where have all the good people gone?

My artsy photoshoots haven’t been working out exactly as planned, so as an alternative, you can enjoy my commemorative black and white photos that appear to have been made for police records.

What else do I feel like reading about today in the news? Let's see… More anti-climactic blather about obvious Canadian political corruption or scientists discovering that mice can sing? Corrupt politicians? Singing mice? Elected weasels? Intelligent rodents? …It has to be the singing mice.

Sorry, but along with this little holiday of my own I’m taking a break from the public emails. Maybe sometime in the future. Apologies. Thanks to everyone who has that sent mail or bothered to call. I had fun hearing from each of you and your appreciation has not gone unnoticed. I have taken a couple suggestions on how to enjoy myself but I’m afraid the results ambled to a cold.

Besides staying in my room. The only time I step outdoors for freedom is to visit the local convenience store to get a root beer popsicle or some artificially flavoured bubble gum. Every time I realize that I could have been reporting for political re-education instead. Now as I look towards renting the well suggested, “Lord Of War” dvd, it turns out it will not be available until further notice by the store keeper. Beside that, if you like feeling quite disturbed, I think you should see this movie.

We all have our own terror to speak of. So, how does one go about winning the War on Terror? This pardigm tickles me and if contemporary examples are anything to go by, you would have to conclude that the plan involves fighting extremism with extremism. Fight death with death. Fire by Fire. Sadly, the lessons of ages past seems to elude us, as we continue to propogate the cycle of violence by fueling flames with hatred.

Why can’t we see outside our own box, and realize that policies are causing more terror, not making us free of it. When will politicians realize that you cannot wage war on a tactic? Maybe when we learn to live with more equity, fairness and justice, perhaps this terrorism will fade away. Perhaps after there are no more people like us who are so desperate and so disempowered that fear has no other recourse by which to change the situation. Until then, we are only liars and fools.

Fighting a war on terror is like fighting a war on Liars. Come to figure. As much as we'd love to wage that war, fighting it would not decrease the number of liars in the world. No. While ultimately coming full circle, it would only make us liars that much more determined to put ourselves in our place.

When I was young(er) I often heard, “…kid, the only way you’ll learn is by setting the example.” by doing that which others dare not do: what is humane, what is tolerant, what is just, what is selfless. In the face of all criticism. We must lead by not giving in to the fear that plagues our society. By not being afraid we free our minds to think of new solutions and new approaches inside and out of our lives. By not being afraid to be wrong, we can talk about what might be right. These egos exist only to be torn down. Humanity, on the other hand, will endure all of these things and become that which we make it.

What chance is there for accomplishing good when you are alienating and exploiting the very people you are trying to help? Keep on lying about it? You need only wait for negligence and deceit to defeat. And defeat you it will. The question is, when do we allow this to take place? Until then, more of the same. So sleep, sleep tonight. And may your dreams be realized.