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OPINIONS
Either way Ford loses
Friday, May 31, 2013 Quesnel Cariboo Observer
I
wouldn’t want to be Rob Ford these days. The mayor of Canada’s largest metropolitan area, the Greater Toronto district, has been under attack for some time now for something he adamantly denies – smoking crack cocaine, which has supposedly been captured on a cell phone video, although that hasn’t been verified. Now as a I see it, a couple of scenerios could be at play with this national news story. The first would be the man is guilty. If that’s so, he can only deny for so long before either the famous video or corroborating evidence will surface and he will have to not only backtrack on all his denials but also leave the mayor’s office in abject disgrace. The second possibility is there is a powerful movement afoot to oust this controversial public figure and they will stop at nothing, not even the truth or the lie, to achieve their ends. It’s only a matter of time before either one of these choices will see Ford no longer the mayor of Toronto. His handling of this affair has been less than stellar. With his blustery and dare I say cocky attitude, he hasn’t endeared the public, especially those who aren’t familiar with the man outside the scandal, to his cause. He seems a man determined to hang on to this plum political position regardless of the really bad optics. I can’t see an upside to this drama. Either way, Ford loses and I think his chances of hanging on to the mayor’s chair are slim to none. And he should have gracefully bowed out, recognized this wasn’t going to end well and will, more than likely, kill any kind of political future he may have aspired to. Going into politics is a crap shoot at best. With modern investigative technology, your past doesn’t stay in the past very long. Annie Gallant, Observer
Would you like a rainbow with that?
A
few years ago I saw a video featuring a woman and her daughter preparing fresh fruits and vegetables while demonstrating their Today I Ate a Rainbow charts. I immediately took notice because they were promoting health and nutrition to children in a fun, creative way and I knew my kids – like most – would respond to their strategy. Fast forward to last week and it’s not just children responding to Kia and Hannah Robertson from Kelowna, BC, but media from all over the world. It wasn’t their Rainbow business that got them noticed though, it was the speech nine-year old Hannah delivered in person to Don Thompson, CEO of McDonalds at their AGM in Chicago. She told Don that she didn’t think it was fair when “big companies try to trick kids into eating foods that aren’t good for them by using toys and cartoon characters,” and asked “Don’t you want kids to be healthy so they can live a long and happy life?” Their three-and-ahalf minute exchange is available on YouTube and I’d recommend viewing
Lori Welbourne
On A Brighter Note it if you haven’t heard already. Not because you’re guaranteed to agree, but because it’s not every day someone that young bravely takes on the CEO of the most powerful and influential fast food restaurant chain in the world. Like many parents of today, Kia taught her daughter that kids have a say and that their opinions matter. The “children are better left seen and not heard” way of thinking has thankfully passed. “We helped her write the letter,” Kia said. “But Hannah is passionate about health and nutrition for kids and she meant every word she said.” Reaction to her confrontation brought on a media frenzy and attention from people all over the globe and it’s been an unexpected surprise to the duo, as well as to the
I love what Hannah said and I love that she’s getting so much attention for it, even if the sheer magnitude of it has been lost on her. “She wasn’t fazed when she was on Good Morning America,” Kia said. “But when the Daily Courier came by to interview her, she thought ‘wow!’ because she was going to be in the local newspaper.” Excited to continue with her “Today I Ate a Rainbow” business and the additional interest it’s recieved after four years of slogging away, Kia holds out hope that McDonald’s will stop marketing directly to children and will continue to add healthy choices to their menu. But she also knows that ultimately it’s up to the consumer to make their own decisions. If McDonald’s adds healthy items to their menu and we don’t buy them, they’re not going to continue. To watch Kia and Hannah’s fun videos, order a chart or see what they’re all about visit todayiatearainbow.com Lori Welbourne is a syndicated columnist. She can be contacted at LoriWelbourne.com
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“Mom’s Not Lovin’ It” group they accompanied to Chicago. But not everyone has been kind. “Online reaction has been about 60/40 in support,” Kia said. “And some of that 40 per cent has been downright vicious.” Having to grow a thick skin in a hurry, she said people can say whatever they want about her and her parenting, but her daughter’s off limits. “We’re not telling people not to eat at McDonald’s,” she said. “We just wanted to plant the seed in the minds of the CEO and shareholders that marketing junk food directly to children through cartoons and toys is irresponsible and encourages kids to pester their parents for something they might not realize isn’t good for them.” Of course some people agree with Don Thompson and point to their apple slices, fat free milk, salads and McNugget happy meals as being healthy. And some even argue that the burgers and fries aren’t bad either. But my teenage employment and subsequent 85-pound weight gain while working there tells me otherwise.
2008 WINNER
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