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I continue to be fascinated—and not in a good way, of the UK’s coverage of Prince Andrew’s questionable connection with convicted sex offender Jeffery Epstein. If the papers dedicated as many headlines and real estate to this subject as they did to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s private jet rides than this newsworthy story would have bumped the duo right off the front page--and rightfully so. In continuing with the crappy coverage, the papers have opted to gloss over another blip in the Prince Andrew’s world. In the wake of the negative coverage, the Prince hired Jason Stein, a communications specialist to help repair and rebuild his image. Stein resigned a month into his new gig. I don’t know about you but the first thing that pops into my head is…geez, that would be a big blow for a Prince who’s trying to recoup his image. You would think that there would be A LOT of follow up on this one. Especially given that this was what happened to Meghan Markle when multiple members of her staff resigned. Her character was on the line, she was referred to as a ‘horrible boss’ and someone with ‘diva demands.’ The coverage of her staff leaving dominated the front pages as did the attacks on her character. There was not a lot of space dedicated to ‘small’ little details such as positions being temporary or the staff members who adored her. I googled away and can tell you at the time of this post there is surprisingly little spotlight shone on Prince Andrew’s spin doctor quitting. Just to regroup here…Prince Andrew has been allegedly accused of participating in an orgy with underage girls and, having intimate relations with a 17- year-old on three occasions. Seriously?! His spin-doctor quitting after such a short stint is not newsworthy especially given the background of why he needed to be hired in the first place. Unlike Markle, Prince Andrew has not been graced with a slew of adjectives to describe his character or his behaviour. I for one, can think of some adjectives. Fortunately, in the UK there are people are coming to Meghan's defense. On October 29th, I was thrilled to see that 72 female British MP’s, from multiple parties signed an open letter in support of Meghan Markle, the letter stated the UK newspapers unfair attacks on Markle violated her privacy and “can only be described as outdated, colonial undertones.” In other words, the articles have racist undertones. Bravo ladies! Thank you for speaking up and challenging the newspaper’s bad behaviour. As for Prince Andrew and his alleged bad behaviour, I am still waiting for the flurry of articles in the UK media that attack his character and thoroughly question his role in the Jeffery Epstein sex trafficking ring. Isn't that what newspapers are supposed to do? Something to think about...I'll leave you with a video of Amy Robach on the set of 20/20 speaking on hot mic after Epstein's death in July 2019. It was a private conversation that was leaked on Nov 5th. It will be interesting to see how long the powerful forces behind this man of privilege are able to protect him and I'd like to know why Meghan is not given the same consideration.
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And it continues....OK…my can we please leave Meghan Markle alone rant from last week has to continue due to the continued antics in the press. I’m sure by now you’ve heard HRH The Duchess of Sussex is the first guest editor in British Vogue's 103-year history. The September issue Forces for Change features 15 women who Meghan considers to be trailblazers. Among them are actors, models, politicians, authors and advocates. The focus is female empowerment, diversity, mental health and climate change; all are causes which Meghan is passionate about. Also included, is a candid conversation between former first Lady Michelle Obama and Prince Harry interviews Dr. Jane Goodall —I love it! A noble endeavour, especially in today’s volatile climate. You would think…this would be a solid win for Meghan—it wasn’t. Meghan Can't WinHere's what her critics had to say...
1. Where was The Queen on Meghan’s list? A big over site! A major faux pas! Meghan snubbed the Queen! How could Meghan not to include the world’s longest reigning monarch on her list of trailblazers?! This much admired and respected monarch is the epitome of duty, dignity, responsibility, service and tradition. And, as a royal she has successfully kept her nose out of political matters. Yes, the monarchy has slowly evolved under her reign…William married a commoner, Harry married a bi-racial divorcee—a couple of very admirable examples. There is no doubt the Queen is 'solid' and inspirational and deserves to be celebrated but I'm sorry... a 'force of change,' she is not. 2. When Meghan opted not to appear on the cover because according to editor Edward Enninful, “In the end, she felt that it would be in some ways a ‘boastful’ thing to do for this particular project,” Enninful explained on the magazine’s website. “She wanted, instead, to focus on the women she admires.” What do her critics do? They claim Meghan not wanting to be featured on the cover because it is 'boastful' is an underhanded slight at her sister in-law The Duchess of Cambridge who appeared on the cover in 2016. Which must mean that Meghan also thinks that when Diana, The Princess of Wales and Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice appeared on the cover they too were being ‘boastful.’ Geez-Louise people take it in context and note the key phrasing…she wanted to focus on the women she admires and not herself…it had NOTHING to do with Kate so can we please stop pitting these two women against each other. 3. Another criticism…Meghan's role is to promote Britain yet, there were only 5 British women on the list. Sooo, then it would have been acceptable if the list was exclusively British women? I suspect not. Call me crazy but Meghan was born in the US so she's bound to have American influences too (and there were 5) and, we live in a global world, with global issues, therefore I don't understand the problem of featuring a list of global women. Aren't we all in this making the world a better place together? Also, wasn't this list Meghan's choice? 4. And, compliments of Piers Morgan one of my personal favourites, the list wasn't inclusive because it did not include men. Yes Piers, I can see why this was a complaint because throughout history there has never been any attention given to men's accomplishments...SERIOUSLY!? 5. If Meghan could take the time to meet with Vogue during her maternity leave she should have taken the time to meet Donald Trump and Melania during their state visit. OK...perhaps there's some merit with this one but let's cut her some slack as maternity time is her time off and the meetings with Vogue were done in private, they were not a formal state occasion. Although, Meghan can't win with the press, she certainly wins with me and the readers in Britain who queued up to purchase a copy of Vogue which went on sale today. Also worthy of mention, the September British issue of Vogue is currently on eBay for 5x's the cover price (£19.99). WAY TO GO MEGHAN! A BIG thanks for highlighting these incredible women. I'd like to invite you to meet Meghan/Vogue's 15 Forces For Change. I love to read and there’s nothing better than when I have my hands on a good book. I just finished a little gem that occupied my thoughts for days afterwards—I also really like this. The novel is called Ragged Company by Richard Wagamese. I’ve never read any of Wagamese’s books before and now that I have been introduced... Indian Horse is on deck. Before I continue, here’s a quick overview of the novel as per the book jacket: Four chronically homeless people–Amelia One Sky, Timber, Double Dick and Digger–seek refuge in a warm movie theatre when a severe Arctic Front descends on the city. During what is supposed to be a one-time event, this temporary refuge transfixes them. They fall in love with this new world, and once the weather clears, continue their trips to the cinema. On one of these outings they meet Granite, a jaded and lonely journalist who has turned his back on writing “the same story over and over again” in favour of the escapist qualities of film, and an unlikely friendship is struck. A found cigarette package (contents: some unsmoked cigarettes, three $20 bills, and a lottery ticket) changes the fortune of this struggling set. The ragged company discovers they have won $13.5 million, but none of them can claim the money for lack proper identification. Enlisting the help of Granite, their lives, and fortunes, become forever changed. Ragged Company is a journey into both the future and the past. Richard Wagamese deftly explores the nature of the comforts these friends find in their ideas of “home,” as he reconnects them to their histories. I will add, this read was also kind of fun for me because I typically read the synopsis before I dig into a book and this time I didn’t so the unlikely friendships and the winning the lottery gracefully unfolded. Moving forward, I may opt to proceed blindly in this manner again because it was fun to watch a plot unfold without a previous window into the story line. OK…back to why I liked the book. Firstly, I adore it when a novel is so beautifully written that I feel compelled to go back and reread a sentence or a paragraph and this was my experience throughout Ragged Company. I would have finished the book faster if I wasn’t doing so much rereading! Wagamese is one of the most beautiful writers I have ever read. But, it’s more than his choice of words and the way Wagamese strings the words together—I would like to see the world through Wagamese’s eyes. Secondly, I was appreciative of Wagamese’s subject matter. Of late, my reading selection has been World War 2 dominated (all good books), buuuuutttt not only was nice to deviate from this period in history it was beneficial for me to see the world of homeless through a different lens. I have certainly walked away with an even greater compassion for those who live on the streets and the tragic circumstances that place them there. I am thankful for this and, thankful for the reminder that homelessness is not only a physical state…one can live in a home with a roof over their head and not be anchored. The third reason I liked this book is because it provided me with another reminder and that being we all have the ability to help others and it made me want to create change in my life. This is a very IMPORTANT reminder. Without a doubt Wagamese has been added to my list of fav authors and I look forward to reading more of his work. Do you have a book that kept you thinking for days after you finished it? A Traveller's Guide to Respectful Photography I’d like to think…I’m a little more subtle than the paparazzi. I haven’t resorted to hiding in bushes nor, have I engaged in a high-speed motorcycle chase in the pursuit of a good photo. That said, when I’m travelling, I’m obsessed with getting pictures of local people while they are engaging in their everyday activities. Now, I will be the first to admit...if the situation was reversed and it were me—here in my lovely Canada, pursuing the cereal aisle in No Frills and someone jumped in front of me and clicked away—I would not be thrilled. So, what is it that makes me turn paparazzi as soon as I leave my homeland? When I’m abroad, if you are a minority man, woman, or child, nun or a monk—I am particularly fascinated with you. Fortunately, for the privacy of the latter, I haven’t overcome my shyness and feel quite uncomfortable invading someone’s personal space by sticking my camera in their face. Although, I must confess sometimes I wish there was a little paparazzi in me because I love people shots. Not Some of My Finer Moments During my travels, I have taken many pictures of the local people in ways that I’m not particularly proud of. I’ve skulked in a corner at a market in North Vietnam pretending to be taking a picture of a particularly interesting mound of bananas (I’m sure you will agree...bananas are fascinating), when my camera is really aimed at the hilltribe shoppers dressed in their brightly coloured traditional clothing. From a street corner, I’ve zoomed until I can zoom no more and snapped away at a Burmese gentleman sitting cross-legged in a barber’s chair under a tree. I’ve also been horrified albeit envious by a fellow tourist’s photo prowess while out for a walk in Yangon, Myanmar. He stopped dead in the middle of a sidewalk, swung around and backtracked until he had positioned himself right in front of his subject. An elderly pink robed nun, with a red umbrella poised high over her shaved head AND she was wearing large Jackie-O sunglasses. She was magnificent! But, I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t capture this incredible woman on digital. I know, I know…taking pictures is a BIG part of the whole travelling experience. Who doesn’t want to capture the essence of the country you’re standing in? It’s not too often you hear someone say, “I don’t take pictures, I’ve got this committed to memory.” Two Rules for Respectful Travel Photography Sometimes, I’m pleased with my pictures but often—I’ve wished that I had the nerve to walk right over, perfectly aim and zoom right in on people going about their business just as my tourist friend did. Soooo, what do we shy polite photographers do? It’s quite simple. I have two rules for people photos. Rule #1: whenever possible, ask for permission. Be it from the individual directly or if I am on a tour, I will ask the tour guide before we arrive at the destination if photos are permissible. While I was in Asia, there were times when a photo inquiry lead to an open palm expecting money. But more often than not—I was blessed with a beaming smile. I was in China, prior to the 2008 Olympics. When the torch passed through Shenzhen, I was among the throngs of people who went to witness this event. My colleague and I missed the torch because so many people were asking for our picture. We were happy to oblige, were grateful to be asked and didn't mind foregoing the torch because we met so many fantastic people that day. Rule #2: be forthcoming and respectful. I’m proud to say I’ve put my skulking behavior behind me. If an opportunity presents itself and I’m not in situation where I can request a photo i.e. someone was prostrating around Mount Kailash—I take a picture from a polite distance. I will never, EVER put myself right up in someone’s business even…if this means (I can now accept this)—forgoing a picture of an elderly Burmese nun wearing Jackie-O shades because I was not brave enough to ask for a photo. Besides, I figure…if my inner compass is telling me this is awkward (just as it was that faithful day) than it probably is--so don’t do it. True to character, I will admit…it took me awhile to work my way out of this photo taking derve. As I continue to travel and abide my people photo rules it’s safe to say I’ll never be hired to do a little freelance work for the paparazzi. And, should I encounter any tourists in No Frills I can only hope their inner compass guides them to the very fascinating bananas. Photographer in Action Prostrating @ Mt. Kailash. I didn't get it right. I got it right. In an effort to be respectful I have A LOT of back pictures :)
Saul Indian Horse has hit bottom. His last binge almost killed him, and now he’s a reluctant resident in a treatment centre for alcoholics, surrounded by people he’s sure will never understand him. But Saul wants peace, and he grudgingly comes to see that he’ll find it only through telling his story. With him, readers embark on a journey back through the life he’s led as a northern Ojibway, with all its joys and sorrows. With compassion and insight, author Richard Wagamese traces through his fictional characters the decline of a culture and a cultural way. For Saul, taken forcibly from the land and his family when he’s sent to residential school, salvation comes for a while through his incredible gifts as a hockey player. But in the harsh realities of 1960s Canada, he battles obdurate racism and the spirit-destroying effects of cultural alienation and displacement. Indian Horse unfolds against the bleak loveliness of northern Ontario, all rock, marsh, bog and cedar. Wagamese writes with a spare beauty, penetrating the heart of a remarkable Ojibway man. …. Oh my goodness, I just finished Richard Wagamese’s novel Indian Horse and hands down it is one of the best books I have EVER read. Every Canadian should read this book. It is beautifully written and, it was a hard read. The cruelty the indigenous people faced is…for someone who spends their time with words, I am at a loss to find words to adequately describe the abuse they endured at the hands of the church in the residential schools and the racism they encountered outside of their community—the best I can do is say it was a heartbreaking read and even that seems inadequate. There were sections of the book where I thought…I can’t read this, and I don’t know if I can watch the movie. Wagamese’s novel flawlessly illustrates the beauty of the indigenous culture and the depths the Canadian Government—with the assistance of the church, went to destroy it. But, it’s also a story of survival with Saul struggling to find his place in a world after his roots have been severed. I will say it again ALL Canadians should read this book. Unfortunately, we cannot undo history, but we can come to a better understanding of the impact the residential schools had and is still having on the First Nations people. I could not put this book down. To illustrate this point I have a little story to share with you: When I went to TO this week, I brought Indian Horse with me to read on the GO-Train on the way home. As soon as the train pulled away from Union Station, I cracked the book open. I was in deep because the next thing I heard was the announcement for the Aurora stop and I thought great! almost home and went back to reading. I shed many a tear on that Go ride and the next announcement I heard was, “last stop train is terminating at Union Station!” That’s right, I was back at Union Station. I learned the hard way that after a certain hour the train does not go all the way up to Barrie rather, it terminates in Aurora and from there one must take a bus to all other destinations on the line. Unfortunately, for me when I heard the Aurora announcement (or part of it) the train wasn’t retired for the night as it headed south again with a very unaware me reading away. If you know me this story will not surprise you…it is a very crystal thing to do. In my defense, I will say, normally (and normal for me is once a week over the course of this summer) I take the train. In the morning, I get on at the first stop and I’m very alert because I get off at a station mid-route. And, in the evening I’m the last stop therefore, it’s not necessary for me to devote my undivided attention to each stop along the way for fear of missing my stop. However, this commute was different because I didn’t go directly home I went down town and had a lovely meal on the patio with a dear friend hence, my timing was different. Compounding the situation is I was so engrossed in Indian Horse I didn’t hear the announcer state the train terminated in Aurora and once everyone had disembarked and the new crew of riders were comfortably settled--I still managed to miss the 2nd announcement stating the train was departing to Union Station. What can I say….?! It’s a good book. Wagamese had ALL of my attention and then some. Upon discovering my mistake, yes…I was a little frazzled and rushed to make connections but because I was riding with Wagamese I was not upset by the little detour. F.Y.I. I left Union Station (the 1st time) at 7:40 pm and I arrived home at 11:50 pm! Just a bit of a commuting marathon. I was tired, but my mind was stimulated. I’d like to take the opportunity to thank Wagamese for writing Indian Horse; Saul will stay with me. For those who do not like to read, you should watch the movie. I too will watch the movie and in all seriousness, I will not watch during any kind of commute because who knows where I’ll end up. To all residential school survivors and their families, I am so very sorry. I wish you peace in your journey back to your beautiful culture. To all people in this world, may we one day learn from our mistakes and walk this Earth as loving and compassionate beings. You may purchase Indian Horse at: Amazon |
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