Mentarch's blog

Google/Blogger has called this day of October 15, 2007, a Blog Action Day with the Environment as the theme.

I thought it might be an opportunity to reflect upon where we are now, as opposed to where we could have been, with regards to global warming.

A study in contrast is on the menu today - one that I would hope our politicians will take notice of and thereafter dwell upon the conundrum that it poses with regards to the current direction our country has taken.

Two news columns were penned in two different newspapers. One appeals to our higher and nobler principles, whereas the other appeals to our most basest ones.

The problem? It seems we as a country are fast riding down the road paved by the latter, instead of courageously hanging on to the former.

Alternate title: Afghanistan - What Was It For, Again?

In essence, the core-reasons for going into Afghanistan are now being disavowed in order to embark on a political salvage operation of appearances - with the price continuing to be exacted with the lives of N.A.T.O. soldiers and Afghan civilians.

I never thought I would get to read what I have read today in any other place than, perhaps, a high school student-run newspaper - a mind-boggling exercise in utter intellectual sloth-driven immature, reactionary adolescent-thinking drivel published at Information Clearing House (no less!) and titled "Time to Boycott Voting", care of one Joel S. Hirschhorn.

In essence, Mr. Hirschhorn argues the following: "Just imagine if voter turnout was cut to 25 percent or less! Let the whole world see Americans boycotting a broken and corrupt political system and rejecting what has become a delusional democracy. To keep voting in an unjust political system makes us willing political slaves that the rich and powerful elites exploit."

One could not be more wrong in so many ways - and here's why.

Democracy keeps slowly rotting away while the primacy of rationality has seemingly become nothing much but a vague memory. There is not only a cause for such a sweeping and wasting disease of our societies, but as well a potential cure - if we commit ourselves with courage, diligence and determination to apply it.

More on Alison Bodine, the American anti-war activist who was unlawfully and illegally arrested and detained by Canadian border agents and the RCMP. Since then, she has been in a virtual Limbo without her driver's license and U.S. passport, awaiting for her "admissibility" hearing which had been postponed to September 28, 2007.

Near the end of the 1990s, many spoke of the "bridge to the 21st century" - the expression evoking images of greater enlightenment, of enhanced rationality, of increased wisdom, of greater maturity and responsibility, of widespread peace, prosperity and democracy ... of a brave, new and better world awaiting all of us just around the corner, if we would but take the first, resolute step to make its promises a reality.

Instead, we decided that it was too uncertain, too much effort or not quick enough in coming - consequently, we chose instead to retreat within our self-centered selves, rejecting knowledge and reason in favor of fear, ignorance, truthiness and superstition.

Welcome to our Semi-Dark Ages.

(Granted - this article is about the Canadian MSM and warrantless domestic spying in Canada - but all questions, points and warnings herein apply as much to the U.S.A., the U.K. and Australia, among many other democratic societies of our world).

Before I begin, allow me to refresh your memories.

Back in July early 2007, I asked the following question with regards to the extent of undisclosed/illegal domestic spying in Canada:

Considering the propensity of (Prime Minister) Harper and his Harpies in mimicking and integrating with the Bushies, and considering how said Bushies have no qualms about illegal surveillance operations on their own citizens, I find myself asking this dreadful question: to what extent has the Harper government been allowing similar illegal electronic surveillance on Canadians (presumably by the RCMP and CSIS), and to what extent is such data shared with the U.S.A.?

More on Alison Bodine, the American anti-war activist who was unlawfully and illegally arrested and detained by Canadian border agents and the RCMP.

(Updated below)

Canada's slow march down the road of perdition to authoritarianism and enabled abuse of power continues unabetted.

This blogger aims to "throw the book" at the abusers.

(Updated below) (Update II) (Update III) (Update IV) (Update V) (Update VI) (Update VII) (Update VIII) (Update IX) (Update X)

Remember these questions that I asked?

I) To which extent is the privacy of Canadian citizens being illegally invaded, through indiscriminate sharing of private information and data, for the benefit of the FBI and CIA - in clear violation of our privacy of information laws?

II) To which extent Canadian citizens are being illegally spied and monitored, either by the RCMP, CSIS, the CSE, the FBI, the CIA or the NSA, in clear violation of our constitutional rights?

And last, but not least, III) Why is there not a single Canadian MSM journalist currently asking these questions?

Well, looks like things are beginning to come out, thanks to a slowly awakening MSM (emphasis mine):