mrrnice2

The snowball analogy is perfect, however how does one do more than tweak? Are we looking for our own version of the Arab Spring, North American style? I think not, and even if so, what has actually changed in Egypt, or will change in Libya? Scribbles is correct in stating that the current protests HAVE been hurt by the incidents of violence and open drug use and the criminal elements that have infiltrated. Voter apathy of course plays a role, and we are saddled with the political parties that a minority of Canadians put into power with majority governments, but again I will reiterate that individual governments are as powerless as individual Canadians - it is the multinational greed that is a root core. Minimum wages to Canadians, and then moving the jobs to third world countries where the minimum wages become less again, all while arguing of the opportunities that they provide. Environmental regulations are non-existent or totally disregarded. I could go on and on here. Mrgreen with his statement of each of us making good individual choices and assuming personal responsibility is the starting point, however in our society as it exists now, how available are his choices to the masses? We must be realistic and practical and I stand by what I wrote in post # 2, one small individual step at a time.

Julia. Your words are on target and I could, as could many of us, cite example after example of multitudinous injustices and inequities. It is clear to me that countries that have their own borders and governments, including even Canada, the United States, China and Germany, are not the power brokers. It is in fact the countries that have no borders, that have no elected officials, that have no desire for 'government BY and FOR the people', that give individual and obscene profits to their CEO's, that has the world in its present state. The multinationals are the root cause. Whether I be correct in that or not is irrelevant because you are correct in saying, "But this is the world we live in." Neither you nor I, nor merely thousands of well intentioned protesters can change that world. What you can do, and I can do, and each of us as lone individuals can do, is only what we can do at the moment, at the time. One small step at a time, a kindness, an act of support, a helping hand, a vote of confidence, a shoulder to cry on, be a voice in the wilderness, step outside of our social boundaries, recognize the power of one. If you did this, if I did this, then there are two steps forward. Ghandi and King changed their worlds. My sense of idealism and optimism remain.

Congratulations Old Dog. This is what we all aspire to. You set a standard.

I like Mr Gump because he is a new member here and it is so nice to see his excitement at being able to post without delay. Cheers to new and positive members. Awesome.:) Additional Comments: I see I overlapped on Touch when I posted. I like Touch too because he comments on such a variety of things and I also like the word splooge. :)

Decisions decisions.What to wear? What to wear? I would be willing to wager that I am in possession of the largest collection of Christmas ties of any Cerb member. I easliy have a different one for every day of December should I choose to wear them :) The kids that I taught used to love them, but at this event with beautiful, intelligent, mature, and discerning women, will it be tacky? But hey, it's Christmas. The kid in everyone comes out. So Christmas tie it is. Decisions, decisions, which one? If worst comes to worst, I can give it to Malika. My guess is that she would find a good use for it too. :) Or maybe Angela may need it to keep Old Dog under control.

Thanks November. I shall see if I can get it. As I said, I am on a learning curve for sure. I did buy The Ethical Slut and it has now been passed on to an SP who had not read it and she has it booked to move on to another. :) We should start our own lending library. Take Care

Congratulations Nicki. :) It is always a treat to read your contributions and I appreciate the sincere and honest way that you express your viewpoints. Reputation well deserverd! Keep it up.

Whoo Hooo Elizabeth. I shall get to meet you there then. I am so excited. :)

You know you're old when you read the thread about MSOG in a 30 minute time period, and you think to yourself, "What the hell are they thinking"!

Congratulations Gabriella. Your reputation is ever so well deserved. Keep up your great contributions to this community.

Back in the spring I began a thread entitled organ donation http://www.cerb.ca/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=50302 At the time I submitted it if I had thought of it a bit harder I would have realized that most of us, by virtue of our participation in this lifestyle, would in fact be eliminated. The safety of blood that is being being donated is critical for the ultimate recipient. Blood, like organs can be a lifesaving donation. At the time of giving approval for the donation of my wifes organs I do know that I had a personal interview about her health history, including a section concerning her sexual history. It all happened under obviously stressful circumstances, so I do not recall every question, but I am certain that there was no question about her having had sexual activities with money as a criteria. There were questions about her having had sex with men who had had sex with other men. It is interesting that blood and organs donations appear to have different criteria regarding the acceptability of the donor based on lifestyle. Is it possible that the questions vary from province to province, as we were not in Ontario. Due to the critical nature of time, an organ donation would seem to lend itself to acceptability based on an interview and questionnaire more so than blood. I would expect that in most cases the blood can be or is tested before it is used to help another person? "The gift of life"

Spent a long time chatting with a friend today. And, travelling that far only one day after breaking my leg is pretty friggin good too. :smile:

Deleted!!!! OOPS! I put that in the exact opposite to the thread that I intended!!!! Oh too tired.!

Oh, all of the above so far, but especially the chili and roast beef. For me, a homemade spaghetti sauce, with garlic bread and a salad on the side.

Helping family build a deck, falling and breaking my leg. Grrr. But they first thought I needed a surgical fix, but that's not needed, so maybe this should be in the Highlights of the Day thread. Hmm, 4-6 weeks off of the leg. The Christmas social is exactly 5 weeks tonight. Maybe , maybe :)

Congratulations Spud. 1500! Wow. Every time I see your name I say, "Hey,I wonder if he is from PEI too." If you are going to be at the social, it is looking as if I shall be too, so it will be nice to say a hello there. Keep posting.

Congratulations Phaedrus. I always enjoy your posts and your well written opinions. I must try to keep up with you in the philosophy department!

Congratulations Sophia on 500 posts. It is always interesting to read your opinions and thoughts. Well done.

Congrats RG. I figure this is the only way that you keep up with all that you enjoy.

For you Angela. I know the feeling. :)

Well done Winnipegcub. I enjoy reading your posts, and will be ready for the next 500 to come.

With each passing year comes a stronger awareness of the contribution and sacrifice made by the men and women of the Canadian Forces. These are contributions of the past as well as those that are ongoing. It is with personal sadness that I recognize just how long it has taken me to truly understand what Remembrance Day is really all about. In my youth and well into adulthood I saw it as a day of glorifying war, of justifying violence as a means of problem solving, and of promoting the military for nationalistic purposes alone. How wrong I was. It was after having heard my father-in-law talk for that one and only time about his experiences on the Canadian Corvettes escorting the convoys across the Atlantic. It was after meeting a Canadian peacekeeper who served in Bosnia. It was after talking to former students who are now in the military and have been to Afghanistan and back. It was on those occassions that I heard the pain and heard the pride, that I began to understood the importance of remembering and paying tribute. So on November 11th I am out at a service, every year, and it is with great respect on any day when I happen to meet and recognize a member of our Forces. May I point you to a song by a 7 time East Coast Music Award winner Terry Kelly, entitled "A Pittance of Time". For me, this is one of the most powerful Remembrance Day songs out there. "Lest We Forget"

Happy Birthday to you! Almost a Hallowe'en baby. Have a great day.

Traveling home from West coast to East coast. Left at 5 am and all smooth until I arrived in Montreal. So far a delay of 1 and a half hours and no plane in site at the gate. I want to go home. :) Posted via Mobile Device

Congratulations NJ for your posts and thanks for the advice along the way too.