Tid bits - Loneliness again, some stats etc.

 Watching the news during the weekend, there was another cry about education cuts, and  to have high school students learn on line more.   Then I was reading some articles from magazines, one from a fellow student at Uof T who went on to study at Oxford.  I always liked him so was interested that his focus is on loneliness.  FR Gerald Ryan "wants you to know that you are not alone."  He states, "My vocation calls me to be witness to inclusivity, to belonging, and to the inherent dignity of every person.  He wants to "loosen the grip of shame and silence that so often surrounds this experience and open pathways towards hope."(Canadian Jesuits, 2026 pp 18-19).   The article continues with a stat.  Loneliness has reached epidemic levels in recent years.  A 2021 report from Statistics Canada found that 1 in 10 people aged 15 or older always or often felt lonely.  Fr Ryan indicates that loneliness is not just a feeling but "an urgent pastoral and ethical call."   I agree.  So it is ironic that in our society, our leaders fail to recognize the importance of having youths socialize, learn to play and work together more and this gets a failing grade in online learning.  We need to gather people more together and look at the benefits.  Look at FIFA how it has brought people together with sports.  Yes, it has also brought problems to light as well such as many Canadians not being able to see a game due to lack of affordability.   We see a rise in greed and exploitation with leadership failing to protect the average person and aiding the rich to be more powerful, so they can gain.  We are huring in Ontario.   Nearly 300,000 Ontarians left emergency rooms without treatment last year.  There are four new hate crime laws being introduced.   Where is our money going to if not for our benefit?  Youths have been targeted from foreign entities to commit crimes including that of hate.  We need to unite our young people and respect them as individuals offering them the optimum support to be the best that they can be.  We have a lot of work to do, to reverse the greed and we need to be able to recognize it when we still have the ability to vote.   Do it wisely or live with the consequence.