BYELECTION RESULTS DO PROVIDE DEEPER TRUTH

In a recent article about the November 29 federal byelections appearing in the Winnipeg Free Press, writer Dan Lett laments the fact that the byelection results didn't provide, in his opinion, a substantive change in the overall composition of the Canadian electoral landscape.

Lett writes "We in the media are trained to detect and report the slightest change in the fortune or momentum. But the results in these most recent byelections do not change the fact that this is a country in political gridlock."

Although I agree with the assertion that the country is, based on the current distribution of seats, in a state of political gridlock, I believe that the byelections do provide us with an intriguing view of Canadian politics. The results provide us with a glimpse into the potential makeup of the next parliament.

I make this claim based on the potential for a minority government (I personally loathe the idea of a minority government, but constitutionally it could be done). The NDP and the Liberals each lost long-held seats. The NDP lost to the Liberals in Winnipeg North, and the Liberals lost Vaughan to the Conservatives. The NDP seem to be losing momentum, and the Liberals are stagnant.

Vaughan byelection winner Julian Fantino

(Picture from vaughanelection.wordpress.com/) 

Without rehashing years of political studies course notes (I will paraphrase for everyone's benefit), we are living in an era of minority government politics. This will remain the case, in my opinion, so long as the Bloc Quebecois is strong. If the NDP and the Liberals feel that they can't overtake the Conservatives, a likely outcome would be a coalition.

You can always find greater meaning in byelection results, even if it doesn't look like it at a quick glance.

WHO KNEW KIA WAS COOL?

This is not an advertisement for Kia. Really. It's not. Although indirectly, I guess it kind of is...

It's a fitting slogan, because Kia's ads surprised me. (Photo from MultiVu)

I've never been in a Kia. In fact, it's not really a brand I would ever consider purchasing when car shopping. That being said, it came to me as a huge surprise when I found a plethora of super funny and clever Kia advertisements on YouTube. What originated as a search for a specific car ad - which I have yet to find - led me to these ads.

Below are a few a few of them I really enjoyed. The first two are American and the second two are from Australia. I also really enjoy the copy that accompanies the Australian ads. It reads: "Cultured and stylish. Sporty and cosmpolitan. The all new Kia Sportage is designed to take you places far beyond the urban jungle."

On that note, enjoy the ads!

2010 KIA Soul (US)



2010 Kia Sorrento (US)



2010 KIA Sportage (Australia)



2010 KIA Sportage (Australia)

FREE SPEECH? NOT ON MY CAMPUS!

GROWING HYPOCRISY ON CANADIAN UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES?

There are very few issues that are as polarizing as abortion. Both pro-life and pro-choice supporters are incredibly passionate about their views on the highly controversial matter. Frankly, there’s very little hope of ever reconciling either groups’ differing views.

In my personal experience, abortion is one of those topics I avoid bringing up at all costs unless my goal is to stir up a rousing debate. Regardless of what your particular opinion may be, you’re guaranteed to get an incredible reaction if you bring up the topic in any social setting. Try it; you’ll see what I mean.

The point of this article isn’t to debate pro-life or pro-choice positions. In my opinion, it’s a moral issue I feel I am unqualified to address.

It should be made clear right now, that I will not advocate pro-life views, nor will I advocate pro-choice positions in this article. My personal opinion on the issue is irrelevant as it pertains to my main issue relating to free speech on university campuses.

I ran across an article in the National Post which I found disturbing. According to the online article, the Carleton University Student Association (CUSA) recently decertified a student group named the Carleton Lifeline due to its anti-abortion views. The CUSA told the club that being anti-abortion violated the association’s anti-discrimination policy. The CUSA did however state that if Carleton Lifeline embraced pro-choice views, the club could be reinstated.

In an interview with the National Post, Ruth Lobo, the president of Carleton Lifeline said that the CUSA was assuming a hypocritical position. “It’s very ironic that they have a discrimination policy that allows them to discriminate against pro-life groups,” she said. 

Carleton Lifeline is now preparing to take the CUSA to court over its decision. In an article appearing on the National Post’s website on November 19, Carlton Lifeline’s lawyer Albertos Polizogopoulos, said the decision to ban the pro-life group was ludicrous. “Their own constitution states they will not discriminate on the basis of political affiliation or belief,” Mr. Polizogopoulos said. “They’ve enacted a policy that is clearly in violation of their own constitution.”

I am just as appalled by the CUSA’s decision to ban Carleton Lifeline as the group’s lawyer. What the CUSA did is blatantly discriminate a student club. It is absolutely hypocritical. It’s a complete violation of the concept of free speech.

I suspect the CUSA will likely reverse its position. Lawsuits generally aren’t pleasant – not speaking from experience of course.

Universities are supposed to be institutions wherein the free and open exchange of ideas occur, and where differing views should be debated. However, it seems to be a growing trend in Canadian institutions of higher learning to curb conservative viewpoints. Universities are liberal institutions, but there are some glaring examples of students opposing groups, and people with socially-conservative viewpoints.

The most notable example that instantly jumps to my mind was right-wing pundit Ann Coulter’s cancelled visit to the University of Ottawa in March. She’s brash and controversial, but in the spirit of free speech she should’ve been allowed to speak on campus without the threat of intimidation. She ended up cancelling her scheduled stop at the U of O.  

Picture of Ann Coulter

More recently in Winnipeg, University of Winnipeg valedictorian Erin Larson blasted MP Vic Toews because she believes the minister’s views are at odds with those of the U of W. Whatever his views, Toews has as much right to air them as the valedictorian does.

Photo from actionplan.gc.ca

The hypocrisy that exists on university campuses when it comes to free speech demeans all institutions of higher learning. Free speech is for all, not just self-righteous students and student associations. 

DANCING BEHIND BARS

Who would’ve thought a nice evening watching ABC's Dancing with the Stars would end in an all-night standoff with a SWAT team?

Bristol Palin (Photo from nydailynews.com)

According to a report from the Associated Press, Steven Cowan, a rural Wisconsin resident, was charged with second-degree reckless endangerment after he fired his shotgun at his television screen following Bristol Palin’s dance routine on Dancing with the Stars.

Cowan’s wife, Janice Cowan, said that her husband became enraged because a political figure's daughter was dancing on TV even though he felt she didn't have talent.

Steven Cowan (Photo from CBS News)

What makes this story scarier is the fact that Cowan suffers from bipolar disorder and he has weapons. This is as good an example for some form of gun control legislation as I’ve ever seen... 

SHORT STORY

The following post is not news, nor is it views. It’s an excerpt from the beginning of a short story I wrote for a Creative Writing class. I hope you enjoy what will one day, surely be a literary masterpiece.

There was nothing sinister about his appearance. He didn’t look threatening at all. On the contrary, he was as plain as could be. In fact, from head to toe, he was the poster child for blandness.

His thick brown hair was meticulously brushed. He liked to slick his hair back. No stray hairs could be found; they all fell neatly into place. He was clean-shaven, mostly due to the fact he couldn’t grow facial hair if his life depended on it.

He had a long, thin face. His nose was disproportionately large, and his squinty brown eyes were disproportionately small. The 30 year old showed no visible signs of ageing, with the exception of a single crease above his brow. His skin was perpetually bronzed. He never frequented tanning salons, nor did he spend any time in tanning beds. His tan was the kind that you can only develop from a lifetime living in sunny Florida. 

Perhaps the only thing that stood out on his entire body was his glistening, unnaturally white teeth. Years of bleaching had resulted in a blindingly bright set of teeth.

He wore a business suit to work every day. It was perfectly fitted to his tall, slender frame. He didn’t like wearing a suit. He felt his uniform made him look awkward, and he was right. He didn’t have a choice though. It was an occupational requirement.

He polished his dress shoes every day. It was a practice he found humorous. He knew full well that nobody would be able to see his shoes. He knew nobody would see him at all below the waist.

He was as plain as could be. He looked like a generic businessman. Despite his appearance, there was nothing ordinary about him.

He spent his workdays in a studio. Under the bright lights, he sat behind a desk doing what he was born to do. It wasn’t by choice. Rather, this occupation was his birthright. He was a televangelist, and a good one at that.

But he wasn’t just any televangelist. He was Joel Esteen, the United States’ foremost televangelist. He spread his message with energetic zeal. There was a certain naivety about his enthusiasm though. But one thing was clear, he was in his element when in front of the cameras.

He was the only son and heir of John Esteen. His father, a Southern Baptist, was a man of great influence and power. His father founded the Church of Heavenly Redemption. John was incredibly charismatic and was able to build a following which grew with every passing Sunday.

Within a short period of time, John hit the airwaves on radio broadcasts, followed by television. He built up an impressive and lucrative media empire based purely on his interpretation of the bible. His followers eventually numbered in the millions around the globe. He led the biggest flock in the world, rivaled only by the Pope.

When John passed from his earthly shell, Joel inherited the family business. It was a vast empire that brought the young man wealth, power, and influence. Despite his remarkable good fortune, Joel wasn’t happy.

“It was a good program today. I think I really nailed His message,” Joel announced to his studio crew before he headed to his dressing room. He was careful not to tread on the cables. Joel always feared that if he accidentally tripped and unplugged a wire, it might bring down his media empire. 

BOOK LAUNCH

It felt like a university seminar.

Frankly, that could’ve been due to several factors. Perhaps it was the topic, Manitoba premiers of the 19th and 20th centuries, or perhaps it was due to the people in attendance, mostly professors and other academic-types.

In any case, the book launch for Manitoba Premiers of the 19th and 20th Centuries edited by Barry Ferguson and Robert Wardhaugh held at McNally Robinson Booksellers on Thursday, November 4, brought back memories of my time studying politics and history at the University of Manitoba. 

Poster near the entrance of the store.

As I walked into the lobby of the bookstore, passing by a poster advertising the book launch, one of the many scattered throughout the store, I couldn’t help but walk towards a neatly laid out display of the books. Copies were stacked one on top of the other on a small wooden table, surrounded by flowers and prairie grasses – bear in mind I know next to nothing about gardening, and those arrangements could’ve been anything.

I decided to pick up a copy and glance at it. As I was flipping through the book, Ferguson happened to walk by. For whatever reason, rather than setting the book down from where I had picked it up – as was my intention – I kept the copy and marched right towards the counter to purchase it. I don’t quite know why I bought it. Somehow, I almost felt obliged to purchase the book and probably would have felt guilty if I hadn’t.

Me, standing next to display of books.

Jonathan Toews, not to be confused with his namesake from the Chicago Blackhawks, hosted the event. His job wasn’t particularly easy. In my opinion it’s rather hard to jazz up a crowd for a book about history, especially a book about Manitoba premiers. His duties also had him silencing construction crews working on renovations in the store. Frankly, there’s nothing quite as annoying as a buzz saw going off in the middle of a speech.

On a side note, I did find it impressive that a construction crew was working well into the evening. If only we could get that kind of dedication from city repair crews. But I digress.

After a brief introduction by Toews, Ferguson took to the podium. His coeditor Wardhaugh was not in attendance, therefore Ferguson had to introduce the book on his own. He spoke at length of the support he received from his publishers, and from the contributors who wrote biographies of Manitoba premiers for the book. It was a rather dry affair offering up little in terms of enthusiasm or entertainment, hence my comparison to a university seminar.

Barry Ferguson introduces book.

A few of the contributors were in attendance at the launch, and Ferguson invited some to address the crowd. James Mochoruk, who wrote a chapter on Thomas Greenway, the premier of Manitoba from 1888 until 1900, was one of three contributors who addressed the gathering.

Of all that was said at the book launch, Mochoruk offered the most insightful comment about writing biographies. He noted that “when you write a biography about a historical figure, you either learn to love them or hate them by the end of your story.”

The speeches lasted roughly half an hour in total. Once the speeches were through, a reception followed, and the sawing was allowed to resume.