#China accuses Nato of pushing tensions between Russia and Ukraine to a breaking point”

“China accuses NATO of pushing tensions between Russia and Ukraine to a breaking point.” That was the print scrolling underneath the major news being broadcasted when I watched the news this morning. I was wondering how long it would take for them to defend Russia for invading a country. I have been watching the news about this war each day. My admiration for the President of Ukraine and the Ukraine people has only grown. I can’t remember the last time I saw such integrity, courage and resilience. I was never interested in visiting Eastern Europe before, seeing most of the West, but this has changed. While Putin is bombing Ukraine killing men, women, children and their pets, what is being broadcasted to the Russian people is that Ukraine is the aggressor. Protestors in Russia who know what is going on and protesting are being arrested for treason? Really? So, now all free media is being closed off in Russia so Putin can continue his rant of how he and Russia is the victim. Putin thought the time was ripe for this invasion. He manipulated the media in the States and probably here and elsewhere. He saw the division and protests here and the States and the Western world. He did not see that the majority is usually silent. He thought there was so much division that the time was ripe to start taking over countries who apparently want to join NATO. Attack one and you attack all if you belong to NATO. I have always been concerned about dictatorship. Here is a man, Putin with his limited cronies in Russia trying to take over another country and reckless in his manner. It has been methodical and cruel. But, he was wrong. While he roughly and cruelly kills families even those trying to escape, Ukraine begs the world for help. The West and NATO do try to help by following the rules. Individual companies are also pulling out of Russia. Imagine a world without Starbucks? Ok, I have to throw in some humour. I have been wondering what I can offer. I am going to attend a meeting hopefully today to ask one of my Associations what we can do? As for China, for some time now I have not bought anything from China. For some time, I have left stores stating I didn’t want to buy from China and apparently I haven’t been the only one. Laura’s clothing store sells clothes including from China but also Canadian clothing and from other countries, so does Costco and Home Sense. Individuals have power if they want to use it. I have nothing against the Chinese people or Russian people. I have plenty against their leadership. It is not only these two countries we have to worry about. There are others and that is why we have to tread lightly while we do our best. We don’t want world war 111. I certainly don’t, but I also want to stop Russia from doing further harm. Our own leaders as part of NATO have a very difficult job, more so than ever before in their life time. How do you stop invasion without causing a war? Biden said he doesn’t want to be known as the President who caused World War 111. This is such a difficult situation especially because Putin has shown himself to be the opposite of the President of Ukraine. Putin lies, has no integrity and certainly no courage. He has shown himself to be the bully and using the power of his country to dominate. I always wondered how Hitler, a man who was limited in his intelligence could cause so much harm. I wondered why no one managed to terminate him, though many tried. People fear Putin, not because he is brilliant even though he managed to get into power through corruption and stay there with the same methods. He is feared because of his lacking of morality. He is feared because he threatens with nuclear war. Europe is fearful and even his own ministry depicted fear in their faces. What is this man capable of? We are beginning to see and if this isn’t stopped I believe we are only seeing the beginning. Let’s be kind and supportive to all people in our countries. Let’s open our arms in support of the Ukraine people but also understand that it is not the people of Russia responsible for what is going on. They don’t even get the right information and Putin has shut down any media that does not agree with his own, fake news which he is projecting. This is about one man and his cronies, only a few men in the scope of the threat, against one country while threatening the world with nuclear warfare if we interfere. We need to ask ourselves, what happens if we do not interfere? A slippery slope and for now I am praying for peace and praying that Putin stops this torture and invasion. I pray for the Ukraine President and his people. For now I can stop buying from any country which has a dictator, but I know I need to do more even as an individual and so I need to recognize what that is. I hope Putin proves me wrong. I hope that he makes the decision to stop this invasion and decides that he prefers peace. I hope and hope as I watch the news each day. What do you think?

The Internet Murders - continues

Ok, time for something light during these difficult times. To order your autographed copy check out https://www.silvaredigonda.ca “Mrs. Delany made him a fresh pot of coffee. She didn’t think coffee was good and certainly not better than a nice cup of tea, especially now with all that had happened. She didn’t realize that she was muttering aloud. She heated him some scones, which she knew he could not resist. She found the Devon cream and put the tray before him once she had completed preparing everything just so, then quietly left the kitchen. She would not be able to do any work today. She was upset that Fr. Brown was dead, but more so for Fr. Francis. He had been at the church for five years now and always treated her with the utmost respect. He never called her by her first name. He did not make her retire, though Fr. Santinelli had wanted her to. If he hadn’t been transferred out, she knew she would not still be at the church. What would she have done then? All she knew was the church, which she had served since she was a young girl. She thought of the other churches where she had served, but here, it was her home, though she did not sleep here because she didn’t think it was proper. Fr. Francis was always kind to her, even when she forgot things sometimes. He even suggested that she sleep over when she felt tired. She loved him as if he was her biological son. He had never really needed her. She needed him and the Church. It had been her life for so many years. “Thank you God for finally giving me a son,” she whispered. She and Mr. Delany never could have children. I was not blessed, she had thought. She felt bad, when people asked her why they didn’t have children. She loved children so much, they would say, waiting for a reply. But she couldn’t reply, because she knew that if she did, she would cry, and she didn’t want them to see that. She would just change the subject and sometimes that would silence the curiosity of others. Sometimes it did not, and she suffered in silence. Well now, God had a special son for her: Fr. Francis. Her eyes were not too good these days, and Father hired her a helper to do the books, he said. Sonja came in twice a week for the cleaning. There wasn’t as much money now as in the past, but Fr. Francis was blessed by God because there was always some money coming in when the Church most needed it. Fr. Santinelli wanted her replaced with a younger version of herself, who could work faster and who didn’t need as many breaks as she now needed, now that she was old. She thought of the differences between the two priests. How can two men of God be so different? Fr. Francis needed her now, and she would see to it that he was well taken care of. She sat down on the comfortable green sofa. Fr. Francis hated the colour of the sofa, but would not replace it because that would cost money and he was always mindful of cost. She, however, loved the the sofa. It was big and comfortable. She sat back, resting her eyes. She didn’t realize that she fell asleep.” Excerpt From: Silva Redigonda. “The Internet Murders.”

Support for Ukraine I received via email

Press Release For Immediate Release – February 28, 2022 Statement on Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine The Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities in Canada (ACCUC) is both dismayed and horrified to learn of the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by Russia. This illegal invasion has already resulted in needless violence, displacement, and death. The conflict is escalating quickly resulting in further casualties and destruction. At this dire hour, the ACCUC stands with the people of Ukraine and offers our prayers for an immediate resolution to this conflict. We call upon the Russian government to cease its incursion into Ukraine and return to Russian territory forthwith. We also call upon both parties to meet at the negotiation table and discuss a peaceful solution in the spirit of good faith. It is our prayer that a resolution be achieved that will preserve human life and dignity. In the Beatitudes, Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, taught that those who promote peace are truly the children of God. We must all be children of God by turning away from violence and war. We invoke St. Francis of Assisi by asking him to pray to God so that all people are made instruments of peace. About Us The Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities in Canada (ACCUC) is an organization of Roman Catholic postsecondary academic institutions located across Canada. The ACCUC acts as the official voice for Catholic higher learning in Canada, as it seeks to spread “the spirit of learning” throughout the country. Sincerely, Peter Meehan, Ed.D. Chair, ACCUC President and Vice-Chancellor, St. Jerome’s University, Waterloo John Cappucci, Ph.D. Vice-Chair, ACCUC Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Assumption University, Windsor Christopher Adams, Ph.D. Immediate Past Chair, ACCUC Rector, St. Paul’s College, Winnipeg Chantal Beauvais, Ph.D. Rectrice, Université Saint Paul/Saint Paul University, Ottawa Shawn Flynn, Ph.D. President, St. Joseph’s College, Edmonton Lauretta Frederking, Ph.D. President, Brescia University College, London Sami Helewa, S.J., Ph.D. President, Campion College, Regina Michael Higgins, Ph.D. Principal, St. Mark’s College, Vancouver President, Corpus Christi College, Vancouver Most Rev. Wayne Kirkpatrick CCCB Liaison to ACCUC Bishop of Antigonish David Malloy, PhD President, King’s University College, London Dawn Russell, Q.C. President and Vice-Chancellor, St. Thomas University, Fredericton Carl Still, Ph.D. President, St. Thomas More College, Saskatoon David Sylvester, Ph.D. President and Vice-Chancellor, University of St. Michael’s College, Toronto Gerry Turcotte, Ph.D. President and Vice-Chancellor, St. Mary’s University, Calgary Jason West, Ph.D. President, Newman Theological College, Edmonton Thomas Worcester, S.J., Ph.D. President, Regis College, Toronto

Ethics - Theology notes cont………

The cognitional theory of Bernard Lonergan - Jesuit Priest famous theologian especially in moral theology is buried in Guelph (I was there during the seminar at Guelph University where I went to visit my old friend who died. Since then another good friend and mentor died from COVID). Lonergan offered a practical approach to ethics - when we discern we need to look at the whole notion of 1. Experience is the beginning of knowledge 2. Assume that there is “something out there” that can be known. 3. Understanding - “to see into it”. When we? We trust our God. Understanding puts the separate parts of the data into some kind of order so we can begin to grasp the whole of what is given. In grappling with this we come to insight; A new way of seeing what we have experienced. Is it so? The adequacy of truth. Does our understanding reflect reasonably the reality of what we have experienced? To answer these questions is to make a judgement necessary for deciding and acting. 4. Continuing refinement. No separation of the knowing subject from the object known. Tomorrow I shall be attending a seminar on Moral Distress, Burn Out and additional burden COVID 19. Feel free to always share your views.

A Message from the Ukraine President to the People of Russia. I am so grateful for the integrity and bravery of this man and his people

Vladimir Putin's Long Shadow - the fifth estate

Black History Month

Black History month is coming to an end. I’ve been watching movies and documentaries and would like to share some thoughts and shows which may be of interest to you. I think what touched me the most was “Women of the Movement-Mother and Son.” It was a short series of movies and back to back documentaries within the same time span. I would watch the segment of the movie and then watch the bio. It was very interesting seeing how the characters were portrayed which was very accurate. This is about a 14 year old boy who was beaten and killed for whistling at a woman. It is about a child, Emmett Till who travels to the South from Chicago for a summer vacation. It is unbelievable that the culprits were found not guilty. The woman who accused the boy and complained to her husband and brought about all this to happen is still alive today. The men responsible for killing the child also admitted after being found not guilty that they did kill the child and had a right to do so and to live in segregation. They believed this to be “freedom.” If someone is confused about what freedom means watch the news about what is happening in Ukraine. I also watched the documentary of singer Josephine Baker who adopted 12 children. She became a famous entertainer and was befriended by Grace Kelly who observed her not being served in an elite restaurant in New York because she was black. Ms Baker was accepted in France and also served in the Second War providing her with a full military funeral service. I am trying to not give too much away because again this is worth watching. Another documentary I watched is The Gospel According to Andre. It is about “the life and career of fashion journalist Andre Leon Talley, from his childhood in the segregated South to his iconic, barrier-breaking work at Women’s Wear Daily, W and Vogue.” The one thing that struck me in watching this was when it is brought to his attention that a woman in his circles in France refers to him behind his back as the queen gorilla. I hope she watches this documentary and recognizes the hurt she caused and perhaps can see how painful words can be. Change is always possible. Underground Railroad: The Secret History, Ep 1, is “retracing the steps of freedom seekers escaping on the Underground Railroad. Archaeologists use high tech to explore a Florida fort that was nearly erased from history.” I never thought of people trying to escape to Mexico, only Canada, so this was most interesting to me. Mexico was less concerned about one’s skin colour. I was very happy to see a documentary of Toni Morrison: The Pieces I am. I have not completed watching this but I am excited about her. I paused where she is teaching students not to write about what they know as you often hear because they don’t know anything. I could not help laughing at that point. She wants them to “invent.” What I found absurd here was how one critic wrote she would never become famous or words to that effect because she only writes about black people. I studied a few of her books in University when taking a break from Psychology. Watching this documentary where she is the speaker is a treat and another learning experience. What do you think?