Friend and fellow journalist Jim Taylor has an interesting and challenging piece on remembering of the use of the first thermonuclear weapon. That, of course, was at Hiroshima, Japan, on August 6, 1945. His comments can be found on his blog, amongst other places.
For me, two points were of particular interest.
1. Once you let the genie — any genie — out of the bottle, it's very tough to get it back in.
2. Hiroshima legitimizes international terrorism, by primarily targeting civilians.
It is not a horrific read, but neither is it comfortable.
I encourage you to take some time to consider it.
Showing posts with label national security. Show all posts
Showing posts with label national security. Show all posts
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
TAKING RISKS — HOPEFULLY SURVIVING
Sonia (over at Gutsy Writer) got me thinking about this topic a few days ago. I had some questions for myself.
What does it mean do take risks?
Why should I take risks?
What kinds of risks could/should/would I take?
I've taken a lot of risks in my life. Changing jobs; changing careers; moving across a country for work; walking into burning buildings with nothing more than an inch and a half (diameter) fire hose; getting married; having children; writing, broadcasting and blogging; upholding unpopular beliefs and ideas. In each case, these were things I did because I thought they were the right thing to do. A couple of those proved to be really bad (two were health destroying); the vast majority were good, and I'd do them again.
Even though I'm hitting retirement, I don't expect my attitude will change much. I'm probably a bit old for walking into burning buildings and having more children. I'll probably spend more time upholding unpopular ideas, in a time when democracy, human rights, co-operation, citizen action, and faith are all under attack, particularly in North America.
I'd love to have you come along. And if you're coming along, I really hope you will chat with me about what you and I are thinking.
Do we have a deal?
What does it mean do take risks?
Why should I take risks?
What kinds of risks could/should/would I take?
I've taken a lot of risks in my life. Changing jobs; changing careers; moving across a country for work; walking into burning buildings with nothing more than an inch and a half (diameter) fire hose; getting married; having children; writing, broadcasting and blogging; upholding unpopular beliefs and ideas. In each case, these were things I did because I thought they were the right thing to do. A couple of those proved to be really bad (two were health destroying); the vast majority were good, and I'd do them again.
Even though I'm hitting retirement, I don't expect my attitude will change much. I'm probably a bit old for walking into burning buildings and having more children. I'll probably spend more time upholding unpopular ideas, in a time when democracy, human rights, co-operation, citizen action, and faith are all under attack, particularly in North America.
I'd love to have you come along. And if you're coming along, I really hope you will chat with me about what you and I are thinking.
Do we have a deal?
Monday, June 28, 2010
LAMENT FOR MONDAY, JUNE 28, 2010
The G20 summit meeting wrapped up yesterday in Bear's home town, Toronto, Canada. This was the gathering of the leaders of the 20 economically-strongest countries in the world, which account for about 85 per cent of global trade. (I could watch the action, and still, after all the years of being away, figure out roughly where the people were.)
Three images stood out for me.
1. The Presidents and Prime Ministers — heads of the G20 nations — smiling, and waving, and chatting. Looking like they had been on a holiday! Political showmanship at its best.
They had been arguing among themselves about how to keep the world's economy on a level keel, and apparently reached some significant plans.
2. Vandals, calling themselves anarchists, destroying property. Our Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, condemned their action, saying it was "not the Canadian way." And he was right.
3. Probably the strongest image for me was also picked up by veteran CBC journalist Susan Ormiston. She was reporting from "street-level" about protests, violent and peaceful. The image she was left with was one of seeing, wherever she turned, rows of "battle-ready" police — heavy gear, shields, clubs — three deep, waiting. Then often charging, and beating and grabbing people, often indiscriminately. At last count, over 600 people were arrested. It's turning out that many were simply on the streets of their community, the community where they lived, minding their own business, or watching, in wonder and amazement, as things unfolded. The innocent were simply scooped up with the supposedly "guilty." This was because of sweeping new powers quietly granted to police, by the Federal Cabinet, but never made public. (So much for transparency and accountability in government.) I could say to the Prime Minister, "that is not the Canadian way," either.
Except it is. I don't like this new "Canadian way" that Stephen Harper is bringing us. It feels too much like a "police state," perhaps a new blossoming of fascism.
Lord, hear our prayer,
and let our cry come unto thee.
Three images stood out for me.
1. The Presidents and Prime Ministers — heads of the G20 nations — smiling, and waving, and chatting. Looking like they had been on a holiday! Political showmanship at its best.
They had been arguing among themselves about how to keep the world's economy on a level keel, and apparently reached some significant plans.
2. Vandals, calling themselves anarchists, destroying property. Our Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, condemned their action, saying it was "not the Canadian way." And he was right.
3. Probably the strongest image for me was also picked up by veteran CBC journalist Susan Ormiston. She was reporting from "street-level" about protests, violent and peaceful. The image she was left with was one of seeing, wherever she turned, rows of "battle-ready" police — heavy gear, shields, clubs — three deep, waiting. Then often charging, and beating and grabbing people, often indiscriminately. At last count, over 600 people were arrested. It's turning out that many were simply on the streets of their community, the community where they lived, minding their own business, or watching, in wonder and amazement, as things unfolded. The innocent were simply scooped up with the supposedly "guilty." This was because of sweeping new powers quietly granted to police, by the Federal Cabinet, but never made public. (So much for transparency and accountability in government.) I could say to the Prime Minister, "that is not the Canadian way," either.
Except it is. I don't like this new "Canadian way" that Stephen Harper is bringing us. It feels too much like a "police state," perhaps a new blossoming of fascism.
Lord, hear our prayer,
and let our cry come unto thee.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
SECURITY CLEARANCE
Jane, over at Gaston Studio, tells a marvelous story of her "relationship" with (i.e., assistance to) the FBI. I have a different story. Hers is a very different experience from mine.
The year is 1967, my junior year in University. I became Vice-President of our University's Student's Council, and will serve the following year, 1968. That's the year Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bobby Kennedy were killed. It's the year of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, and the anti-Viet Nam war protests in Chicago, and Marijuana, and LSD, and. . . . Yeah, 1968 was an "interesting" year (as per the Chinese curse).
Fast forward about 20 years. I'm interviewing Canada's Attorney General -- the #1 man on crime in Canada. He's a very funny man as well as a very bright man. In the process, we're comparing university experiences, and I mention my story. His whole demeanor changes; he suddenly becomes very serious. He says that, in my case, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Security Branch would have opened a file on me just because of my student leadership position.
The not-so-ol' Bear -- a potential threat to Canada's peace and security! Who? Me? Say it isn't so!!
I didn't know whether to laugh, cry, or pray at that point in the interview.
Fast forward another 20 years or so. Now, I am an ol' bear, and I really don't care. "The Horsemen" (RCMP) don't bother me; I don't bother them.
However, given my security status, and the fact that you're reading this, you never know what your national security people might be thinking, or doing.
Remember:
Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
Step out of line, the man comes and takes you away.
We better stop, hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's going down.
√√√√-- "For What it's Worth," Buffalo Springfield, 1967.
v
The year is 1967, my junior year in University. I became Vice-President of our University's Student's Council, and will serve the following year, 1968. That's the year Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bobby Kennedy were killed. It's the year of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, and the anti-Viet Nam war protests in Chicago, and Marijuana, and LSD, and. . . . Yeah, 1968 was an "interesting" year (as per the Chinese curse).
Fast forward about 20 years. I'm interviewing Canada's Attorney General -- the #1 man on crime in Canada. He's a very funny man as well as a very bright man. In the process, we're comparing university experiences, and I mention my story. His whole demeanor changes; he suddenly becomes very serious. He says that, in my case, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Security Branch would have opened a file on me just because of my student leadership position.
The not-so-ol' Bear -- a potential threat to Canada's peace and security! Who? Me? Say it isn't so!!
I didn't know whether to laugh, cry, or pray at that point in the interview.
Fast forward another 20 years or so. Now, I am an ol' bear, and I really don't care. "The Horsemen" (RCMP) don't bother me; I don't bother them.
However, given my security status, and the fact that you're reading this, you never know what your national security people might be thinking, or doing.
Remember:
Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
Step out of line, the man comes and takes you away.
We better stop, hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's going down.
√√√√-- "For What it's Worth," Buffalo Springfield, 1967.
v
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