Hi Friends
Did you see this?click here
Why is this not hate mongering? Can you imagine what the consequences would be if this were any other ethnic group being maligned in this way? What is the defense offered for this hugely offensive piece of drivel? It was meant as a humorous commentary? Where's the humor in it then?
She has written a book? Wow, my question is has she ever even read a book?...May I suggest that at least one of them should be history book.
What is her alma mater...the university of Hollywood? Fun though the oater genre may be, they are strictly for entertainment, and thus not historically factual at all. Sorry to tell you, there is no Santa Claus either. I know, I know. I've seen movies about him too.
You hear young Black comics and rappers refer to their friends using the "N-word" and have even been asked,.." if you guys use this term, then why can't I?" The answer always is..."I don't know, but you had better not"...inference being you're not black, and as such therefore have no justifiable reason what ever to use this most derogatory of terms. Maybe Ms. Marsden should adopt this as a guide post in her writings, so as to not offend, and or insult the culture of others.
The thing I find even more disquieting than the printing of this racist article (and to all you deniers, it is racist) is the numerous blogs in defense of it. The red necked bottom feeders were out in force, with their bemoaning political correctness,and ranting their "poor put upon me" rhetoric. Amazing to me, how Ms. Marsden and her supporters feel victimized when their intolerance of others is pointed out. Sadly mind boggling!
I want to believe we are better than this. Lets stop the racial hate speak, adopt the term Human Race in relation to each other and...evolve...
debra
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Thanks-for-nothing-day
Hi Friends
Lets talk about respect. Respect for the nation to nation dealings we have with each other. Respect for, and the upholding of the Constitution. Respect for the First Nations in their struggle to assume their rightful place in this country.
When governments run roughshod over the rights of citizens, and carry out a campaign of disinformation against the few, this is what can, and has, led to unrest, ethnic cleansing, civil wars and anarchy in extreme situations.
In the sixties, with a liberal government under P.E.Trudeau.
Canada was making it presence known on the world stage as a peace keeper, and a haven to the disenfranchised. We were proudly multi-cultural, yet the government of the day still sought to assimilate the first nations populations with a little piece of legislation known as the white paper.
This was answered by a young first nations man named Harold Cardinal who wrote a paper of his own dubbed the red paper. After this was put forward, the Liberals shelved the white paper proposition. Small victory. Then in 1982 the Constitution was brought home with section 35 guaranteeing aboriginal and treaty rights. Looked upon as a significant victory. Twenty-five years on still not being implemented...
First Nations communities across the country are suffering unspeakable woes. Who but the most callous among us can look into the face of a child and shrug off the pain and sorrow you see there? When ever I see the leaders of these communities begging for help, or read of the loss of lives to suicide in these communities or hear of the missing women or the disproportionate amount of incarcerated native men and women from these communities, I can only wonder 'where is your compassion for your fellow man?'
We as a country have just celebrated that most native of holidays...Thanksgiving. How many native communities had much to be thankful for do you think?
debra
Lets talk about respect. Respect for the nation to nation dealings we have with each other. Respect for, and the upholding of the Constitution. Respect for the First Nations in their struggle to assume their rightful place in this country.
When governments run roughshod over the rights of citizens, and carry out a campaign of disinformation against the few, this is what can, and has, led to unrest, ethnic cleansing, civil wars and anarchy in extreme situations.
In the sixties, with a liberal government under P.E.Trudeau.
Canada was making it presence known on the world stage as a peace keeper, and a haven to the disenfranchised. We were proudly multi-cultural, yet the government of the day still sought to assimilate the first nations populations with a little piece of legislation known as the white paper.
This was answered by a young first nations man named Harold Cardinal who wrote a paper of his own dubbed the red paper. After this was put forward, the Liberals shelved the white paper proposition. Small victory. Then in 1982 the Constitution was brought home with section 35 guaranteeing aboriginal and treaty rights. Looked upon as a significant victory. Twenty-five years on still not being implemented...
First Nations communities across the country are suffering unspeakable woes. Who but the most callous among us can look into the face of a child and shrug off the pain and sorrow you see there? When ever I see the leaders of these communities begging for help, or read of the loss of lives to suicide in these communities or hear of the missing women or the disproportionate amount of incarcerated native men and women from these communities, I can only wonder 'where is your compassion for your fellow man?'
We as a country have just celebrated that most native of holidays...Thanksgiving. How many native communities had much to be thankful for do you think?
debra
Thursday, October 8, 2009
The Prime minister's forked tongue
Hi Friends
"We (Canada) have no history of colonialism." Excerpt from Stephen Harpers speech to the G20 summit in Pittsburgh Sept.25, 2009.
Tell that to the colonized. Many First nations and their citizens still struggle under all the social ills that accompany colonization. Broken families, domestic abuse, drug and alcohol abuse; all consequences of colonization. Let's look at some examples. The colonial Indian Act that displaces First Nation Governance, chronic underfunding of First Nations people, and lets not forget the denial of treaty rights...even though they are recognized in the Canadian Constitution..(section 35)
The spin doctors have assured us that this was just a snippet taken out of context.
Really? Didn't Stephen Harper just apologize about one year ago for the Residential schools?
"There is no place in Canada for the attitudes that inspired the Indian residential school system to ever prevail again" excerpt from the residential school apology.
Mr. Harper seems unaware or doesn't care that he is giving the entire country a black eye around the world by refusing to sign the indigenous peoples rights bill.
Apologizes for, then denies colonization? Maybe Mr. Harper is unaware of the exact definition of colonization. Perhaps he could check out the AFN web site for this and so much more.
regards
Debra
sources are:http://www.afn.ca/article.asp?id=4609
"We (Canada) have no history of colonialism." Excerpt from Stephen Harpers speech to the G20 summit in Pittsburgh Sept.25, 2009.
Tell that to the colonized. Many First nations and their citizens still struggle under all the social ills that accompany colonization. Broken families, domestic abuse, drug and alcohol abuse; all consequences of colonization. Let's look at some examples. The colonial Indian Act that displaces First Nation Governance, chronic underfunding of First Nations people, and lets not forget the denial of treaty rights...even though they are recognized in the Canadian Constitution..(section 35)
The spin doctors have assured us that this was just a snippet taken out of context.
Really? Didn't Stephen Harper just apologize about one year ago for the Residential schools?
"There is no place in Canada for the attitudes that inspired the Indian residential school system to ever prevail again" excerpt from the residential school apology.
Mr. Harper seems unaware or doesn't care that he is giving the entire country a black eye around the world by refusing to sign the indigenous peoples rights bill.
Apologizes for, then denies colonization? Maybe Mr. Harper is unaware of the exact definition of colonization. Perhaps he could check out the AFN web site for this and so much more.
regards
Debra
sources are:http://www.afn.ca/article.asp?id=4609
Monday, October 5, 2009
Sisters in Spirit
Hi Friends
These are painful times for the First Nations communities. Some are mourning the loss of some of their women and some are worried they too might lose women, and all are wondering why these women and girls don't deserve the media attention given a lost pet.
Some of these young women were in high risk lifestyles, thats true, but does that negate their humanity?
People do what they deem necessary to survive. From feeding a drug habit to feeding their children these women were forced into the streets, and into danger by the antiquated legal definition of prostitution.
Our criminal code doesn't forbid selling your body for sex, but it does prohibit the soliciting of, or the living off the avails of prostitution. Puritan double speak. Why all the sanctimonious rhetoric? I'm constantly amazed at the righteousness of the uptight right wingers who envision the down fall of our nation should we honestly face the fact that we are sexual creatures. This could be a victimless crime, monitored, and (for the bean counters) taxed, and safe houses and medical checks provided for the workers. Probably a cash cow for the Government, but definitely a safer alternative for the working women, and the Johns who use their services.
Many advocacy groups have come out in support the First Nations in their cries for help from law enforcement and the Canadian Government. We need to face the facts now. The Government of Canada is not interested in our loss. I feel they welcome it...and all the sensitivity training in the world for law enforcers is all for naught, because until they themselves are personally impacted by their own loss, wages, women from their back grounds, and charges of dereliction of duty, and forced to see it our way, they too have no interest. That sounds like I'm painting with a broad brush, but it has been going on over a number of years now hasn't it?
The media outlets are full to brimming over with tales of the treatment of third world women and their plight...can I just say lets clean up our own back yard first?
Grandmother moon provides us direction, strength knowledge and wisdom. She teaches us of our special place in our families and beyond.
We need Grandmother moons presences in our lives now more than ever, especially for our young women who live in the shadows and darkness as they struggle to live in the light.
regards Debra
These are painful times for the First Nations communities. Some are mourning the loss of some of their women and some are worried they too might lose women, and all are wondering why these women and girls don't deserve the media attention given a lost pet.
Some of these young women were in high risk lifestyles, thats true, but does that negate their humanity?
People do what they deem necessary to survive. From feeding a drug habit to feeding their children these women were forced into the streets, and into danger by the antiquated legal definition of prostitution.
Our criminal code doesn't forbid selling your body for sex, but it does prohibit the soliciting of, or the living off the avails of prostitution. Puritan double speak. Why all the sanctimonious rhetoric? I'm constantly amazed at the righteousness of the uptight right wingers who envision the down fall of our nation should we honestly face the fact that we are sexual creatures. This could be a victimless crime, monitored, and (for the bean counters) taxed, and safe houses and medical checks provided for the workers. Probably a cash cow for the Government, but definitely a safer alternative for the working women, and the Johns who use their services.
Many advocacy groups have come out in support the First Nations in their cries for help from law enforcement and the Canadian Government. We need to face the facts now. The Government of Canada is not interested in our loss. I feel they welcome it...and all the sensitivity training in the world for law enforcers is all for naught, because until they themselves are personally impacted by their own loss, wages, women from their back grounds, and charges of dereliction of duty, and forced to see it our way, they too have no interest. That sounds like I'm painting with a broad brush, but it has been going on over a number of years now hasn't it?
The media outlets are full to brimming over with tales of the treatment of third world women and their plight...can I just say lets clean up our own back yard first?
Grandmother moon provides us direction, strength knowledge and wisdom. She teaches us of our special place in our families and beyond.
We need Grandmother moons presences in our lives now more than ever, especially for our young women who live in the shadows and darkness as they struggle to live in the light.
regards Debra
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Punishment and Crime
Hi Friends
Lets talk about justice. To be more specific the two-tiered justice system.
Lets examine the well known cases of Leonard Peltier and Roman Polanski.
Roman Polanski has been arrested in Switzerland and is currently being held for extradition back to America to face charges on an out standing warrant from a 1977 arrest. His crime; sex with a minor, to which he pleaded guilty.
Some believe he has suffered enough. He has after all had to live in the lap of luxury, eating the finest cuisine plying his craft to the accolades and adulation of his peers. Did I mention he was forced to live on the French Riviera. He did plead guilty to this crime, but felt that his 42 day mental assessment for pedophilia should have been enough time served, and fled custody.
Leonard Peltier was sentenced in 1977 for the murder of two F.B.I. agents killed in a shoot out on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. He pleaded innocent.
The FBI's own ballistics tests have proven that the bullets in question did not come from Peltier's weapon. These killings happened in a war like atmosphere in which the FBI agents were terrorizing the residents of the Pine Ridge Reserve in retaliation for the 1973 stand-off. Debates over the guilt, and or the fairness of Mr. Peltier's trial continue to this day. He is currently incarcerated at Lewisburg Federal Penitentiary.
Leonard Peltier has suffered beatings and illness while in prison, and even though he has been a model prisoner the FBI come to each of his parole hearings to offer victim impact statements against his release. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has stated publicly they intend to see to it that Leonard Peltier is never paroled. Why is that? Aren't they interested in truth and justice? Isn't that what they say their job is?
Leonard's supporters and some organizations consider him to be a political prisoner. A few of his supporters are as follows: Nelson Mandela, Amnesty International, U.N. High Commission on Human Rights, his holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, The Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Reverend Jesse Jackson, and of course AIM.
The malicious persecution of one man stands in glaring contrast to the benevolent attitudes expressed towards the other man. These may on the surface seem like two very different cases, but the comparison can still be drawn. One rich one poor, one admittedly guilty one railroaded. One allowed freedom till he spoke out on American political policy, one persecuted for standing up against American political policy. Lets see if the power brokers in Hollywood can once again get Lady Justice to peek beneath her blind fold for the monied elite.
Where as Roman Polanski has raped lady justice, Leonard Peltier has been raped by her.
That my friends is what we call two-tiered justice.
regards Debra
Lets talk about justice. To be more specific the two-tiered justice system.
Lets examine the well known cases of Leonard Peltier and Roman Polanski.
Roman Polanski has been arrested in Switzerland and is currently being held for extradition back to America to face charges on an out standing warrant from a 1977 arrest. His crime; sex with a minor, to which he pleaded guilty.
Some believe he has suffered enough. He has after all had to live in the lap of luxury, eating the finest cuisine plying his craft to the accolades and adulation of his peers. Did I mention he was forced to live on the French Riviera. He did plead guilty to this crime, but felt that his 42 day mental assessment for pedophilia should have been enough time served, and fled custody.
Leonard Peltier was sentenced in 1977 for the murder of two F.B.I. agents killed in a shoot out on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. He pleaded innocent.
The FBI's own ballistics tests have proven that the bullets in question did not come from Peltier's weapon. These killings happened in a war like atmosphere in which the FBI agents were terrorizing the residents of the Pine Ridge Reserve in retaliation for the 1973 stand-off. Debates over the guilt, and or the fairness of Mr. Peltier's trial continue to this day. He is currently incarcerated at Lewisburg Federal Penitentiary.
Leonard Peltier has suffered beatings and illness while in prison, and even though he has been a model prisoner the FBI come to each of his parole hearings to offer victim impact statements against his release. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has stated publicly they intend to see to it that Leonard Peltier is never paroled. Why is that? Aren't they interested in truth and justice? Isn't that what they say their job is?
Leonard's supporters and some organizations consider him to be a political prisoner. A few of his supporters are as follows: Nelson Mandela, Amnesty International, U.N. High Commission on Human Rights, his holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, The Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Reverend Jesse Jackson, and of course AIM.
The malicious persecution of one man stands in glaring contrast to the benevolent attitudes expressed towards the other man. These may on the surface seem like two very different cases, but the comparison can still be drawn. One rich one poor, one admittedly guilty one railroaded. One allowed freedom till he spoke out on American political policy, one persecuted for standing up against American political policy. Lets see if the power brokers in Hollywood can once again get Lady Justice to peek beneath her blind fold for the monied elite.
Where as Roman Polanski has raped lady justice, Leonard Peltier has been raped by her.
That my friends is what we call two-tiered justice.
regards Debra
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Children in Need of CARE
Hi Friends
As you may or may not know, first nations children out number non-aboriginal children in the care of the child welfare system at a rate of 10.23% to 0.67% of non aboriginal.
The over representation is directly linked to poverty, neglect and abuse. All of these woes could and should be addressed by any means possible. A caring and responsible government need only to take their responsibility seriously and match funding on the reserves to that of the provincial funding of programs for non aboriginals.
The provinces fund the child welfare programs off reserve and the federal government is responsible for these same programs on reserve. If the federal government doesn't fund the programs, or under funds them, the provinces don't typically top up the funding levels. This results in a two tiered child welfare system. Children on reserves get less funding for child welfare than other children.
Do you think this might have any correlation to the emerging gang problems in First Nation communities? This is a rhetorical question. Please we don't need yet another study, but action now.
The Harper Conservatives are currently on the pay later plan. Maybe a job creation program. Build more jails, hire more jailers, the real government stimulus package. As is their typical modus operandi these ghouls are, it would seem, to be targeting the poorest most underprivileged population in the country to (dare I say eradicate) through under funding.
Suffer the little children, right Mr. Harper?
"Suffer the little children to come unto me." Jesus: Luke 18:6
regards Debra
As you may or may not know, first nations children out number non-aboriginal children in the care of the child welfare system at a rate of 10.23% to 0.67% of non aboriginal.
The over representation is directly linked to poverty, neglect and abuse. All of these woes could and should be addressed by any means possible. A caring and responsible government need only to take their responsibility seriously and match funding on the reserves to that of the provincial funding of programs for non aboriginals.
The provinces fund the child welfare programs off reserve and the federal government is responsible for these same programs on reserve. If the federal government doesn't fund the programs, or under funds them, the provinces don't typically top up the funding levels. This results in a two tiered child welfare system. Children on reserves get less funding for child welfare than other children.
Do you think this might have any correlation to the emerging gang problems in First Nation communities? This is a rhetorical question. Please we don't need yet another study, but action now.
The Harper Conservatives are currently on the pay later plan. Maybe a job creation program. Build more jails, hire more jailers, the real government stimulus package. As is their typical modus operandi these ghouls are, it would seem, to be targeting the poorest most underprivileged population in the country to (dare I say eradicate) through under funding.
Suffer the little children, right Mr. Harper?
"Suffer the little children to come unto me." Jesus: Luke 18:6
regards Debra
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
court challenge program
Hi friends
The first nations communities have relied heavily on the court challenges program to sort out many issues surrounding the unfair treatment of women and children in our communities. That was till the Harper Conservatives canceled this very important program.
The court challenges program is at the heart of democracy.
Although the court challenges program has been in effect since 1978; it primarily addressed minority languages (section 93-133) of the constitution act 1867 and to fund such challenges. Then in 1982 this mandate was expanded to take in (sections 16-23) around language laws to provide education in minority languages where warranted and to have minority languages in court proceedings.
Then again in 1985 it was expanded to include equality for all section 15 of the Charter of rights and freedoms..
There have been many lawsuits initiated on the provision of the Charter. These involve individuals on one side and usually government departments or agencies on the other. The imbalance between these opposing parties in financial, technical and human resources, constitutes serious impediment to those who might wish to claim benefit of section 15, thus reducing the effectiveness of resorting to the courts as a means of obtaining redress.
P ALIMENTARY COMMITTEE ON EQUAL RIGHTS.
Which Mr. Harper used himself back in the year 2000 to challenge the Liberal Government's cap on third party spending.
Mr. Harper became P.M. in 2006 and has since canceled the Court Challenges program. A case of some being more equal than others perhaps? It doesn't fit the Conservative Government's ideology. I guess democracy isn't in this Governments ideology, nor does it seem to be in the official opposition parties either.
As a citizen of a supposed democracy where do I turn when I disagree with my government?... or is that even still allowed?
If history has taught us nothing else, let us try to remember the wise words of Pastor Martin Niemoller (1892-1984)...First they came for the communists and I did not speak out-because I was not a communist; Then they came for the socialist and I did not speak out -because I was not a socialist; Then they came for the trade unionist and I did not speak out- because I was not a trade unionist; Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out- because I was not a Jew; Then they came for me-and there was no one left to speak out for me.
Let your voices be heard on this very important issue. Write your represenatives in parliment and have YOUR say.
regards Debra
The first nations communities have relied heavily on the court challenges program to sort out many issues surrounding the unfair treatment of women and children in our communities. That was till the Harper Conservatives canceled this very important program.
The court challenges program is at the heart of democracy.
Although the court challenges program has been in effect since 1978; it primarily addressed minority languages (section 93-133) of the constitution act 1867 and to fund such challenges. Then in 1982 this mandate was expanded to take in (sections 16-23) around language laws to provide education in minority languages where warranted and to have minority languages in court proceedings.
Then again in 1985 it was expanded to include equality for all section 15 of the Charter of rights and freedoms..
There have been many lawsuits initiated on the provision of the Charter. These involve individuals on one side and usually government departments or agencies on the other. The imbalance between these opposing parties in financial, technical and human resources, constitutes serious impediment to those who might wish to claim benefit of section 15, thus reducing the effectiveness of resorting to the courts as a means of obtaining redress.
P ALIMENTARY COMMITTEE ON EQUAL RIGHTS.
Which Mr. Harper used himself back in the year 2000 to challenge the Liberal Government's cap on third party spending.
Mr. Harper became P.M. in 2006 and has since canceled the Court Challenges program. A case of some being more equal than others perhaps? It doesn't fit the Conservative Government's ideology. I guess democracy isn't in this Governments ideology, nor does it seem to be in the official opposition parties either.
As a citizen of a supposed democracy where do I turn when I disagree with my government?... or is that even still allowed?
If history has taught us nothing else, let us try to remember the wise words of Pastor Martin Niemoller (1892-1984)...First they came for the communists and I did not speak out-because I was not a communist; Then they came for the socialist and I did not speak out -because I was not a socialist; Then they came for the trade unionist and I did not speak out- because I was not a trade unionist; Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out- because I was not a Jew; Then they came for me-and there was no one left to speak out for me.
Let your voices be heard on this very important issue. Write your represenatives in parliment and have YOUR say.
regards Debra
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