Lest We forget…..

Lest We forget

the revolution will not be televised….

Great bear

Bears play an important part in First Nations culture as symbols of strength, hard work, and even great love. Many tribes believe the "Great Spirit" to often take the form of a bear. It would lead hunters on great chases and could die, only to be reborn in the spring. Bears were considered mythical and "magical" creatures.

First Nations use the Great Bear to explain the seasons. It rises up in the spring, waking up the earth and bringing things to life. As summer approaches, The Bear runs across the top of the heavens avoiding hunters; its hot breath flows across the land to make the world hot and sweaty. In August, the bear gets caught by the hunter. The blood of the bear falls to the earth, resulting in showers resulting the leaves changing colors, mainly red and orange. Through the winter, there is no life in the bear and thus the earth is cold and lifeless.

For the First Nations, the bear gave life to the land. The bear was therefore a Mother-symbol and is fiercely protective of its cubs.

And then there were white bears in some places known as spirit bears, they were not Polar Bears, they are gifts of the "Great Spirit" to remind people that they once lived in a land of ice and snow.

But the bear was also a hunter that knew the land. They were quick, big and powerful, and also considered extremely clever; outfighting cougars and wolves. A Native American with the word bear in his name was considered to be an excellent provider as well as a powerful warrior. Bears were not gods, just made by God.

Enjoy the bear…. respect the bear….

Jim

when did we stop being Citizens and merely tax-Payers?

can someone please tell me….when we stopped being Citizens and reduced to just tax-Payers?

 

 

Canadian citizens have been reduced to “taxpayers,” as society has increasingly adopted “taxpayers” as the preferred term for the designation of its citizens. But lets think about that for a moment. 

 

While everyone who pays taxes is obviously a tax payer (two words), the term “taxpayer” (one word) symbolizes something much more. “Taxpayer” is a self-absorbed definition that sees taxes as a financial exchange for specific personally-realized services. Therfore all transactions of the government are based simply upon their monetary “cost” to an individual “taxpayer,” without any mention of social benefit or community value. Taxpayers seek reduce public life to a balance sheet and no longer see themselves as citizens of the community, engaged in democratic and communal self-governance. It is the "what is in it for me" attitude.

 

Citizens, understand that they play an important role in  the democratic process of their society. Citizens are rooted in their community and evaluate all of their contributions from the perspective of contributing to the building and well-being of the total community — of which they are an important part. A citizen seeks to work at building a community founded upon pro-social (as opposed to anti-social) values. The operative question for a citizen thus becomes: What contribution am I making to build and strengthen the community for my family and for my neighbours — for my fellow citizens? Citizens will see taxes as a positive contribution to broader society, whether city, province or country.

 

The destruction of social connections that create a community and the dissociation of citizens from social programs that benefit society are the direct by-products — and perhaps the intended goals or the Taxpayer attitude.

 

Citizens see their role in society as consisting of both rights and responsibilities. It is not only my right but my responsibility as a citizen to speak out on issues that affect my neighbours and fellow citizens and to ensure the well-being of all in society. 

 

Our future as a society rests not only on calculations of financial cost to individual tax payers, but on the assessment of communal value. Of course, a civic community’s “balance sheet,” like that of a province or a country, is vitally important, but that balance sheet must also embrace social, community and environmental values. We need health care, education, the arts, care for those who need assistance, and much more. We need a strong community that provides the full infrastructure for a healthy communal life. In short: we need to view ourselves and each other as citizens.

 

So, next time anyone addresses you as taxpayer, correct them and take back your status as a citizen and speak out for your community. Stand out on your street, talk to your neighbour, take an active interest in what is going on in your community, locally, and beyond….lets take back our right to be citizens!

Stephen Harpers secret Agenda?

The Federal habitat management programs will soon be closed around the country….another example of how the Conservative government and Stephen harper are hell bent on tearing apart the agencies designed to protect our environment….whats next?… a NeoFudalist society with Stephen harper as the Lord? 

Ottawa set to gut fish habitat programs, union says:

(Via CBC | Calgary News)

New Siri ad with Martin Scorsese

I am Proud to be Canadian

I know this commercial is over done, however…it sums it up perfectly…. 

Jim