From the Desk of Murray Lincoln: January 2012

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Does Dumb Grow larger in the political world?

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Today’s Blog Post
Does Dumb Grow larger in the political world?

My friend Terry sent this my way. Thanks Terry I needed this today. The ideas that I was working on were not near as good as this email content.... sorry iu have no idea who the original author of this was... thank you just the same!

Enjoy the following…

An Ottawa 'airport ticket agent' offers some examples of 'WHY' our country is in trouble!

1. I had a New Brunswick member of parliament ask for an aisle seat so that her hair wouldn't get messed up by being near the window. (On an airplane!)

2. I got a call from a Manitoba legislature staffer, who wanted to go to Cape Town. I started to explain the length of the flight and the passport information, and then he interrupted me with, ''I'm not trying to make you look stupid, but Cape Town is in Massachusetts ..''

Without trying to make him look stupid, I calmly explained, ''Cape Cod is in Massachusetts , Cape Town is in South Africa .''
His response -- click..

3. A senior B.C. deputy-minister called, furious about a Florida package we did. I asked what was wrong with the vacation in Orlando .. He said he was expecting an ocean-view room. I tried to explain that's not possible, since Orlando is in the middle of the state.

He replied, 'Don't lie to me!, I looked on the map, and Florida is a very THIN state!!'' (OMG)

4. I got a call from a federal minister's wife who asked, ''Is it possible to see Russia from Canada ?''

I said, ''No.''

She said, ''But they look so close on the map'' (OMG, again!)

5. An aide for a cabinet member once called and asked if he could rent a car in Dallas .. I pulled up the reservation and noticed he had only a 1-hour layover in Dallas ... When I asked him why he wanted to rent a car, he said, ''I heard Dallas was a big airport, and we will need a car to drive between gates to save time.'' (Aghhhh)

6. A Calgary council member called last week. She needed to know how it was possible that her flight from Calgary left at 8:30 a.m., and got to Vancouver at 8:33 a.m.

I explained that Alberta was an hour ahead of B.C. , but she couldn't understand the concept of time zones. Finally, I told her the plane went fast, and she bought that.

7. A Québec MP, called and asked, ''Do airlines put your physical description on your bag so they know whose luggage belongs to whom?'' I said, 'No, why do you ask?'

He replied, ''Well, when I checked in with the airline, they put a tag on my luggage that said (FAT), and I'm overweight. I think that's very rude!''

After putting him on hold for a minute, while I looked into it. (I was dying laughing). I came back and explained the city code for Fresno , Ca. is (FAT - Fresno Air Terminal), and the airline was just putting a destination tag on his luggage..

8. A Senator from Saskatchewan called to inquire about a trip package to Hawaii . After going over all the cost info, she asked, ''Would it be cheaper to fly to California and then take the train to Hawaii ?''

9. I just got off the phone with a rookie MPP from Ontario who asked, ''How do I know which plane to get on?''

I asked him what exactly he meant, to which he replied, ''I was told my flight number is 823, but none of these planes have numbers on them.''

10 A senator called and said, ''I need to fly to Pepsi-Cola , Florida . Do I have to get on one of those little computer planes?''

I asked if she meant fly to Pensacola and fly on a commuter plane.

She said, ''Yeah, whatever, smarty!''

11 A senior federal government official called and had a question about the documents she needed in order to fly to China . After a lengthy discussion about passports, I reminded her that she needed a visa. "Oh, no I don't. I've been to China many times and never had to have one of those.''

I double checked and sure enough, her stay required a visa. When I told her this she said, ''Look, I've been to China four times and every time they have accepted my American Express!''

12 A Newfoundland & Labrador minister called to make reservations, ''I want to go from St John's to Rhino, New York ...''

I was at a loss for words. Finally, I said, ''Are you sure that's the name of the town?''

'Yes, what flights do you have?'' replied the man.

After some searching, I came back with, ''I'm sorry, sir, I've looked up every airport code in the country and can't find a rhino anywhere."

''The man retorted, ''Oh, don't be silly! Everyone knows where it is. Check your map!''

So I scoured a map of the state of New York and finally offered, ''You don't mean Buffalo , do you?''

The reply? ''Whatever! I knew it was a big animal.''

Now you know why the Government is in the shape it's in!

Could ANYONE be this DUMB?

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

Monday, January 30, 2012

Mohammad, Tooba Yahya, and Hamed Shafia found guilty – maybe something good can come from this

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Today’s Blog Post
Mohammad, Tooba Yahya, and Hamed Shafia found guilty – maybe something good can come from this

My friends know what I think of the trial of Mohammad, Tooba Yahya, and Hamed Shafia. They also know of my strong feelings of the crime along with the total frustration of this strong cultural base of abuse, coming along with the immigrants coming to Canada, should not be tolerated in any fashion.

Simply put, there is no way that this kind of attitude belongs as part of our society. The people are welcome but the attitude of “supreme honor” of a family being harmed by fellow Canadians should not be tolerated. If you want to be Canadian it means to leave that stuff behind and become Canadian that lives with other Canadians.

Well you likely have heard the news already. Mohammad, Tooba Yahya, and Hamed Shafia were all found guilty of First Degree Murder yesterday in the Kingston, Ontario court. They will now be housed by our Federal Prison system for the next 25 years at least… and maybe longer. The so called Honor Killings have been taken care of by our justice system.

I am guessing at this but from I have surmised, Mohammad and Hamed will likely stay in the Kingston Penitentiary for the next 25 years in a fairly closed off area with little contact with the other population. One good thing is that Hamed will be close enough to look after his father. Tooba Yahya will be heading to the Grand Valley Institution near Kitchener, Ontario.

None of the residences that they will now be living in will look anywhere near the mansion that they intended to build in the Montreal area.

Each new place that they will live in will have a multi-purpose Chapel where they will be able to attend the Islamic services. They will be able to pray as many times a day as they would like or be required to by their Faith Group. They will be accommodated to be as religious as they would desire to and they will be protected in every way possible.

This is a high profile case and they will be looked after in that way.

I am guessing that at this part, but I think that Russell Williams and maybe Paul Bernardo will be just down the hall from the guys. They will have lovely neighbours to connect with – but that will not likely happen too often as they all are fairly restricted in where and when they move anywhere in the prison. That is for a very good reason too. No one inside likes them either.

I have ranted and raved enough now. Leave it alone. Time to move on.

BUT there are some really good things happening now as a result of these charges and convictions of the Shafia family leaders. The community groups that have to look after this kind of thing where the women are being abused, the children are being threatened will find some help. The leadership of family services or all sorts – have a very good but totally bad example of what can and does go wrong when NO ONE LISTENED or SAW THE SIGNS OF ABUSE.

Newspaper reports this AM are making some great revelations of the support systems in different communities.

It is hoped that Islamic women and maybe the children, from some of the extremist groups, will have followed these reports and stories of the trials. And if they are being abused, they will get out of where they are and find help – NOW!

Personally I hope even for the men that perpetuate this kind of thinking will change too.

But it is not just the extreme Islamic religious people that have had this wake up call, it is also all of the extreme, cultural practicing people of all people groups that do not allow the freedom of their women and children when they come to Canada. It is for anyone that wishes to live her or his life free from that horrific abuse.

It is a revelation for some of us that groups that are from the Islamic Faith are stepping up and saying that you cannot do this in Canada. And that is true of other Faith Groups and Cultural Groups as well. People in their circles of influence from very different cultural groups, are taking positive steps to help these sometimes ignorant fathers to change.

As much as I cannot stand what the Shafia family has done… it is good in a certain way. Their actions have helped everyone in Canada to begin addressing these wrongs and somehow make it better for the new Canadians.

Teachers, Principals and School Administrators will now be able to take a stronger stand when they address some of the things they face. Community Groups that will be able to listen will do so and perhaps find a safe place for the ongoing harm that is being offered.

The final words to post… Judge Robert Maranger said in his final comments… quote…
"There is nothing more honourless than the deliberate murder of, in the case of Mohammad Shafia, three of his daughters and his wife, in the case of Tooba Yahya, three of her daughters and a stepmother to all her children, in the case of Hamed Shafia, three sisters and a mother.

"The apparent reason behind these cold-blooded, shameful murders was that the four completely innocent victims offended your twisted notion of honour, a notion of honour that is founded upon the domination and control of women, a sick notion of honour that has absolutely no place in any civilized society."
End quote (Calgary Herald source below)

Something good is coming from this tragedy. I just know it will.

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

Resource:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/understanding-the-dynamics-of-a-crime-of-honour/article2319090/?utm_medium=Feeds%3A%20RSS%2FAtom&utm_source=Home&utm_content=2319090

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/canada-in-afghanistan/Jurors+heard+different+accounts+murder+plots/6071451/story.html

http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/canada-in-afghanistan/There+honour+shameless+murders/6070834/story.html

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Marriage (Married or Not.. You should read this.)

Marriage (Married or Not.. You should read this. ❤)

When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held her hand and said, I’ve got something to tell you. She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes..

Suddenly I didn’t know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the topic calmly. She didn’t seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why?

I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man! That night, we didn’t talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer; she had lost my heart to Jane. I didn’t love her anymore. I just pitied her!

With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of my company. She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. The woman who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not take back what I had said for I loved Jane so dearly. Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now.

The next day, I came back home very late and found her writing something at the table. I didn’t have supper but went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because I was tired after an eventful day with Jane. When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again.

In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she didn’t want anything from me, but needed a month’s notice before the divorce. She requested that in that one month we both struggle to live as normal a life as possible. Her reasons were simple: our son had his exams in a month’s time and she didn’t want to disrupt him with our broken marriage.

This was agreeable to me. But she had something more, she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day. She requested that every day for the month’s duration I carry her out of our bedroom to the front door ever morning. I thought she was going crazy. Just to make our last days together bearable I accepted her odd request.

I told Jane about my wife’s divorce conditions. . She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she applies, she has to face the divorce, she said scornfully.

My wife and I hadn’t had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mommy in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly; don’t tell our son about the divorce. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outside the door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the office.

On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest. I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn’t looked at this woman carefully for a long time. I realized she was not young any more. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered what I had done to her.

On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me. On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy was growing again. I didn’t tell Jane about this. It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger.

She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. I suddenly realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily.

Suddenly it hit me… she had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart. Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head.

Our son came in at the moment and said, Dad, it’s time to carry mom out. To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had become an essential part of his life. My wife gestured to our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I might change my mind at this last minute. I then held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly; it was just like our wedding day.

But her much lighter weight made me sad. On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, I hadn’t noticed that our life lacked intimacy. I drove to office…. jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind…I walked upstairs. Jane opened the door and I said to her, Sorry, Jane, I do not want the divorce anymore.

She looked at me, astonished, and then touched my forehead. Do you have a fever? She said. I moved her hand off my head. Sorry, Jane, I said, I won’t divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn’t value the details of our lives, not because we didn’t love each other anymore. Now I realize that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day I am supposed to hold her until death do us apart. Jane seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove away. At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for my wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote, I’ll carry you out every morning until death do us apart.

That evening I arrived home, flowers in my hands, a smile on my face, I run up stairs, only to find my wife in the bed - dead. My wife had been fighting CANCER for months and I was so busy with Jane to even notice. She knew that she would die soon and she wanted to save me from the whatever negative reaction from our son, in case we push through with the divorce.
— At least, in the eyes of our son — I’m a loving husband...

The small details of your lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, property, the money in the bank. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves.

So find time to be your spouse’s friend and do those little things for each other that build intimacy. Do have a real happy marriage!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Eating your Donut before you eat your French Fries

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This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.

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Today’s Blog Post

Eating your Donut before you eat your French Fries

The weather in our area has been not so good with snow, ice and cold weather. To compensate for this, over the past week, in the afternoon, I have been sitting with my Mom in the Mall for most of the afternoon. We are usually in the Food Court and enjoying a coffee plus a treat. Yesterday it we nibbled at French Fries and a Donut at least my Mom did. It was a celebration day.

I take some of my art work along and material to read during the stay at the Mall.

My mom comes with me. In fact the trip to the Mall is primarily for Mom. She needs to walk and needs also the stimulation of being with and around other people.

Now eating French Fries and the wonderful Tim Horton donuts doesn’t sound like the healthiest diet in the world does it!? Well along with her black coffee and whatever treat she gets herself – SHE LOVES IT! And I nibble on some of it… (holding back just a little on the Fries and no Donut for me!)

As I was reading my book I looked up to see Mom eating her goodies she had picked up. She first ate the Donut and then ate the French Fries… which seemed a bit odd to me at that moment. Usually we eat the main dish first and the dessert afterward.

I sat for a long time thinking about this simple action my Mom was doing and came up with a simple thought… “At 91 does it really matter what she does? At 91 does it really matter if she eats McDonald’s French Fries and Tim Hortons’ donuts – every day of the week?”

The simple answer is “Nope – not at all!” At 91 I think you have earned the right to eat what you want and when you want it.

Yesterday at the Mall was her last day of the 91st year. This morning is the start of her 92nd. It is her 91st Birthday today. She has completed 33,215 days on this earth and she loves her French Fries and if she can get gravy with it – she will.

The other thing she likes to do is sit and watch other people. And the Food Court in any Mall is the best place for that to happen. On top of that people that know us will drop by for a visit or greeting.

This sitting at the Mall is good for me too. I can now see my Mom better. She is much slower now, stooped over somewhat and doesn’t walk as fast as before. She is still interested in people and loves to shop. Often she comes back to the table with something new.

Shouldn’t I be more responsible for what my Mom does or doesn’t do? I suppose I should be with the role reversal that has taken place – where I am the care giver and she is the one that needs much more care each year. Hmmm?

When she brought all of her four kids into this world she helped us, cared for us and made sure we were safe. She was our Mom and that is what Moms do best. I can only imagine that we made her smile from time to time as we ate our food in funny ways and did odd things that kids do from time to time. She laughed about it and enjoyed her time with us.

My world has been a hurried one with life passing me by at the speed of light. For over 40 years I supplied myself to thousands of people that needed help. I was a man in a rush to get it all done. I had little time for anything but what other people needed. That is gone now and I think that I have slowed down considerably.

Now sitting and watching my Mom eat her French Fries after her Donut… is okay with me. I can smile and relax. What does it matter what is first or second at this stage of life.

(BTW – I think there was a good reason for eating the Fries second – they were very hot to start off with!)

As I have aged more each year, separated myself from some of the demands that I have had on me and rid myself of the so very important things that I once thought about myself (– you know “I can solve the whole world’s problems in the next two hours!”) – I can sit and watch people too. I can be in no hurry at all if I choose to do so – or if it just feels good.

It will be 22 more years and four months before I will be sitting in a Mall with someone 22 years younger than me… and maybe then I will eat my Donut before my French Fries too.

Happy Birthday Mom!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

Photos taken at the Party - January 28, 2012

Friday, January 27, 2012

The Bank of Dad and Mum

Thursday, January 26, 2012

More Day Brighteners from my Friends

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

And the Show Goes On at the Kingston Court House

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My Web Site is a like a Gallery – please drop in for a stroll through.

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Today’s Blog Post
And the Show Goes On at the Kingston Court House

For about three years I sat in court often with “clients” of mine. They were young people that were in trouble with the law. In most cases they had done something wrong. Now they were being brought before a judge (and sometimes a jury) to face up to the things that they had done.

They were my “clients” as well as the Lawyer’s clients in that I was their Youth Pastor/Minister. The Lawyer was there because they were hired by a family member or given by the court(Duty Counsel). I was there because a mother was agonizing over her son (and sometimes daughter) that was possibly going to jail. I was there to give comfort and support to the family member.

I was there also to witness the things that the Lawyer would say or present on behalf of the young person.

It often happened that I would hear some of the most creative thinking that anyone could come up with – from the Lawyer. These characters could imagine a possible story of what happened in the young person’s life and at the time the crime was committed then suggest that story with a straight face and steady voice to the court. But many times it was pure and simple imagination.. but enough of it that the kid would be let go.

Promises were made over and over again by the Lawyer and the Mother of the kid that they would live right from that moment on, do well in school and be a perfect example to the whole world.

What a crock! Many of the kids would be back at it within days. Their attitude was not about to change with the scare in court. Mind you some did. Some corrected their ways and moved on. But many did not. The ones that didn’t were already caught in a downward spiral of community problems.

I read a lot of books waiting for these cases to appear and listened to Lawyers that should have books written about them.

Do I sound leery of Lawyers? You could say that, “YES!, that is true”. I think they are the most creative and suggestive thinkers in the world.

BUT if you are found to be in trouble with a serious accusation against you, like murder, kidnapping, or something really stupid you have done… you will want the very best, most creative, and suggestive thinker with the best possible story for the jury and the judge to hear.

I would like the best wouldn’t you?

Well starting yesterday I think that I have found the best Lawyers in Canada if I am ever caught or accused of something foul.

These Lawyers are defending Shafia, Tooba and Hamed – Dad, Wife and Son of the murders of the daughters and former wife.

Peter Kemp, one of the defence Lawyers, suggested a lengthy description of the way the crime would have possibly taken place… where the three accused, after checking into a motel, would have taken the daughters and wife, one by one from the car they were riding in, drowned them one by one, then stuffed them back into the car… pushed it into the canal. Then the son would have drove to the Motel to drop off the dad and mom … then he would have driven to Montreal to fake an accident to cover the damage on the second car… but because the time to do all this would have been longer than what was suggested – none of it ever happened the way that the Crown Prosecutor has suggested.

If you are confused with the creative side of it all (maybe I didn’t describe it correctly)– read it for yourself with the Links below.

As I read it all over this AM I shuddered again. I was back in the hundred or so court cases that I had sat through in Scarborough with all the teens and struggling parents. I was listening again to creative story telling of what might have been – casting doubt about what really happened, to get the person off. I was listening to the “legal bull” that is allowed and thrown around in court.

And having listened again to it all… I need a shower to wash away what I heard.

Think of the poor jurors that have to make a decision about what they hear.

Now… are we ready for this… let’s say these folks get off and are freed from the charges laid against them… hmmm? Do you think they will complete the building of their huge house in Montreal?

Conclusion from all of this stuff that I am reading… I really shouldn’t listen to what the Lawyers are saying or suggesting… yet I have to… it is called Justice.

I need a shower – now!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

Resource:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/canada/55288-defence-too-many-ifs-alleged-honour-killing
http://www.thestar.com/article/1120309--shafia-defendants-did-not-have-enough-time-to-kill-family-members-jury-hears