Homeless in Abbotsford, BC
I DO NOT, HAVE NOT, WOULD NOT ever suggest throwing money at a problem. I am a REALIST, believing in examining a problem to understand what the situation IS. I am not an Ideologue who, wearing the blinders of ideology, looks at a situation and sees what they want to see, not what really is. There is NO perfect solution. A system dealing with people demands flexibility and denies neat, easy answers. Rigidly applying Ideology guarantees failure. How I came to homelessness: click Backstory below.
"Are you spending Christmas with family?"
With my sisters in the Toronto area and my brother in Newfoundland the answer would appear to be "No", but is that true?
I had breakfast with the homeless and volunteers at Resurrection Life. I had my Christmas turkey dinner at Seven Oaks Alliance with hundreds of other dinners. Both halls were well populated with people I know and with whom I exchanged meant wishes of a Merry Christmas.
In between I got to visit, play bingo and carol with a diverse group of homo sapiens, most of whom I have shared the past several Christmases with. This custom started when, in the knowledge that I had no place to go or share Christmas with, I was invited to come and join the celebration.
Although my recovery and activities have resulted in other opportunities for visiting and celebrating the Day, it would not have been Christmas without attendance at this special celebration.
It was sitting there, in a in a moment of quiet reflection between bingo games, that I found the true answer to the question of family and Christmas. Yes I was celebrating Christmas with family and friends.
For family, friends and community are terms that we each, as individuals, get to define for ourselves. Not with words and rules but with our hearts and spirits.
With my sisters in the Toronto area and my brother in Newfoundland the answer would appear to be "No", but is that true?
I had breakfast with the homeless and volunteers at Resurrection Life. I had my Christmas turkey dinner at Seven Oaks Alliance with hundreds of other dinners. Both halls were well populated with people I know and with whom I exchanged meant wishes of a Merry Christmas.
In between I got to visit, play bingo and carol with a diverse group of homo sapiens, most of whom I have shared the past several Christmases with. This custom started when, in the knowledge that I had no place to go or share Christmas with, I was invited to come and join the celebration.
Although my recovery and activities have resulted in other opportunities for visiting and celebrating the Day, it would not have been Christmas without attendance at this special celebration.
It was sitting there, in a in a moment of quiet reflection between bingo games, that I found the true answer to the question of family and Christmas. Yes I was celebrating Christmas with family and friends.
For family, friends and community are terms that we each, as individuals, get to define for ourselves. Not with words and rules but with our hearts and spirits.
A Homeless Christmas Day
5:30 AM Christmas morning. While most of Abbotsford is still abed, with visions of sugar-plums dancing in their head, Pastor Ray and his elves were up and working hard at Resurrection Church.
On eggs! on sausage! on pancakes and French toast!
Now coffee! Now hash browns! Now ketchup and muffins!
The gift bags, BIG gift bags, were stuffed with underwear, socks and other such needed items.
And when the homeless and hungry who had come for the food where leaving; they left with more than just gift bags and stomachs full of good fare. They left with spirits filled with the “Merry Christmases” and caring from all the volunteers who served breakfast with such cheer on Christmas morn.
1:30 PM Christmas afternoon found the tables at Seven Oaks Alliance set with care, to welcome the guests soon to be there.
Our hosts greeted their Christmas dinner guests, biding all welcome and seating them at tables arrayed for the feast. The serving line formed in orderly fashion; and the plates of the hundreds attending the celebration were soon filled with the repast.
As I walked back to the table I shared greetings with many I knew. All were spread and intermingled, making the homeless and hungry welcome at every table. Conversation and learning for those that were able.
Good food and good spirit had everyone leaving with a smile as they stepped out the door into the falling snow.
A Christmas Wish: that the spirit of these volunteers inspire all to generosity of spirit and caring for those so much in need of love and healing, each and every day of the 365 days of the coming year.
5:30 AM Christmas morning. While most of Abbotsford is still abed, with visions of sugar-plums dancing in their head, Pastor Ray and his elves were up and working hard at Resurrection Church.
On eggs! on sausage! on pancakes and French toast!
Now coffee! Now hash browns! Now ketchup and muffins!
The gift bags, BIG gift bags, were stuffed with underwear, socks and other such needed items.
And when the homeless and hungry who had come for the food where leaving; they left with more than just gift bags and stomachs full of good fare. They left with spirits filled with the “Merry Christmases” and caring from all the volunteers who served breakfast with such cheer on Christmas morn.
1:30 PM Christmas afternoon found the tables at Seven Oaks Alliance set with care, to welcome the guests soon to be there.
Our hosts greeted their Christmas dinner guests, biding all welcome and seating them at tables arrayed for the feast. The serving line formed in orderly fashion; and the plates of the hundreds attending the celebration were soon filled with the repast.
As I walked back to the table I shared greetings with many I knew. All were spread and intermingled, making the homeless and hungry welcome at every table. Conversation and learning for those that were able.
Good food and good spirit had everyone leaving with a smile as they stepped out the door into the falling snow.
A Christmas Wish: that the spirit of these volunteers inspire all to generosity of spirit and caring for those so much in need of love and healing, each and every day of the 365 days of the coming year.
Rude Awakening.
A snarling, growling police dog lunging at your face in an apparent desire to rip it off, has to rank high on the list of really bad wakeup calls.
One supposes it is easier to intimidate the homeless when you wake them out of a peaceful sleep in the night to find a police dog straining to attack them. Their focus tends to be on the leash that is all that is keeping them from being mauled.
In case the threat of their trained attack dog is not enough to drive the homeless to find a new camping ground somewhere else, the police threatened to unleash a beast that strikes fear into any citizen who has the misfortune to become its prey – the bylaw enforcement officers.
Yes, the police told their sleep-befuddled victim that if the camp was not abandoned they would set the bylaw officers loose and all the victim’s meagre possessions would garbaged – leaving the victim helplessly exposed to the life-threatening wet and cold elements of the weather. This police statement would appear to confirm the reports made of bylaw officers looting and destroying homeless person’s possessions all over the city.
What heinous crime have these homeless people committed? Existence – worse: the audacity to exist and camp in Abbotsford and camp.
Some kids out exploring/playing/ looking for ???, had come across the camp and been “freaked out” at finding a homeless person existed in their neighbourhood. The Parents phoned the police to run off the homeless – presumably uncaring where the homeless go as long as it’s NIMBY.
Sorry, but I have to inform that this behaviour will not work. Because in some other neighbourhood some other citizen is having the police harass the homeless out of THEIR backyard. Consequently even as a homeless person is displaced from one neighbourhood, another homeless person displaced from some other neighbourhood is moving into the abandoned camp.
The pointlessness of continually wasting taxpayer’s hard-earned money to chase the homeless in endless circles around Abbotsford is not, as important point as it is, the major point we as a city, as a society, should be troubled by. Neither is the ethical questions raised by using trained police dogs to hunt down, find the camps and harass the homeless in the middle of the night.
No what I want the reader to think about is the lessons we are teaching our kids by this behaviour and the effect these lessons will have on them and the society they will make. Consider as well what this behaviour says about us and the society the kids will inherit from us.
Kindness, compassion, help, love? NO, not in this neighbourhood. People are continually complaining about the behaviour of kids today. Think about where and who they learned these decried behaviours from.
How are we teaching them to address problems and issues? Denial, pretend it does not exist or drive it into someone else’s backyard and hope they solve it. This behaviour teaches them nothing about taking responsibility, facing problems full on and thoughtfully dealing with them.
People make fun of and laugh about suits brought by children against their parents for the way they were raised. I am beginning to think that kids today have a legitimate right to sue their parents for failing to raise them in a manner that equipped them to deal with the problems and challenges they will inherit; part of the first generation of children that will inherit a world of less opportunity, lesser dreams, squandered resources and a failing ecology from their parents.
A snarling, growling police dog lunging at your face in an apparent desire to rip it off, has to rank high on the list of really bad wakeup calls.
One supposes it is easier to intimidate the homeless when you wake them out of a peaceful sleep in the night to find a police dog straining to attack them. Their focus tends to be on the leash that is all that is keeping them from being mauled.
In case the threat of their trained attack dog is not enough to drive the homeless to find a new camping ground somewhere else, the police threatened to unleash a beast that strikes fear into any citizen who has the misfortune to become its prey – the bylaw enforcement officers.
Yes, the police told their sleep-befuddled victim that if the camp was not abandoned they would set the bylaw officers loose and all the victim’s meagre possessions would garbaged – leaving the victim helplessly exposed to the life-threatening wet and cold elements of the weather. This police statement would appear to confirm the reports made of bylaw officers looting and destroying homeless person’s possessions all over the city.
What heinous crime have these homeless people committed? Existence – worse: the audacity to exist and camp in Abbotsford and camp.
Some kids out exploring/playing/ looking for ???, had come across the camp and been “freaked out” at finding a homeless person existed in their neighbourhood. The Parents phoned the police to run off the homeless – presumably uncaring where the homeless go as long as it’s NIMBY.
Sorry, but I have to inform that this behaviour will not work. Because in some other neighbourhood some other citizen is having the police harass the homeless out of THEIR backyard. Consequently even as a homeless person is displaced from one neighbourhood, another homeless person displaced from some other neighbourhood is moving into the abandoned camp.
The pointlessness of continually wasting taxpayer’s hard-earned money to chase the homeless in endless circles around Abbotsford is not, as important point as it is, the major point we as a city, as a society, should be troubled by. Neither is the ethical questions raised by using trained police dogs to hunt down, find the camps and harass the homeless in the middle of the night.
No what I want the reader to think about is the lessons we are teaching our kids by this behaviour and the effect these lessons will have on them and the society they will make. Consider as well what this behaviour says about us and the society the kids will inherit from us.
Kindness, compassion, help, love? NO, not in this neighbourhood. People are continually complaining about the behaviour of kids today. Think about where and who they learned these decried behaviours from.
How are we teaching them to address problems and issues? Denial, pretend it does not exist or drive it into someone else’s backyard and hope they solve it. This behaviour teaches them nothing about taking responsibility, facing problems full on and thoughtfully dealing with them.
People make fun of and laugh about suits brought by children against their parents for the way they were raised. I am beginning to think that kids today have a legitimate right to sue their parents for failing to raise them in a manner that equipped them to deal with the problems and challenges they will inherit; part of the first generation of children that will inherit a world of less opportunity, lesser dreams, squandered resources and a failing ecology from their parents.
Wishing every Being a mostMerry Christmas and a Joyous New Year
A Big Hand -
for council's approval of Spirit Bear proposal!
I had the distinct pleasure of watching council give approval to the Spirit Bear Centre Society proposal for a detox/recovery facility for female youth.
Personal experience has taught me that detox/treatment/recovery for youth is non-existent in this area. In truth, services for youth are virtually non-existent in this province.
Councillor Lowen was accurate about the quality of the people involved when he spoke in support of the proposal . Councilor Smith was correct when he said that we are deceiving ourselves if we do not think we have youth in our community who need this type of mentoring and recovery. He was also right that there is a need for a variety of facilities to address our communities addiction, recovery and homeless issues.
Councilor Smith was also quite correct in his statement that we want to attract and support responsible groups that are going to provide services that benefit our community. It is by welcoming and supporting people such as those at Spirit Bear that we ensure that our detox/recovery facilities are world class. As a city we have have seen what happens when you do not support good facilities and organizations.
It was positive to hear that Councilor Ross took the time to meet and inspect the premises. On the other hand it was unfortunate to hear Councilor Gill give in to the NIMBYs.
The citizens of the neighbourhood should not feel as though they have been singled out. The harsh, sad reality is that with the number of issues and thus facilities needed to address and reduce Abbotsfords social problems, all neighbourhoods in the city will be host to facilities. Reality is that the need for recovery and transition facilities in this city is deep and we want not only to put in place the structures needed, but to attract the best people and societies to be running these programs.
Bravo for council for approving this proposal and setting a precedent for approving projects filling community needs and involving good people. I would ask that council direct city staff to extend a welcome to Spirit Bear and to facilitate any needs they may have. I would also ask citizens who have the opportunity to both say "Well done" to council and lend support to Spirit Bear.
I do have a question/challenge for those who signed the petition against this proposal, a paraphrasing of John F. Kennedy. Ask not what your community can do for you, but what you can do for you community. What are you going to do to make this facility a success? They say it takes a community to raise a child. It definitely takes a community to reclaim a child or person from drugs.
This question/challenge is important not only for those of the neighbourhood, but as a question/challenge for all citizens. For in the answer lies the truth of whether Abbotsford is merely a collection of buildings? Or is Abbotsford a Community?
for council's approval of Spirit Bear proposal!
I had the distinct pleasure of watching council give approval to the Spirit Bear Centre Society proposal for a detox/recovery facility for female youth.
Personal experience has taught me that detox/treatment/recovery for youth is non-existent in this area. In truth, services for youth are virtually non-existent in this province.
Councillor Lowen was accurate about the quality of the people involved when he spoke in support of the proposal . Councilor Smith was correct when he said that we are deceiving ourselves if we do not think we have youth in our community who need this type of mentoring and recovery. He was also right that there is a need for a variety of facilities to address our communities addiction, recovery and homeless issues.
Councilor Smith was also quite correct in his statement that we want to attract and support responsible groups that are going to provide services that benefit our community. It is by welcoming and supporting people such as those at Spirit Bear that we ensure that our detox/recovery facilities are world class. As a city we have have seen what happens when you do not support good facilities and organizations.
It was positive to hear that Councilor Ross took the time to meet and inspect the premises. On the other hand it was unfortunate to hear Councilor Gill give in to the NIMBYs.
The citizens of the neighbourhood should not feel as though they have been singled out. The harsh, sad reality is that with the number of issues and thus facilities needed to address and reduce Abbotsfords social problems, all neighbourhoods in the city will be host to facilities. Reality is that the need for recovery and transition facilities in this city is deep and we want not only to put in place the structures needed, but to attract the best people and societies to be running these programs.
Bravo for council for approving this proposal and setting a precedent for approving projects filling community needs and involving good people. I would ask that council direct city staff to extend a welcome to Spirit Bear and to facilitate any needs they may have. I would also ask citizens who have the opportunity to both say "Well done" to council and lend support to Spirit Bear.
I do have a question/challenge for those who signed the petition against this proposal, a paraphrasing of John F. Kennedy. Ask not what your community can do for you, but what you can do for you community. What are you going to do to make this facility a success? They say it takes a community to raise a child. It definitely takes a community to reclaim a child or person from drugs.
This question/challenge is important not only for those of the neighbourhood, but as a question/challenge for all citizens. For in the answer lies the truth of whether Abbotsford is merely a collection of buildings? Or is Abbotsford a Community?
Abbotsford News distainful of low income earners
I do not know Mr. Grant Granger so I cannot say if his words in “Casino’s will strike you Out” in the Saturday December 15th Abbotsford News are a result of prejudice, ignorance or a parochial mind set.
All I can definitely state is that I and other low income people I have spoken with about his scurrilous aspersions, find his words demeaning, defamatory and highly offensive.
As low income earners we do not have the money to waste on gambling. As responsible citizens we need all our funds to pay our bills.
Despite Mr. Granger’s assertion that we are brain dead to the point we “…mechanically put their money down the drain (i.e. slots)…” we have far too many better things to do and accomplish, than to waste precious time and money in this manner. We also understand mathematics, more than well enough to appreciate the statistical futility of counting on chance to solve our tight financial situations.
Mr. Granger would appear to be the one lacking in a grasp of basic mathematics. A simple application of mathematics makes clear that there is not enough cash in the hands of low income earners to generate the cash flow and profits casinos and gambling in general enjoy. A look in the mirror would reveal to Mr. Granger the economic class who are the bread and butter of the gambling industry.
Most condescending is the implicit assumption that the richness, enjoyment and value of a life are a function of income. While it is true a more substantial cash flow would make life easier, it would not, in and of itself, increase my joie de vie. His words would suggest that Mr. Granger is in serious need of re-evaluating his values and seeking a better spiritual understanding of what is of value in life.
Mr. Granger needs to stop displaying his contemptuousness for those with low incomes, insulting our intelligence and the value of our lives. He and his like especially need to stop the disrespectful behaviour of deceptively trotting out low income earners, crying counterfeit tears over us, in order to further their anti-gambling agenda.
If you are truly concerned for and about low income earners stop, worrying about YOUR agenda and start worrying about and addressing THEIR NEEDS.
Postscript: the newspapers that printed this piece of slanderous injustice owe an apology to all low income earners for disseminating this insulting claptrap.
I do not know Mr. Grant Granger so I cannot say if his words in “Casino’s will strike you Out” in the Saturday December 15th Abbotsford News are a result of prejudice, ignorance or a parochial mind set.
All I can definitely state is that I and other low income people I have spoken with about his scurrilous aspersions, find his words demeaning, defamatory and highly offensive.
As low income earners we do not have the money to waste on gambling. As responsible citizens we need all our funds to pay our bills.
Despite Mr. Granger’s assertion that we are brain dead to the point we “…mechanically put their money down the drain (i.e. slots)…” we have far too many better things to do and accomplish, than to waste precious time and money in this manner. We also understand mathematics, more than well enough to appreciate the statistical futility of counting on chance to solve our tight financial situations.
Mr. Granger would appear to be the one lacking in a grasp of basic mathematics. A simple application of mathematics makes clear that there is not enough cash in the hands of low income earners to generate the cash flow and profits casinos and gambling in general enjoy. A look in the mirror would reveal to Mr. Granger the economic class who are the bread and butter of the gambling industry.
Most condescending is the implicit assumption that the richness, enjoyment and value of a life are a function of income. While it is true a more substantial cash flow would make life easier, it would not, in and of itself, increase my joie de vie. His words would suggest that Mr. Granger is in serious need of re-evaluating his values and seeking a better spiritual understanding of what is of value in life.
Mr. Granger needs to stop displaying his contemptuousness for those with low incomes, insulting our intelligence and the value of our lives. He and his like especially need to stop the disrespectful behaviour of deceptively trotting out low income earners, crying counterfeit tears over us, in order to further their anti-gambling agenda.
If you are truly concerned for and about low income earners stop, worrying about YOUR agenda and start worrying about and addressing THEIR NEEDS.
Postscript: the newspapers that printed this piece of slanderous injustice owe an apology to all low income earners for disseminating this insulting claptrap.
Abbotsford - Purgatory? Hell?
Over lunch at the Salvation Army the other day we pondered the question of whether we were already dead? Debated and discussed the philosophical implications on a personal, metaphysical and nature of the universe/reality level.
If we are dead: is this purgatory? Is this hell ... eternal hell?
We leaned toward the philosophical argument casting Abbotsford as Purgatory, although one can argue that eternal homelessness in Abbotsford would be Hell. We built a stream of consciousness out of conceptual reasoning supporting Abbotsford as Purgatory.
A wealthy community with many Christian churches. A community possessed of all the resources of Abbotsford, inhabited by people professing to follow the loving teachings of Christ. Viewed in this perspective Abbotsford should be the promised land for the homeless. A loving community to come together and possessing the resources to end homelessness on its streets and to support the homeless in their journeys of recovery to reclaim their lives.
The reality is that all the fine words remain just that - words. The resources that would allow the homeless to recover and grow are denied; hoarded or used to buy more things, fancier things, rather than invested in people in need.
So the homeless struggle through their days, surrounded by what would save them from life on the streets, but denied this salvation. In the short term - Purgatory; in the long term - Hell.
Or perhaps, just perhaps, the truth is that this is Purgatory, not for the homeless, but for those of possessions and wealth and fine words. A final chance to come to understand and live the words they so glibly use and upbraid others with. A final opportunity to live their faith, rather than continuing their pharisaism.
A knotty enigma to reflect upon during this Season celebrating Christs life, with its message of love, hope, rebirth and renewal.
Over lunch at the Salvation Army the other day we pondered the question of whether we were already dead? Debated and discussed the philosophical implications on a personal, metaphysical and nature of the universe/reality level.
If we are dead: is this purgatory? Is this hell ... eternal hell?
We leaned toward the philosophical argument casting Abbotsford as Purgatory, although one can argue that eternal homelessness in Abbotsford would be Hell. We built a stream of consciousness out of conceptual reasoning supporting Abbotsford as Purgatory.
A wealthy community with many Christian churches. A community possessed of all the resources of Abbotsford, inhabited by people professing to follow the loving teachings of Christ. Viewed in this perspective Abbotsford should be the promised land for the homeless. A loving community to come together and possessing the resources to end homelessness on its streets and to support the homeless in their journeys of recovery to reclaim their lives.
The reality is that all the fine words remain just that - words. The resources that would allow the homeless to recover and grow are denied; hoarded or used to buy more things, fancier things, rather than invested in people in need.
So the homeless struggle through their days, surrounded by what would save them from life on the streets, but denied this salvation. In the short term - Purgatory; in the long term - Hell.
Or perhaps, just perhaps, the truth is that this is Purgatory, not for the homeless, but for those of possessions and wealth and fine words. A final chance to come to understand and live the words they so glibly use and upbraid others with. A final opportunity to live their faith, rather than continuing their pharisaism.
A knotty enigma to reflect upon during this Season celebrating Christs life, with its message of love, hope, rebirth and renewal.
Please remember the Food Bank
I read in the papers that for Food Banks this is the time of year a major portion of their funds are raised and that it is also an important time for food item donations.
From my observations and knowledge, in Abbotsford we are seeing an increasing number of people relying on the Abbotsford Food Bank for their daily sustenance. With an alarming increase in the numbers of seniors and children dependent on the Food Bank.
I share this in order to urge people to be as generous as possible in making cash donations to the Food Bank because I believe that in order to serve the growing population of hungry in our City, the Food Bank will need all the funds it can muster. So, please be extra generous.
I also want to urge people to be extra generous in their food donations now and in the New Year. I had a recent conversation with a friend about what to donate or how to find out what to donate. As a service and to provide an expert opinion on this matter, I contacted the food bank which (or is that who?) said:
"Virtually anything for food works…as you know however high protein items like peanut butter and fish are always good and breakfast items like pancake mix and syrup…our clients here all like KD (Kraft Dinner) of course and pasta’s of any sort…we virtually get no dairy and little produce so that would be of great help."
A simple guide from the horse's mouth.
Dairy? Produce? I do not have clue as to how to address this. So ladies and gentleman, boys and girls let us put on our thinking caps and come up with ideas on Dairy and Produce. Remember donations can be also be a good idea or volunteering your time.
In my pre-homeless, pre-poverty days it was a regular habit with me to drop a food item into the food bank boxes that the grocery stores had, at that time, prominently displayed near the check out area. These days the only generosity I can show to the Food Bank is to not use it (I can eek by without) leaving a little more on their shelves for those who, without the Food Bank, face hunger. I can also ask you to be generous - and I do.
Please be sure to take time at this hectic time of year to remember those who need our help to put food on their tables. Support our Abbotsford Food Bank and please, be generous.
I read in the papers that for Food Banks this is the time of year a major portion of their funds are raised and that it is also an important time for food item donations.
From my observations and knowledge, in Abbotsford we are seeing an increasing number of people relying on the Abbotsford Food Bank for their daily sustenance. With an alarming increase in the numbers of seniors and children dependent on the Food Bank.
I share this in order to urge people to be as generous as possible in making cash donations to the Food Bank because I believe that in order to serve the growing population of hungry in our City, the Food Bank will need all the funds it can muster. So, please be extra generous.
I also want to urge people to be extra generous in their food donations now and in the New Year. I had a recent conversation with a friend about what to donate or how to find out what to donate. As a service and to provide an expert opinion on this matter, I contacted the food bank which (or is that who?) said:
"Virtually anything for food works…as you know however high protein items like peanut butter and fish are always good and breakfast items like pancake mix and syrup…our clients here all like KD (Kraft Dinner) of course and pasta’s of any sort…we virtually get no dairy and little produce so that would be of great help."
A simple guide from the horse's mouth.
Dairy? Produce? I do not have clue as to how to address this. So ladies and gentleman, boys and girls let us put on our thinking caps and come up with ideas on Dairy and Produce. Remember donations can be also be a good idea or volunteering your time.
In my pre-homeless, pre-poverty days it was a regular habit with me to drop a food item into the food bank boxes that the grocery stores had, at that time, prominently displayed near the check out area. These days the only generosity I can show to the Food Bank is to not use it (I can eek by without) leaving a little more on their shelves for those who, without the Food Bank, face hunger. I can also ask you to be generous - and I do.
Please be sure to take time at this hectic time of year to remember those who need our help to put food on their tables. Support our Abbotsford Food Bank and please, be generous.
moore resign
The point is not if the NDP apologizes or not.
The point is: when is Conservative MP James Moore is going to resigning.
He was elected to take care of the people’s business; not to merely “put in time” in the house, passing the time engaged in prurient thought of his girlfriend. His behaviour shows a lack of judgment and a total failure in the duty of care owed not only to his constituents but also to all the citizens of Canada.
His behaviour suggests, if not demonstrates, that he is there merely to collect a paycheque, remaining uncaring, uninformed and unengaged with the issues challenging the province. Mr. Moore behaviour, thoughtlessly voting as the party dictates, serves to block the debate and discussion we need on a myriad of complex issues.
Mr. Moore needs to be replaced with someone with an interest in addressing the pressing issues, particularly the complex and growing social issues, requiring thought and intelligent action.
The questions Stephen Harper needs to answer is - how many other Conservative MP's are merely there to collect a paycheque and what in his management style stiffles debate and engagement in the issues, resulting in non-participating MP's.
Let's extend the Season into the New Year
I sat listening as the reality of the "Season" was explained to a newbie. "There will be all kinds of meals, food and useful items given to the hungry, homeless and poor for the next few weeks, but the end of the month marks the beginning of the empty winter months of January and February when there is nothing". The newbie, like so many others, had never thought about how bleak January and February are, particularly in contrast to the plenty of the "Season".
I call the phenomena the Christmas Switch, switched on for the few weeks leading up to Christmas and switched off on "Naked Greed Day" (aka Boxing Day). It happens every year like clockwork.
So what do I want? World peace, an end to homelessness and poverty, affordable housing, win 6-49 ...
On a more practical note I do have a want for those who feel called to do something during this season. Remember that hunger, homelessness and poverty exist year round, especially those dark months of the post "Season" blues. Get together with friends, colleagues or members of your congregation and begin planning and preparations to share the spirit of the "Season" outside the season in January or February when it is badly needed.
A food drive for the Food Bank, to restock their shelves and remind people that hunger is still there in January and February, that hunger is a year round reality for far to many of our fellow citizens. An out of season turkey dinner for the hungry and homeless. Warm clothing, blankets, mitts, gloves, goodie packs are still badly needed in January and February.
It is even more needed, more appreciated in those bleak months. Consider the fact that the homeless have to carry their possessions with them. How much could you carry around with you - all the time. Piles and piles of goods given during the short "Season" just go to waste, left behind abandoned, to heavy to carry.
I know that doing something in January or February is not as easy as in December. I also know that William Arthur Ward was correct in telling people "... to focus your energies on answers -- not excuses".
MCC East, with a little ingenuity, opened the loading bay doors to serve soup and sandwiches to the hungry and homeless on a freezing cold Saturday evening. The people from the Hillside Church braved treacherous streets and made it through the snow to serve their monthly lunch on this first Sunday of December, hot chili, pasta and coffee.
Thoughtfulness, ingenuity and effort. With those ingredients we can make this January and February less bleak and spread some of the spirit of the Season into the gloomy days of January and February. Just a thought seed for those who find themselves wondering "what can I do to make a difference this Season/year?"
Next year we will start to work on March through November.
I sat listening as the reality of the "Season" was explained to a newbie. "There will be all kinds of meals, food and useful items given to the hungry, homeless and poor for the next few weeks, but the end of the month marks the beginning of the empty winter months of January and February when there is nothing". The newbie, like so many others, had never thought about how bleak January and February are, particularly in contrast to the plenty of the "Season".
I call the phenomena the Christmas Switch, switched on for the few weeks leading up to Christmas and switched off on "Naked Greed Day" (aka Boxing Day). It happens every year like clockwork.
So what do I want? World peace, an end to homelessness and poverty, affordable housing, win 6-49 ...
On a more practical note I do have a want for those who feel called to do something during this season. Remember that hunger, homelessness and poverty exist year round, especially those dark months of the post "Season" blues. Get together with friends, colleagues or members of your congregation and begin planning and preparations to share the spirit of the "Season" outside the season in January or February when it is badly needed.
A food drive for the Food Bank, to restock their shelves and remind people that hunger is still there in January and February, that hunger is a year round reality for far to many of our fellow citizens. An out of season turkey dinner for the hungry and homeless. Warm clothing, blankets, mitts, gloves, goodie packs are still badly needed in January and February.
It is even more needed, more appreciated in those bleak months. Consider the fact that the homeless have to carry their possessions with them. How much could you carry around with you - all the time. Piles and piles of goods given during the short "Season" just go to waste, left behind abandoned, to heavy to carry.
I know that doing something in January or February is not as easy as in December. I also know that William Arthur Ward was correct in telling people "... to focus your energies on answers -- not excuses".
MCC East, with a little ingenuity, opened the loading bay doors to serve soup and sandwiches to the hungry and homeless on a freezing cold Saturday evening. The people from the Hillside Church braved treacherous streets and made it through the snow to serve their monthly lunch on this first Sunday of December, hot chili, pasta and coffee.
Thoughtfulness, ingenuity and effort. With those ingredients we can make this January and February less bleak and spread some of the spirit of the Season into the gloomy days of January and February. Just a thought seed for those who find themselves wondering "what can I do to make a difference this Season/year?"
Next year we will start to work on March through November.
Government/Big Business Conspiracy?
I want to be a little careful here because I was speaking with some classmates the other day, in a mental health context, about people who see government conspiracies everywhere and about at what point they become delusional. Still …
In a later conversation, on the webcast the Fred Factor, I touched on the point that the current welfare system tends to beat you up, beat you down and abuse you.
The system strips you of your dignity, self-confidence and self-esteem. It hammers you into a little box, makes you dependent on the system and places multiple barriers to you getting off of welfare.
Having beaten you down it inundates you with all these messages about how much better your life would be with a minimum wage job. Despite the fact that in Abbotsford the minimum wage is not a living wage. That is to say - you cannot live and pay your bills working a 40 hour work week at or within a few dollars of minimum wage. Do the math and you will find that you need to earn $13.00+ an hour to afford housing and food in Abbotsford.
Consider the screams, moaning and carrying on that business does at the mere suggestion of raising the minimum wage even $0.50. $13.00+ is apoplexy range.
Many businesses, many big businesses, are built on low (slave) wage rates set by the current minimum wage rate as well as their ability to use and abuse employees by labelling them “part time”. Business needs a supply of people willing to accept this abuse and wages that do not pay the bills or enable employees to make ends meet – in order to make their huge profits.
Where is business to find such a desperate labour pool of compliant worker bees?
Enter big government with their “Income Assistance” system who also, conveniently, just happen to set the minimum wage rate.
They have a system, the welfare system, which takes people in need and transforms them. It strips them of dignity, of their confidence, abuses them, habituates them to jumping through hoops, renders them totally dependent on the system and then bombards them with advertising that extols the virtues/advantages of even a minimum wage job to escape the clutches of the fiends at Income Assistance.
Voilá! You have the labour pool so needed to run business and fuel the continuing transfer of wealth from those people who actually do the work and build the wealth to the wealthy business/ruling classes.
One would almost think that the Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance was a branch of business, not of the “people” government. Or one could see a conspiracy among the ruling politicians (and their bureaucrats) and the wealthy/business rulers (and their bureaucrats) to provide the needed cannon fodder fir business to thrive, earn undeserved, excessive profits and continue the transfer of wealth to the wealthy and ruling classes.
But that would be delusional - or would it? Keep in mind that you are only paranoid if they aren’t out to get you - and there is no conspiracy. But you might want to be careful – Mental Health is under the control of the politicians and their bureaucrats.
Just a little something to ponder.
I want to be a little careful here because I was speaking with some classmates the other day, in a mental health context, about people who see government conspiracies everywhere and about at what point they become delusional. Still …
In a later conversation, on the webcast the Fred Factor, I touched on the point that the current welfare system tends to beat you up, beat you down and abuse you.
The system strips you of your dignity, self-confidence and self-esteem. It hammers you into a little box, makes you dependent on the system and places multiple barriers to you getting off of welfare.
Having beaten you down it inundates you with all these messages about how much better your life would be with a minimum wage job. Despite the fact that in Abbotsford the minimum wage is not a living wage. That is to say - you cannot live and pay your bills working a 40 hour work week at or within a few dollars of minimum wage. Do the math and you will find that you need to earn $13.00+ an hour to afford housing and food in Abbotsford.
Consider the screams, moaning and carrying on that business does at the mere suggestion of raising the minimum wage even $0.50. $13.00+ is apoplexy range.
Many businesses, many big businesses, are built on low (slave) wage rates set by the current minimum wage rate as well as their ability to use and abuse employees by labelling them “part time”. Business needs a supply of people willing to accept this abuse and wages that do not pay the bills or enable employees to make ends meet – in order to make their huge profits.
Where is business to find such a desperate labour pool of compliant worker bees?
Enter big government with their “Income Assistance” system who also, conveniently, just happen to set the minimum wage rate.
They have a system, the welfare system, which takes people in need and transforms them. It strips them of dignity, of their confidence, abuses them, habituates them to jumping through hoops, renders them totally dependent on the system and then bombards them with advertising that extols the virtues/advantages of even a minimum wage job to escape the clutches of the fiends at Income Assistance.
Voilá! You have the labour pool so needed to run business and fuel the continuing transfer of wealth from those people who actually do the work and build the wealth to the wealthy business/ruling classes.
One would almost think that the Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance was a branch of business, not of the “people” government. Or one could see a conspiracy among the ruling politicians (and their bureaucrats) and the wealthy/business rulers (and their bureaucrats) to provide the needed cannon fodder fir business to thrive, earn undeserved, excessive profits and continue the transfer of wealth to the wealthy and ruling classes.
But that would be delusional - or would it? Keep in mind that you are only paranoid if they aren’t out to get you - and there is no conspiracy. But you might want to be careful – Mental Health is under the control of the politicians and their bureaucrats.
Just a little something to ponder.
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