Let’s Talk about Christmas

In 2017, US President Donald Trump claimed that political correctness had gotten in the way of celebrating Christmas saying, “We’re getting near that beautiful Christmas season that people don’t talk about anymore. They don’t use the word Christmas because it’s not politically correct.” (see Trump: ‘We’re saying merry Christmas again’). It seems every holiday season there is another debate about whether to say “Happy Holidays” or “Merry Christmas.” I (#blogger #blog #somseason #YA #authors) wrote about this in Christmas Controversies 3.0 and Christmas Controversies 3.1 in 2017.

The ridiculousness has continued this year as the National Post reports that Canada’s Federal commission declares Christmas holiday is ‘religious intolerance’. The Canadian Human Rights Commission — an agency created in 1977 to enforce the Canadian Human Rights Act and is fully funded by the Canadian government—argued that a day off on Christmas is ‘discriminatory.’ Christmas, really?  Christmas has been around since at least the 4th century (more on that later), and suddenly it’s discriminatory?

The commission published a Discussion Paper on Religious Intolerance saying that the Christian holidays of Christmas and Easter get days off, while non-Christians have to “request special accommodations to observe their holy days.” The discussion paper cited the statutory Christmas holidays as a form of “religious intolerance” arguing that this constitutes a “form of discrimination.”

That is a ridiculous argument because polls clearly show that non-Christian Canadians almost universally have no problem with Christian holidays. A Leger poll from 2022 asked non-Christian Canadians whether they were offended by the greeting “Merry Christmas.” Of respondents, 92% said “no.” It also asked Canadians of all religious faiths if Christmas if “religious” holidays should be struck from the country’s official statutory holidays. Only 6% said “yes.”  That means potentially, only 6% of Canadians think Christian holidays are discriminatory. Does that warrant removing Christmas as a statutory holiday? Absolutely not.

Then there was the law Student’s request to display a menorah prompting the University of Alberta to remove Christmas trees instead. A University of Alberta law student is frustrated after her request to display a menorah alongside a Christmas tree in a study space led the faculty to remove the Christmas trees. The student says she never took issue with the Christmas trees. The decision to remove the trees and confine any potentially non-secular displays to an out-of-the-way room left her baffled. Now that seems a pretty extreme reaction to me, and borders on bullying (#bullying, #antibullying).

Christmas is the festival that Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus. Is Christmas really the day Jesus was born? It seems the birthdate of Jesus is in dispute as indicated in the article, Why scholars disagree with Christmas birth date. The article states that “despite scholarly research regarding Christmas Day, most ‘experts’ are still unsure about the true date” of Jesus’ birth. The article, On what day and month was Jesus born? using scriptural evidence, places Jesus’ birth between September 16 and 29, while other theologians have suggested that Jesus was born sometime in the spring. This is based on the biblical narrative that shepherds were watching over their flocks in the fields on the night of Jesus’ birth. When I studied Biblical Theology, we were taught that the biblical stories were myth, that they were a symbolic narrative, and not historical.

Why do we celebrate Christmas on December 25th? According to Wikipedia the Roman Empire held a festival called the Dies Natalis Solis Invicti (‘birthday of the Invincible Sun’) on 25 December, the date of the winter solstice in the Roman calendar. It was dedicated to the sun god “Sol Invictus” (the Unconquered Sun). Some argue that this was the pagan festival that was Christianized . When I took Biblical Theology courses, we were told Christmas was a pagan festival that was Christianized, so that makes sense.

According to The History of Christmas, the church ‘Christianized’ the Saturnalia festival  in the 4th century CE, hoping to take the pagan masses in with it.  This holiday was a week-long period of lawlessness celebrated between December 17-25.  Roman law dictated that no one would be punished for damaging property or injuring people during the weeklong celebration. The festival began when Roman authorities chose “an enemy of the Roman people” to represent the “Lord of Misrule.”  Each community selected a victim whom they forced to indulge in food and other physical pleasures throughout the week.  At the festival’s conclusion, December 25th, Roman authorities believed they were destroying the forces of darkness by brutally murdering this innocent man or woman.

This same article refers to the ancient Greek poet and historian Lucian, who in his dialogue entitled Saturnalia, describes the festival’s observance.  He references human sacrifice, widespread intoxication, going house to house singing naked, rape, other sexual activities, and consuming human-shaped biscuits.

According to that article, the DePascha Computus, an anonymous document allegedly written around 243 CE, placed Jesus’ birth on March 28.  Clement, a bishop of Alexandria (d. ca. 215 CE), thought Jesus was born on November 18. Joseph B. Fitzmyer, professor of Biblical Studies at the Catholic University of America guesses that Jesus birth occurred on September 11, 3 BCE. He based his guess on historical records. 

All of this leaves me with many questions. Why would church fathers choose to Christianize a pagan festival involving such debauchery? Why would church fathers choose December 25th as the birth date of Jesus when most ‘experts’ are unsure about the true date of Jesus’ birth? Furthermore, wouldn’t it make more sense to base the date on biblical evidence placing the date of Jesus’ birth in September or sometime in the spring? Is there some hidden relevance to the December 25th date that is being kept from us?

According to The History of Christmas, many of the most popular Christmas traditions, including Christmas trees, mistletoe, Christmas presents, and Santa Claus, are modern embodiments of depraved pagan rituals. The article provides a more detailed explanation of this. I doubt many Christians know that. Why would church fathers allow these traditions to creep into the said birthdate of Christian saviour, and the one that Christians proclaim as the Son of God?

No one can deny that Christmas is a hugely commercialized holiday. Christmas focuses on the buying and selling of gifts, with its advertising to convince people what items they should buy as Christmas gifts. How Did Christmas Become Commercialized?  It’s not uncommon to hear slogans like “Keep Christ in Christmas” and “Jesus is the Reason for the Season” because Christmas has become so commercialized. There is even a Keep Christ in Christmas Evangelization Program, a campaign that sends religious Christmas cards throughout the US.

I am not trying to put a downer on the Christmas season. Christmas was my favourite time when I was a kid. As an adult, Christmas doesn’t make sense anymore. December 25th is likely not the actual birth date of Jesus. Governments and media are now calling Christmas a form of “religious intolerance.”  Some universities are removing Christmas decorations for reasons that are unclear, likely because Christmas trees are politically incorrect. Calgary’s mayor, Jyoti Gondek, declined to attend a Hanukkah event at city hall, claiming it had “been repositioned as an event to support Israel” and its invasion of Gaza as shown in the news article, Social media reacts to Calgary mayor’s decision to not attend City Hall menorah lighting. It seems Religious festivals are becoming politicized.

As Andy Williams’ traditional Christmas song, “It’s (Christmas) the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” says, Christmas is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year. What has changed?

Things Don’t Add Up

You may have noticed that I (#blogger #blog #somseason #YA #authors)  haven’t written a post since September 21. There is a reason for that. World events are changing so fast that each time I a plan a post, it is already old news. Let me explain.

Initially, I planned to write about the wildfires (I know, it’s old news). Beginning in March 2023, the news was consumed with wildfires. As the article, North America’s summer of wildfire smoke: 2023 was only the beginning, says, “Canada’s seemingly endless wildfires in 2023 introduced millions of people across North America to the health hazards of wildfire smoke.”  The article blames climate change and makes the statement “global warming means more fires.” Legacy Media amped up the climate change rhetoric, claiming Climate change made weather conditions that powered Quebec fires twice as likely, scientists say. Yet, Alberta’s premier downplays link between wildfires and climate change, commits to arson investigations. Is climate change the problem? These headlines suggest otherwise. Quebec man arrested for starting multiple wildfires, RCMP charge Alberta woman with 32 counts of arson after spring wildfires, Arsonists Behind More than Half of Italy’s Wildfires, Officials Say, Italy arrests two Sicilian sheep farmers for lighting wildfires, and Greek police arrest dozens for arson as EU’s largest-ever wildfires rage. How can climate change be the cause, when arsonists are lighting the fires? Why are arsonists lighting these fires? Are they being paid? It doesn’t make sense. Or, to use the old adage; Things “do not add up,” meaning things do not seem plausible, logical, or believable. All I can say, is we are NOT being told the full story.

Then came the Maui wildfires when in August, we heard non stop reporting on them. The Hawaiian Electric says power lines started morning fire on August 8, but not afternoon Lahaina Fire, so humans once again are to blame. What about the devastating Lahaina fire? Were humans to blame—and I’m not talking about the climate change narrative? Some are blaming Direct Energy Weapons (DEWs), as in the articles, Were Maui wildfires caused by a US weapons test? and the Video: Maui Wildfires: Evidence of Direct Energy Weapon? Of course, Legacy Media were quick to call the DEW story conspiracy. Things “do not add up.” More is going on than meets the eye.

Then the headlines changed to what some called Nazigate, and the stories about wildfires disappeared. In case you don’t know what Nazigate is, on Sept. 22, 2023. the Canadian parliament accidentally honours Nazi – with Zelensky and Trudeau applauding, and reporting that the Speaker of the House apologized for calling Nazi SS soldier a ‘Ukrainian hero.’ That’s honouring a bully (#bullying, #antibullying)! How do you accidentally honour someone? Someone please explain it to me. Of course, some Legacy Media try to downplay the incident with articles like, Last week’s Nazi incident in parliament was framed by some as a learning opportunity.  Canada’s Immigration minister claims ‘Canada has a really dark history with Nazis in Canada’ and some say Canada has a long history of soft-pedalling the Ukrainian Waffen-SS Galicia Division.  Our deputy Prime Minster, Chrystia Freeland says she has nothing to be ashamed of about her grandfather’s ‘Nazi’ ties. It’s true,  Chrystia Freeland has a Nazi history according to the Civilian Intelligence Network.

Now I agree that this Nazigate event is Canada’s disgrace and parliament’s Nazi celebration cannot be forgotten or forgiven. Don’t try to convince me this is a mistake. Things just don’t add up. Why would Canadian parliamentarians applaud a former Nazi like he is a hero?  Watch the video where all Canadian Parliamentarians give Yaroslav Hunka, 98, an ex-Waffen SS fighter, a standing ovation. What is really going on? As this article asks, How did a Nazi fighter end up in Parliament?  Things “do not add up.” There has got to be more to this story.

Then the Nazigate news disappeared. as on October 3, the US speaker was ousted starting a US government crisis as U.S. Congress is headless after a first-in-history ouster of House Speaker. It is said to be the first-ever ejection of a sitting Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. News broadcasts were consumed with this crisis. Twenty three days later, on October 25, 2023,  Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana elected speaker of the House. But little was said about that event as October 7, 2023 Hamas launched a surprise attack in the south of Israel. We are still hearing about this as it is all Legacy Media talks about. Read Background to War in Israel if you don’t know what that is about. The rhetoric is building as The US is mounting a frantic effort to head off a wider Middle East war. Watch the video below: Can President Biden prevent World War III?

I find it comical that the world’s fate is put into the hands of a man who seems to be senile. It is said that the New Middle East war delivers a new threat to world economy. The scariest rhetoric Is Middle East Closer to World War 3 After Israel-Palestine Conflict?  I have to wonder, Are we heading for World War Three?

I am confused though. According to the article, A detailed look at how Hamas secretly crossed into Israel, Hamas militants broke through Israel’s complex border security systems, attacking towns, killing hundreds of people and taking at least 150 hostages. CNN asks, Why didn’t Israel’s sophisticated border security stop Saturday’s attack? According to them, Israel’s military found itself caught off-guard, despite decades in which the country became a technology powerhouse that boasts one of the world’s most impressive armed forces and a best intelligence agency. A former international spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces said, “The entire system failed. It’s not just one component. It’s the entire defense architecture that evidently failed to provide the necessary defense for Israeli civilians.”  How can an entire security system fail? Something doesn’t add up. We’re definitely not being told the real story. 

What is even more interesting is the sudden silence on the Ukrainian war. Did that war suddenly end? Back in February 2022, Russia launched a military invasion of Ukraine and that was all we heard for months. For months, billions of dollars from all over the world were being sent to the Ukraine for the war effort. CNN asks since $113 billion was sent to the Ukraine, Where has the US investment in Ukraine aid gone? The World Bank approved $723m financial package, and Canada has promised more than $1.5B in military aid to Ukraine. Why all money for the Ukraine? Why is Ukraine so important? This article says there are 5 reasons America must support Ukraine and help it defeat Russia, but I don’t buy any of it. Justin Trudeau, Canada’s prime minister said, “Canada will stand with Ukraine with whatever it takes, for as long as it takes. As Ukrainians continue to fight for their freedom and their democracy, our support will be unequivocal until they are victorious,” yet the article, Marking 50 Years in the Struggle for Democracy it says:

New coups and other attempts to undermine representative government destabilized Burkina Faso, Tunisia, Peru, and Brazil. Previous years’ coups and ongoing repression continued to diminish basic liberties in Guinea and constrain those in Turkey, Myanmar, and Thailand, among others. 

Why aren’t we sending money to these countries as they “fight for their freedom and their democracy?” That argument doesn’t make sense. Things “do not add up.” Are we being fed propaganda? Are we being told what they—whoever they are—want us to think and believe. We are not being told the real story, that’s for sure.  What is really going on in this world? As Haruki Murakami, a Japanese writer says, “Please remember: things are not what they seem.”

Parental Rights Are Inalienable

According to the article, Parents: Know Your Rights – CANADIAN GENDER REPORT:

The right of parents to direct, and to be fully informed about, all aspects of their children’s education is entrenched in international law, Canadian constitutional law, and provincial law: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, states in Article 26(3): Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Canada is a signatory, states in Article 18(4): The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to have respect for the liberty of parents and, when applicable, legal guardians to ensure the religious and moral education of their children in conformity with their own convictions. The Supreme Court of Canada in Loyola High School v. Quebec (Attorney General), 2015 SCC 12 (paragraph 65), affirmed that Article 18(4) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is applicable in Canada, stating: “Parents, religious or otherwise, have the constitutional right under s. 2(a) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to determine all aspects of their children’s education, including the moral education of their children. Like all rights, parental rights are subject to reasonable limits. For example, parents do not enjoy a constitutional right to require the public school curriculum to align with the cultural, moral, and religious values they desire to pass down to their children. Rather, the right to determine all aspects of a child’s education manifests itself in the right to school choice and the right to be informed.”

The law is clear! Parents determine all aspects of their children’s education. Yesterday (September 20, 2023) was the “1 Million March 4 Children,” organized by a “parental rights” movement targeting inclusive public education. Thousands of protesters and counter-protesters in cities across Canada clashed over the rights of trans children and youth. According to this article, protesters were angered by schools exposing their children to “gender ideology,” insisting parents have the right to know whether their children are questioning their gender identity. Counter-demonstrators accused protesters of trying to deny students important lessons about inclusion and respect for gender-diverse people.

Yesterday I (#blogger #blog #somseason #YA #authors) saw some of my family and friends change their Social Media profile picture  that showed a Canada map in rainbow colours saying, “no space for hate.” These people see the protests as hate directed towards the LGBTQ2S+ community. They see it as their way of showing support for the trans and nonbinary kids. I see it differently. It is a protest to protect parental rights. Its slogan is, “Leave Our Children Alone.”

The article, “Leave Our Kids Alone” Parents Protest Indoctrination in Schools Canada Wide But are Being Called Bigots for Trying to Protect Their Children, says anxious parents marched in front of their local City Halls and school board headquarters to protect their children’s rights. Parents are feeling a loss of control over the ideological content teachers are imparting on their children. Parents claim their children are left confused by the idea of gender fluidity and medically transitioning to the opposite gender assigned at birth. 

Justin Trudeau dismisses parental rights as ‘far right’. According to National Post’s Michael Higgins, most of Canada — as documented previously — it is now official policy to keep parents in the dark if children come out as trans to teachers. These guidelines have been brought in without discussion with parents.  

CTV News says Pronoun debate pits parental rights against kids’ rights, and explains the debate as follows.  Those who support policies that would require parental permission for teachers to use a student’s preferred pronouns at school say it’s about including parents in the lives of their children.

Those opposed say the issue is not about the rights of parents at all, but rather the protection of transgender and nonbinary students who may not feel safe revealing their gender identities at home.

CTV News’ claim that experts say the meaning of “parental rights” lies somewhere in the middle. Who are these experts? They claim rushing to push forward legislation could have dire effects on transgender and nonbinary children. Interestingly, the article does not discuss the dire effects of removing parental rights.

The debate exploded when two provinces introduced policies to protect parental rights. In June, New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs announced a review of an educational policy that had made it mandatory for teachers to use a student’s preferred pronouns and names at school, but changed the policy after a review to teachers must get the consent of a parent to use different names or pronouns for students under 16. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe followed suit with a similar policy which he has now promised to codify in law, and threatens to use the notwithstanding clause to ensure it stays.

This debate is not unique to Canada, as the article Who is responsible for your children – you as parents or the state? and Debate over ‘parental rights’ is the latest fight in the education culture wars confirms that this debate is raging in the US as well, and likely in other countries.

On Social Media, a person commented on the protest saying, “I would like to ask those in the LGBTQ2S+ community that support sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) curriculum in school if they have children? And if they do, do they believe they should have the ultimate say over the upbringing of their children?”

This is the ultimate question. This person persuasively explained their point of view saying:

“Parents have ultimate say over their children. My job as a parent is to help guide my children, instill the values and morals that I believe in. Children depend on us to protect them while they are developing and growing up. Education should not involve ideologies being pushed on them by any group. The ABC’s and 123’s, are skills that set them up to be good productive citizens. Get back to basics! Feel free to teach your children whatever you want (from an ideological perspective) at home. I live in a free a democratic country [some might refute this] that allows freedom of expression and religion, which means I can teach my children how I want. Government and social activism needs to get out of the school system”

I couldn’t agree more. I support the ‘1 Million March 4 Children’ as it was never about hate. It is about parents having control over their children’s education and their children’s life. The SOGI curriculum is an ideological view and should only be taught by the parents, not teachers, if they see fit. Keeping parents in the dark about what is being taught to their children is a form of bullying (#bullying, #antibullying). I support the parents who joined the protest and I agree with their motto “Leave Our Children Alone.” After all, Antonin Scalia, an American jurist who served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States once said, “The right of parents to direct the upbringing of their children is among the unalienable rights with which the Declaration of Independence proclaims ‘all Men are endowed by their Creator.’” There is no debate. Parental Rights are inalienable, that is, never to be separated, given away, or taken away.

Why the Controversy?

I (#blogger #blog #somseason #YA #authors) have been hearing about the movie ‘Sound of Freedom’ for a while now, and being that it is playing in a nearby theatre, my wife and I went to see it. This movie is ‘eye opening’ and emotionally moving. No one can see this movie without being affected, especially since it is based on a true story.

This movie tells the true story of Tim Ballard, who was a special agent for the Department of Homeland Security, who was moved to quit the agency and launch a non-profit organization. The organization is called Operation Underground Railroad and is devoted to fighting child sex trafficking throughout the world. In case you haven’t seen it, here is the trailer.

What I find interesting is that the movie was made in 2018, was supposed to be released by Fox the following year, but Disney bought the studio and shelved the movie. Why would the Disney Corporation shelve the movie? Is Disney trying to prevent people from seeing it? That is my conclusion. There is no other logical reason. Yahoo News has an article entitled, Why Are So Many People Are Against The ‘Sound Of Freedom’ Movie — Despite The Very Real Issue It Covers? That’s a good question. I am baffled. Why are people—especially Legacy or Mainstream Media—against a movie that is based on a true story and is about child sex trafficking? They should be encouraging people to see the movie, not the opposite.

Celebrities like singer Jewel and actor/director Mel Gibson are among those to publicly embrace the film and encourage fans to go see it. Donald Trump also has endorsed the movie. Perhaps that is why Forbes wrote an article entitled: Here Are The Right-Wing Figures—From Donald Trump To Steve Bannon—Championing Surprise Hit ‘Sound Of Freedom’. The movie seems to be labeled as ‘Right Wing.”  According to Deffin, the differences between left-wing and right-wing ideologies center around the rights of individuals verses the power of the government. Left-wing ideology believes society is best served with an expanded role for the government whereas right-wing ideologies advocate for individual rights. Is Mainstream Media against individual freedom since they are bashing the Sound of Freedom movie?

Slate, a daily magazine on the web and podcast network writes about How Sound of Freedom Misrepresents Its Subject—and Why the Movie Is So Seductive, saying the movie is the exact point where a legitimate problem and dangerous conspiracy theory meet. Need I remind you that according to Paul Craig Roberts, chairman of the Institute for Political Economy, the term “Conspiracy Theory” was invented by the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) in order to prevent disbelief of official government stories.

Let me refresh your memory with an example. The mainstream media pushed the narrative that the COVID-19 vaccines were safe and effective and anyone who believed otherwise was ridiculed as a conspiracy theorist. Big Pharma has now admitted that their COVID-19 vaccines can cause serious blood clots and that the vaccines don’t stop transmission. I wrote about this in a previous blog. Those alleging COVID vaccines were dangerous, opposing the official government narrative, were accused of promoting conspiracy theory, yet as it turned out, they were speaking truth. ‘Conspiracy theory’ is an overused term used to demonize those who negate the official government storylines.

Legacy media is also trying to discredit the movie, Sound of Freedom. Yahoo’s article, Why Right-Wing Conspiracy Theorists Are Embracing ‘Sound of Freedom’, also connects the movie to conspiracy. Toronto Star’s article,  Sound of Freedom: Why a film about human trafficking is accused of trafficking in QAnon conspiracies does as well. According to the BBC article, QAnon: What is it and where did it come from?QAnon is a wide-ranging, completely unfounded theory that says that President Trump is waging a secret war against elite Satan-worshipping paedophiles in government, business and the media.” The Washington Post makes this claim as well in its article, ‘Sound of Freedom’ is a box office hit whose star embraces QAnon, as does the Guardian who says, Sound of Freedom: the QAnon-adjacent thriller seducing America.

Some media is more derogatory. Yahoo news says the  ‘Sound Of Freedom’ Is a Superhero Movie for Dads With Brainworms. That’s insulting, especially since I am a dad. Watch the CNN News Clip bash the movie.  Listen as CBC Radio columnist, Rad Simonpillai, who says the movie is “a dog whistle for xenophobic Pro-Trump, Pro-Life types.” The Rolling Stone article, Why Anti-Trafficking Experts Are Torching ‘Sound of Freedom’ says the movie offers a “false perception” of child trafficking that experts worry could further harm the real victims. Who are these experts? There is little doubt for me that Legacy media is trying to prevent people from seeing the movie. Why? Are they trying to hide something? Truth perhaps?

Some people wanting to see the movie claim they are being prevented from seeing it, as the New York Post says ‘Sound of Freedom’ audience claims: Theaters sabotage showings. Why would theatres sabotage showings by forgetting to dim the lights, turning off the air conditioning in theaters, or effecting an emergency evacuation.

Yet, despite this ‘Sound of Freedom’ is now PROFITABLE while Disney’s Box Office Bombs AGAIN! It has reached a Box Office Milestone: ‘Sound of Freedom’ Crosses $100M in U.S. Why is that? Something about this movie draws people to see it. Maybe others are like me, as I choose to draw my own conclusions about the movie. I stopped listening to Legacy media three years ago.

I for one, think everyone should see this movie because human trafficking is bullying  (#bullying, #antibullying) of the evilest kind. Tim Ballard says to someone in the film that child sex trafficking is rarely discussed because it’s “too ugly for polite conversation.” It is an ugly topic. The International Labour Organization (ILO) says forced labour generates annual profits of US$ 150 billion (source). The movie claims human trafficking is a 150-billion-dollar a year operation. That’s shocking!

Tim Ballard, in the movie also said, “Do you know there are 22 million new images of child porn on the internet? That’s up 5,000% from just 5 years ago. 5000%.” Ballard says, “It’s [child trafficking] already surpassed the illegal weapons trade, and soon it will surpass the drug trade. Do you know why? You can sell a bag of cocaine once. A 5-year-old child, you can sell them 5-10 times a day, for 10 years straight.” In one of the movie’s most powerful scenes, Tim says, “God’s children are not for sale.”  Yet, there are those you don’t want you to know this.

One of the statements made in the film that left me speechless is: “In 2023, there are more people enslaved than in any time in history, many of those are children.”  According to ILO, 50 million people worldwide live in modern slavery (source). My intuition tells me the number is much higher.

A definition of human trafficking is the act of recruiting, harboring, transporting, providing or obtaining a person for compelled labor or commercial sex acts through the use of force, fraud or coercion. Human Trafficking Search (HTS) seeks to raise awareness and help prevent and eliminate human trafficking worldwide. According to them, there are six types of human trafficking

  1. Sex trafficking and child sex trafficking
  2. Forced labour
  3. Debt Bondage
  4. Forced child labour
  5. Involuntary domestic servitude
  6. Unlawful recruitment and use of child soldiers

William Wilberforce, a British politician, philanthropist and a leader of the movement to abolish the slave trade once said, “You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know.” I couldn’t have said it better myself. It was Condoleezza Rice who said, “Defeating human trafficking is a great moral calling of our time…”  You can no longer “stick your head in the sand” meaning you can no longer pretend that human trafficking does not exist.

Human trafficking is modern day slavery and it is a world-wide problem. We live under the illusion that slavery is illegal—which it is—and no longer exists. It may be “too ugly for polite conversation,” but it is a topic that must be talked about. That is the sole purpose of the movie. The first step to solving any problem is awareness. Start by going to this movie. Educate yourselves. Formulate your own opinions and stop listening to what others tell you. It is time for you to think for yourself and do you part in making this a better world for our children.

You Can’t Make This Stuff Up 2.0

English actress, Keira Knightley, once said, “I have no idea whether I am completely sane. I don’t think anybody is. I see the world through my eyes. It’s sometimes a strange world….” I (#blogger #blog #somseason #YA #authors) can relate to what Keira says as in the last few years I too have questioned my sanity, and I too see a strange world. Why is the world strange to me? In my last blog post I sited many examples of our strange world in a post titled, You Can’t Make This Stuff Up. I am about to tell you even more things reported as truth, strange truth, and I assure you I didn’t make any of it up.

Disneyland is proclaimed as the happiest place on earth. I’ve been there twice, and I’ll admit it is a fun place. But when I read Disney is blasted for allowing mustachioed employee to wear dress for shoving “woke” agendas down children’s throats, I wonder about that claim. Apparently, this mustachioed “Fairy Godmother’s Apprentice” welcomes children at Disneyland’s Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, a boutique that sell princess dresses. So Disney has guys in dresses selling princess dresses to kids. That is just weird. As I’ve said, you can’t make this shit up. Then there are the Toronto School Board officials who gender-shame students for International Day of Pink. Students and teachers were urged to wear pink shirts and asked to “practice a pronoun refresher,” meaning that teachers were to take time to reintroduce themselves to their classes using both their names and their preferred pronouns. I will tell you right now, I wouldn’t have done it. Believe it or not, our Canadian Federal government funded senior sex show in foreign countries. Good use of our tax dollars, eh? A teacher in the Toronto Catholic District School Board has bragged on social media about having a Pride flag and depictions of Jesus Christ as transgender in a prayer space in his classroom, and no, I did not make that up. Watch the news report. Is this what Catholic Schools have become? And what about the military? Evidently Drag Shows on US Military Bases were Canceled by Pentagon After Republican Criticism. Is this is what the people trained to protect our countries do? You can’t make this up. I urge you to watch the video Lord help us all! She sums up this craziness better than I can.

Let’s talk about racism craziness. Apparently the Military defines “racism” as denying you have racist beliefs. What is that supposed to mean? Well, the Canadian Armed Forces redefined being racist as anybody who believes in “equality but not equity,” or those who “refuse to engage in self-reflection and education to address their own” alleged racist beliefs. Give your head a shake for that one. Environmental activist David Suzuki equates truckers to anarchists during anti-old growth logging rally in Victoria. Suzuki labels everyday truckers, medical professionals and other concerned citizens seeking to recall B.C. premier David Eby as anarchists. I’m surprised he didn’t call them white supremacists.   A University of British Columbia professor says not wearing masks is racist, ableist and classist. I’m not even commenting on that one. WATCH: NDP MP who says oil and gas is white supremacy. This Member of Parliament claims conventional oil and gas supporters promote “white supremacy.”I’m still trying to figure it out. Don’t ask me! I never said it. You cannot make this shit up.

In the world of Canadian politics, Notley kicks reporters out of a press conference after criticizing Smith for limiting media questions. Notley and Smith are opposing Alberta political leaders. I guess you can’t control the narrative if you allow reporters to do their jobs.

Vimy Ridge Monument (Author’s photo)

Did you hear that the Royal Canadian Legion criticizes decision to remove Vimy Ridge from passport design. Vimy Ridge, a monument I’ve seen, denotes the sacrifices made by World War One Canadian soldiers. It represents a defining moment in Canadian history when our soldiers taking the ridge brought recognition from the world that we were indeed a nation in our own right. Why are they removing Canadian symbols from passports? Is this another attempt to cancel culture? It is not only the passports, as Justin Trudeau’s  government is to remove religious symbols from Canada’s Royal Coat of Arms. Why? Canada no longer ranks as one of freest countries in the world, despite national anthem that refers to country as ‘true north strong and free’. Proof of that is a CSIS report targets Canadians who criticize Trudeau and Health Canada. This report slights Canadians who criticized Trudeau’s policies and Health Canada’s stance on COVID as “violent extremists.” So, now critiquing the people we elect makes us “violent extremists.” That is bordering on bullying (#bullying, #antibullying). You can’t make this up.

Canada is not the same country I grew up in. We are no longer free and Trudeau has become the laughing stock of the world. Our leader makes strange decisions like when Pro-Beijing media received Canadian bailouts during pandemic. Trudeau gave two Chinese language media outlets in Canada emergency bailout funds during the pandemic. Canada is a democracy, so why are supporting communist media? That’s strange, but truth is stranger than fiction.

Let’s talk about municipal governments. A Pickering, Ontario city Councillor is under fire for proposing age limit on drag queen events. This councillor wants to restrict drag queen entertainment to those over the age of 19. Sounds like he is protecting children, so why is he being attacked? The City of Toronto reverses a decision to cancel Canada Day celebration after backlash. Since when is celebrating our country a bad thing? I don’t get it. Shouldn’t we be celebrating our country? Explain to me why we shouldn’t. Then there are the 10 Calgary councillors rebel against Mayor Gondek and demand fireworks by notice of motion. Apparently, there was a backlash against Mayor Gondek and the woke arts and culture staff who decided that fireworks is racist. Are you kidding me? Fireworks are racist. Maybe tell me what isn’t racist as everything seems to be racist nowadays. You can’t make this shit up. 

Speaking of racism, Health Canada blames climate change on ‘capitalism’ and ‘white supremacy’. Yes, I had to read that twice as well. The article says academics and experts interviewed by the Public Health Agency of Canada blame capitalism and white supremacy for climate change. Experts say this? I have to wonder where these “experts” got their education. Then there is Dr. Theresa Tam who lists climate change and capitalism as drivers of negative health. Let me get this straight. The Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, Dr. Theresa Tam, has listed climate change, white supremacy, capitalism, colonialism and racism as “systemic drivers of negative health, and no, I did not make that up. I remind you that these are the people running our heath care. I don’t know about you,, but that scares me. Flashback to 1989: UN Predicted ‘Disaster’ If Global Warming Not Checked by 2000. It was 34 years ago when the UN proclaimed that, so why are we supposed to trust the science?

The English Romantic poet, Lord Byron, says, “Tis strange, -but true; for truth is always strange; Stranger than fiction…” It was Mark Twain who said, “It’s no wonder that truth is stranger than fiction. Fiction has to make sense.”  The reality is, I can’t make this shit up because reality is just too strange.

You Can’t Make This Stuff Up

American comedian and actor Kevin Hart wrote a book called,  I Can’t Make This Up: Life Lessons. The things I am about to talk about is reported as truth, strange truth, and as the title of Hart’s book says, I can’t make this up. The title of this blog post, You can’t make this stuff up, is a common idiom. It is typically said when a situation, event, or action seems particularly bizarre, surreal, or difficult to believe. Personally, I (#blogger #blog #somseason #YA #authors) tend to use the idiom, You can’t make this shit up. Some consider it rude slang, but it is more my style. Never have these idioms become more relevant than in today’s world. Let me explain.

This past weekend, Mother’s Day was celebrated in Canada. What’s bizarre is a Manitoba school ditches Mother’s Day and Father’s Day to be “inclusive.” A memo sent out by the school said they encourage non-gender-specific observations of “all those who support our students.” Interestingly, the school’s vice-principal who sent the memo was asked whether parents or students had complained about the use of “Mother’s Day” and “Father’s Day,” but they received no response. It is not just Manitoba, as a Quebec school district apologizes after teachers cancel Mother’s Day & Father’s Day. Then there is a Toronto-area School that erases “exclusionary” Mother’s Day sign because a woke parent was offended. It’s bizarre, as Mother’s Day has been around since 1907 when American school teacher Anna Jarvis organized the first Mother’s Day in honour of her own late mother. In 1915, it became an official day of recognition in Canada. Mother’s day began in the USA in 1907 as well. It’s strange that this day is considered exclusive and there is an attempt to erase Mother’s Day. It’s difficult to believe but it is true.

These cancel culture movements happen because a small minority of people are offended. Orange book on Twitter says, “It’s impossible to never offend anyone, simply because some people will always seek reasons to get offended as a diversion from their reality.”  That is so true! Mokokoma Mokhonoana says, “Freedom of speech gives us the right to offend others, whereas freedom of thought gives them the choice as to whether or not to be offended.” Theses freedoms are no longer allowed is our country. Thomas Paine once said, “He who dares not offend cannot be honest.” Exactly.  Spock in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan said, “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.” What happened to “majority rules?” Isn’t that what democracy is based on? I recently saw a meme that said, “Why don’t the 99% of us who aren’t offended by everything, quit catering to the 1% who are…?” A great question. It is time to stop this nonsense and stop censorship.

A Boy is kicked out of school for wearing t-shirt saying ‘there are only two genders.’ What this 12 year describes is unbelievable. Watch the video.This never would have happened when I was teaching. Are freedom of speech and freedom of expression no longer valued? I taught Biology for 30+ years, and always taught my students that there are only two genders. If you have male genitalia, you’re a male and visa versa. You can claim to be female, you can dress like a female, but that doesn’t make you a female. Same is true for females who claim to be males. If you lack male genitalia, you’re a female. It’s simple biology. The fact is, as the old idiom says, if it looks like a duck, and walks like a duck, it is a duck. In other words, if something has the characteristics of something, it is probably that thing, regardless of what it is called or presented as.

To expel a student for speaking truth reminds me of George Orwell’s book 1984, a book I studied in high school English. Orwell’s novel speaks of the Ministry of Truth which is really the ministry of propaganda. As with the other ministries in the novel, the name Ministry of Truth is a contradiction because it serves to do the opposite. It is responsible for any necessary falsification of historical events. Some want to believe that these things no longer happen in our supposedly advanced civilization, but it does. Joe Biden is under fire for ‘dystopian’ disinformation bureau for creating the “Disinformation Governance Board,” which is likened to Orwell’s Ministry of Truth. Canada just passed a law where  Truth will vanish with Canada’s internet censorship law. Need I remind you that Adolf Hitler had a Ministry of Truth and Joseph Stalin had a Ministry of Truth. Now Joe Biden and Justin Trudeau have Ministries of Truth. Governments now decide what is truth. You can’t make this shit up.

Many continue to trust the mainstream media, but the CBC admits that it spread disinformation on ‘Freedom Convoy,’ retracts false story. Furthermore, the CBC asked social media to censor users too many times to count. Censorship is bullying (#bullying, #antibullying) as bullying is a deliberate misuse of power in relationships. Now the Ethics Commissioner confirms CBC lied about Danielle Smith. I guess that is why 4 in 10 Canadians believe CBC is Liberal propaganda. It isn’t just the CBC, as Health Canada regularly asks Twitter to censor tweets. It is also reported that the Public Health Agency of Canada makes regular requests to Twitter to censor tweets from social media users for “offensive language.” Censorship is wrong in any context as it removes people’s right to think for themselves.

Here is some more from the world of the bizarre. NHL goes all in on drag shows at hockey games. Even political parties are embracing these shows as A drag queen performance occurs at an NDP constituency—a Canadian political party—annual general meeting. A teachers’ union puts up unauthorized Progress Pride stickers in Catholic schools — and the school board is too terrified to order those stickers to be removed. One of the more bizarre things I came across was J.K. Rowling calls out Canadian male politicians for prancing around in high heels. Yes, you read that correctly. The author of the Harry Potter books, J.K. Rowling, along with other prominent women called out Canadian male politicians for prancing around in high heels, which was their effort to raise awareness about domestic violence. I like to think I have a pretty good imagination, but even I couldn’t think of something that weird. A Transgender lawmaker proposes deregulating pedophilia. It is being reported that a transgender representative in Minnesota introduced a bill that removes language from the state’s Human Rights Act that currently declares pedophiles are not included in protections based on “sexual orientation.” So, this lawmaker wants pedophiles to be protected. Wikipedia defines pedophilia as a psychiatric disorder in which an adult has a sexual attraction to  prepubescent children. Let me get this straight. People who violate prepubescent children are protected? You cannot make this stuff up.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) ponders ban of Fox News following complaint from LGBTQ lobby who claimed Fox host Tucker Carlson made ‘false and horrifying claims’ about transgender individuals.  Someone complained, so let’s ban Fox News in Canada. It seems Canadian and American citizens can say what they want so long as they don’t offend anyone. Then there is the Fury over World Health Organization’s (WHO) sex education about ‘early childhood masturbation and gender identities’ for UNDER-FOURS. Yes, we’re talking about children ages 1 to 4.  The WHO is giving guidance to schools about ‘sexuality education’ for young children, saying children under four should ‘ask questions about sexuality’ and ‘explore gender identities. Is this for real? That is just insane. Just when I think I’ve heard it all, then I read about Elizabeth Jean Carroll who Says ‘Most People Think of Rape As Being Sexy’ In Bizarre CNN Interview. This is the same E Jean Carroll who alleges Trump sexually assaulted her. I thought she said sexual assault was sexy. Why is she indicting Trump? You cannot make this shit up.

Ontario parents, teachers despise ‘woke math,’ but fear repercussions from public pushback. What is “woke math?” This stuff is hurting my brain. Then I read, Common sense labelled “unsafe” by radical school board. Common sense is unsafe? I don’t understand. The story is about a parent who appeared before a School board to express concern about teen boys who identify as female sharing an unsupervised non-gendered washroom with adolescent girls. It reports on the dysfunctional school board handling this parent’s address to the board. I’m still scratching my head.

Feminist group calls out Regina YWCA for inviting trans activist to lecture women. Now wrap your head around that one. A biological male who now uses “she/they” pronouns gives a keynote speech at a women’s awards night. That means a biological male is speaking to women who are celebrating women where one of the finalists for the Regina YWCA Women of Distinction awards is a biological male. You can’t make that up.

‘Trans Day of Vengeance’ cancelled, but Friday events still on. Apparently a “Trans Day of Vengeance” protest in Washington D.C. was cancelled because event organizers alleged there were threats made towards protesters. My question is: What is a Trans Day of Vengeance? It sounds frightening. Truth is stranger than fiction, I tell you.

Lord Byron, an English romantic poet once said, “Tis strange, -but true; for truth is always strange; Stranger than fiction…” It was Mark Twain who said, “It’s no wonder that truth is stranger than fiction. Fiction has to make sense.” The truth is, I can’t make this shit up because it is just too bizarre even for my mind. The world no longer makes sense to me. It seems many people choose to believe the fiction though, but maybe that is because fiction makes more sense to them.

What is Happening in Our Schools? (Part Three)

There was a time when I (#blogger #blog #somseason #YA #authors) thought I’d heard and seen it all, but clearly, I haven’t. Being a former teacher, I have always taken note of what is happening in our schools because I care about our youth. I’ve devoted most of my life working with youth, and I hope I’ve impacted their lives for the better. Seeing what’s happening in our schools is discouraging. My last two posts were about, ‘What is happening in our schools,” so here is what I’ve learned since my last blog post.

Global News talks about a Controversial West Kelowna billboard which had to be taken down. The billboard reads: What are your kids really learning in school? That is a question all parents should be asking. A Fox News article, A message from parents to schools — stop sexualizing our kids, says:

In recent months, parents have grown more and more upset by curricular content within public schools, demanding changes for the sake of their children. While their concerns include issues like critical race theory, they have also expressed outrage at sexually explicit materials in schools, easily accessible by young children…Schools have moved beyond the initial boundaries of “sex education” to ask our children for intimate details about their lives, making it seem as if young teenagers and even children should have sex. 

Parents are outraged here in Canada like in the United States. Schools seem to be presenting sex as a normal thing for children. Why are schools doing this? I discuss one possible reason in my last post. Many argue that it is Christians and conservatives that oppose sexually explicit materials in schools, but, Muslims, Christians and Sikhs protest against the sexual indoctrination of kids in BC schools. Yet, school boards try to silence concerned parents as, Ottawa school trustees shut down parent critical of trans policy. Parents are being bullied. (#bullying, #antibullying)! The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (The Charter) says Canadians have freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression… Based on what I’ve observed, ‘The Charter’ is a spineless document. This is why the National Post says, Canada was designed as a free country, but no longer is, so even Mainstream Media admits Canada is no longer a free country.

Even more disturbing is a School board in B.C. collecting photo ID, personal data of concerned parents. As I said in my previous post, Big Brother is watching you. Watch Tucker Carlson’s interview a Canadian Catholic school student arrested for saying men and women are different.

Then there are the B.C. child educators who will soon be learning how to ‘decolonize’ daycares and implement ‘gender-diverse’ curriculums. The article speaks of instruction being given to early childhood educators on how to use “intentional language to better include gender diverse children” saying these children are “worthy of being embraced and celebrated.” These public policies and training practices are being given to daycare workers who work with preschoolers; children 6 or younger. Do these children even know what gender is? I doubt it. This is indoctrination, the repeating of an idea or belief to someone until they accept it without criticism or question. Then there is the Ontario school board that focuses on divisive woke race-based hiring.

Watch this video of a school board that cuts off a Mother, only to have her son step in to point out the hypocritical board policy. This student explains that if he tries to google an “inappropriate” website he is immediately flagged, yet he can walk into his school library and find sexually explicit materials. That is hypocrisy! If you’re going to have sexually explicit materials available in school libraries, then allow students to access porn sites. Please understand, I am not advocating for that. I am merely pointing out the hypocrisy of these policies. Canada’s insanity is making world news as Tucker CANNOT believe what the school did to this girl after she made the wrong complaint. This girl was suspended for complaining about a trans person-with male genitalia-in the girl’s change room. As Mark Twain once said, “Truth is stranger than fiction.” Listen to Tuckers interview. It is eye opening.

Another controversy schools will face in the not so distant future is the use of ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence (AI) writing tools that can generate humanlike stories, essays, poems and other written forms, according to the opinion piece, Educators: why not embrace artificial intelligence writing tools. Let’s make cheating even easier, why don’t we?  This will become an educator’s nightmare, but there are those who like this technology as a mother whose teen son struggles with a learning disability urged him to turn in an essay written by ChatGPT. I am so grateful I don’t have to deal with AI technologies.

Many Canadians believe critical race theory (CRT) isn’t prevalent in Canadian schools, falsely believing critical race theory is just an American issue. The article, Critical Race Theory In Canadian Schools, suggests otherwise. I touched on CRT in schools in my previous post. What is CRT all about? The article, What Is Critical Race Theory? describes CRT as a “way of thinking about America’s history through race,” and it focusses on the idea that racism is systemic in a country’s institutions. This theory argues that a country’s institutions work to keep white people in a powerful position. Those against CRT say it is trying to rewrite American history, and tells white people that they are innately racist, and should feel guilty because of their white privilege. Those in favour of CRT argue that students get an incorrect picture of American history without this curriculum, and that it is damaging for students to think that racism, discrimination, and past injustices have no affect on society today.

You’re likely wondering what I think as a former educator. CRT should not be taught in our schools.  The problem with CRT is it focuses on what divides us—our differences—instead of what we have in common. No matter what a person’s beliefs, skin colour, or culture is, we are all united as humans. We need to focus on what unites and not what divides us. You may not think my view as worth much being I belong to the “privileged race,” so listen to what this African American says about CRT. He speaks truth.

CRT is indoctrination, and as the gentleman in the video says, it “keeps racism alive.” The Association for Psychological Science says, Young Children Are Especially Trusting of Things They’re Told. “Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth” is a law of propaganda which is often attributed to Joseph Goebbels who was Hitler’s Reich Minister of Propaganda. Watch the video of Black ELEMENTARY Students Forcing White Kids To Pledge that black lives matter. That is what happens when kids become indoctrinated by CRT.

I’ll reiterate what a censured teacher said in an interview with the National Post who said, “Teaching is now a political act that involves indoctrinating children instead of educating them. There’s a lot of reason to be afraid. We are in a kind of cultural revolution and people really do need to pay attention.”

This insanity isn’t just affecting our schools. Parents are furious about ‘naked man’ entering a girls’ locker room in a Calgary swimming pool. I wrote about this in my last post. Then there is the Storytime drag protester to spend weeks in custody. This is a story about a Calgary man who protested a drag show geared towards kids who was denied bail after refusing to distance himself from future shows and drag performers. These protests prompted the mayor to outlaw protests by increasing enforcement at Calgary city hall. This new law prompted Calgary cops to plot to grab anti-drag protester. The Charter says Canadians have freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association, but that’s only if you have the “right” viewpoint. In the province of Saskatchewan, there’s Steadfast support of Saskatoon’s trans community at a city council discussion. Saskatoon’s city council chambers were filled to capacity when people came to speak on the topic of public change room access for trans people. Listen to the video where an 11-year-old expresses fears about the policy.

Ontario considering banning TikTok in public schools. This is not a bad policy as the app has consequences for children. There are concerns about potential data breaches, and for the mental and physical health of children. The article refers to a survey that says many young Canadians believe excessive use of social media negatively impacts children’s mental health. Why just target TikTok? What about other social media platforms?

American Politician, Tom Allen said, “I think we have a moral obligation to our children that can be easily summarized: number one, protect them from harm.” Kids are being harmed with these absurd policies. As I said in my last blog post, “leave them kids alone.”

What is Happening in Our Schools? (Part two)

When I wrote (#blogger #blog #somseason #YA #authors) What is Happening to Our Schools? I thought our schools couldn’t get any worse, but it turns out I’m wrong. The school insanity continues.

When I began teaching in my first school, I was told there was a dress code for teachers which meant male teachers had to wear a tie. My, how things have changed. In September of 2022 a Canadian school backed trans teacher with giant prosthetic breasts, with the stance they’re protecting “gender rights.” It seems anything goes nowadays, including males wearing prosthetic breasts. I would have been fired, and likely put into a mental institution, if I’d pulled such a stunt. Ironically, now it is being reported that this Trans teacher with Z-size prosthetic breasts dresses as man outside of school. One would think if you sincerely want to be a female, you would dress like one on all occasions. Even more insane is A British Columbia secondary school is promoting a workshop for students between 14-year-olds to 19-year-olds on how to access “gender affirming care. Now we’re teaching kids how to change genders.

We Canadians think we live in a country where there is freedom of speech, but that is an illusion. A Canadian Student was Kicked Out of Catholic School for Expressing Biblical Beliefs on Gender. You can say what you want if it agrees with authorities, but the reality is Big Brother is watching you. In case you don’t know, the phrase ‘Big Brother Is Watching You’ comes from the novel 1984 by George Orwell, a novel I studied in high school. It has since become a phrase that refers to threats of government scrutiny.

Watch the news cast about a High School that Orders Removal Of All Urinals In The Name Of Gender Equity. These school board believes All-gender washrooms are a big sign of inclusion in these Canadian schools. Do students support this? Not all of them as Students protest multiple ‘gender neutral’ bathrooms at Alberta high school. My great niece attends one of these schools with ‘gender neutral’ washrooms, and she avoids going to the washroom all day because of fear of meeting boys there. That signals there’s a problem with ‘gender neutral’ washrooms.

I just read about a Parent furious a transgendered men was allowed into girls’ changing room at Calgary pools. Is this what is happening in our schools? If the school has gender neutral washrooms, it is happening. Watch the video below about a student who leaves woke school board SPEECHLESS. This kid is amazing! He reveals truth. This grade 11 student tells about his experience in school and why he is changing schools.

You can also watch it on Rumble should censorship happen. The censorship going on is not only about gender, but it’s also about racism as  Anti-Anglophone “Wokeness” Dominates Canada’s Education System. Being a white (Caucasian) is a bad thing now. Then there is the pronoun confusion. The pronoun thing confuses the hell out of me, so I’m sure our young people are confused too. Watch the video, This Is Really Where the Pronoun Madness Has Led to. The video is about a middle school student in the United States being charged with sexual harassment because he refused to use pronouns. This is bullying (#bullying, #antibullying)! and it’s not only happening in Canada.

I recently read that Dr. Seuss was re-classified as adult fiction, gets “racism” complaints: Ottawa Public Library.  The thing about our schools is books are being censored because they are deemed as racist, yet a Canadian dad feels the need to rip school board for sexually explicit book available to young children, gender policies. Watch this 11-year-old SILENCE a School Board as he reads from a sexually explicit book found in his school library. You can also watch it here. If you’re a parent, ask why: Are These 7 LGBT ‘Kids’ Books in Your Child’s Classroom or School Library?  A Father exposes child grooming books in Canadian schools. Is this what is happening? Are our children being groomed? The article suggests sexually explicit books are being used as tools by predators to aid them in child grooming. Are people trying to normalize pedophilia? If you’re a parent or grandparent, read this article. It’s alarming to think this may be why these types of books are showing up in school libraries.

As far as I’m concerned, our school system is warping the minds of our children. We are confusing kids about gender and teaching them to be racist. That is what Critical Race Theory does in my view, and many others agree. Is there an agenda? You bet.  ‘A lot of reason to be afraid,’ says censured teacher critical of the woke revolution in classrooms. In an Interview with the National Post, this teacher said, “Teaching is now a political act that involves indoctrinating children instead of educating them. There’s a lot of reason to be afraid. We are in a kind of cultural revolution and people really do need to pay attention.”

In a February state of the nation speech, Russia’s President Putin said Western nations are trying to “‘distract people’s attention’ from corruption scandals … from economic-social problems…Look at what they do to their own people: the destruction of families, of cultural and national identities and the perversion that is child abuse all the way up to pedophilia, are advertised as the norm … and priests are forced to bless same-sex marriages.” Mainstream Media (MM) maintains Russia is our enemy, but are they? If you have been reading my blogs in past years, you know what I think of the MM. Is Putin merely trying to warn us about the insanity in our Western world?

Here are some other ridiculous things happening in our schools. A N.S. school fires coach after he makes late team members run exercises. When I was teaching, kids were taught to be responsible to their team, and there were consequences for being late. Is that no longer the case? Seems so. School boards placing equity lens as priority even for tree pruning jobs. Equity means staff should reflect the “diversity of the community.” The article states, “It used to be…that prospective employers were not permitted to ask or discriminate against candidates based on age, sexuality, religion and any other personal details that really have nothing to do with one’s ability to perform a particular job. That was when one’s ability to nab a job was based on merit.” I guess ability to do a job doesn’t matter anymore. Human rights are protected for transgender people, but not for those who belong to a majority ethnic group.

 Then there is the Canadian school board who votes to terminate teacher who dared to teach truths about Residential School deaths. You’re not allowed to have an opinion or speak truth anymore. It makes people too uncomfortable. “Truth is only visible to those who are able to question everything that they have been taught to believe.” I don’t know who said that, but he or she is bang on. People don’t want to hear truth. It seems Youngsters are becoming infected with adult climate cult hysteria, govt data shows. Let’s panic our youth more. No wonder teachers don’t want to teach anymore. I personally know of a few. It’s why Ontario school boards are hiring uncertified emergency staff.

Yet another survey shows people think things are broken in Canada. This survey says 65% of Canadians agree it feels like many things in Canada are broken. That means 65% are willing to admit something is wrong in Canada. The fact is, all our institutions—schools, government, judicial system, religious institutions and many others—are broken. Things are broken in Canada, and not just in Canada. All of North America and the Western world are broken. As a veteran teacher of 35 years, I find what is happening in our schools very upsetting. I’m happy I am no longer teaching or have children in school. If you’re a parent, or grandparent, you need to pay attention to what’s happening in our schools. Are our children being indoctrinated to think a certain way? Are you okay with that? As a former teacher, I know how easy it is to influence young people, and persuasion can be used for both good or evil. To quote the Pink Floyd song, Another Brick In the Wall, I bet many kids are saying, “Hey, teacher, leave us kids alone.” I say, “leave them kids alone.”