Monthly Archives: January 2021

Politics

The Lesson Of Sisyphus

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Sisyphus had to repeatedly roll a huge boulder up a mountain, only to have it tumble down as it neared the pinnacle. (pinterest image)

It’s evident Donald Trump never learned the lesson of Sisyphus, mythological Greek king of Ephyra. The gods placed a curse on the king for his much lying and deceitfulness. As punishment they required him to repeatedly roll a huge boulder up a mountain, only to have it always tumble back down just before it attained the pinnacle. This was to be his fate for all eternity.

Although it’s based on myth, I feel the account is worth taking note of in our time because powerful individuals around the globe are resorting to fabrications to create a pervasive toxic culture. We see this in Russia, Brazil, Venezuela, several African states and elsewhere. While in the White House, Trump wove a web of lies that ensnared many leaders in the Republican Party, as well as numerous rank and file party members.

I was especially disappointed when I heard former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani promoting Trump’s deceptive assertions. Giuliani had won the respect and admiration of Americans with his calm leadership when the twin towers were destroyed by terrorists. His book, Leadership, impressed me greatly. Now he is facing a $1.3 billion lawsuit filed by Dominion Voting Machines for claiming the company had deliberately rigged its machines to ensure Joe Biden would win. It is well known that in spite of recounts and denials by election officials and judges, millions of American citizens still choose to have their minds entangled in the former president’s web of deceit.

I recently heard a Syrian writer interviewed on CBC speaking about the disheartening experiences of people in his country. He said “the point of writing is not to change the world. It is to keep truth alive.” Fortunately, there have always been leaders who struggled for truth and justice. In the 1980’s Lech Walesa, an electrician in the shipyards of Gdansk, Poland and leader of the Solidarity movement, made decisions that were in the interest of his people, not himself.

The Polish Communist Party arrested and threw Walesa in prison several times. They attempted to tarnish his image of absolute integrity by offering him a nice house and a good job if he gave up his struggle against the government’s heavy handed rule. In the face of overtures, prison sentences and death threats, Walesa and his family chose to continue living in cramped quarters under constant surveillance, knowing danger lurked incessantly in the shadows. To retain power, the communists killed even priests who supported the Solidarity movement.

From the beginning of time, there has been a continuous tug of war between the forces of deception and the forces of truth. Ambitious, ruthless individuals are eager to undermine democracy wherever it exists, even in America, until recent years considered by many to be its greatest defender.

George Orwell said “a society becomes totalitarian when its ruling class has lost its function but succeeds in clinging to power by force or fraud.” Donald Trump confidently assured his followers he would be the first U.S. president to serve more than two terms. It was by fraud that he came eerily close to winning the 2020 election. Having observed his various devious ploys to overturn the election results, it seems quite safe to assume he planned to consolidate power and rule indefinitely. His laudatory comments about dictators elsewhere suggest he envied them and was keen to emulate them.

It’s easy to be lulled into thinking the Canadian system of government is too robust and entrenched to be rocked. In “The Cellist of Sarajevo”, Dragon, one of the characters offers a comment we probably should take note of. He says, ”Civilization needs to be built, recreated constantly. It vanishes far more rapidly than we ever would have thought.”

A British researcher (whose name I’ve lost) said, “we need to know what we believe, and live by those principles. Otherwise outside forces will manipulate us.” With some in the media asking if there will be a federal election in spring, this is a good time to give consideration to the truths and values that undergird our way of life. It’s a good time to listen carefully to the words of those who want to govern, and to observe what they do.

Fortunately enough of our neighbors to the south became aware their president, like Sisyphus, was seducing them with an insidious web of deceit. We need to be alert so it doesn’t happen in Canada.

Issues, Politics

We Live In Strange Times

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A thorough, and at times disturbing, discourse concerning advances in technology.

It’s probably prudent to be skeptical in response to the accelerating flurry of discordant online views, opinions and rantings concerning the covid-19 pandemic, and our government’s actions. Even so, when I first read the email passed on to me by my friend, I was troubled. Was this real, or just another conspiracy theory with some truth thrown in to encourage belief? I was reluctant to delete it, in case what appeared to be preposterous turned out to contain a dose of reality. The main message of the email is that at the highest levels of the Canadian government, there are plans to bring in disruptive changes that would make a lot of citizens deeply uncomfortable. Equally disturbing is the email’s assertion that influential figures from a variety of sectors worldwide are collaborating with governments in an international effort to unhinge our way of life.

It was after reading The Fourth Industrial Revolution by Klaus Schwab, that I decided to delve a little deeper. Schwab is founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, whose membership includes many of the globe’s largest corporations and leaders with immense clout in various realms. There are indications that even before there was a pandemic, members of the Forum were already making plans to combat it. As is well known, some conspiracy theorists, and also others, believe the virus was developed in a lab and may have been accidentally or deliberately allowed to escape.

The afore mentioned email (dated Oct. 10, 2020) came from a government employee in Ottawa. It was purported to have been written by an MP sitting on a government committee. The writer does not self-identify, but outlines what supposedly is the government’s plan to deal with resistance to the vaccine, lockdown plans and other measures. It begins with “I’m not happy doing this, but as a Canadian and as a parent I want a better future for our children. 30 percent of a committee on which I sit are not pleased with the direction government policy will take Canada, but our opinions have been ignored.”

According to the email, the road map laid out by the PMO contains the following. Phase in secondary lockdown restrictions on a rolling basis, rush the acquisition or construction of isolation facilities across Canada, projected covid-19 mutation and/or co-infection with secondary virus (covid-21). Daily new cases to exceed medical care facilities capacity, resulting in many more deaths. Enhanced lock down restrictions (Third Lock Down) implemented. Full travel restrictions, (including inter-province and inter-city). Projected supply chain breakdowns, inventory shortages, large economic instability. The email provides a timetable for how this is expected to unfold.

The email states further that “in order to offset an economic collapse on an international scale, the government will offer to eliminate all personal debts (mortgages, loans, credit cards, etc.), with all funding provided by the IMF, under what will become known as the World Debt Reset Program. In exchange for this total debt forgiveness, the individual must forfeit ownership of any property and assets forever. Such individuals would also agree to accept the covid-19 vaccine. Any individual refusing to cooperate would be relocated to an isolation facility. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has made it clear nothing will stop their planned outcome.”

At this time I’m not yet convinced the email is authentic, even though some of what it alludes to is already happening. I do believe however, we are on the cusp of unprecedented global change. Pronouncements by some world leaders indicate they view the pandemic as an opportunity to bring about and shape the change. A statement on the World Economic Forum website supports this view. It says, “There is an urgent need for global stakeholders to cooperate in simultaneously managing the direct consequences of the COVID-19 crisis. To improve the state of the world, the World Economic Forum is starting the Great Reset initiative.”

Will this Great Reset, (whatever it is) impact citizens of the Similkameen Valley? Accelerating technological change almost certainly ensures it will. Whether the change will be beneficial or detrimental remains to be seen. In the meantime, I plan to focus on what is good in my life. I will also remain skeptical. We certainly do live in strange times.

Hedley Times, People

Noree Finds Purpose At Camp Colonial

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Noree on the patio of their Hedley home.

When Noree Lilly first arrived in Hedley at age 19, she didn’t expect these few days to dramatically alter the direction of her life. Born in New Mexico and raised in California, she had left a job in a California hospital seeking adventure and purpose. “I enrolled as a student at Trinity Western University,” she said. “One of the courses was in outdoor recreation and the instructors brought us to Camp Colonial in Hedley for the wilderness skills component.”

She was enchanted by the mountains, the Similkameen River, and the rustic former gold mining community. Some aspects of the training were intimidating though, testing her courage and resolve.“The rappelling course really challenged me,” she recalled. “I was terrified the first time I was instructed to step off the edge of a high rock cliff and rappel down. Although the two instructors were experienced and I was securely tied in, I knew if anything went wrong it would be a long plunge to the bottom. When we moved to the higher, more difficult Grosbeak site, at one point because of the inward curving of the rock wall, my feet couldn’t find rock surface to steady myself.” The course also included rock climbing, chimneying, orienteering and stretcher lowering. “I didn’t at that time have the upper body strength required for rock climbing,” she said. “I struggled with it.”

In the evening Noree and the other course participants returned to the Camp Colonial lodge and here she met Len Roberts, founder of the One Way Adventure Foundation. The organization, still in its infancy, had a contract with the provincial government to operate programs for youth in Surrey and at Camp Colonial. It lacked extensive resources, but Len saw possibilities where others did not. He apparently recognized the potential in Noree and invited her to a one on one visit with him.

The young organization’s budget was lean and the needs were numerous. Len could not offer Noree a financial incentive to come on staff. What he could offer was an opportunity to provide constructive guidance to youths who almost invariably came from dysfunctional homes, substance abuse, crime and life on the streets. “In the church our family attended in California I taught a class for teens, some almost my age,” Noree said. “I found it hard and told myself I will never work with teens again.”

Len did not have charisma as we commonly think of it. His fervent belief in the importance of the work was compelling though, and in his presentation of the vision Noree heard something she found appealing. “His words and quiet passion ignited something deep inside me, and I decided to come on board.”

Initially she was promised no pay for her work, other than room and meals. “Len did at times slip me twenty five dollars for basic essentials,” she said. There were other perks. One that she valued highly was the more advanced wilderness skills training provided by Jeff Evans of Keremeos Outward Bound. Noree benefited from Jeff’s expert training and in time was elevated to the rank of instructor in rappelling and orienteering.

Watching Noree develop as a leader, Len initiated a one year training school for young adults who yearned for adventure, purpose, and experience in working with people. The training included rappelling, rock climbing, a ten day Bowron Lakes canoeing and portaging expedition. There was also a five day back packing expedition in Cathedral park, down hill and cross country skiing, horse back riding, plus yard work, cleaning and cooking. They were mentored in wilderness skills and the youth work by several seasoned, established staff.

Noree loved the outdoors and the activities gave her a common ground with the youths. “I got close to some of the girls,” she said. “After completing their program, years later they at times came around to visit and in some cases to show off their children.” At the end of one year Noree became the first graduate of this program. It matured and prepared her to become a full fledged group leader. She met Derek, a co-worker, and in time they were married. They now have three adult children and two grandchildren. After the Foundation closed its doors Noree worked for the Hedley Improvement District and then Canada Post. The young woman who came to Camp Colonial many years ago found adventure, purpose, a family, lasting friendships and much more.

My Story

A Glance Back At 8 Years

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The Winter I Met Colin Ford

It was a cold wintery night when I met Colin Ford in front of his home in Hedley eight years ago. In the midst of steadily falling snow, this brief encounter would radically impact my life. I learned he was intimately familiar with computers and mentioned that I wanted to have a blogsite but didn’t know how to set it up. “I’ll come to your place tomorrow and do that,” he said. A few days later I was a citizen journalist, although Colin cautioned me with the words, “I just don’t know if anyone will see it.” Now, at the beginning of 2021, I decided to glance back over my shoulder at the challenges and joys that have come with writing for this space.

From the beginning I felt I had a responsibility to give something of value to readers. Having worked with adult prisoners and parolees, and also young offenders, I had some understanding that the lens through which we view our world to a great extent determines how we will respond to the circumstances that beset us. Believing this to be true, I began requesting interviews with individuals I felt had done something significant and interesting. Initially I hoped that of ten individuals, at least one would agree to talk. I was amazed to discover that people were extraordinarily gracious with their time and stories. Of some 300 requests over almost 8 years, I have been turned down no more than 12 times.

At the outset I occasionally sent my blog writings to the Similkameen Spotlight and Keremeos Review. Then Andrea DeMeer took over the helm at the Spotlight and I quickly learned she would be a take charge, sometimes unorthodox editor and publisher. Without consulting me, she immediately turned my next submission into a column. When I met her in what is now Save-on-Foods a few days later, she unabashedly said, “I don’t have your column for next week yet.”

I met John Horgan in the Shades on Main Restaurant in Penticton.

I decided when requesting an interview with a politician, I needed to begin with a thought that intrigued them. At the start of John Horgan’s first election campaign as leader of the NDP, I challenged myself by calling his media agent, Sheena McConnell. I explained I was with Black Press and said, “A lot of people know Mr. Horgan as a politician, but most of us don’t know him as a person. I’d like to write about who he is away from microphones and politics.” She liked the idea and two months later I met John Horgan, Sheena and a photographer for 35 minutes in the Shades on Main Restaurant in Penticton. The next morning he called me from the airport to finish a fascinating conversation. I found him to be decent, warm and candid, a politician who might be trusted by voters.

When I heard about Nora Allison, the plucky inspirational indigenous first wife of John Fall Allison, I was immediately intrigued. According to Nancy Allison, a great granddaughter, Nora ran a pack train of approximately 40 horses from Hope to Greenwood, carrying groceries, mining supplies, and other necessities. I wrote about her and also several of her numerous descendants, including Carrie Allison, a highly respected elder still living not far from Hedley.

Eric Goodfellow, Bill Robinson & Rev. John Goodfellow

I very much enjoyed a conversation with Eric Goodfellow of Princeton. At age seven, he and a number of other boys walked with his father, Reverend John Goodfellow, from Princeton to Hope. “At night we cut boughs and placed our sleeping bags on them,” he said. “We built a large fire to keep away animals.” They stopped in at Camp Defiance for a visit with the enigmatic Bill Robinson, whose cabin along the Sumallo River has long been a source of curiosity.

Enthusiastic youth also participated in the 2016 Pow Wow.

Linda and I attended the Ashnola Pow Wow and interviewed Lauren Terbasket, a lead organizer. We also participated in a health and wellness event put on by the Upper Band. For a change of pace, I wrote about Ben Murbach, who entertained a neighbour’s chickens by playing his harmonica. They seemed to enjoy the music, but I don’t know if it inspired them to lay more eggs.

Ben Murbach, entertaining the neighbour’s chickens.

As a writer, I consider it a privilege to have an audience. I feel fortunate and honoured that so many quality individuals have trusted me with their stories. I hope at times the accounts have prompted readers to ponder, reflect, consider, and maybe even look at life through a more optimistic lens.