8 Thursday, October 10, 2013
The Langley Times www.langleytimes.com
Let Jose stay
we
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It is sometimes said that “the law is an ass,” but perhaps it would be better to say the way in which the law is interpreted and applied is the real ass, on occasion. There is no other explanation for the federal government’s dogged determination to kick Jose Figueroa out of the country. The Langley resident has broken no laws, did not sneak into the country, has contributed and paid taxes in Canada, has three Canadian children and a wife who is allowed to stay here, and has done nothing other than, in his teens, support a rebel group in El Salvador which is now the government of that nation. Yet because of the way Canada’s anti-terrorism laws are written, he is being ordered deported. He has taken refuge in a Walnut Grove church and those church doors are all that protect him from expulsion. His neighbours, friends, associates and people all across the country have rallied to his defence. Langley MP Mark Warawa has, on numerous occasions, gone to bat for him against the Ottawa forces that are determined to give him the boot. Warawa made a very interesting point about the law which Figueroa is being targeted by. He said that, if it were applied to Nelson Mandela, he too would not be eligible to remain in Canada. Keep in mind that Nelson Mandela is one of only five people to have been given honourary Canadian citizenship. This was done by unanimous vote in the House of Commons in 2001. The federal government needs to listen to representations of citizens and our MP, and let Jose Figueroa stay.
say
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Lots of little things add up No longer ignorant they to a great Thanksgiving say Last week, I was waiting for inand keep active and I feel pretty spiration for a column. You have to good. Too many guys I retired with wait for the idea to come, you can’t are either sick or gone. I guess I’m force it. The ideas are all around lucky. like airwaves but you have to be set I fill up the cart with things I need on the right frequency for them to and some I don’t need. There is a come blasting in. great price on turkeys today. I will My problem was that I had MCGREGOR probably get a couple of invites for been thinking this weekend was Thanksgiving dinner, maybe I can Thanksgiving and maybe that write about family gatherings but should be my topic. Now, nothing Jim McGregor I’ve already done that. else is coming in but Thanksgiving. I will probably take my Mom over Playwright Noel Coward explains, to my sister’s for dinner, or my “Writing is easy, get a pen and paper and daughter is a great cook and always has a start to think very hard. After a while, big meal. With any luck, one will be having drops of blood appear on your forehead it on Sunday and the other on Monday and and the words come shortly after.” I can get to both. On top of that I always I decided to get my mind off it and go gro- buy my own small bird to cook so I’ll have cery shopping. A quick check of the fridge something here at home to pick on. No shows I have a bunch of leftovers to throw ideas for the column yet. out. Uneaten meat and vegetables go into On the way home, the wind and rain have the recycling or the compost. I scoop up picked up, and as I pull in the driveway I’m my money off the dresser and head out, glad I put the new roof on last spring and making a note to go to the bank machine. fixed the gutters. Lots of storms to come It is a cool fall day, but on the weekend and nobody likes a leaky roof. I bought a new lined jacket and it seems I sit down at the computer. My thoughts perfect for the day. have been all over the place. Food in the I see the gas prices have dropped so I fridge, money in the bank, warm clothes, decide to fill up. A full tank still comes to good health, reliable transportation, friends $100, but I have my pensions and some and family close by, warm and dry shelter part-time work so I can afford the gas as and maybe two Thanksgiving meals. All this it fluctuates up and down.Still nothing running through my mind, but no inspiring comes to help with the column. thoughts about Thanksgiving. The answer is In the grocery store I meet a buddy who close, but I can’t put my finger on it. has been struggling with health issues. What if I’m looking for a big answer to He’s on the mend but still has a way to go. the big picture when all I really have to do He has had a tough year financially and is get down on my knees and say thanks emotionally as well. for all the little things? Happy ThanksgivI have been able to keep my weight down ing, at least that’s what McGregor says.
says
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Is the world a safer place for kids since Port Coquitlam teen Amanda Todd killed herself on Oct. 10, 2012 after posting that heart-wrenching video seen around the world? No, but we have learned a few things since. We’ve learned, for example, that the internet can be a rough, cruel world for kids unless they are taught how to protect themselves and their privacy — and we know that the internet is a powerful tool for ruining someone’s reputation. We’ve seen that vulnerable girls and boys are easily exploited online by voyeurs who lure them with false names and post their pictures and videos, sometimes with devastating consequences. We learned, as well, that rape culture is so deeply ingrained in our society that Canadian university students didn’t see anything wrong with frosh week chants about sex with underage girls until authorities found out and put a stop to it. We’ve learned that it’s easy to troll the internet for photos and then post them, without consent, as a Facebook dating chat room did with a picture of Rehtaeh Parsons (the Nova Scotia teen who committed suicide after photos of an alleged gang-rape were posted). Simply put, laws are inadequate for dealing with meanness and stupidity on the web. Even Port Coquitlam couldn’t find a way to legislate against bullying. But there has been some action, too. B.C.’s ERASE Bullying website, available during the school year, provides resources for families with bullying concerns, and administrators and school counsellors are being trained to identify and support at-risk youth. The Kids Help Phone got more publicity about its services for kids and School District 43 has a new digital responsibility policy for teachers, students and parents working on the web. Even workplace bullying has received a higher profile in the year since Todd’s death, with a new Workplace BC website addressing the issue, and the BC Coroner’s Service studied youth suicide this fall and recommended more collaboration and resources. Will all this talk prevent another Amanda Todd situation from occurring? Maybe not, but we can no longer have ignorance as an excuse. — Tri-City News
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