Ken DeLuca

Below are my Letters written to the Globe and Mail in 2007. Yellow underlined passages indicate they were published in the paper or on-line the following day. ( As one can see, many are culled but few are chosen.) Letters submitted in other years may be viewed by clicking the appropriate year above.

Death of a dictator I would have been happy to see Saddam Hussein get what he deserved: a fair trial and a firing squad. His crimes were well-documented, his fate well-deserved. But what he got was a show trial, not a fair trial. The Americans needed to cover up their complicity with Iraqi war crimes in Iraq's bloody conflict with Iran in the 1980s. It would be too confusing for the poorly informed American public to find out yesterday's ally was today's villain, that today's threat was yesterday's victim. It's easier to push the public into supporting war when you can paint things in black and white. January 1, 2007

So Margret Wente is the only one to be offended it seems; but by what? Little Mosque on the Prairie? the CBC,? Multiculturalism ? Or is it just Canada that she finds so offensive? The ‘false ‘ stereotypes of tolerance may be wishful thinking or just optimism. Ms Wente’s picture of the Imam getting the Mahar Arar treatment might be more realistic, but only under the influence of an American, G.W. Bushite approach to society and freedom. January 9, 2007

So Canadian coins are being bugged so someone can trace the whereabouts and goings of industrial contractors et al. Gives a whole new meaning to the expression “follow the money’. January 9, 2007

Stephen Brunt sees the Beckham in L.A. as the next stage in the evolution of the MLS. Will David Beckham be soccer’s version of Gretsky in L.A.? Or will it fail as badly as attempts to popularize hockey in the States. But at nearly a million dollars a week, at least we know he can ‘spend it like Beckham’. January 11, 2007

Rex Murphy found the Liberal government track record on the environment compared unfavourably to that of George W. Bush. But Rex forgot to mention that it is the U.S. administration and the Harper Conservatives that are promoting the five fold production boom in the Alberta oil sands which are the number one contributor to greenhouse gases in Canada. January 18, 2007

International travel is not a right; it is a privilege to be granted or denied at each sovereign border. That said, kidnapping and accessory to torture would be indictable crimes before the World Court from which the United States declares itself immune. And now we know why. January 25, 2007

I don’t drink whiskey so I wasn’t too concerned about the labour dispute in Manitoba. ( Diageo PLC workers at a Canadian plant that makes Crown Royal whisky have voted to go on strike…Globe & Mail 26/01/07.) But now I learn the union is calling on the public to not only boycott Royal Crown, but also Guinness which is made by Diageo in London. I have never crossed a picket line in my life, but this is a strain on my sense of solidarity with the working class. For God’s sake, settle! January 27, 2007

Your editorial condemning Quebec’s freeze on University tuition is exactly wrong. Quebec policy does reflect a social tenet that the people in general benefit from affordable, subsidized education, just as society as a whole benefits from state insured and subsidized health care. You state: “At bottom, this is not about ideology; it is about saving money to use for consumer goods.” Do you mean beer and pop corn? January 29, 2007

Over the Hillier? Many will agree with him, but General Rick Hillier, the head of Canada's armed forces, should have waited until he retired before saying our military is coming out of "a decade of darkness" that began with the Liberal government in 1994 (Hillier Decries Military's 'Decade Of Darkness' -- online edition, Feb. 16). In the U.S., many retired generals voice their opinions on both sides of the Iraq debate. The point is, however, they don't speak up until they are free to do so -- they don't cross the line between military advice and political opinion. February 16, 2007

Telus about it Ever notice that telus is an anagram for e-lust. But it looks like the telecommunications giant saw the text message on the wall and decided to delete the dirty downloads. February 22, 2007

The J2-C2 Code Re Has the DNA of Jesus been Found? I see a Tom Robbins / Dan Brown collaboration here with a twist of John LeCarre. The plot: Raelians steal a sample of JC-DNA and successfully clone cells for in vitro fertilization into the womb of a virgin. Her child, J2C2, is raised by a secret ‘End of Days’ cult dedicated to fulfilling the prophesies of the Book of Revelations. In time, the Miracle Child discovers the secret of cold fusion and saves the world from global warming. But the multi-national oil companies conspire to assassinate him because he is a threat to their power. Here we go again. February 25, 2007

Defence Minister O’Connor told the Commons, “I can assure this House that at no time was I aware of any abuse of prisoners”, which is not the same as “ I know prisoners are not being abused.” We were warned about this at the time the protocol was adopted and that was under a Liberal government. No point scoring here for the official opposition. It was human rights advocates and NDP MPs who pointed to the flaws in the agreement and predicted deadly outcomes. Does the Defence Minister think our conscience is clear because we turned prisoners over to ‘ the legitimate Afghan government’? Pontius Pilate had clean hands too. March 2, 2007

In a position paper, Ontario’s Attorney General, Michael Bryant refers to a ‘crisis in crime’, when warning the Federal Liberals that they are being perceived as soft on crime. Is there a crisis in crime or just political fear-mongering?

I quote from the StatsCan website: “The violent crime rate has generally declined since the early 1990s after increasing throughout most of the three previous decades. Since 1993, it has fallen 11%, and in 2003, it remained virtually unchanged. Most violent crime categories recorded declines in 2003….The national homicide rate fell 7% last year to its lowest level in over 35 years.”

The figures are for 2003. In which year the over-all crime rate in Canada increased by 6% mainly, StatsCan explains, because of an increase in counterfeiting and minor offences. March 6, 2007

Down and dirty : Perhaps the Canadian Patient Safety Institute could publish records for Canadian hospitals indicating staffing changes over the past 15 years (Hospitals Must Report Superbugs By Next Year -- March 10). Have hospital administrators, faced with trimmed budgets and/or rising costs, decided cleaners were expendable? Have we pushed too much work on nurses? Has the bottom-line thinking, so prominent in business and government during the 1990's, once again resulted in a loss of effectiveness at the altar of efficiency? March 11, 2007

And the answer is ... Re O'Connor Surfaces In Afghanistan: Does your headline mean he's out of his depth in his portfolio or just up to his neck in hot water in Canada? March 12, 2007

Re a politician in Finland writing in Klingon: I can’t believe you don’t see the connection between politics and Klingon ? Politicians everywhere will do whatever they must to cling on to power. March 13, 2007

Will Conrad Lord Black get a fair trial decided by a jury of his ‘peers’? The term ‘peers’ does seem ironic, all things considered. But will Conrad Lord Black get what he deserves? I certainly hope so. March 14, 2007

Stephan Dion’s plan (greenhouse caps, carbon fees) charges the producer with the real cost of production. It allows those companies who invest in Green R&D to re-coup their investment and possibly figure out how to reduce both financial and environmental costs. Everyone pays no matter what; the consumer / citizen / taxpayer always does. But giving polluters no incentive to reform merely guarantees they will continue to pollute. That is a cost we cannot bear.

Anything that gets the world off non-renewable fossil fuels, off wasteful consumerism and on to a REAL conservative answers gets my vote. Whose thinking do we want in charge of the future of this planet? Dr. David Suzuki or Conrad Black? March 16, 2007

Humiliation has been brought upon the heads of a distinct group in Quebec society. Not the relatively few Moslem women who must accede to the reasonable requirement that they show their faces at the polls for identification / security purposes. They rise above this controversy with dignity. Which is more than can be said for Mario Dumont and his rural constituency where Quebec’s identity looks a lot like parochial intolerance. March 24, 2007

P.C. feathers ruffled over Blue Jay ad featuring a pillow fight? Do these overly sensitive absolutists not realize that a pillow fight is a symbol of non-abusive, aggressive play? It’s with delight that I recall such fights with my brothers 50+ years ago; our screams were of laughter and joy. Are these would-be censors adults protecting children, or are they just adults who have forgotten what it is to be a child? April 4, 2007

So Keith Richards snorted cremated ashes of his father. Not odd at all. The Rolling Stoned star was enacting a 21^st century version of a funereal ritual common in many primitive societies. Native American warriors ate the hearts of their foes as a tribute to their enemy’s courage. What I find odd was that Keith Richards didn’t mainline for his blast from the past. April 4, 2007

Rex Murphy is tearing out his hair over the politicization of Handel’s Samson oratorio. He decries artistic director, Simon Capet’s portrayal of an ‘Old Testament Jewish hero’ as precursor to the suicide terrorists of today’s Middle-East. I am not sure why Rex is so ‘distressed’. Is it the hijacking of artistic work ( the music or the biblical story ) to serve a political statement which equates terrorism with heroism? Or is Rex merely outraged that anyone would dare link the state of Israel to terrorism? Can terrorists ever be heroes? I guess it depends on whose ox is being gored. April 7, 2007

Your editorial on Vimy Ridge worries over much about Canadian memory of, respect for and understanding of that battle and the war of which is was but a small part. You write: “Imagine what our American neighbours would have done with a monumental story like the Battle of Vimy Ridge had it been a U.S. victory.” Yes, I can imagine. The glorification of war neatly hides the real reasons nations go to war and promotes perpetual war. Let’s face it, there’s always an enemy when there’s a buck to be made. Canadians’ understanding of war leads us to support the United Nations, diplomacy and peacekeeping where possible. Our American neighbours’ understanding of war leads them to Viet Nam and Iraq. April 9, 2007

It is time to dump the NHL and Garry Bettman. ( CBC livid as league bows to Americans ) Let’s form a Canada-only Hockey League with as many NHL native sons we can get to play our game in Canadian cities across the land. Hamilton, Halifax, Quebec City, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Regina as well as in the existing NHL franchise cities. We could have 12 teams competing for our repatriated Stanley Cup. It won’t make as much money for the players and club owners but it will be our game played when we want and where we want. If hockey is only about the money, then this idea will not fly. But if it’s only about money, is it really worth playing? April 10, 2007

Conservative political pundits in the 1990s called for uniting the right especially in Ontario to prevent Liberal hegemony in Canada. They called for co-operation between the Reform and PC parties in the form of not running candidates against each other in strategic ridings. If memory serves, more than one Globe and Mail editorial called for cooperative candidacy for mutual benefit. That advice was not flaky; nor are parties with mutual interest who enable their supporters to vote strategically. April 14, 2007

June Callwood: A life : June Callwood -- now there was a role model the angels could look up to (Journalist, Activist June Callwood Dies At 82 -- Obituary, on-line edition, April 14). If the Roman Catholic Church wants a saint, Ms. Callwood fits all categories for nomination. She was devoted to those in greatest need, had respect for people, struggled against the thinking and institutions that keep people down, and showed love and understanding to those who once accused her of racism. April 15, 2007

Museums are established for one purpose, understanding ourselves. We have a War Museum to better understand human conflict and the insanity and sacrifice that goes into war. Why not a Human Rights Museum to better understand that struggle. Can it turn into propaganda? Not if curators and administrators are professional and true to their educational mandate. Cultural values may well be promoted but also challenged in any museum worth its salt.

Had Germany won WWII, the bombing of Dresden would have been exposed as a war crime against humanity. I am disturbed that the Canadian Legion seems more concerned about its members' sensibilities than accepting the horrible truth; wars, no matter how necessary, are not glorious, they are crimes against humanity. Museums help us understand that truth. April 20, 2007

Canadians are beginning to question our role in Afghanistan. Are we becoming our own worst enemy in Afghanistan? Has Canada signed on to an American approach wherein we are complicit with torture and engaged in a military campaign destined to create more support for the Taliban? Is Afghanistan another example of the Iraq screw up? Are we there to give Canadian cover to American foreign policy? Will Afghanistan be the key question for Canadians in the next federal election? If so, will the Steven Harper get any seats in Quebec? April 23, 2007

Your editorial asks why NATO doesn’t lean on the Afghan government to make them ‘ clean up their act’ when it comes to treatment of detainees. Maybe it’s because NATO wants information from those detainees and is happy to have someone else do their dirty work. Maybe NATO doesn’t mind using torture as long as they don’t get caught. It’s not like the U.S. hasn’t done this before; it’s not like the Bush administration hasn’t declared itself above international law, redefined torture to suit their needs, and sent suspects to Syria and elsewhere for torture. How NOT to win the hearts and minds of the people, in Canada and Afghanistan. April 27, 2007

The God Particle question, ‘why does matter have mass?’ has it’s complement in the inane query, “ how many angels can dance on the head of a pin?” Science looks outward; religion, inward. If they each find similar patterns, relationships and causes, is it any wonder? For, to science and religion both, are we not all part of the great one? It's all metaphor. April 30, 2007

Re Prince Harry serving in Iraq: The press is dealing with this as they do with all celebrity stories: with little or no class. The Royal Family, on the other hand, is dealing with this as they do with all matters that touch upon their role, that is, with dignity, integrity and concern for their countrymen whom they are privileged to serve. April 30, 2007

In Sentencing a Terrorist ( Globe Editorial May 1/07 ) you rightly point out that sentencing must be guided by the needs for the nation’s safety. Community safety trumps hopes of rehabilitation when we put killers behind bars. But justice demands that evidence, not allegations, lead to a verdict. The person in the dock is ‘the accused’ not ‘a terrorist’ until and unless a jury so determines based on due process. Fear should caution against lenient sentencing, but we must never let it cloud our judgement. May 1, 2007

Are the Conservative front and back benches drawing a ‘lie’ in the sand? Shifting sands and shifting lines/ lies? Maybe blunt honesty and survival in a minority parliament are too difficult to juggle. Maybe they should just admit they have bought the Bush doctrine of ‘exceptionalism’ and don’t mind a little torture of Taliban ( or accused enemy, or possibly sympathetic Afghans, or just plain suspicious folk ) if they can get some information out of them. After all, the RCMP had no problem helping the Americans ‘render’ Maher Arar to torture in a Syrian jail. No problem, that is, until they were caught.

And that’s the key to the different lines and lies from the Conservatives benches. Cries of “Either you are with us or you are with the terrorists’ coming from the back benches betray the Harper foreign policy agenda. But the Prime Minister’s declaration that they are ‘taking this seriously’ rings hollow. What he really takes seriously is being found out. May 1, 2007

If we use terror to combat terrorism, don’t we become terrorists? Is not torture of prisoners a form of terror? Isn’t collateral killing and maiming from air strikes also terror? And won’t others with opposing interests view our terrorism as justification for their future terrorist deeds? And so it goes. ’Necessary evil’ is the excuse we tell ourselves. But when we look in the mirror, what do we see? Terror, terror on the wall, who’s the fiercest one of all? Nobody’s Snow White! May 1, 2007

I guess we can forget about another TV spin off coming north. Given the latest Sheila Fraser Bombshell (Backlog haunts Canada's top forensic lab), CSI Toronto won’t even make it to the History Channel. May 1, 2007

Shane Doan or Parliament. Which represents Canada? The latter. Of the two, whose behaviour makes Canadians proud? The former. If a Parliamentary committee wants to look into this affair, I suggest they call an expert witness, Don Cherry. His use of the ethnic slur and animosity toward hockey referees may provide context to the alleged offence by Doan. Of course, Don Cherry’s ‘Rock’em Sock’em’ style is more appropriate to Question Period than committee chambers. May 2, 2007

Inseamly behaviour: Justice Roy L. Pearson, Jr. of the ‘ 65 million dollar missing suit’ suit may not be unique in America. Consider: An over-zealous fool in a position of power becomes an embarrassment to his own people by plotting the ruination of foreigners for alleged ( and later debunked ) transgressions. Is not G.W. Bush a suitable comparison? May 5, 2007

Re Poppy quarter led to U.S. spy warnings: I see the Americans are still hunting down WMD, Weapons of Monetary Denomination ( to coin a phrase ). Just another example of loony intelligence. May 7, 2007

Is this another example of loony intelligence work (Poppy quarter led to U.S. spy warnings ) not worth a plug nickel? We must take national security seriously. Spies must be dealt with mercilessly! Show them no quarter! May 7, 2007

Eco-terrorist or leaky pipe? If Jeff Monaghan wants to have a say on government bills / policy, if he wants to act like a spoiled brat, if he wants to puff up his importance, if he wants to justify unconscionable action by slamming his opponents, he should not be working ( even temporarily ) in the civil service. He should run for a seat in parliament. May 10, 2007

There’s danger for young and old alike in the Orwellian culture of ‘tele-reality’. ( Globe editorial ‘Baby's first TV show’ ) The oxymoronic phenomenon of “ Reality TV “ fits well with the ‘Infotainment’ of the major networks in the United States and the “Mili-tainment’ wars (Attack on Iraq!) Of Fox News (sic).

As you point out, we should take advice of PBS and not let TV become background in our lives “ Turn it on only when you want to see something, and turn it off when the program is over." The inability to distinguish reality from fiction is one sign of madness. One might begin seeing WMD when they’re not really there. May 14, 2007

"The chuckling you hear in the background is from the Conservatives, who are laughing all the way to ballot box." writes Ms Gagnon.( Mr. Duceppe leaves them laughing May 14/07) . But bungling, gaffes, political in-fighting and playing 'stab the leader in the back' are not the sole purview of the BQ or PQ. The Tories and Grits are famous for that sort of thing. May 14, 2007

On with the show, this is it: My Canada does not include Conrad Black. That was his choice as well - one of his better ones. May 19, 2007

P.M. Harper is playing the War card, something he can't trust to Minister O'Connor. This shows he is unsure about the rest of his hand: Environment, Quebec, Effective Government, and Integrity. Leadership is his Ace in the hole. But can he win on Ace high or is that too much of a gamble? I think he wants a pair of Aces and hopes Afghanistan will be the winning card. He may have to toss in the Quebec card to get it. May 22, 2007

The changes to the Canadian Intellectual Property Rules will double the price of cancer drugs greatly burdening some Provinces and many individual cancer patients. According to the Globe report, this was done to “ conform to the North American free-trade agreement…” In the 1988 election, Tories scoffed at the idea that our social programs would suffer under free trade. That’s another fine mess you’ve gotten us into! May 25, 2007

Timbit tactics: Re Tim Hortons Serves Up Some Controversy (May 30): Rather than boycott Tim Hortons, I'm going to increase my patronage immediately. Why? Because the company did everything right in response to a teenage staff member's foolishness in posting a sign that declared "No Drunken Indians Allowed." The teen was disciplined, then educated about her company's anti-discrimination policy. And the company made a public apology. Would that our provincial and federal governments were so scrupulous in correcting their treatment of Canada's first nations. May 30, 2007

What exactly is LUCIEN SAUMUR ( letter to editor June 2 ) talking about? He says ‘ Political parties should not attempt to be movements for change.” Politics by it’s nature is change. And just what is a ‘median voter’? Is that someone who only wants to occupy the middle of the road? We have a name for that in Canada: road kill. June 2, 2007

Jack Brown ( Letter to the Editor ‘Hit the ‘OFF’ button’ ) is advocating victory by capitulation. Indeed, books and newspapers are excellent alternatives to television for our entertainment and information needs. But surrendering an entire medium to mediocrity is no answer. That’s like becoming vegetarian because all the butchers offer only rotten meat. June 6, 2007

Rock celebrities, close allies and European partners do not seem to sway the US president on how to face the challenge of climate change. Attempts at compromise at the G8 in Germany this week have failed despite Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel’s claims of a deal which looks more like agreeing to disagree. George W. Bush has stuck to his guns just like in Iraq. Indeed, the Environment and Foreign policies of his administration have this in common: they boil down to the United States will do whatever it wants and to hell with the rest of the world. June 7, 2007

Paris Hilton's ‘get out of jail more-or-less free card’ was an undisclosed medical malady. I heard it was nervous shock suffered when she found no mint on her pillow. She escaped being inside for three weeks but nature has given her a life sentence of being Paris Hilton. Doesn’t the Geneva Convention prohibit that sort of cruelty? June 7, 2007

Prime Minister Harper suggests Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador apply to the courts to determine if the federal government has breached the Atlantic Accord. He should not be so quick to say ‘Tell it to the judge’. In politics, the voters are ‘the judge’ and, in the Maritimes, they may well have already judged him and found him wanting. June 11, 2007

Toxic Thomas sidelined..( Don't choo-choo that toy!) Thomas the Tank Engine has been derailed by a lead paint job in China. It appears this was a way to cut costs and increase profits. It looks like Sir Toppem Hat has been replaced by Sir Bottom Line. June 14, 2007

Re: Pigeons feathering MPs' nests on Parliament Hill. If Question Period is any indication, the animals took over the House a long time ago. Coming home to roost? June 15, 2007

In praise of the British TV series ‘Dr. Who’, Andrew Ryan writes, “The Daleks were pretty scary, even if they looked like vacuum cleaners.” To the North American male, there is nothing scarier than a vacuum cleaner. June 16, 2007

The body of Gary Mason’s story and quotes from Dr. Mote don’t add up to the headline that implies Al Gore got it wrong on the Kilimanjaro example of global warming. The National Geographic ( Sept. 2003 ) states, “ The Ice fields ( of Kilimanjaro )… have lost 82 percent of their ice since 1912—the year their full extent was first measured.” Even if one takes the 1953 estimates as one’s baseline, the subsequent ice shrinkage amounts to nearly 2/3 over the next 50 years. All this was occurring during global industrial expansion. Kilimanjaro stands as a tragic example of glacial retreat and man-made global warming. June 16, 2007

Canada's living up to its Kyoto pledge has been described by many as an impossible dream. (Stephane) Dion Quixote and windmills? June 22, 2007

Allow me to offer guarded congratulations to the Globe & Mail for its many articles on Happiness. To Leah McLaren, ( Happy? How do you know? And does it really matter?) Thanks for letting us know that happiness won’t make us happy. To Anne McIlroy (Braces won't make you happy, but bacon will), thank you for that intimate glimpse into the obvious. But for your audio-slideshow which asked several Canadians, “What makes you happy?”, thank you! Viewing that made me happy. June 23, 2007

Be it pancake batter or crêpes, your humourous (sic) editorial ( The old soft cell ) fell flat as a proverbial you know what. But at least you didn’t attempt a pun on the other ingredient in the story, toothpaste. I pan a pun like that even more. June 29, 2007

The Ian Bush case gives the RCMP a chance to salvage something of its former dignity and integrity. It has a choice; it can come clean or it can continue to cover up. I am firm believer in a democratic society based on the rule of law. But if the RCMP chooses ‘cover up’, my faith and trust in our legal system will be greatly damaged. I will not be able to tell my children they should trust the police. July 5, 2007

Christie Blatchford is right in saying the NATO mission in Afghanistan must be judged on its own merits, not on the rising NATO death toll. But the question “What happened?” is legitimate nonetheless. What happened to those secure routes seemingly riddled with IEDs planted by Taliban insurgents in a supposedly NATO-friendly region. What happened to a strategy of winning the trust of the people? Is it failing with each Afghani collateral damage death ? Or is it simply that the people of Afghanistan, as much as they fear the Taliban, have more in common with them than with NATO and the West? What is happening to this mission? The families of the fallen and the rest of the nation have a right to know. July 7, 2007

Margaret Wente rightly mocks the latest flash-in-the-pan telecommunication-technology, Facebook, which makes networking an end unto itself. The medium is the message and McLuhan is its prophet. Today's god is Mercury morphing through upgrades as he speeds around the sun in an ego-centric universe of youth. It reminds me of Icarus and the Dot-Com to Dot-Bomb of 2000. July 7, 2007

Terrorism reporting will not be toned down because terror is newsworthy and will be accorded space and prominence in proportion to its effect on the public. Unfortunately, if the press puts “Car bomb kills six” on page 12, media-savy terrorists will go for “ Bomb kills 60 “ next time to make page one. Sadly, fear-mongering is also in the interests of a state that wants a submissive, fearful public. It’s easier to herd sheep than cats. Lawrence Martin is trying to be logical. But the logic of fear is that it defies logic. July 9, 2007

Kill or be kilt: Your editorial The Tartan Line (July 12) erroneously compares a Scottish tartan registry with our own gun registry. The latter was meant to reduce the number of firearms-related deaths. As everyone knows, dead men don't wear plaid. July 12, 2007

‘A tax grab too far’ ( editorial July 13 ) does not go far enough in finding fault. I agree Toronto Mayor David Miller’s piggy-backing of land-transfer taxes could have grave negative effects. But, as your editorial admits, Toronto was painted into a corner by Mike Harris’s downloading from the Province to cities. You add that this was not what the province had in mind when it gave municipalities new taxing powers to meet those newly downloaded responsibilities. Exactly! What Mike Harris had in mind was cutting back social services and public programming. July 13, 2007

Black Day in July: Friday the thirteenth is seen by some as the blackest of omens. To others it is a day of good fortune. I guess it depends on whose stock is being gored. July 13, 2007

Rex, X'er of stars. Rex Murphy’s latest attack on celebrity is ironic in its theme, irony. Rex berates the stars and performers of Live Earth for their wasteful ways and calls them cynical “shills for themselves”. I do not dispute his opinion, but ask Rex to reflect on the irony of this cynical diatribe against empty fame for which he has become famous . An obverse (mirror-image) palindrome phrase comes to mind: Is it I? It is I! Asked and answered. July 14, 2007

There seem to be two conflicting trends here ( Pay up for playing CDs… G&M July 20/07). On the one hand, we have SOCAN hinting at legal action while demanding royalty fees to licence recorded music played in public premises such as hair salons. On the other hand, there’s rampant free downloading of music and videos with U-Tube, Facebook, MySpace etc. encouraging clip and snip art exchange. I guess we all have to face the music; the global village may have its sharing circles, but there are lawyers in loin cloths lurking in the shadows. July 22, 2007

Cruisin' and losin' The two men accused of extortion in trying to broker purloined celebrity photos (Two Charged With Plot To Extort $1-million From Cruise - online edition, July 27) should be ashamed of themselves. The fiendish plot involved repair of "a damaged computer hard drive containing the wedding photos" of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. Instead of fixing the computer problem, authorities say, the pair downloaded images and threatened to sell them on the black market. They should have known: If it ain't fixed, don't broker it. July 28, 2007

Rex Murphy decries the state of politics in the U.S. in his column, ‘Gimmicks won't fix politics’. What he’s missing is a McLuhan truism, the medium is the message. Inane YouTube generated questions to presidential candidates are farcical precisely because democracy in America is becoming a joke. A healthy democracy requires an informed electorate. What the public has been served up as news for many years has been infotainment and militainment ( ref: ‘Attack on Iraq’, war by Power Point. ) Issues, politics, news: they’re all media gimmicks. You are what you consume! July 28, 2007

A new cold war is emerging and there are many questions as super and mini powers play Reach for the Top.( Russian expedition stakes claim to North Pole, G&M Aug1/07) Will Santa be sent to Siberia? Who will keep track of who’s naughty and nice in this global grab for wealth? Will re-arming nations repeat the sins of a century ago as they fight over scarce and dwindling resources? Somehow, I’m not feeling on top of the world. August 1, 2007

Starbucks could be the next recipient of the Nobel Prize for Medicine! ( A cup of Joe does more good than harm.). First it was red wine, now coffee promotes good health. Perhaps, in time, all the indulgences of our misspent youth will be rehabilitated and we can enjoy them again. August 1, 2007

Are the RCMP protecting the Federal Tory Caucus from a free press? ( Journalists booted from Tory retreat, G&M Aug 2/07) Clearly, it was not a matter of security; tourists had unencumbered access to the Charlottetown hotel where RCMP officers, on orders from the PMO, kept journalists at bay. Press suppression at the hands of an armed national police force. We can’t make this stuff up. August 2, 2007

Congratulations, Barry Bonds. As to accusations of cheating, let the dead bury the dead and the living proceed with life. If any can prove Bonds a cheater, let them bring forth evidence, not hear-say. Do we revisit the Olympic Medal records for 30 - 35 years of Eastern Bloc steroid use? No, we move on. But let us be vigilant in enforcing rules which promote healthy competition; anything less would be an insult to sport, reducing it to nothing more than money and false celebrity. Barry Bonds alone knows if his achievement has honour or not. Let his mirror be his judge. If need be, he can borrow Lance Armstrong's mirror. August 5, 2007

According to USA Today*, Barry Bonds is making 15.5 million dollars this year and averaged 14.6 million over the last ten years ( his highest salary was 22 million in 2005. ) That is the ‘harsh’ reality of Bonds as “ the least marketable big name in sports” , as Brian Milner reports, ( Controversial record and surly nature may rob Bonds of endorsement money , Globe & Mail August 11/07). Bonds may well suffer from lack of endorsement, but not from lack of money! August 11, 2007

The markets were driven by greed.
Cautious lending was never their creed.
When mortgages bled,
In stepped the Fed
To give them whatever they need.

August 11, 2007

There is a world of difference between legitimate surveillance and infiltration to incite a riot. Sûreté du Québec agents appear to have crossed that line at the Montebello summit last week. As much as we need security for visiting dignitaries and heads of state, more importantly, we need security from ‘Cops Gone Wild’. When the state authorizes police to act as agents provocateurs, it turns the police into tools for political repression and endangers legitimate, peaceful protest and the rule of law itself. This is what we expect from tyrannies, not democracies. August 24, 2007

Rick Salutin knows his beans when it comes to analysis of Prime Minister Harper’s penchant for North American integration ( read submission to U.S. interests ) I am not sure which cliche is appropriate: Stephen Harper

(a) ' is using his bean',
(b) ' doesn't amount to a hill of beans ', or
(c) is 'full of beans'.

Perhaps all three. I would prefer the next federal election leave him a ' has-bean'. August 24, 2007

Re the Israeli woman who stole a pair of shoes then tried to exchange them: I assume she was pumped by police interrogators who found she, after much sole searching, found her tongue, confessed and thus was brought to heel at last. Punishment enough, I think. August 27, 2007

Is Senator Craig asking us to believe him when he says he swears to God he’s telling the truth about lying in court under oath, i.e. swearing to God to tell the truth? This is taking “ he who excuses himself, accuses himself ” to the extreme! What is it about right-wing Republicans? Senator Larry Craig sounds a lot like Richard Nixon in making non-apologies. They both claimed if not pled innocence, blamed the press for their woes, declared they are resigning, not because of any wrong-doing on their part, but because they could function under a cloud of suspicion. They each said it’s for the nation’s sake they step down. Well, they got that one right. September 1, 2007

Your editorial, Striking the Right Balance, gives PM Stephen Harper credit for his proclaimed determination on controlling greenhouse gas emissions. But that’s all it is, proclaimed; it’s just words ( irony intended ), fair in their intent but merely mouthing in their effect. The proclamation in Sydney was for non-binding targets, to which the major polluters of the globe cried ‘Yes!’ Perhaps PM Harper will proclaim non-binding income taxation in the upcoming speech from the throne. Think he can balance the budget with that? September 10, 2007

I was amused that the Globe and Mail on-line juxtaposed two articles. One was a critique of Britney Spears’ disastrous performance at the MTV Music Awards; the other, entitled ‘The Age of Uncertainly’, suggested “ three-year-olds are capable of introspection - and even know when they've made a mistake. ‘ Britney, take note! September 11, 2007

It is the House Committee on Procedures which is veiled and for shame should be wearing a bag over its head. It refuses to see the logic in what Chief electoral officer Marc Mayrand has said. The law permits veiled voters and neither he nor a committee of Parliament can change the law. The committee is insisting that a public servant interpret what the lawmakers meant and ignore what they wrote. Perhaps it will take a Supreme Court judge to explain to these Parliamentarians just what ‘rule of law’ means. September 13, 2007

What a pitiful, weak argument Rex Murphy makes this week (Bin Laden is not to be trivialized) as he lashes out at straw men. Rex harangues ( his only M.O., it seems ) against the conspiracy theorists who claim the CIA ,

Israel

or the neo-con cabal of G.W. Bush were behind the devastation of 9/11. Those nut cases he cites are very few in number and speak with a shrill but ineffective voice; they should be and are rightly ignored by all except Rex. But Rex goes beyond the pale when he links these extremists with those of us who consider President Bush to be one of the greatest threats to security and democracy. September 15, 2007

The Quebec bi-elections show the Federal Liberals just don’t have their ‘poop in a group’ as the crap hits Stéphane. September 18, 2007

The Quebec bi-elections show the federal Liberals don’t have their ‘poop in a group’ as the you-know-what hits Stéphane. September 18, 2007

Your editorial cartoon shows a Canadiens player holding the Stanley Cup aloft while wearing a Habs Jersey redesigned as a burka. The caption reads “ Unreasonable Accommodation ? “ Are you implying cultural tolerance in Quebec won’t happen for a very long time, not until women are regularly playing in the NHL or until the Habs again win the Cup, whichever comes first? September 22, 2007

Both real and surreal was MacGregor's column ( For rural Ontarians, how would parties build a better mousetrap?) as it touches on a very real problem. My cabin in the Madawaska valley was overrun by mice this summer. But the witty comments on possible solutions from political rivals in Ontario gives us all something to chew on. Perhaps the Marijuana Party will suggest a pie-eyed piper as the solution. September 25, 2007

Your editorial, Beer Wine and Politics, chastises Ontario’s Liberal government for not allowing sale of wine and beer in corner stores. As to the LCBO, you say the 10-digit income from liquor sales could be easily made up with taxes. Then you note “ Alberta , which ended its government liquor monopoly last decade, has not suffered for it socially or financially.” I guess you haven’t noticed a lack of oil wells in Ontario , nor the fact that energy prices have somewhat increased in the past decade. It’s also amazing to see the Globe and Mail so blithely advise our government to increase taxes. September 27, 2007

RE Border Blues: Sleeping beside an elephant is dangerous enough, but a paranoid pachyderm? September 29, 2007

P.M. Stephen Harper would greet foreign dignitaries in the former U.S. embassy on Wellington Street in Ottawa ( A hall Harper doesn’t need ) as a grand symbolic gesture. Namely that Canada kowtows to America. October 1, 2007

Re: Tory bends on school funding... John Tory has opened a window of opportunity and promptly thrown himself out of it. October 1, 2007

I know this Thanksgiving I will be grateful for a Tory goose being cooked. John Tory opened a can of worms with his pledge to fund faith-based schools. He thought it a window of opportunity. Well, he's thrown himself out that window in a leap of faith. October 3, 2007

The Bush administration does an end-run around the Geneva Conventions. It does so in its handling of “non-combatant’ detainees at Guantanamo, by out-sourcing torture, and by using private military security firms like Blackwater who are, as you put it, licenced to kill. The conquering occupier has granted itself and its hired thugs immunity from accountability. Private armies may not be inherently evil, but the Bush administration is. October 5, 2007

Lysiane Gagnon writes of a political shift among high ranking members of the Parti Quebecois (One Péquiste turns right) with policy proposals akin to those of neo-conservatives. It’s as I’ve often suspected, scratch one socialistic nationalist and you’ll find a national socialist. October 8, 2007

I don’t think I was the only one to have misinterpreted the voting formula when considering MMP. The wording in election advertising and news coverage was vague. Even today’s article by Brodie Fenlon has this confusing line, “ …90 MPPs would be elected from local ridings and 39 MPPs would be elected from the party lists, based on each party's share of the total party vote. “ Did that mean the 39 list seats would be adjusted in proportion to the vote? Or did it mean 129 seats reflecting the parties’ share as adjusted by the apportioned 39 list seats? I now know it’s the latter because I read Jeffrey Simpson’s excellent editorial a few days ago which spelled it out. But by then I’d already voted in the advance poll. October 11, 2007

The ‘Shoe Store Project’ seems to have been designed by the PMO to bring the press corps to heel. Perhaps Stephen Harper, ever anxious for good press, was guided by that old adage, “ The best things don’t come at once; they come at last.’ October 18, 2007

Your editorial ( Haste and the crime bill ) rightly points to the omnibus/ take-it-or-leave-it Crime bill as more political gamesmanship than proper parliamentary process. The editorial ends with, “ This is no way to make laws.” I agree. But Stephen Harper is not interested in the rule of law; he clearly wants the law of rulers, that is, ‘Never give an inch!’ I only hope the Canadian electorate prefer leadership to gamesmanship, even if the game is snooker. October 19, 2007

Was J.K. Rowling’s authorial outing of Dumbledore ‘an imaginative post dated cheque’ as Rex Murphy supposes? (Harry Potter and the buzz of backfill ) Or was it just second guessing Erato post facto, then passing the gossip on to readers as an amusing aside? October 27, 2007

The John Manley Panel enters the world of e-politics with a web site inviting public comment on the situation in

Afghanistan

. This will indeed be a war of words. ‘Shock and Awe’ will give way to ‘Shocked and Appalled’ as both sides of a highly polarized debate express their dismay over the military and political situation in that war-torn country. If this cyber forum is meant to bring clarity to the situation, it will likely fail. It will only bring sharper focus on the fact that all the waters are muddied; that the purpose & motives for the mission are confused at best, and therefore not trustworthy. October 28, 2007

The long saga, dubbed the Airbus Scandal, has a new chapter (Brian Mulroney: The payments and the taxman ) with revelations about the former Prime Minister’s voluntary disclosure to Revenue Canada of $300,000 in cash payments which he once denied getting from Karl Heinz Schrieber. But the amazing climax to this mystery story will have to wait until Mr. Mulroney’s next opus. “I'm going to write about it in my next book,” says he. “Book him “, say I. October 31, 2007

Adam Radwanski writes that it’s in Stephen Harper’s best interest to get to the bottom of the Mulroney cash scandal which has resurfaced. Perhaps our Prime Minister remembers what happened to the last P.M. who decided to call an inquiry to get to the bottom of shady dealings by a former P.M. November 2, 2007

Your latest Globe online poll, in response to Konrad Yakabuski's article Young, Diverse Quebec Is Curiously Attracted To Its Ancestors asks, "Do you think the controversy in Quebec over 'reasonable accommodation' is reasonable or unreasonable?" The poll results are about 50/50. Why? Because, the way the question is worded, it asks either (a) "Is the controversy reasonable?" or (b) "Is 'reasonable accommodation' reasonable?" Two very different questions. Please watch your words or, without intending any partisan political references, mind your Ps and Qs. November 4, 2007

So Captain

America

lives on in spirit to bolster the morale of

U.S.

troops in

Iraq

. How fitting for a foreign policy and administration with the sophistication of a comic book. November 13, 2007

Bad cop / Mal cop: I find it ironic that "taser" is an anagram for "tears." The video of Mr. Dziekanski's death at the hands of the RCMP tears your heart out and leaves you in tears. The message is not so cryptic. November 16, 2007

Flushing and Blushing: Marilyn Banfield’s letter re United Nation’s International Year of Sanitation reminded my of something a political science professor told me over 40 years ago. It was a time of much protest on campus, civil rights, anti-war, anti-apartheid etc. He wondered if we privileged, middle-class students were aware of what would happen when the third world started demanding the luxuries we in the West enjoyed, like flush toilets. And what we might have to give up so they could have them. Embarrassment of riches, indeed. November 18, 2007

In reference to the taser killing of Robert Dziekanski, RCMP Commissioner William Elliott says he is “concerned that growing misperceptions are eroding the public's confidence in the RCMP.” What misconception? It’s there on tape and the world is watching. What confidence? Scandals, cover-ups, mis-intelligence and persons killed in custody; these do not instill confidence. November 19, 2007

RE Price-savvy 'social epidemic' sweeps U.S. border. I wonder how many cars doing the trip across the border this weekend will have " We support our troops' ribbon stickers. Put your money where your mouth is and support them with your taxes! November 21, 2007

Re Continuing dis-proportional representation by population in the Commons: Your editorial is spot-on! ( McGuinty's right on this) This is basic to democracy. If federal parties, pandering to Quebec , can't figure this out, they don't deserve to sit in Parliament. They certainly do not represent my interests. Clearly they only represent their own interests, that of getting re-elected. November 22, 2007

John Howard, down and under: It’s good to see 'down under' getting up over 30 years of ultra conservative policies. (Australia changes course. ) John Howard had all the charms of Ontario’s Mike Harris on social programs, Stephen Harper on environmental issues, and George W. Bush on foreign policy. Congratulations to the electorate of Australia: Good on ya, mates! November 24, 2007

Shocked and Appalled: (RCMP revised taser policy to allow multiple jolts) The RCMP might want to investigate a possible connection between excited delirium and being repeatedly zapped with 50,000 volts of electricity. November 24, 2007

Your editorial (Moving to reject the refugee pact ) claims Justice Phelan’s ruling is outrageous. The Judge is judging a treaty which gives the U.S. , not Canada, the right to judge the merits of pleas put forward by people seeking asylum from oppressive regimes or social circumstances. This is not about US torture chambers. But it is about who runs our foreign and domestic policies. This judge is standing up for Canada and our views of human rights. Does he have the power and right to overturn Parliament's laws or government treaties? That's another question. If he has exceeded his power, I trust a higher court will overrule him. December 2, 2007

Re Passport applicant finds massive privacy breach: Big Brother is watching! And so are your third cousin twice removed and most anyone else it seems. December 4, 2007

Robert Latimer is a tragic figure who was compelled to do wrong by a desire to do right. He was first condemned for what he saw as an act of mercy. Now he is condemned for being honest. What I find even more disheartening than the parole board’s verdict is the stand taken by the Council of Canadians with Disabilities, which will have to look elsewhere than to me for support, sympathy or mercy; for they showed none to Robert Latimer. December 5, 2007

Re: Ottawa mayor will not step aside. I can see why Ottawa Mayor Larry O’Brien took a while to make up his mind about staying on despite criminal charges related to his election. He wanted to consult with his backers and John Baird is in far-away Bali right now. December 12, 2007

The tragedy in Mississauga this week ( Teen tried to leave strict family ) has been compounded by media coverage which has zeroed in on the ‘cultural aspects’ of the case. The media are begging the question. Male violence against women family members is not confined to any one ethnic, religious or class group. When girls who happen to be catholic are beaten or killed by oppressive husbands or other male family members, does the media interview priests to get the religious angle? December 12, 2007

E-mail to CBO morning re interview with Mayor O'Brien. Mayor O’Brien answered the question “ Why his decision to stay on as Mayor ?” by saying he wanted to continue his good works on Council to forge ahead with his agenda. This is the sort of reply appropriate had he lost a crucial vote on council or been the subject of personally embarrassing ( but not criminal ) behaviour. But Mayor O’Brien faces criminal charges directly related to the election process. What could be more fundamentally wrong than his ignoring the implications? December 12, 2007

I imagine this latest road map to environmental action negotiated in Bali will be as successful as the road map to peace in the Middle East . As I understand the compromise deal, there is no commitment to action, just on agreement on agenda and schedule for more talks. Great! Just what we need, more hot air. December 15, 2007

Setting a poll trap, and getting caught : Are there no guidelines for the kinds of questions considered legitimate when our government gauges public opinion? If the polls are done just to find out the most auspicious time to call or force an election, surely the Conservative Party of Canada, not the taxpayer, should pay. December 17, 2007

The 400th anniversary celebrations in Quebec will not include the Queen of Canada but the president of Togo is invited. Let that be a signal to the voters of Canada. Stephen Harper cares not for Canada and has TOGO. December 17, 2007

The football analogy in Brian Laghi’s critique of the Prime Minister ( Harper's having trouble playing in his own end ) is an apt one. The latest revelations that Harper chose Alliance / Tory bagman, Michael Burns for the chair of the AECL ignoring the advice of an independent panel, indicates this political fumble should result in the team quarterback being sacked. December 18, 2007

My congratulations to the editorial boards and political cartoonists at the Globe and Mail and other news outlets across the land for biting their journalistic tongues and refraining from pointing out that the former head of the AECL is a Mr. Burns. The temptation to make some smart-aleck reference to the Simpsons cartoon villain must have been great. QED December 19, 2007

Cheers and thanks as well for the cheery editorial carols this Chris tmas eve. They bring visions of editorial board members gathered ‘round the computer consol, imbibing in the Chris tmas spirits, trying to outdo each other with year-end musings to the tune of Yule tide favourites. Here’s my contribution:

Violent Night, Gives us a fright/ Using tasers, isn’t so bright
50K of volts would drive anyone wild / It can kill man, woman or child.
So stop using them, pleeeease. / So stop using them, please.
December 24, 2007

( Re: Quebec man sells snow bank on eBay ) I will believe it when M. Levesque gets the hard, cold cash in hand. Until then it's just cyber-bucks or to quote Hamlet when Polonius asks the prince what he’s reading , " Words, words, words!" December 30, 2007