{"id":18009,"date":"2015-12-15T02:44:58","date_gmt":"2015-12-15T10:44:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=18009"},"modified":"2015-12-15T02:48:51","modified_gmt":"2015-12-15T10:48:51","slug":"squatchs-open-thread-14122015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2015\/12\/15\/squatchs-open-thread-14122015\/","title":{"rendered":"Squatch\u2019s Open Thread 14\/12\/2015"},"content":{"rendered":"

I was hoping to pamper myself tomorrow with a hair cut but my stylist had to change the appointment so I'll have to look and feel like Shaggy for several days yet.  So instead, I'll get poked for my quarterly blood tests.  I hope Draculette finds a vein that does not roll all over the place.  Then home to rest as I have come down with something.  After teaching today, I was really done in and came home for a cat nap, a too long cat nap which is why I am up now . . . but not for long.<\/span><\/p>\n

Puzzle<\/strong> — Today’s took me 3:59 (average 5:48). To do it, <\/span>click here<\/strong><\/span><\/a>. How did you do?<\/span><\/p>\n

Short Takes<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

CBC<\/strong><\/span><\/a> — The Truth and Reconciliation Commission will make public on Tuesday its final report documenting the history and legacy of Canada's residential school system, raising serious concerns for current and future generations of First Nations, Inuit and Métis children.<\/p>\n

The final report, titled Honouring the Truth, Reconciling for the Future, is the culmination of thousands of hours of heart-wrenching testimony heard in more than 300 communities over a span of six years, from more than 6,000 indigenous women and men who were abused and lived to tell their stories.  …<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Gordon's<\/p>\n

A 1945 investigation in parental complaints at the Gordon's Reserve school in Saskatchewan reported that for one dinner children were fed a single slice of bologna, potatoes, bread and milk. (General Synod Archives\/Anglican Church of Canada)<\/span><\/p>\n

"Removed from their families and home communities," Sinclair said in the final report, "seven generations of aboriginal children were denied their identity through a systematic and concerted effort to extinguish their culture, language and spirit."<\/p>\n

"It is clear that residential schools were a key component of a Canadian government policy of cultural genocide."<\/p>\n

I doubt that any nation which has embraced colonialism has dealt with their indigenous "conquests" in an equitable and just manner.  Certainly Canada has not, even up to including the Harper government.  The Harper government had to be dragged by the hair, and even then, grossly failed First Nations peoples on even basic matters of daily life. The Trudeau government is too new yet at only 6 weeks old to be evaluated.  However, the Trudeau government has made promises and has begun some work in consultation with the Peoples.  One thing is for sure in my mind, it is not just the government's job but the responsibility of all Canadians to embrace First Nations, Inuit and Métis with justice.<\/span><\/p>\n

Maclean's<\/strong><\/span><\/a> — The contrast could not be greater. As Justin Trudeau announces that the first Syrian refugees will arrive in Canada on Thursday and Saturday, Donald Trump has doubled down on his promise to shut the door to all Muslims coming to the U.S.<\/a><\/p>\n

Trump’s remarks have been condemned around the world as bigoted, racist and inflammatory—and yet he remains the frontrunner to be the Republican presidential nominee.<\/p>\n

There is an 18 minute interview with David Frum, senior editor of The Atlantic and George W Bush's former speech writer, who refers to Trump as a flim-flam man.  Sounds about right to me.  Frum is a neo conservative.<\/span><\/p>\n

Salon<\/strong><\/span><\/a> — Veteran journalist Ted Koppel appeared on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday to excoriate the networks and pollsters for giving Donald Trump “the oxygen that [his] campaign requires,” which is dangerous because the real estate magnate is currently acting as “the Recruiter-in-Chief for ISIS.”<\/p>\n

The ultimate measure of the success of television news programming, and all other programming for that matter, is the size of the audience.  How does a network potentially increase audience size? . . . by playing to the most outrageous aspects of a story.  Trump is playing the media and it is accommodating him.  Check the video.  Many of us have said that Trump, being his bombastic self, is helping Daesh, more than anything else.<\/span><\/p>\n

My Universe<\/strong><\/span> — <\/p>\n