Travel – Sommer Season all year

This is Stupid

In the video Pilot Has A Message For Canadians, the pilot speaks of a “disaster averting, lifesaving phrase: ‘this is stupid’” used in the aviation world. He tells of a deadly aviation disaster involving two 747s. He says even though a first officer expressed concern, the disaster still happened because “of complacency, deferring to authority and not wanting to rock the boat by questioning.” The phrase “this is stupid” or “this is dangerous” would have awoke the pilot of danger. He goes on to say that our government presently “has their throttle jammed full forward in a race for totalitarian control,” and the “voice inside you is saying ‘this is stupid,‘ ‘this is dangerous,’ and ‘this is wrong.’” He says, “your voice is useless if you stay silent,” so “you have to summon the courage to say no.” Since 2020, I’ve been saying “something is wrong.” The truth is, Canada and the world are at a critical point. DO WE WANT TO LIVE IN A FREE WORLD OR NOT?

Trudeau has never bothered to speak to the protestors. Instead, he declared an emergency while still debating the Emergencies Act in Parliament. In fact, the House of Commons suspends debate on Emergencies Act ahead of police operation against Freedom Convoy. This act has not received approval of the Canadian Senate or Royal Assent. On February 13, a MSM’s New York Post headline said, Canada PM Justin Trudeau slammed for invoking emergency powers to stop protests.

Multiple Canadian premiers oppose Trudeau invoking Emergencies Act. Trudeau is condemned around the world for moving to crush protests. Some headlines were blunt as in Trudeau Invokes the Emergencies Act (aka Martial Law) in Canada … For a Bunch of Truckers. Independent media says Trudeau is marching Canada down a dark path. Billionaire, Elon Musk draws ire for comparing Trudeau to Hitler. An editorial piece in the NY Times called out Trudeau for backing a protest by farmers in India that clogged major roads in New Delhi while attacking his own citizens for a peaceful protest that has blocked roads in Ottawa. American podcaster, Dan Bongino says “Canada’s Dictator Declares War On Freedom” (see Dan Bongino Show). This is a war on our freedoms. Declaring an emergency when there is no emergency is extreme bullying (#bullying, #antibullying).

Trudeau said when announcing this emergency:

We’re entering the third week of illegal blockades that have been disrupting the lives of too many Canadians. Here in our capital city, families and small businesses have been enduring illegal obstruction of their neighbourhoods. Occupying streets, harassing people, breaking the law: this is not a peaceful protest. At the borders in different places in the country, the blockades are harming our economy and endangering public safety.

Former Prime Minister Steven Harper said in 2005, “When a government start trying to cancel dissent or avoid dissent is when it’s rapidly losing its moral authority to govern.” Trudeau has lost the moral authority to govern.

When the blockade ended in Coutts, Alberta, protestors hugged police. Don’t believe me (#blogger #blog #somseason #YA #authors). Watch Coutts protest ends. Still think Ottawa protestors are “endangering public safety,” and it is “not a peaceful protest?” Watch the videos Canadian Peaceful Protest, and Food, massages offered freely to anyone in need as convoy protest continues in Ottawa. Here’s a video of the Ottawa protestors “endangering public safety.”

The National Post’s Rex Murphy: Trudeau’s monumentally misguided emergency measures are an insult to Canadians says:

Here’s the mother of all questions for Trudeau and it is one that he cannot, and will never, answer: what was so difficult about having a talk with the leaders of a group of Canadians who found some of the government’s COVID regulations to be a grievous burden? When Black Lives Matter [a terrorist organization] flooded the streets, Trudeau not only met with them, he went into the streets and joined in on the their American-inspired protest. He gave them a knee and bowed his head. But he would not meet with the truckers. He would not talk to their representatives. There was certainly no kneeling.

Here is some history around this act. The Canadian Encyclopedia, says, when the First World War began (1914), the Canadian government passed the War Measures Act (WMA), giving the cabinet sweeping emergency powers. This Act gave the government full authority during wartime to censor and suppress communications; to arrest, detain and deport people without charges or trials; to control the economy; and to seize private property. Most controversial is the WMA enabled the government to intern “enemy aliens” on the suspicion they posed a threat to Canada’s safety. About 600 Italian Canadians and 800 German Canadians were interned during the war, along with Jewish refugees and Mennonites .

During the Second World War (1939), the WMA was again invoked resulting in approximately 22,000 Japanese Canadians on the West Coast being interned in remote areas of interior British Columbia. The WMA enabled the government to strip Japanese Canadians of their property and pressure them to accept mass deportation when the war ended. I led many classroom discussions about the Japanese Internment, and students typically felt it was a violation of Japanese Canadian’s civil liberties.

In 1970, the WMA was invoked because of the October Crisis. A state of “apprehended insurrection” was officially declared to exist in Quebec in October of 1970, as a response to two kidnappings by the terrorist group Front de Libération du Québec (FLQ). This emergency enabled police to conduct more than 3,000 searches without a warrant and detain 497 people. The suspension of civil liberties in Quebec was controversial. I remember as a kid being confused about the controversy as many Canadians were angered at their loss of civil liberties.

In 1988, the WMA was amended to the Emergencies Act. This act defines a national emergency as an urgent, temporary and critical situation that seriously endangers the health and safety of Canadians or that seriously threatens the ability of the Government of Canada to preserve the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of Canada. When invoked, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (Charter) continues to protect individual rights. The Government MUST respect constitutionally protected rights and freedoms (see Emergencies Act).

Canada’s Charter specifically says, “Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms: (a) freedom of conscience and religion; (b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion, and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication; (c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and (d) freedom of association.”

Most Canadians feel the use of Emergencies Act is illegal because a peaceful protest is no emergency. MSM’s National Post headlines, ‘Legal standard not met’: Two court challenges filed over Trudeau’s use of Emergencies Act. Ironically, Canada issued a harsh condemnation of the Cuban government’s sentencing of protesters who participated in anti-government rallies last July.

On February 18, in the once free country of Canada, Ottawa police arrest dozens of protesters, and start towing rigs, and Ottawa Police threaten media with arrest for covering enforcement against peaceful protesters. Independent Media, Rebel News journalist Alexa Lavoie attacked by Ottawa police. Watch how RCMP Trample Elderly Lady With Horses. Watch how police use force. The MSM’s National Post says This must be what Ottawa police meant by methods not usually seen in Canada. Look at the article’s disturbing pictures. Watch police damaging personal property in this video.

Watch the Fox News video: Tucker Carlson’s view of Ottawa events. What occurred is “state sanctioned violence.” CBC reports Emergencies Act directs financial institutions to freeze accounts linked to convoy protests. Trudeau gives BLM money while seizing the bank accounts of peaceful protesters. An Ottawa Bakery is facing threats and harassment over leaked convoy donation. Independent media reports that Ottawa may euthanize truckers’ pets as punishment. Trudeau’s justice minister, David Lametti says Trump supporters should be worried. Why? Trump merely endorsed the Truck Convoy.

Sadly, there are still Canadians who think this is about a virus. As an emotional Calgary police officer said after seeing what happened in Ottawa, “Canada has fallen.” This is about our government wanting totalitarian control over us. This is about the World Economic Forum’s Great Reset. Here is what Alberta’s premier said about the Great Reset.

Are we free when peaceful protestors are ignored, and arrested for demanding freedom, when bank accounts are being frozen for supporting freedom fighters, when threats to harm family pets are made, and businesses supporting freedom are harassed? If you think this is okay, you are NOT thinking for yourself. If you go to your heart, you know this is wrong; that this is stupid. You’d know this is a sad day for Canada.

I am still a proud Canadian, but I am ashamed of my government. Shame on a government who resorts to police action instead of peaceful dialogue with the protesters, and for the parliamentarians who voted to suspend parliament. I am ashamed of those enforcement officers conducting arrests in their riot gear and carrying automatic weapons. Shame on them for breaking the oath to serve and protect. I am ashamed of tow truck operators participating in this police action. Shame on you for wearing neon-green ski masks, with your companies’ decals taped over to conceal your identities. I am ashamed of the MSM. Shame on you for reporting a peaceful protest as a ‘nationwide insurrection” (see Business Insider).

This is NOT the country I grew up in. I no longer live in a free and democratic country. We are now living under a fascist dictatorship. That may make some uncomfortable, but that is because of cognitive dissonance. No matter what you believe, if you listen to your heart, you’d know this is stupid!

Something Astonishing is Happening

The Freedom Truck Convoy and protest happening in my country has captivated me (#blogger #blog #somseason #YA #authors). I can’t stop watching what is going on. I pondered why, and for the first time in over two years I feel proud to be Canadian again. I have read numerous posts and comments of fellow Canadians saying the same thing. Canadians are raising money in support of the truckers, presently over 10 million dollars. Despite what mainstream media (MSM) says, truckers are respectful. See for yourself in these videos: Chris Couture’s Video and truckers ask for shovels. Canadians are showing their gratitude with food, gift cards, coffee, and greeting truckers enthusiastically when they drove by their cities and towns. See for yourself.

Historians and writers consider the Canadian victory at Vimy Ridge a defining moment for Canada. In April 1917, during the first World War (WWI), the Canadian Corps seized Vimy Ridge, a heavily-fortified seven-kilometre ridge in northern France which held a impressive view over the Allied lines. With this victory, Canada emerged from under the shadow of Britain, recognized as a country in its own right.

Once again, the world is recognizing Canadians. This time it is the Freedom Truck Convoy and their massive protest in Ottawa, Canada’s capital city. On January 26th, Justin Trudeau said this about the Freedom Convoy:

“The small fringe minority of people are on their way to Ottawa, who are holding unacceptable views that they’re expressing, do not represent the views of Canadians who have been there for each other.”

Listen carefully to his words.

You decide if it is a “small fringe minority of people?” Check out this drone video.

Ottawa Police report aprox 2.3 million people on foot and 130,000 trucks in the city. That is no “small fringe minority of people.” I heard one of the truckers speak at Saturday’s protest saying Canada has never been a unified country until now. Gathered in Ottawa are anglophones, francophones, people of all religions, many ethnic groups, vaccinated and unvaccinated all united to end EVERY government imposed restriction and to take back their rights and freedoms. WATCH: Convoy organizers say they are fully vaxed but still oppose mandates.

Trudeau claims the truckers “do not represent the views of Canadians,“ a lie, as the vast majority of Canadians support the truckers. Poll shows majority of Canadians now want COVID restrictions to end. A Toronto Sun editorial says It’s time to end COVID rules in Canada. Much of the world is removing restrictions as MSM’s ABC News reports in, ‘Take back life’: More nations ease coronavirus restrictions. Even the WHO Warns Against Repeated Booster Shots and Vaccine Mandates: ‘It’s Over, People’. There is no need for mandates. MSM’s National Post says Mandatory vaccination a betrayal of what Canada stands for.

The National Post, part of MSM reported on January 29, Thousands pack Parliament Hill for protest, really millions according to Ottawa police. The same day there were trucker convoys and protests held at the various provincial legislatures and in Canadian cities, such as Edmonton trucker convoy turns into massive rally against mandates.

High profile Celebrities are supporting the Truckers for Freedom Convoy. Canadians unintentionally initiated a worldwide movement. The convoy is gaining international attention. Many countries were inspired by Canada to start their own convoys as reported in European and Australian truckers are joining the Freedom Convoy! and Truckers inspired by Canada begin ‘freedom’ convoys around the world. I have seen posts of convoys in Germany, France, Netherlands, Italy, Brazil, United Kingdom, US, Finland, Czech Republic, Australia to name a few. In 1917, the world was inspired by the Canadian WWI soldiers who fought for freedom, and now 105 years later, the world is once again inspired by Canadians fighting for freedoms. This site says Uprising: Truckers Freedom Convoy is a Beacon of Hope for the Entire World.

No surprise to me, MSM and politicians attempt to mislead the public. When the truck convoy for freedom began, Canada’s CBC said Truckers protest dangerous conditions on B.C. highways, a blatant lie. Canadians didn’t buy that, so the CBC reported that it was a protest against vaccine mandates for truck drivers as in this article, Ottawa police prepare as convoy protesting vaccine mandate heads to nation’s capital. This article insinuated that the truckers might damage infrastructure, become violent, and spew statements of hatred, xenophobia, and racism to those who disagree with them. Independent Media called them out on this lie saying They tried calling truckers racist and sexist. It didn’t work. So now they’re calling them violent. Here are Eleven ridiculous convoy stories pushed by the legacy media. . Candice Malcolm debunks legacy media lies about the Trucker Convoy. Even the MSM’s Toronto Sun says Media’s handling of trucker convoy one-sided, inflammatory, shameful. Thankfully, Media is being EXPOSED for misleading Canadians. This video clearly shows how the MSM manipulates the truth. So please reject Establishment Media Attempts To Demonize Canadian Truckers, an opinion piece by Spencer Fernando. The protestors have said from the beginning that it was a peaceful protest to demand that all pandemic-related measures end.

This protest is about freedom, and was from its inception. Protestors are demanding their civil and Charter rights be returned; rights such as the right to fully open their businesses, the right to keep their medical records private, the right to choose what medical treatments they receive, mobility rights returned—unvaccinated are forbidden to fly, and the right to be treated equally as guaranteed in the Charter of Rights and Freedom. Until recently, unvaccinated Canadians were discriminated against as Quebec health tax for unvaccinated residents prompts fierce Covid debate, but one example.

MSM and government leaders continue to spread lies and try to discredit the movement. Trudeau calls convoy truckers “tinfoil hats,” says he will not meet with organizers saying:

“Freedom of expression, assembly and association are cornerstones of democracy, but Nazi symbolism, racist imagery, and desecration of war memorials are not.”

Opposition members are calling Trudeau on his rhetoric as Conservative Party (CP) member, Pierre Poilievre, did in his response to Trudeau. Politicians are even calling out government lies. Poilievre calls former Liberal cabinet minister “a liar” for convoy tweet. Another CP member, Leslyn Lewis, at the Freedom Convoy: The people have been lied to, and they want answers. CP leader Erin O’Toole fired by his own caucus after not supporting the Freedom Convoy. In this opinion piece, Spencer Fernando outlines What The Establishment Media & Trudeau Government Doesn’t Want You To See. Trudeau even admits he is taking away Canadian’s rights and freedoms. Listen to his words carefully.

Agitators wearing Nazi symbolism are typically paid (see Paid protestor). MSM continues to present the protestors negatively like CTV’s article, ‘Very concerning’: Professor worried about extremist views present during trucker protest. Why would the MSM do that? Simple answer, MSM has been paid off as shown in the article, The Toronto Star has prostituted itself to Justin Trudeau by accepting tax dollars from hardworking Canadian families. Trudeau even brags about doing so in this video.

Religious leaders tell us God’s spirit unites. Christian leaders would more likely say the Holy Spirit unites. Albert Einstein is considered to be one of the most brilliant scientists to have ever lived. He once wrote a powerful message of love to his son. In his letter, he tells his son;

There is an extremely powerful force that, so far, science has not found a formal explanation to. It is a force that includes and governs all others, and is even behind any phenomenon operating in the universe and has not yet be. This universal force is LOVE. When scientists looked for a unified theory of the universe they forgot the most powerful unseen force.

A Baha’i Perspective says “Love is the most powerful attractive force in the universe.”

What is happening is this spiritual force —love—that Einstein refers to is uniting Canadians and the world. This spirit of togetherness is uniting humanity, conquering fear, and inspiring people to take back their intrinsic rights and freedoms. Author Cat Bauer says, “Love is so powerful that it always wins. Truth is so powerful that it always wins. All it takes is Time.” That is what I think is happening. Love, truth—and I would also add hope—is beginning to win over the fear propaganda machine. Humans were created as sovereign beings, so love, hope and truth are now reminding humanity of that. The lies and bullies (#bullying, #antibullying) are being exposed!

Speaking Truth to Power

Speaking truth to power is a non-violent political tactic, employed by dissidents against propaganda of governments that are regarded as oppressive or authoritarian. Walter Cronkite, an American anchorman for CBS News said, “In seeking truth you have to get both sides of a story.” That’s my motto. I (#blogger #blog #somseason #YA #authors) always told my high school students that “your opinion isn’t worth the paper it’s written on unless you back it up with evidence.” Preparing students for their argumentative essays in Social Studies, I emphasized the importance of presenting both points of view. I always try to write my blogs that way. Yet, it astonishes me how many people I talk to know nothing beyond the narrative presented on television.

I recently saw this in a post:

Why do people refuse to research anything, yet demand we spoon feed “proof?” Then you give them proof and they don’t even read it. They say, “well, that’s not a reliable news source,” or “that’s not a reliable doctor.” They always have an excuse why they stick to their talking points.

That has been my experience. People tell me I’m using unreliable sources, that it’s conspiracy, that I am wrong, or even that I am crazy. Some even infer—not in words—that I might be mentally unstable because my view differs from theirs, or because I differ from the narrative spewed on the TV. Yet, I have never had a single person ask me why I think the way I do. In 1800, Thomas Jefferson said, “I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.” Yet, I have experienced numerous family and friends withdrawing from me because of my differing views.

Cognitive Dissonance is to blame. When presented with evidence that challenges a person’s core beliefs, their brains refuse to accept the new evidence. Cognitive Dissonance creates much distress for people, so many people have a need to protect their core beliefs, t0 rationalize, ignore, and deny anything that fails to support their core belief. Have a look at the article, 7 signs you exhibit cognitive dissonance, for more information.

Informed people MUST know all perspectives of a debate. American politician, Dudley Malone said, “I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me.” Nor have I. Corporal (Cpl.) Daniel Bulford is a specialized RCMP officer who, in November, left his position as the prime minister’s personal sniper detail after speaking out against the federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate, and now works for Mounties For Freedom. He presents a perspective that opposes the official narrative. The story, One of Trudeau’s bodyguards speaks out against COVID jab mandates, calls them ‘authoritarian,’ tells Cpl. Bulford’s story. In case the video is censored, you can watch it on Pandemic Debate: Corporal Daniel Bulford. Here is his perspective.

If you didn’t listen, here are some highlights. Cpl. Bulford emphasizes that “fundamental rights are NOT to be limited…even in a national emergency.” He said as Mounties “everything we do is guided by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.” Regarding the RCMP, Cpl. Bulford says they “work to prevent crime and enforce the law knowing the supreme law is the constitution…We are [there] to assist Canadians in emergency situations…In the context of the pandemic, I’ve seen us intimidate and arrest Canadians as opposed to assisting them.” He says, “Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to equal protection and equal benefit of the law.” He says he took an oath to keep Canadians safe and to protect their civil liberties. His most powerful statement was, “If others have NOT sought out both sides of the argument, it’s no wonder what they think and do…It is time to be strong in character. It will require sacrifice and preparation. The sacrifice will be the comfort and security that can be found in remaining silent.”

His talk is compelling! If you’re not sure what CPL. Bulford means regarding policing during COVID, have a look at Policing in the Pandemic from policeonguard.ca. Be warned, it is disturbing to watch.

Dr. Julie Ponesse was a professor in the philosophy department at Ontario’s Huron University College and taught ethics for 20 years. Her workplace implemented mandatory vaccination policies, and when she refused to comply, she was fired. The article, Ont. professor on paid leave after refusing to get vaccine or wear a mask, tells her story. In case her talk is censored, here is her talk on Rumble: Why are so many choosing a life in a cage? Rumble. Listen to her view.

Here are some highlights. Dr. Julie Ponesse shows a picture of a lone German refusing to raise a stiff right arm among Hitler’s presence at a 1936 rally.

She then refers to a study revealing that only 10% of people are likely to be like the man in the picture, saying “our dominant world strategy is compliance.” I find that alarming. In another experiment, researchers used individuals to disrupt lineups. Only 1 in 25 spoke up, asking those disrupting to move to back of the line. The rest of the people were too lazy to be bothered, or too afraid of what others would say or do. She then discusses the atrocities happening in the name of COVID. She says, “In the history of mankind, there has never been a political elite sincerely concerned about the well-being of regular people. What makes any of us think it is different now? We have been instructed by our leaders to hate, divide, shame and dismiss, and we are excelling at these things superbly. This is what it now means to be a Canadian…Why is it so many are choosing life in a cage? We don’t need to comply and agree about everything to have a functioning democracy… A society in which we respect each other’s differences is a true democracy.”

Bulford and Ponesse are just two of many offering perspectives on COVID that differ from the TV narrative. How do we know what or who to believe? My answer is to ‘question everything’ and ‘follow your intuition.’ Doe Zantamata defines institution as:

“Intuition literally means learning from within. Most of us were not taught how to use this sense, but all of us know well that ‘gut’ feeling. Learn to trust your inner feeling and it will become stronger. Avoid going against your better judgment or getting talked into things that just don’t feel right.”

That is what I am talking about. Even Albert Einstein said, “I believe in intuition and inspiration… at times I feel certain I am right while not knowing the reason.”

As a teacher, I dealt with bullying (#bullying, #antibullying) among my students many times. I also saw bullying on television, in the movies, as well as from political leaders, I knew deep down within me that bullying is wrong. That is why I wrote my book, A Shattered New Start. From the very beginning of the COVID narrative, April of 2020, something deep within me said “something is wrong.” I’ve written many blogs explaining why.

Many claim God dwells within us. Growing up Christian, I was taught that God—or Yahweh, Allah, Universe, Creator; the name doesn’t matter—is in heaven, and if you follow the commandments and be good, you will go to heaven and be with God. This is where the image of God sitting on a throne in heaven comes from. Christianity calls this God within the ‘Holy Spirit.’ In Luke 17:21 of the Christian scriptures, Jesus was asked when the kingdom of God would come. His reply, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.” Jesus is saying the kingdom of God resides within us. That is what I believe.

There is nothing wrong with listening to others, and getting their thoughts and ideas, but we do not need to rely on that. We have God’s Spirit within us, teaching us and guiding us. I rely on that spirit to determine truth. If it feels true, I trust that.

Energy institutive, Lee Harris, in his December energy update said:

“We’ve lost a lot of critical thinking in the last couple of years, or the ability to stand back and take a very balanced view to things that are going on. We’re encouraged to be in our emotional brain, our emotional reactions, to be in fear, or to worry about things.”

That is what I see. Most people are living in fear because of the propaganda. Psychology Today’s article, The Psychology of Truth: Feeling It, explains what ‘feeling truth’ is. I encourage you to read it and try the activities in it. The article says:

The deepest thing we know about truth is that we feel it. Our consciousness is key to our being able to learn, think about, and use what we feel is the truth.

I trust what I feel. If something feels wrong, I trust that. The COVID narrative has never felt right. What governments, health officials, and corporate media say has never resonated with me. It doesn’t feel like truth. That is why my truth may differ from yours. Most people appear to believe and do what they are being told. I don’t because I trust my gut.

Is Mainstream News Trustworthy?

“Fake news” refers to false or misleading information presented as news. Most people identify “fake news” with Donald Trump, as he used the term widely to challenge mass media coverage of his 2016 presidential campaign. The former president even referred to the press as “the enemy of the people.” Now I (#blogger #blog #somseason #YA #authors) will admit, when I first heard Donald Trump use the phrase “fake news,” I didn’t understand what he meant, but I sure do now. He might be right. The press may be “the enemy of the people.”

I have become more and more disillusioned with Mainstream Media (MM), or Legacy Media, which started back in 1985 when I was involved in a teacher’s strike. Being part of the strike committee, I had inside information, yet what the media was reporting was very different from what I knew as an insider. I also know two other people who shared their experiences involving a murder, and their experience with news media. They told me that what the media reported and what they knew because of personal involvement differed greatly. My disillusionment has only grown since.

I’m not the only one as Half of Citizens Polled Say Media Are Intentionally Deceiving Canadians. Even MM’s Toronto Sun headline: As CBC ratings plummet, they ask for more taxpayer dollars. Independent News outlets say, the CBC is the media arm of the Liberal Party of Canada and I would have to agree. Regarding Canada’s publicly owned news media, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), many Canadians question if tax dollars are well spent, as in the article CBC: Costing Canadians $1.2 billion — and for what? In fact, there are calls to defund the CBC, with the MM’s National Post saying Erin O’Toole won the Tory leadership promising to ‘defund CBC. The Financial Post says CBC does not deserve our money. There is even a petition to defund the CBC. Clearly, Canadians are losing faith in the news, or at the very least, the CBC.

This trust is dwindling in other countries as well. In the US, Well Deserved: Americans Have the Lowest Trust in the Mainstream Media. In the United Kingdom, the BBC faces fresh calls for defunding after sending ‘despicable’ letters to elderly viewers. If news is withholding and manipulating the truth, then of course trust is lost because this is passive bullying (#bullying, #antibullying).

The concentration of ownership of media very much alarms me. In the US the Big 6 Media Companies are Comcast, Walt Disney, AT&T, ViacomCBS, Sony, and Fox. Together they control 90% of all media outlets. Surprising to me was, “Canada has the biggest concentrated TV ownership out of all the G8 countries and it comes in second place for the most concentrated television viewers,” according to Wikipedia.

In Wikipedia’s article, Concentration of media ownership, it says:

Media integrity— the ability of a media outlet to serve the public interest and democratic process—is at risk when small number of companies and individuals control the media market. Net neutrality— involves a lack of restrictions on content on the internet—is also at stake when media mergers occur.

When the MM is owned by a few individuals, or corporations, of course integrity is compromised. That’s alarming. If owners have an agenda, such as spreading fear of a virus, concentration of media ownership makes that easy. This is not just me claiming that the MM is a fear propaganda machine. Bill Maher Asks Liberal Media to Stop “Scaring the S—” Out of People About COVID, and even politicians have as in “Stop promoting fear:” Premier Kenney takes aim at legacy media’s COVID coverage.

Another reason not to trust MM is they can be bought. Every news media who secretly took Trudeau’s $61M pre-election pay-off and Liberal government gave Canadian Press $2 million during pandemic are examples. Trudeau even admits he did in the video, Well now! Nothing like outright admitting that you bought the media! Check it out. This editorial claims Secret Liberal Government Payments To Media Subvert Democracy – Spencer Fernando. If media can be bought, of course they threaten democracy. How can media have integrity when they are bought off?

The most convincing reason for me not to trust MM is the numerous times media outlets have been caught outright lying to us, or at the very least manipulating a story to get viewers or readers to think a certain way—mind manipulation if you will. A recent example is CBC uses mannequin instead of patient to show crowded ICU.. The articles CBC admits they used mannequin in COVID propaganda,, The CBC was forced to admit that they engaged in fake news, and CBC apologizes for using fake patients and training facility in COVID-19 story all confirm the story. Even the National Post says, ‘Error in judgement’: CBC Edmonton regrets mannequin’s use in COVID-19 news report. This was more than an error in judgement. This was deliberately done to mislead people making it fake news as True North’s Candice Malcolm says, The CBC was forced to admit that they engaged in fake news.

There are many other examples, and not just in Canada. A LEAKED VIDEO: Daily Mail Australia caught manufacturing fake news and WATCH: Police bodycam proves the mainstream media was HIDING the truth. In the US “They’re Lying at Your Network” – CNN Correspondent Confronted During Interview. Another example involving CNN is CNN Attempts Damage Control After Being Humiliated by Joe Rogan, a podcaster who blasted CNN for lying about ivermectin. In the United Kingdom, The silence from BBC News, Sky News, & GB News is deafening after hundreds of thousands of people marched for your Freedom on June 26th. Germany’s Largest Newspaper BILD Apologises for Harming Society Over its Coverage of the Covid-19 Pandemic. The list goes on.

Here are more examples from Canada. In a heavily slanted article by CBC News during Canada’s recent election, reporting on Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole’s views on mandatory vaccinations for federal workers, the CBC failed to mention that the Liberals held the exact same position when it comes to vaccine mandates. (see CBC bashes Conservatives). The story, Big sister of dead child used in COVID propaganda speaks out against media and government, is a story about the sister of the boy who died calling out the media and government for lying. In this article, Levy points out the Shameful double standard in how police, politicians and the media cover terror attacks. Showing more skewed reporting is Cuban protesters call for end of Communist regime (and mainstream media lies about it), and Global News journo caught in fake news lie over Trudeau’s blocked campaign bus. Another article tells how Legacy media largely ignored Trudeau’s “monetary policy” gaffe. Then there’s the story of a journalist whose show was cancelled for raising concerns about ethical standards in media today (see Lacey Lee Elliott: TV host cancelled after vid on NOT trusting the media). MM constantly tells us to “trust the experts” when it comes to COVID-19, but what the media doesn’t tell us is sometimes the health experts turn out to be partisan politicians and/or political donors. This was revealed in How can we trust “experts” when they moonlight as political activists? The “icing on the cake” is a SUPERSPREADER COVER-UP: CBC hides internal outbreak from public.

I have to wonder why governments—specifically Justin Trudeau—try to suppress independent media as in the story, Team Trudeau cuts our mic — Terry Guillon RETURNS to bully Rebel News! Could it be that independent media tells more truth? The truth is, Canadians can’t rely on the legacy media to report the truth.

I trust independent media more than the MM. If you read my blogs regularly, you know that. Yet, I still get many people refuting my arguments citing MM news articles. That won’t convince me for reasons clearly outlined above. If you wish to contest something I say, you’ll have to use other sources. Am I saying that independent media is unbiased? No, of course they have their biases, since MM labels them conservative. What baffles me is those who rely on MM for their information, yet never question that the MM might be biased or even lying to us. These people are quick to tell me that the sources I use are prejudiced or biased. Is news from MM fake? The evidence is there.

I’ll end with some food for thought.

The greatest weapon is not a gun or a bomb. It is the control of information. To control the world’s information is to manipulate all the minds that consume it.
Unknown

When Disconnected, We Fall

As I (#blogger #blog #somseason #YA #authors) watch the world around me become more divided—something I wrote about in my last blog, United We Stand, Divided We Fall—I become more and more disheartened and saddened. I ask why is this division happening, and American singer and songwriter, David Draiman, provides an answer that makes sense to me. He said, “People who are divided are easier to control.”

The world is moving backwards, and I no longer recognize the country I grew up in. I now live in a country that is medically segregated and is a country where discrimination is accepted as “normal” with the vaccine passports (see Across Canada and Alberta will keep COVID-19 vaccine passport). In Canada, like other countries, the vaccinated are allowed some freedoms, such as eating in restaurants, but the unvaccinated cannot. Businesses are threatened with exorbitant fines if they do not enforce the passports.

Presently Canada, like other nations, is no different than when racial segregation was rule in the United States, a policy that ended in the 1960s. African Americans experienced segregation of facilities, services, and opportunities such as housing, medical care, education, employment, and transportation. Americans of African descent were forced to use separate washrooms and separate water fountains. Segregation was a legally or socially enforced separation based on skin colour.

The acceptance of vaccine passports is no different than South Africa’s policy of apartheid from 1948 to 1994, a policy of segregation and political, social, and economic discrimination against the nonwhite majority in the Republic of South Africa. It is no different than the way Jews were discriminated against under Nazi rule in Germany. In 1935, the Nuremberg Laws stripped Jews of their citizenship, and at the beginning of WWII, the Jewish people were forced to wear the yellow star, inscribed with the word “Jude” (“Jew” in German), as a way to identifying them.

I thought humanity learned from the past, but now in 2021 we are facing a segregated society where hatred is directed towards a certain group of people. This hatred is directed at the unvaccinated; those who have a constitutionally guaranteed right to decide what happens to their bodies, but those rights are being ignored by authorities. We live in a deeply divided country as shown by the Angus Reid Institute who released a report showing growing polarization between Canada’s vaccinated and unvaccinated populations. Segregation and discrimination is amplified by the Mainstream media, as shown in this CTV article, The pandemic is ‘spiraling out of control’ due to unvaccinated people. Vaccine passports are being accepted, like the yellow star, to distinguish the vaccinated from the unvaccinated. Segregation promotes hatred and bullying (#bullying, #antibullying), and diminishes compassion and respect. My wife and I know lots of people who are being cornered daily, and bullied because they chose not to be vaccinated, rather than blindly following authorities. Segregation and discrimination can never be justified!

Martin Luther King, Jr once said:

Segregation…not only harms one physically but injures one spiritually…It scars the soul…It is a system which forever stares the segregated in the face, saying ‘You are less than…”You are not equal to…’

King also said:

To accept injustice or segregation passively is to say to the oppressor that his actions are morally right.

People appear to be accepting the injustice of segregation passively. Benjamin Franklin once said, “Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” Did Mr. Franklin suggest that safety is an illusion?

Is safety an illusion? Psychology Today’s article, Security is an Illusion, says:

One must come to grips with security being illusory, or at best only temporary. One can enjoy the sense of security, while at the same time keeping in mind that it is an illusion, that the world is chaotic, and that at any time that sense of security may be stripped away.

Is willingly giving up freedom for safety a good idea? Should safety exceed human rights? The truth is, we all want to feel safe, but at what cost? Should civil liberties be given up to feel safe? Should governments have control over what people do with their bodies? Or stop people from travelling freely? Are you willing to live in a police state, or worse under martial law, where the government can deny civil liberties under the banner of keeping you “healthy”?

Nelson Mandela once said, “For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” The freedom to choose what enters our bodies is no longer respected as an individual freedom since the vaccine passports severely diminish freedoms for those who wish to control what happens to their bodies.

Woodrow Wilson said, “Liberty has never come from the government. Liberty has always come from the subjects of it. The history of liberty is a history of resistance.” Are governments, health officials and news media motivated to keep us safe, or do they have an ulterior motive? All I know is something feels terribly wrong. I will always side with those who stood for freedom, even when they felt unsafe, like Rosa Parks, Nelson Mandela, and Martin Luther King Jr.

Ana Monnar, founder of Readers Are Leaders U.S.A. says, “Treat other people’s home as you want them to respect yours because what goes around comes around.” The phrase, “what goes around comes around” means that people’s actions ultimately have consequences. What Monnar is really referring to is the Law of Karma or Law of Cause and Effect, a law that says, whatever one puts out into the Universe will come back to them. I can’t help but wonder what will come back to those who embraced segregation and division by passively accepting vaccine passports. The Law of Karma is why there is a Golden Rule, which is, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Or as it says in Matthew 7:12; Luke 6:31 of the Christian scriptures, “All things… that you want men to do to you, you also must do to them.” Everything you do, affects everyone else.

The worldview of many Indigenous Peoples contains the principle of connectivity which says everything in the universe is connected. Connectivity explains the connection people have to their communities, their traditional territories, and the land (source: Indigenous connectivity). This is a view of oneness, meaning, we are all one.

Spiritualists often talk about the Law of One. Wikipedia describes this law:

Simply put, the Law of One is the Universal Truth that All Is One. It is the Truth taught by Christ when he proclaimed, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” We are all direct expressions of the One Source God Source.

Based on the Ra Material, ‘The Law of One’ states that there is only one, and that one is the Infinite Creator (source: Law of One). As the Indigenous people and spiritualists say ‘everything in the universe is connected,’ so anything you do has an effect—either good or bad—on all others. Perhaps this is what Einstein was saying when he said, “Everything is energy and that’s all there is to it. Match the frequency of the reality you want and you cannot help but get that reality. It can be no other way. This is not philosophy. This is physics.”

Some would call the energy that Einstein refers to as ‘source energy.” In the article, Seeking Source Energy: In Search of Lost Connectivity, it says

We can call this source energy a spirit, God, a higher power, or the universe, but it is definitely an enlivening current we can feel in our bones. Some may experience it as a vibration, some as stillness, others as a presence. Still others may simply feel totally awake and connected.

The point I’m making is we are all connected and therefore what we do affects all others. My last post was titled, United We Stand, Divided We Fall, but now I prefer to use what American author and speaker, Jason Shurka, says, “Divided we fall… United we FLY!” When there is disconnection through segregation and discrimination, we fall. When we’re connected through respect, tolerance, and love, we achieve peace and harmony.

J.K. Rowling, author of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, says, “We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.” Right now, our world is very divided, segregated, and riddled with discrimination, making humanity weak. Unless humankind can find a way to unite, we will fall.

There is Something Wrong in Canada

Former Residential School in Alberta, Canada

In early June, News from Kamloops shook Canada when the remains of 215 children on a former residential school site in Kamloops, British Columbia (BC) were found. A week later, 751 unmarked graves at a former Saskatchewan residential school were located. The Marieval Indian Residential School site was operated by the Roman Catholic Church from 1899 to 1997 (source BBC). On June 30^th, once again, First Nations in Cranbrook, BC reported 182 unmarked gravesites discovered near the location of a former residential school site close to the former St. Eugene’s Mission School (source CBC). I’m sure there will be more remains discovered.

Like most Canadians, I (#blogger #blog #somseason #YA #authors) was outraged by this news, since these deaths resulted from bullying (#bullying #antibullying) by the governments of the day and Christian churches who ran the schools, half of which were Catholic Churches. However, I was surprised by the level of anger. It seems that Canadians either forgot about the revelations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission or didn’t pay much attention to it. In the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, in a document titled, Canada’s Residential Schools: Missing Children and Unmarked Burials, it was recommended that a study be done to identify the location of cemeteries and gravesites in which students were believed to be buried. The project was to collaborate with communities to identify options for commemoration, ceremony, and further community-based research. In 2009, the Commission requested the government cover the cost of this research, but the request was denied. I have to wonder, was the Canadian government trying to cover this up? The Commission revealed that there were many children buried in unmarked graves on former residential school sites.

Since the discovery of over 1000 unmarked graves, church vandalism in Canada has exploded and “suspicious” burnings of Christian (mostly Catholic) churches became widespread. The US is experiencing similar events (see Catholic churches have been torched and vandalized in the US). From June 21 through June 26, four Catholic churches located on tribal lands in British Columbia burned to the ground. Nova Scotia RCMP report suspicious fire at Catholic church in First Nations community. An Anglican church burned on June 26, but was extinguished with minor damage. In the province of Alberta, a fire was extinguished in the early morning hours of June 28 at the Siksika Nation Catholic Church. One June 30^th, Alberta woke up to the headline, Century-old Catholic church in Morinville, Alta., destroyed by fire, a church I visited years ago. These fires appear to be intentionally set, and these attacks on churches continue. These attacks are hate-crimes directed towards the Christian community, and some even argue this is a war on Christianity (see Rebel News). I have to wonder why it took Canada’s prime minister 11 days to condemn attacks on christian churches (see Trudeau denounces church burnings, vandalism in Canada) when the October defacing of the mosque in Cold Lake, Alberta, provoked Trudeau to denounce it the next day.

Since the discovery of unmarked graves, a debate brewed in June over whether to hold Canada Day celebrations. According to the article, Cancel Canada Day: ‘Nothing to celebrate’ amid unmarked graves, many Indigenous community leaders and advocates have promoted the cancelation of celebrations, instead, asking for the day to be one to reflect on the real history of Canada and to support Indigenous people. Many communities across Canada have heeded to that call (see Timeline).

Another debate also erupted: What should Canada do about the statues that regard the very men who started the schools where these children died? Many institutions and local governments are acting to remove statues of Canada’s first prime minister, and other politicians, plus renaming streets and schools of those directly connected to Canada’s residential school program. Statues, including Religious statues, in Canada are being vandalized like the Six religious statues beheaded at Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, in Sudbury, Ontario. Vandalization of Catholic churches is rampant with at least 10 Calgary churches defaced with red paint on Canada Day. Not all Indigenous leaders agree with what’s occurring since some Indigenous chiefs and leaders decry church burnings and vandalism.

The level of reaction to discoveries on former residential school sites is unprecedented. Don’t get me wrong, the reaction should be strong. It’s a collective call for justice, and a call for all Canadians to be united with Canada’s First Nations people. The question is: Does justice mean burning churches, removing statues, vandalizing, and dumping Canada’s national day?

Sheila North, the former Grand Chief of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) says;

“These things are perpetuating the racism and perpetuating the hatred towards Indigenous people without even realizing.”

I have to agree! The ways Canadians are directing their anger is only keeping division alive. Such activities do nothing to further reconciliation. They are actions of revenge which divide us by perpetuating hatred towards Indigenous people, catholics, or some other group.

Not everyone thinks residential schools were bad. An Indigenous person once told me that she felt she benefited from residential schools. There are even some who believe residential schools were a good thing as a Priest under fire after sermon on the ‘good done’ by Catholic Church on residential schools. Personally, I fail to see how any good can come from government-sponsored religious schools established to assimilate Indigenous children into Euro-Canadian culture. How can any good come from an estimated 150,000 First Nation, Inuit, and Métis children who were isolated from their culture, and who suffered abuses in the form of excessive physical abuse and sexual predation?

I understand the anger. I stand with the First Nations people and it saddens me the way our European ancestors treated them. There needs to be justice and reconciliation. However, Cancelling Culture—the phenomenon of “canceling” people, brands, shows, and movies due to problematic or offensive remarks, ideologies, and branding—is not the answer. In the article, What is the Cancel Culture Movement, it says:

One of the biggest problems with cancel culture is that people are quick to cancel, but never so quick to forgive…It ignores the idea that people can pay for their mistakes, and insists that we should all be perfect beings who have never – and will never – make a mistake. The problem is that humans aren’t infallible. Who hasn’t made a mistake in the past?

Our history should never be cancelled, instead, it needs to be studied so mistakes of the past are never repeated. We need to forgive past leaders for the damage their decisions caused, and right those wrongs. Statues should not be torn down, but serve as reminders of people who made mistakes. To cancel history doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.

Cambridge Dictionary defines justice as “fairness in the way people are dealt with.” Most Canadians and Americans would agree Indigenous people were treated unfairly. Canada’s prime minister is calling on the Pope to apologize for the Catholic Church’s role in residential schools, and is urging Canadian Catholics to demand action from their church. Churches should take responsibility, but why isn’t our government taking responsibility, since all residential schools were mandated by them? Did the PM forget that Pierre Trudeau, his father, was Prime Minister (PM) of Canada from 1968 to 1979, and during that time, the maintenance of residential schools were run by his government?

Yes, the Catholic church and governments need to apologize, but NOT just words. Apologies require actions to correct the wrongs done to survivors. PM Justin Trudeau promised to end all long-term boil-water advisories within five years during his 2015 campaign. If the PM really felt First Nations people were wronged, then he would keep that promise. Instead, Indigenous Services minister says Trudeau government won’t end boil-water advisories by March 2021. Actions speak louder than words Mr. PM.

Adam Soos from Rebel News says:

Reconciliation is a vital conversation that we must have, but please, for the sake of any progress that we have made on the path towards reconciliation, do not associate these hate crimes with progress or justice for the tragedies of our history. This is not justice. This is just the start of another dark chapter in Canadian history.

I couldn’t agree more. This must be a time to unite with our Indigenous people, to reconcile with our history, and to start acting as one people. Mahatma Gandhi says, “Relationships are based on four principles: respect, understanding, acceptance and appreciation.” It is time to respect and understand First Nations people, their culture, and what they endured. It is time to accept them as equals, and appreciate Indigenous people for who they are. Let’s stop this nonsense that Canadians are inherently racist as Critical Race Theory would have us believe. This theory reasons that racism is systemic, is inherent in much of the American or Canadian way of life, and paints “white” people as racist. Racism is learned, and is designed to divide us. As I said in Does Media Mirror Culture, or Create Culture? “We humans are innately good, naturally cooperative, and instinctively altruistic.” It is time to start being who we truly are.

Does Media Mirror Culture, or Create Culture?

A commentary on media

I’ve (#blogger #blog #somseason #YA #authors) noticed that the term ‘woke’ is being tossed around on television lately. Wokeness is a term that refers to the awareness of issues that concern social and racial justice. That is not a bad thing, but is it being taken to the extreme? Even the Toronto real estate board dropping ‘master bedroom’ term and replacing it with the word “primary.” I’ve also noticed Gender-neutral language being used in the media. This is language which avoids a bias towards a particular sex or social gender. For example, mailman is no longer “politically correct,” but mail carrier is. It got me wondering why. Is this a way to normalize wokeness and gender-neutral language? In researching for an answer, I came across the opinion piece, The Woke Revolution Is Powered by the Elites, which argues that the woke revolution is not a grassroots movement, but instead is powered by well-connected and guilt-ridden elites. Could this be true?

I recall having a discussion in one of my classes. I asked the question: Does media (the internet, magazines, television, motion pictures, etc.) reflect the world we live in, or create the world we live in? Another way to phrase it: Does media mirror culture, or create culture? I remember it being a lively discussion, but I don’t recall if we reached a consensus.

In the article, How Do Movies Impact our Societies, it says:

The power of audiovisuals has been manifested and exploited politically, socially, and economically throughout history. Leaders such as Adolf Hitler, for example, successfully used films as propaganda tools during World War II. Facts like these show the raw power of film.

Could movies be used as propaganda tools? On debate.org, the question: Is television brainwashing us? one person says:

What is seen on TV is generally not accepted in society, but the more it’s seen, the more people begin to accept it. Often, this is done through humor or through exaggerated behaviors. As we watch these again and again, we can become desensitized to them–things like violence, swearing, and other behaviors that our grandparents would have raised their eyebrows over.

This makes sense to me. When I was a kid, you never heard swearing on a television screen. Now “F-bombs” are commonplace. Nowadays, graphic murder scenes are normal. This wasn’t the case when I was a kid. Is media desensitizing us, indoctrinating us or brainwashing us? I think so. For many years, I’ve wondered why violence, bullying (#bullying #antibullying), marital infidelity, sexual promiscuity, and selfish behaviours are so prevalent on TV and in movies. Now I realize it is to normalize it; to make people believe they’re normal human behaviours.

When I taught religious education as a teacher, I taught my students that humans were innately good, and I still think that. Humans are naturally altruistic. Psychology Today defines altruism as acting to help someone else at some cost to oneself. This is especially evident when tragedies happen as people never think twice about helping another. Most of us have heard the stories of a stranger running into a burning building to rescue someone. Teaching in a Christian school, I used the Christian scripture Colossians 3:12 to support my argument. It says; “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience…”

There are many science articles supporting this claim. The Scientific American article, Scientists Probe Human Nature–and Discover We Are Good, After All, sites studies carried out in 2012 which found that a human’s “first impulses are selfless and that we are predisposed to act cooperatively, to help others even when it costs us.” The article, Scientists find evidence that human beings are born with an innate desire to help others, sights studies from Harvard University saying that young children and babies are innately sociable and helpful to others. Most TV programs and movies lead us to believe that humans are selfish, yet the Greater Good Science Center has an article titled, The Compassionate Instinct that says:

Compassion and benevolence, this research suggests, are an evolved part of human nature, rooted in our brain and biology, and ready to be cultivated for the greater good.

Studies support my claim that humans are innately good, yet A 2018 new global Ipsos MORI study found that three in four people (76%) on average across 27 countries think society in their country is divided. Most of us agree, the world feels very divided, especially now. The question is: Why?

The article, Divided People Divided Politics Divided Nations: Why is the World so Divided Today? says:

Politicians always used fear and divisions in society to gain votes, there is nothing new to here…Our opinions are being shaped and divided. The cohesive fabric of the society is being torn and divided…If we allow our minds to be programmed by artificial intelligence controlled by vested interests, then it will lead to divisions and strife.

In April of this year, former NBA star Charles Barkley expounded during March Madness that political parties and elites “divide and conquer” Americans in order to “keep their grasp on money and power.” (see Barkley)

Could this be what is happening? Do elites want us divided? Are we mind controlled to be divided? “Divide and conquer” has always been used as a way of distracting and controlling the non-elites. When television and movie productions repeatedly portray humans a selfish, bullies, violent, and racist we begin to believe it. In essence, we are being indoctrinated or brainwashed to think that is normal human behaviour. The truth is the opposite! We humans are innately good, naturally cooperative, and instinctively altruistic. We know this unconsciously when we get out of our head, and move into our hearts. Or as Albert Einstein puts it; “Don’t let your brain interfere with your heart.” Rumi says:

Love is not written on paper, for paper can be erased. Nor is it etched on stone, for stone can be broken. But it is inscribed on a heart and there it shall remain forever.

The late Steve Jobs once said:

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.

Steve Jobs is absolutely right, especially his words; “Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking.” When we follow our hearts, and not the brain—which is usually filled with indoctrination garbage or dogma—then we become loving, compassionate and benevolent, which is our human nature. The heart is where love resides, and where our instincts or intuition reside. The bottom line is we are divided, violent, racist, selfish, bullying, because our ego is programmed or indoctrinated by media to be so. The solution is to stop filling our minds with untruths, release false beliefs, and to follow the heart where truth is!

The late English singer-songwriter, George Michael once said:

“You’ll never find peace of mind until you listen to your heart.”

What Did You Learn From 2020?

A commentary on the lesson of 2020

In December, Time magazine declared 2020 to be the worst year in history with most people agreeing. Last year I (#blogger #blog #somseason #YA #authors) have seen many Internet memes such as, “It feels like the year has been going on forever,” and “Can we uninstall 2020 and re-install it? This version has a virus.” My favourite however is:

These memes reflect how the majority of us feel about the past year. Most people couldn’t wait for 2020 to be over in hopes of a better 2021. Recently I saw this meme.

I don’t disagree with the lessons it listed, and the New Year is a time for reflection. Since New Year’s Day, I have reflected on what I learned, and come up with my own list. These lessons are my truths, or my lessons, they may not be yours, and that is okay. Here are some of the things I’ve learned from 2020.

I’ve learned not to trust the Mainstream Media (MM) whose purpose seems to be to instill fear in the masses. MM have provided a relentless narrative of an alleged pandemic for 11 months now. I’ve talked about this in previous posts.
I’ve learned not to trust medical leaders and politicians. Our legislators and medical “experts” mislead us, lie to us, and also promote fear. They do not appear to have our best interests in mind. They don’t follow their own rules which they’ve forced upon us. True North lists all the Canadian politicians who broke their own COVID restriction rules. Even MM is talking about it (see CTV News). Newsweek lists American politicians who did the same. Here is a story of one of Canada’s senior public health officials breaking the rules (see TNC). Clearly our leaders aren’t afraid of the virus. If our governments did have our best interests in mind, they would do something about the suicides, drug overdoses and the mental health issues caused by lockdowns. (see 2020 to be deadliest year). True North (TN) reports Mental health of Canadians reaching “tipping point,” evidenced by a quadrupling of people accessing treatment services. TN also has a news report titled, Rise in childhood eating disorders an “unprecedented crisis,” reporting that SickKids says there is an increase in the number of eating disorders among Canada’s youth as result of the pandemic and the ensuing lockdowns. If our governments really cared about our health, which is why they say they must implement lockdowns, then they would be promoting fitness and healthy diets to encourage good mental health, instead of closing gyms and spas. In its place, they keep fast food drive through restaurants (a source of unhealthy foods) open.
I’ve learned how easily we humans are manipulated and controlled by fear of a virus that has over a 99% recovery rate. It seems people are willing to give up freedoms such as visiting their loved ones, closing their businesses, and compliantly wearing masks because our governments say so, without questioning decisions like; why corporate stores have never been ordered to shut down.
I’ve learned how easily we humans give up our freedoms. We willingly give up liberties guaranteed by our constitution, just like what happened in Nazi Germany in the 1940s and Russia in the 1960s.
I’ve learned that we really aren’t allowed to speak our truth, even though our constitution says it is our right. I say this because Big Tech companies (FaceBook, Twitter, etc.) censure by removing any truth that doesn’t align with their narrative (see Big Tech).
I’ve learned how easily people are divided and incited to attack one other. There have been many attacks—even physical attacks— on individuals not wearing a mask. I’ve seen people belittle others on social media, and in videos, because someone thinks differently, calling them names and accusing them of being conspiracy theorists. This discord may be intentionally triggered as explained in the NY Post article, It’s our elites who are driving America’s divisions.

These are the obvious lessons for me, but as I reflect, I realize there is something more profound I’ve learned. Before I reveal what that is, I would like to preface with some indigenous wisdom.

The Indigenous, or First Nations people, have always spoken about the interconnectedness of nature, and the importance of community. Chief Seattle, who pursued a path of accommodation for white settlers said:

Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect.

Indigenous people learn by observing nature. The National Forest Foundation has an article titled, The Amazing Connections Beneath Your Feet. Here is a bit of what it says:

Underneath the forest floor, intertwined with the roots of the trees, is a fascinating microscopic network of fungus…In healthy forests, each tree is connected to others via this network, enabling trees to share water and nutrients. For saplings growing in particularly shady areas, there is not enough sunlight reaching their leaves to perform adequate photosynthesis. For survival, the sapling relies on nutrients and sugar from older, taller trees sent through the…network.

Who knew trees help one another. The indigenous people may not have known about the relationship between trees and fungus, but they knew about the connection of all things. They know their choices affect others. Charles Alexander Eastman (Ohiyesa), a Santee Dakota physician, writer, and lecturer once said:

“It was our belief that the love of possessions is a weakness to be overcome…Children must early learn the beauty of generosity. They are taught to give what they prize most, that they may taste the happiness of giving…The Indians in their simplicity literally give away all that they have—to relatives, to guests of other tribes or clans, but above all to the poor and the aged, from whom they can hope for no return.”

Mr. Eastman clearly knew the importance of community because that was his culture. 2020 has been a year unlike any other. Never in my life have I lived in such a divided world where people are kept apart from their loved ones due to Draconian restrictions imposed by governments. Never before have I witnessed law enforcement using brute force to remove freedoms guaranteed by our constitution. Never have I seen people turn on one another, physically and verbally attacking each other because someone disagreed with them. I cannot condemn them as they are fearful. This past year has been a year of bullying (#bullying #antibullying) which is why I have deemed it “The Year of Bullying.”

What 2020 taught me the most is, I must never contribute to this bullying or divisiveness. Instead, I must become an example of kindness. compassion, empathy and most of all, love and light. The reality is, we are all navigating this chaos together, each with our own beliefs, thoughts, and fears. We are each having our own unique experiences. I must never judge someone, declaring them wrong. As some unknown person put it:

“Before you judge my life, my past or my character. walk in my shoes, walk the path I have traveled, live my sorrow, my doubts, my fear, my pain and my laughter.”

What I’ve come to realize, because of 2020, is that I am not defined by the external; by what others want me to believe, think, or do. I am sovereign and free, just like you. I decide what I believe, think, or do because I am an autonomous individual and I have choice. I give my power to someone else only if I consciously or unconsciously allow it or choose it.

As indigenous wisdom and nature teaches, we must realize that we are all human brothers and sisters and that everything is connected, so we must treat each other with respect and love regardless of what that person believes, thinks, says or does. I have learned that I must never judge another because I have not walked in their shoes. I am never right, and others are never wrong because right and wrong are relative. Spiritual writer, Gian Kumar, says: “There is no such thing as right or wrong, it is just you who matters; If you are right, you will not see wrong. If you are wrong, you will only see wrong.” That is the biggest lesson for me, and hopefully for us all.