LIFE AFTER DEATH - Book report (for eschatology course)

People search for answers to what is not fully understood. Death is not only puzzling, it has a mysterious finality to it. There are people who determine death to be the end for themselves and for those who they have loved and died. Others find death to be a passage towards some other chance at life such as re-incarnation. There are also those who believe that they will go to their creator – God. There are endless possibilities to the creative mind. Life After Life by Raymond Moody promises a dimension between life and death. This paper will list what the author has gleaned from his interviews with or about people who have died or were near death. At the same time the reliability of what is disclosed will be examined. Life After In Dr Moody’s Life After Life the author explains that he writes primarily about reports, accounts or narratives which others have provided verbally and includes third parties. These reports involve being able to see and hear what is going on when people are pronounced dead but not able to talk, feel others, or feel pain. There are reported sensations of peace and comfort. There are sounds which are pleasant (14-19) and sounds that are disturbing. There are also recordings of a passage through a dark tunnel with a floating sensation, of weightlessness to their new spiritual bodies (pp 21, 35). Dr Moody indicates that he is not trying to prove that there is life after death (xxvii). This seems clear in how he presents his information. Dr Moody will report two people having a similar experience of a voice telling them that they have to go back [to life] (p 48). He will report one other person who associates heat with the light who talks to him (p54). In another he will report the observations of another, sole person, “It was a fun person to be with! It had a sense of humor, too- definitely.”(p55). There seems to be general sense of vagueness regarding the information that is provided. As an example, there is no explanation for the humor or what the humor is. There seems to be a consistency of unanswered questions. Who is each participant? What are the backgrounds of these people? The author does report listing the findings from 50 cases (p 9) so why isn’t he more specific with each case and why is it common for the author to report similar findings from only one or two cases as mentioned? The author begins his study with one man’s particular experience. This man states that he heard himself being pronounced dead by his doctor. The participant then hears a loud ringing or buzzing and feels himself moving rapidly through a long dark tunnel. He subsequently finds himself as a spectator as he watches himself being resuscitated at a distance from his physical body which is different from its’ physical form. He also has different powers from its’ former self. Spirits of dead relatives and friends come to meet and help him. A beam of light also approaches and speaks to him “nonverbally” so that he may question his life. The man then finds himself at a “barrier or border” from this life to the next. He returns to his body which he resists. He experiences intense feelings of joy, love and peace (p 11-12). The aforementioned is documented as an actual account from one person. However, the author concludes that it is not intended to be a representation of anyone person’s experience but a model of common elements found in many stories. In Dr Moody’s “abstract model,” each element occurs in many separate stories”(p 12). Providing an abstract model and not indicating such at the beginning of the description of events, becomes distracting. There is an aura of trickery by what is eventually disclosed. However, one cannot ignore the thought provoking ideas that is encouraging. Dr Moody reports that one participant who suffers a heart attack finds himself in a grey mist, with wonderful lights and people and perhaps buildings. He is told by his “Uncle Carl” (who died years earlier) to “go back” because his “work on earth is not completed”(pp 68-69). One is left wondering if that is what life is about? Is it about completing our work? Then what is my work, one may ask? Life After Life reveals that some of the participants have a change of attitude for the better. Dr Moody indicates that, “almost every person has expressed” that he no longer fears death (p 88). Though it is unknown exactly how many participants are religious and from what faiths, Dr Moody does indicate that, “Others say that although they had read religious writings, such as the Bible, they had never really understood certain things they had read until their near-death experiences (p 129). What that is, is never clarified but one may presume that if a person experiences death, than life in general would have more meaning. The author does provide comments from individuals and extends this to “a small number of cases” without indicating exactly how many have an altering life experience. These changes include life being more precious, the mind being more important than the body, and in a “small number of cases” acquiring or noticing intuition bordering on the psychic (pp 84-87). The author indicates that there seems to be no difference in experiences reported by the men or women, though women seem to be able to talk about their experiences more. Since Dr Moody never provides a gender demographic, there is again an element of inconclusiveness. It should be noted that when Dr Moody reveals that, “almost every person has expressed…” (p88), these persons are referred to as “…he…”. How many men actually were hesitant to report the findings from the 50 cases? It appears that women may be the minority in the cases presented if the author is to be taken literally. This continuous vagueness of where the information is from, is at times difficult because it gives the reader a feeling of incompleteness. However, this feeling is also often replaced by genuine curiosity when cases seem to become more real, even proven. “In quite a few instances” many persons report being out of their bodies for extended periods and these could be verified by what they saw when they should not have been able to as they were dead or close to death. Several doctors have reported being baffled that patients with no medical knowledge could describe in details the resuscitation “attempts” when the patient was “dead” (p. 93). This is interesting because Dr Moody also indicates that in only one of the cases, did a physician reveal any familiarity at all with near-death experience (p.80). Reliability is put to the absolute test when Dr Moody provides an account of authenticity for his participants. “I have detected in their voices sincerity, warmth, and feeling which cannot really be conveyed in a written recounting. So to me, in a way that is unfortunately impossible for many others to share, the notion that these accounts might be fabrications is utterly untenable.”(p 126) This belief in his participants continues with they, “are not victims of psychosis. They have struck me as emotionally stable, normal people who are functional in society. They hold jobs and positions of importance and carry them out responsibly. They have stable marriages and are involved with their family and friends…” (p160). It appears that Dr Moody’s idea of honesty from his participates is very subjective. How sure can one be that every participant is truthful? Is there at least an acknowledgment of a margin of error? - Apparently, not. There is a sense of truth due to the similarities of information cited but the reader must take the word of the author for everything that is provided. There is also at times a climate of what seems incredulous, such as one participant’s report of a spirit in the shape of a ball of light, globe like with a hand reaching out of it (p 96). This seems to be the extreme from what is usually reported. The author indicates that his study is not scientific because his sample of participants is not a random sample of humans. His definition of random sampling is restricted to an example of demographics of “Eskimos, Kwakiutl Indians, Navahoes, Watusi tribesmen, and so on. However due to geographic and other limitations, I have not been able to locate any (p 133).” One wonders if the author understands the definition of “sample”. A sample is a set of individuals selected from the population, usually intended to represent the population in a research study. For example one study might examine a sample of 10 children in a preschool program or use a sample of over 1000 registered voters. The End Life After Life has sold over 13 million copies worldwide. A phone consultation with Dr Moody is $200.00 per hour. This demonstrates that people hunger to know about experiences after this life time. Someone may read this book and realize that a dream she had was not a dream but a life after life experience. She in turn can soothe her ill mother with that knowledge. People need to believe that there is something more, that there is a God and another place that can be called home. Sometimes people need more than the written word. They need proof that there is more than this. Dr Moody has successfully teased the brain to want to know more about life after death. But, Dr Moody has also failed to demonstrate a satisfactory degree of reliability.

Homeless

I had planned to write today about what I would have learned at a seminar I had been invited to at Regis College at U of T. At the last moment I cancelled because I was too tired. I contemplated not cancelling because I did want to be updated about homelessness. I comforted myself by suggesting, that it is not a requirement for me to know right now. That was last night when I was feeling very tired. Today feeling my perky self, I wish I had pushed myself a bit more. On the other hand I believe strongly in self care and I know I made the right decision. How do you make your decisions? The news usually reports that many are one pay check away from being homeless. Initially, hearing this I was surprised, but I am no longer. My father always instilled the value of standing on my own two feet. He was such a hard worker. But he also taught priorities in life and that was that family came first. I have planned my life carefully ensuring that I could take care of myself. My priority was having a house and savings because that was what I was taught. High school also taught me how to understand the differences about credit and debit and balance and risk taking when it came to money. I learned that I was not a risk taker. I feel that I have had adequate instruction and love to understand the benefits of having a balanced life. We live in a society now that was different when I was a child. There are so many opportunities to get money without having earned it. It is spend now and pay later. So much of that becomes interest and one too many can lose their homes to a society, that has become consumed by greed. I like watching a show that I tape “Til Death do us Part.” The financial expert, I believe her name is Gail, goes into a home and gives the couple a wake up call about their expenditures. She tells them how much in debt they really are because for some reason, they do not know. Then she gives them certain challenges and if they are successful, she also gives them a cheque, to help them. Most of the time the couples are happy and all is well for a promising future of balancing debt and earning more income. At other times they have a problem with her attitude. I kind of like her attitude, but I am not the one being taped for live television. Most of the time these couples have families who support them and in some cases have enabled them to live the lifestyle that they have selected. I think it is more important than ever for children to learn about basic finances from an early grade because too many have no one to learn from. The only win situation here are the banks (legalized loan sharks as my mom said once) and other pop up money machines. This needs to be kept in check by governments we elect. It is not fair for people if they do not have the tools to learn and protection, from becoming homeless. The homelessness that I am familiar with is that which involves mental health. Again the news reports that one out of five need help. What resources are there for them? Psychotherapy is not covered by OHIP. There are some organizations out there that help and some do it by exploiting students for gaining their required hours, but is that still enough for one out of five? I was surprised in my undergrad to learn how they closed psychiatric hospitals in the States (I cannot recall if it was the fifties or sixties) and so many of these people who had been cared for, were suddenly homeless and all alone. I am not sure of what happened in Canada because the study at the time was about the US. However, what usually happens there, also eventually happens here. It is up to us to be different and hold on to values when it comes to helping people, but that is not what I always see. I am concerned. Abnormal psychology has been my favourite study. The professor I had was amazing. He was also an expert in court and he provided us with the insight for what we would need in the future. I learned a lot from him. What I really liked about him was his respect for people who really needed help. I will share two stories briefly about how two ended up homeless. The first person when he was a child was being sold by his father, at the downtown bus terminal to men, to be sexually abused. He grew up naturally fearing people and was living in a mid town park under a bridge. His shelter was an abandoned fridge and his only friend a racoon who he would sleep with. This man had an amazing talent for artwork. As much as my professor tried to help him, even to connect him to people who would recognize his art, he couldn’t. This man had been so abused by those who should have loved him and protected him, that he could not choose to live in a society who had taken away his spirit (the professor did not say spirit). He had also been beaten up as an adult because he was a homeless man by those who should have again protected him. With each story that my professor told, I admired his compassion more. In this next story a young man promised his dying father that he would become the doctor his father wanted him to be. The request his father made as he lay dying and the promise given became his torment. He did get into med school but he had a nervous breakdown trying to keep his grades up. He had managed to have good grades prior to med school, but it required him to study very hard with little sleep. In med school he needed more hours to study and eventually became sleep deprived. My professor had informed him that his grades were very good and why would he not consider pharmacy? He certainly had the marks for that aspect. However, he had promised his father that he would become a doctor and in his family of origin a promise to a dying father must be kept. This very bright man, ended up in the streets of Toronto homeless and distraught. He had broken his promise to his father. There were more sad stories of how beautiful, talented and educated people end up suffering so much that they become homeless and find themselves in a hollow pit. I wanted to share with you this morning what I would have learned last night. Instead I share with you what I have learned as part of my studies. Do you think you may perhaps see the person you walk by in the streets? What do you think?

Sneakers died.

I was walking to work accompanying a neighbour, when I heard Sneakers bark to let me know he was there. I left the neighbour to continue on her own, while I paid a short visit to say hello to Sneakers. He looked so elderly as he should, being 15 years old. I didn’t know what breed he was until I saw a Russell Terrier and realized that this was who Sneakers was, though much more rounder and fatter. I patted Sneakers’ head and talked to him for a short while, before leaving him. I didn’t want to leave him, but I did have an appointment to meet. He barked one more time, while I was walking away and I explained that I had to go. That was one week yesterday. Yesterday his owner came with his ashes and we sat and talked for a bit. She is grieving the loss of her pet. I thought it was a blessing that I got to see him, one last time before he died that very same day. His owner, a wonderful neighbour came home from work to find him dead. How horrible for her. However, she has a great support system. Sneakers was almost blind and deaf, but he realized it was me walking across the street from him. I have never walked away from his calling and I am grateful that I did not on that day as well. It is not always possible that you get to say goodbye to a friend, even when you do not know that it will be the last time. Sneakers would run away from home to visit me when he could and as he got older, he would walk away from home to visit me. I would hear him bark outside my front door and I would grab his treats and give them to him while we carried on with a great conversation. It has been a very cold and unpredicatable winter and so I had not seen Sneakers for a long time. Some people do not understand how much unconditional love from a pet means to those who have the honour to respect them and to love them back. Single people with pets are actually happier than single people without pets. I have altered my lifestyle because of my pets. I can no longer travel with the pair I have. I keep my pets for life. Therefore, my love of travel is on pause. I can still take a short trip, perhaps overnight, but no longer the lengthy trips, I have loved to take. They are worth it to me because they are my mini holiday each day. So when my neighbour came with Sneakers’ ashes, I understood her grief and my heart went out to her. It is difficult at times for people to stand up for their beliefs. It is difficult for others to understand the impact a treasured pet has on those who love animals. Loss of a pet is sometimes the first experience of death for a child. Death in this country is a sad occasion. Death is a finality of never seeing who we love again in our life time. People all grieve differently and they need to process death in their own terms. This sometimes causes friction in couples and families, when one partner or family person feels that grief should be demonstrated in a version similar to themselves. People need to be allowed to grieve. They need to talk about the person or pet or the death of their relationship. They need to grieve before they can move on. If they are not permitted to grieve because of the tensions mounting in their relationships, than that grief and hurt remains inside festering. Sometimes people mean well such as “you can have another child,”you are young enough to remarry,” “you can get another cat.” That I assure you is not helpful or appreciated. That is something you may be thinking is rational. However, grief is a deep sorrow that the person is suffering and comments like that, just do not cut it. If you know someone who is experiencing any sorrow, allow them to talk about their experiences and just simply listen. Reserve your opinions to yourself. Allow your friend or family or partner to pour their sufferings outside of themselves. This is your gift to them. Bring them a card or a plant or just yourself and be with them. The worse that anyone can do is criticize or blame or gossip. We all grieve differently because we all have different backgrounds. Though each of us have qualities in common, we are also separate individuals. I have taken the experience of Sneakers dying to introduce the existence of pet therapy as well. People do not always have family to understand them. People do not always have friends to talk to. One of my psychology professor comes to mind when he said that the “Aunt Martha” of yesterday is no longer there for todays people. Who do people turn to when they can not trust anyone completely? We live in a very fast paced life that sometimes misses the human factor. When someone dies, life comes to a halt and a survivor’s life is re-examined. At times one begins to re-evaluate the people in their lives, who were fine when everything was well. All is well when everything is as it should be for one. Do you know who you are and how you express grief and react to the grief of others? Has someone died and you cannot seem to forget something about that death? Do you relive the experience of that person's death? This is complicated grief. How do you respond to others in general? What happens when they think differently than you? If you do not know who you are, it may be because people have expected you to be like them. Why not take sometime today to write down a description of yourself and of your qualities. Then answer the question, “Who am I?” Put it away for a week. Next week read what you wrote. What do your answers say about how you feel about yourself? Are you content? Why not? Now what are you going to do about it? Sneakers, I shall miss you! I know that you have had a wonderful life and I appreciate all your visits. You were the ultimate best neighbour.

The Home Show was grey this year. No more Wednesdays ever - at the Home Show for me!

The disappointment began before I even got there. There was construction blocking the Dufferin Gates entrance with no prior warning. Since I am from this city, it is not difficult to maneuver myself around, but what about visitors? Surely they must have been confused. But who cares? Hey? Where has our hospitality gone to? As I drove around the side streets, I do not normally check out, I saw new condos and town homes that looked nice but did not offer the location I would like. It had a lot of buildings but not enough shops. Actually, all I saw was one eating establishment. Was that not thought out? Perhaps it takes time to figure out if one needs a coffee shop nearby or a bakery or a ………… What I did see was several men walking their well groomed dogs. It did not take long, though I would have preferred the heads up, to drive out of my way and into the East side of the CNE grounds. I drove right into the almost empty parking garage and provided my $14.00 parking fee. I then went to find my way up the stairs into the Home Show entrance. I normally park much closer to the centre and take the lazy way up, but I toughed it and walked. I passed by the VIP sections where greeters were seated with their bags and tags to give out to the very important people. I asked where the tickets were being sold as all I seemed to see was VIP signs everywhere. I payed my $20.00 and and then left my coat for another $2.50 (that was very worthwhile). I tried to find the entrance for the little people who are not VIP’s. I stopped at one, and told an usher that if I walked by one more VIP entrance, I would leave. That inspired a smile and I was allowed in. There was no greeter for me, no bag for me and no guide, for me this year. I was having a great start. I wondered if I should have gone with a group I knew last week. However, I prefer to go by myself so I can move fast when I want to and stop as well without holding anyone else up. I went directly to the back, to tour the house. I looked down at the grey floors and up at the grey walls and realized that the greyness matched the greyness, outside the grounds. I did not feel inspired. I felt the need for a splash of colour. I wondered if painting my hallway grey was a good idea after all? I left the home, and the boat outside caught my interest. It was the first thing that caught my interest but it was really there just for decoration. I could not examine it. I left a tad disappointed in the greyness of the day so far. I thought that a coffee would perk me up. I saw some people seated and I looked and saw that some had coffee near by. I looked at the coffee pot at the stand, which held less than a quarter of what looked like tar. I asked a woman who had coffee sitting near by how it tasted. She shook her head and I thanked her. I bought no coffee that day. Normally at the home show there is always some brand name coffee but not this day. I was so desperate for a good cup of coffee that I would have paid the price to have it. However, I was saved by the Italian manufacturer of expresso machines and I was provided with a most coveted expresso. I told them that they should sell to the public. The response was that others had suggested the same thing. I wasn’t the only person who was not happy with the coffee being sold at the home show. Lunch cost $19.50. The service was good but the rice had uncooked grains in it. How does that happen? How can you go wrong with stir fry? The fish was good. As I was having lunch, I heard the demonstrators talk about gardening. I finished lunch and was just enjoying sitting. Then the announcer said that we (the little people) should not listen to the experts about how much sun is required for plant growth. I thought I was listening to an expert, so since I was not, I got up and left. That was a first. I kept walking and there was another demo and so I sat as close as possible not to intrude on the VIP seating. I was not sure what was VIP since the chairs all looked the same to me. I sat in the third row hoping that it was just the first and second empty rows that were for VIP’s. The two speakers were wonderful and very knowledgeable about their profession which was selling ramps and things to help people who are old or have special needs to get into their homes and able to live inside more safely and comfortably. I sat there because I had walked a lot and was tired. After a while as I felt I could walk again, I ventured out to see what else there was to see. I was stopped by one man who wanted to give me a sample of some cream. He complimented me on my skin. My skin is not flawless and never has been so I wondered if my makeup was making me glow. Then he came in for the kill and tried to sell me some cream that was wonderful for my skin and it would keep me from getting old. I told him I was ok with getting older. I told him that I wanted to grow old gracefully. He wanted to help me delay the process. I reminded him that he thought my skin was lovely (with the creams I do use that I am sure, do not carry the same price tag). I saw controlled anger behind the eyes of this man that I would never take a second look at regardless of my age. His Eastern European accent became more evident has his ire increased. I continued to walk away and thankfully he gave up on me. I did not go to the home show to buy make up. I did not go to the home show to try to be persuaded to buy a product by cheap psychological shots. I looked at the ingredients this morning at the sample he provided and quite frankly, I don’t know if the alcohol in it is good for my soft dry skin. It also has to be kept away from children and pets. I would need to look up most of the words in the dictionary to understand all this wonderful ingredients that he inferred is the fountain of youth in some magical tub - another annoyance at the Home Show. By three o’clock I had seen it all. Normally, it would take much longer to see everything. I did meet some very nice people as I normally do. There was one woman giving out samples of good (that was a saving grace yesterday) coffee who demonstrated great kindness in her attention to a small group of people with special needs. I watched her as she treated this group as VIP’s. When it was my turn, she remarked that she has a special interest in treating people with special needs with more care because she sees how badly some people treat them. I saw a shift from what I was experiencing so far, to someone with a heart. Will I go to the home show next year? Probably not. There was nothing there that inspired me this year which was the real reason why I went there. I saw no designers to advise me. I feel lucky that when I went the last time, there was Glen Peloso to advise me on a colour. I have used it and I will continue to paint with that colour. If I use any grey in any of the rooms, I do not want it to be a grey that reminds of a rainy day. I have a lot of painting to do. I did pick up a lot of magazines and hopefully I will see something in there that will inspire me. My taking pictures of some projects I wanted advice on was for naught. Did I get my money’s worth yesterday? Not in my opinion. Oh, by the way? Where were all the VIP’s? Maybe we should remember that Canada is a democracy. One VIP entrance is enough. I remember a Home Show when everyone was treated like a VIP. I also remember a Home Show where you could dine like a Queen. It was pricy but worth it. Now a baked potato will cost you more than 6.00. Please……….

Answer to Question of a theory of personality

A theory of personality which I am essentially in agreement with is Maslow’s Theory of Human Motivation. Maslow emphasized the healthy aspect of personality. Maslow theorized that human needs are common to us and therefore they have a biological basis. However, we are only minimally influenced by biological instincts. Behaviors depend on a person’s unique biological and environment experiences. Maslow indicated that there are five levels of basic human needs. These needs from weakest needs to strongest needs are Self-Actualization, Esteem, Belongingness and Love, Safety and physiological needs. The lower a need is in the hierarchy; the more basic it is in terms of survival. Lower needs exert a more powerful influence on behavior. The higher the need, the less basic it is, and therefore weaker in its potential influence and more human. As people satisfy their needs at one level of the hierarchy they can progress to the next level. The needs at one level do not need to be completely satisfied to go on to the next level. Usually, needs at one level have to be at least partially satisfied though. There are always exceptions to this rule that a spiritual care-giver needs to keep in mind. Physiological Needs: this includes food, water, oxygen, elimination, and rest. Because these needs are directly related to survival, it is the most powerful need. Lack of food for example can consume a person’s life until it is satisfied. Starving people rarely move beyond the physiological level. This is evident in Haiti now but it is also evident here in Toronto where a meal is becoming a luxury for more people. An exception to the rule would be the cliché of the starving artist. He may forgo basic needs such as food or sleep in order to persevere at some work. Safety Needs: includes physical well being as well as psychological security. This involves the need for stability, order and structure in our lives. Most of our needs at this level are met in Western Cultures bi-laws, and by police, and fire departments. It can be met by purchasing insurance and having a savings account. However, safety needs are dominant in children, especially infants. They will respond as if in danger by rough handling, loud noises, disturbed or dropped (esp. infants). Children also need undisrupted routines such as having meals at a set time. An adult too may exhibit abnormal behavior similar to the child’s desire for safety. The adult may see the world as hostile, threatening and overwhelming. An example is people with obsessive-compulsive disorder. They will try frantically to order and stabilize the world so that no unmanageable, unexpected or unfamiliar dangers will ever appear. Belongingness and Love needs : When physiological and safety needs are substantially met, needs related to affiliation, affection and love emerge. Individuals experience deep feelings of loneliness when friends, family and other loved ones are absent. This is a problem in Western Culture. Esteem Needs: Maslow distinguished two types of esteem needs: Esteem from others: This includes the desire for appreciation, attention, reputation and status. Individuals need to feel respected by other people. This is something I incorporate in my spiritual care for others. Self esteem: includes a desire for competency, mastery, achievement, strength, confidence, adequacy, independence and freedom. When these are met, people feel worthwhile, confident, useful and capable. If inadequate people will feel inferior, weak and helpless. Self-Actualization Needs: Maslow’s definition is the desire to become more and more what idiosyncratically is, to become everything that one is capable of becoming. Self-actualization is a goal that is never fully achieved. First, it is the weakest in the of the instinctoid needs. Second, Maslow believed that people fear self-knowledge necessary for self-actualization. Accurate self knowledge is threatening since it may alter one’s self concept. Third, this level needs requires freedom to express oneself, to explore and to act without restriction (without harming) and to pursue such values such as truth, justice and values. Maslow theorized that that the first four levels of needs motivate people by deficit. There are two types of motivation: Deficit motivation - is reducing tension or filling a temporary lack such as drinking because we are thirsty; and Growth Motivation - process orientated. This is a process of continued enhancement or growth with self-actualization tendency. Satisfying growth motives often increases tension. Satisfying deficit motives often decreases tension. There is much more than can be said regarding this theory of personality but I think I have covered the basics without the necessity of breaking it down further. Each client that comes to us may be hungry, or lost, or lack self-esteem. Understanding the stage that she may be in helps the care-giver understand what she may be lacking and needing. If someone needs food, we may be able to find resources to fulfill that need. If someone has suffered a sexual assault we may be there for him and fulfill that need, keeping in mind that being a presence of support is a very powerful tool in our clients fulfilling their hierarchal needs.

American Veteran living in Canada getting into trouble for feeding birds in harsh winter

I received my Toronto Sun paper this morning and as I read and read, I wondered why I still buy the paper. One writer who knew nothing about global warming was carrying on. Another writer, I stopped reading a long time ago because she had written an article side by side with another writer which were so different and yet they were in the same court room. There is perception and then there is misinformation. Who was telling the truth about what was heard? I chose to select the other writer, merely because it was more comparable to other print and news. I could have been wrong but with what I had, I chose the other. I understand that papers like to sensationalize and get people going, but I think that people today deserve "news." I do not need to pay to buy the paper and when I do I like to get my money's worth. However, reading about the American Veteran this morning was getting my money's worth today. It warmed my heart. People at times do not understand veterans. They do not understand veterans who return home from wars and they do not understand veterans who served in the cold war. People can be very insensitive when it comes to their views about veterans in general. But, in this insensitivety you learn a lot about the person who is bashing. They have the freedom to bash because of the military that protects them, their country and the countries of others. We have a responsibility to protect those who are vulnerable. That is my opinion. This 73 year old, USA Veteran who has made his home in Canada according to the Toronto Sun, p4 by Joe Warmington, has received two bylaw offence tickets with the promise of more for "feeding the waterfowl in Cobourg Harbour." This U.S. Vet is quoted as saying that he will be planning to do whatever to "try to save these birds." The vet had reportd finding 31 dead ducks. When he began to feed them corn, they became "alive and and now they are happy bunnies." This veteran also has people supporting him and offering to pay for food and fines. The vet reports in the Toronto Sun, ""I was told by an official that if they die that's just the way it goes."" I remember not too long ago being told, "I do not like the military and my two ex husbands were Catholic." Three times is a charm. I imagine they are still Catholic. The venom told me I could be in trouble but a higher power, was there in the room as well. Do challenges ever stop if we dare venture to live in the world? I cannot help but admire this US Veteran who keeps on trying to protect, even against impossible odds. I cannot help but admire this man who has so much heart that he believes in the protection of life. I cannot help but admire such a man who at 73 still cares. So for you people who like to tell veterans how heartless they are, how much life is important and how they are just killing machines, take a good look at yourself this morning. Maybe be a bit more kinder to the next vet you speak to. Or perhaps do the vet a favour and do not speak at all.

It is not so nice out there.........burrrrrrr paper war............Even birds are flying South with the planes - Read any good books?

I completed reading, The Informer. Confessions of an Ex-Terrorist by Carole de Vault with William Johnson. When I picked up the book which I received from a local high school that was discarding their books, I thought it would be about terrorism in the Middle East. It was about terrorism here at home, in the province of Quebec. Even though I heard about the FLQ, I was too young to understand. I was more concerned about having fun and dancing than politics, happening so far from where I lived.I was also very self absorbed. I was sent to Montreal to work for a short assignment in my twenties and there was a feeling of being unwanted, with Ontario Plates on my vehicle. I couldn’t understand why I was not being served in a restaurant and I could not understand why my two colleagues who spoke the French language, refused to do so. I did get served by utilizing my elementary French from a few years in grade school and with the appropriate tone of voice. That was not my only experience of negativity. I experienced it again in Ottawa, but it was not tolerated. However, I was surprised at the misplaced anger. Reading this book, I am sad for that time and for the author who had informed on her contacts and rightly so. Violence should never be tolerated. Killing people, placing bombs and explosives to bring about attention, should never be accepted. Unfortunately the author had to change her name and identity after losing her friends and being betrayed by those she depended to help her. I would like to think that the government she had helped, did protect her somehow in having a new identity and place to start living anew. It is women who like her that should not be condemned but hailed. That is what I felt as I read her story. I not only read her story, I read about violence. I read about violence in my country which I am glad I did not witness. Killing is never justifiable to get a point across. Terrorism is terrorism. It is the ultimate act of cowardliness. This morning as I looked out at the beautiful coat of white, I could feel the chill, though I knew it was my imagination. The heat is blaring from where I sit. I looked up at some black birds flying South West and thought that was a good idea. Then I saw a plane flying South East and I wondered why I was still here. Should I too go South? What do Snow birds do? They go South in the winter and return home in summer? How does that work? Just last week I was invited to Florida. I cannot. My pets do not like people so getting a pet sitter is out of the question. Well one of them do not like people. The other who wasn't as abused is coming around. Canada will always be my home and Toronto will always be my hometown. It is like having parents; they will always be your parents even when it is time to leave the nest. If this weather does not change maybe it is time to fly, pets and all. What do you think? Where do you live? Where would you like to live? Where do you think the best place to live is, where they speak English that is. Well?