Some Controversial Views

Zoos are there for humans, not animals. Animals would be happy in the wild and can look at a zoo only as a prison. It is great that Peter Karsten (former Director)was able to improve animal’s conditions (in the Calgary zoo), but he did not set them free. Being a creation of humans - either for education or entertainment or both - and even more importantly, being paid for by humans, zoos have to represent what humans want The ‘70s and ‘80s were good times to have liberal and benevolent views, whether in politics or as a zookeeper. The pendulum swung hard the other way in the ‘90s and human likes and dislikes became the prime consideration. Once again animals became playthings with no persona. All that animal lovers can hope for is that the pendulum will swing again -but I am not holding my breath.
(Alberta Views, 09/10)
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If you think I am becoming right wing in my old age, you may be right. I can not bring myself to vote for Harper Conservatives because I would like to see a less divisive leader who is more interested in the good of the people he rules than in gaining absolute majority in the next election. The reason for my transformation from a bleeding heart liberal is that I have seen so much abuse of well--intentioned programs like support for the poor families and worker’s compensation that I now doubt their utility to the society in the long run. The programs that discourage individuals from preparing for or returning to work after injury need to be modified and tax dollars put to some other use. I worked hard for whatever little I earned and to think that so much of it was taken from me to be handed to cheats and scoundrels makes me more than a little upset.
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It is argued by theoreticians that it is illogical to target all Muslims in terrorist safeguards just as it was in case of North Americans of Japanese descent. In a normal case when stakes are small, that logic holds. But if it is true that some of a visible minority are suspect, these few intend to and can cause incalculable damage to society and for whatever reasons they can not be isolated; it is preferable to subject the minority in question to safeguards than the whole population. It is preferable, both on moral and economic grounds, to inconvenience as few of your citizens as possible. To inconvenience all when it is necessary to inconvenience just a few may be logical to some, it is not sensible to most.
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If you consider how much of your income is directly siphoned off by various levels of governments, you will join the TEA party as well. To begin with, a third or more of your income is withheld to pay the income tax and other withholdings. Every item you buy there is a surcharge of up to 15 percent that goes directly to the government. Every year there is a tax for the home you live in which amounts to the net earnings of several weeks in addition to monthly charges for the services the city is supposed to provide. Of course the businesses pay similar taxes and pass them on to the customers. You add it all up and you are paying to the governments more of what you earn after working hard than you are left with for your loved ones. After paying all that, not only is it hard to access the services a government exists to provide, the quality of services is declining precipitately. If that does not make your blood boil, you must be a true Canadian.
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The poor response to flood relief funds for Pakistan has nothing to do with Islam, the history or the geography. People are reluctant to donate for two reasons: the region where floods first hit has been one of the bases of Taliban and the general perception that the government of Pakistan has played a duplicitous role in Afghan war. It is hard to empty the wallet for people who comfort your enemies. Speaking for myself, I will sign a check only when Pakistan has liquidated Taliban and El Qaeda bases from its territory. It is unfair to the suffering flood victims, but these are the same people who cheer when our soldiers are killed in Afghanistan and when their terrorist brothers cause the death of innocent people in Kashmir, London and Mumbai, not to mention Karachi and Lahore in their own country.
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The vituperative coverage of CTV’s rival CBC in the Globe during the past week may be a good business practice by the owner CTV globemedia, respectable behavior by a self-proclaimed national newspaper it is not.
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While it is gratifying to see so many people risking their lives to live in Canada, we should note that these were not desperate people. The real refugees escape to India a few hours away on a rowing boat and merge with the fellow Tamils there. The shipload consists mostly of lower middle class farmers and tradesmen who were persuaded by crafty smugglers to part with all they had in exchange for a promise of life in the land of colour TV, free education for the kids, free medical care and hefty welfare cheques. While severe penalties for smugglers might help, what we need is to change the perception of the easy life once they get here and I am afraid not much is being suggested in that direction.
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Privacy act, along with the Bill of Rights, provides criminals strong shield while leaving honest law-abiding citizens unprotected. One does not have to be a loony on the fringes of right wing to demand that changes be made in these laws to make them more balanced.
After all is said and done, laws are intended to protect all citizens, not just those who victimise innocent and helpless citizens.
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Let us face it; the summer vacation is for teachers not students. It is the teachers who need a long break from the arduous routine and the problems associated with kids who only go to school because they have to. Please leave kids out of it. They are not a factor in summer vacation issue.