Politicians pollute Ottawa with stupidity

By Lawrence Bailey

So Preston turned tail and ran. Frankly, I don’t blame him.The House of Commons has shown over the past few weeks how pathetically juvenile and useless our representatives are. Have they spent time hammering out legislation or trying to advance the interests of national security or business? No. They’ve been calling each other names, asking… Continue reading Politicians pollute Ottawa with stupidity

King Ralph’s graceless coronation

By Lawrence Bailey

Drunk on power and high on his horse, Ralph Klein blissfully strode to the podium. As he spoke, all class and dignity people may have accorded him vanished in a flurry of slurs and insults.The now infamous "welcome to Ralph’s world" kicked off a 20-minute ramble that was at times incoherent and, between his giggles… Continue reading King Ralph’s graceless coronation

The secret life of Nancy Betkowski

By Lawrence Bailey

Forget Nostradamus, William Shakespeare is the true prognosticator of times long ago. His character of Lady Macbeth was more than a simple literary creation, it was a glimpse forward to the current provincial election."That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold."-Macbeth (Act 2 Scene 2 Line 1)While Ralphie and his Conservative cohorts may… Continue reading The secret life of Nancy Betkowski

Mexico moves towards democractic peace

By Lawrence Bailey

Against a jungle backdrop with a pipe and a ski mask, a lone ranger stands poised to write a new chapter in Mexico’s history.Due to the efforts of Sub-comandante Marcos, two weeks of armed conflict seven years ago has become a "revolution" poised to achieve historic gains for Mexico’s native population. Through brilliant political posturing… Continue reading Mexico moves towards democractic peace

Sharon will not keep the peace

By Lawrence Bailey

"He is a man of war. He is a man of expansion. He is a man of occupation."The words of Ziad Abu-Zayyad, a minister of the Palestinian Authority, capture the sentiments of the Palestinian people and many sympathetic Israelis as they survey the aftermath of the Israeli election. Former military strongman, minister of defence and… Continue reading Sharon will not keep the peace

Religion has no place in the White House

By Lawrence Bailey

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion."This is the opening of the First Amendment of the American Constitution. In 1791, the American people altered their constitution to entrench the separation of Church and State. Now, in 2001, a bumbling baseball tycoon from Texas has the gall to see himself as larger than… Continue reading Religion has no place in the White House

No bleeding heart defence Supreme Court rightly upholds "freedom to choose"

Is one individual justified in deciding that another’s life is too unbearable to continue? Thankfully, the Supreme Court of Canada recently answered the preceding question with a resounding and unanimous "No."Robert Latimer was sentenced to life in prison after more than seven years of appeals and legal battles. It will be 10 years before he… Continue reading No bleeding heart defence Supreme Court rightly upholds "freedom to choose"

I now pronounce you… Mr. and Mr. MacKenzie

By Lawrence Bailey

Joe to Kevin, Elaine to Anne and Lizzy of Westminster sending her regards (via our journalist turned monarch overseas, Adrienne Clarkson). Reverend Brent Hawkes of the Metropolitan Community Church in Toronto recently took the progressive step that no one else seemed to have the balls to take–he presided over the first two legally legitimate gay… Continue reading I now pronounce you… Mr. and Mr. MacKenzie

Science and other things you can’t take with you

By Lawrence Bailey

While we all line up to worship at the altar of almighty Science, perhaps we should put more consideration into what we stand to lose. In a time of scientific and technological progress there are questions we dismiss as childish or inconsequential that once formed the core of our thoughts, work and actions as humans.… Continue reading Science and other things you can’t take with you

Domestic genocide is more than a soundbyte

By Lawrence Bailey

When does ignorant hypocrisy become indiscriminate genocide? As a nation, Canada prides itself as a defender of human rights, as an upholder of sacred freedoms and as the innovators and torchbearers of the peacekeeping mantle. Why then do we not practice what we preach?Recent issues related to solvent abuse by young children have brought camera… Continue reading Domestic genocide is more than a soundbyte