme Court of Canada to be bilingual . Libby Davies continues to work on behalf of people with AIDS, sex workers, murdered and missing women, substance abusers, and members of other marginalized and invisible communities. I could go on. There are many other examples. I have my problems with federal NDP leadership and the direction the party is going - what progressive Canadian doesn't? - but individual New Democrat Members of Parliament ar...