Virtual Homage to the Nova Scotia Shooting Victims of April 19,2020

Amidst our constant surveillance and vigilance in protecting ourselves from the ever invisible COVID-19(coronavirus), a tragedy had fallen on Portapique,Nova Scotia and its neighboring towns in this part of the Maritime areas of Canada.

On the early hours of April 19,2020, a lone gunman had gone on an almost 12 hour shooting rampage,mostly random along a stretch of highways and neighboring towns and centering on a rural community–Portapique,Nova Scotia. Total number of victims gunned down so far—18 and may still potentially go up since around a total of 16 crime scenes so far had been identified. Among the deceased was a female Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)officer as well as the gunman.

Overall investigation will obviously take some time to be completed.

In the meantime,ongoing  plans to honor the dead with social distancing in mind are being made. Virtual memorial services are the current norm.

My home province is just next door to the province of Nova Scotia. As a fellow Maritimer, I feel your pain and my heart,thoughts and prayers goes out to everybody there.

I do hope that you will get some degree of closure even though you will be honoring the dead in a much different way because of COVID-19.

Nevertheless, please know, we do care. We are all coming together for all of you and we will all get through this,COVID-19 notwithstanding.

 

Josie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Easter 2020 in this COVID-19 era

For full disclosure,being  Catholic, I observe Holy Week which starts this week,For our Jewish friends, Passover starts  within this week as well.

Dealing with COVID-19 aka coronavirus is quite challenging for everyone.If I were to pin point  Christian religious connections, dealing with this virus is like observing the Way of the Cross, the Crucifixion and observance of Lent and abstinence.

I consider Easter as the time for  the Resurrection of Christ as well as hopefully in due time, liberation from COVID-19 as a religious analogy as well.

Even the observance of Passover is analogous to being locked down in one’s home as the Angel of Death went through Egypt and passed through all male Jewish firstborns because prior precautions had been made.( Eating lamb and unleavened bread and smearing the front door with blood.)

With COVID-19, if we consistently followed all prior sanitary precautions, that virus will hopefully pass over us by as we continue our lockdown and social distancing.

Easter 2020 in this COVID-19 era is special since the essence of Lent and repentance has been observed in someway. Considering that all non-essential services have been temporarily stopped and only essential services are open for our basic needs only drives home the point the ff :

We need to reflect on what our life priorities really are and to not emphasize too much on the frivolities. This would mean  good balancing responsibilities and having periods of leisure.

We cannot afford to procrastinate since we do not know what tomorrow will bring to us which we may not have control anyway.

We go on living our life with purpose day by day which will give us personal fulfillment and not any personal regret.

Even once Easter 2020 passes by, such life principles need to be followed. Lifestyle changes due to social distancing has now changed how we attend church service, much less any incoming Easter egg hunt.

To all my fellow bloggers who observe other religions, may you have a fruitful and blessed coming of days as we all deal with COVID-19.

 

Josie

PS Flight 752 Victims–My Perspective

January 8,2020 will go down in the annals of Canadian history because 57 Iranian-Canadians were among the 176 passengers who all perished in a plane crash on PS Flight 752 which  happened just 4 minutes after takeoff.

The Iranian government had finally admitted (amidst reliable intelligence reports) and conveyed the message to our Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that it was a tragic mistake from the Iranian military to shoot down PS Flight 752 with a missile.It was a case of increased hypersensitivity of their electronic equipment in misidentifying the plane as an enemy presence. I just wonder and even from other folks as to why they still continue to allow commercial air travel so close to the military airspace.

All this hypervigilance has been widely speculated as a byproduct of the ongoing US-Iran conflict wherein a very   prominent Iranian military official was taken out by US forces .

All I can say is that what had happened to all the passengers on that plane appears to be an unfortunate collateral damage stemming from that ongoing US-Iran conflict. As to who really is at fault or who had really instigated it, I have my own private opinions about it. However, I do believe in karma.

I could only imagine the utmost grief from all of the victims’ families and friends with the way their loved ones had died. The healing and moving-on process will be very difficult and will take a  long time. No amount of monetary compensation will bring them back alive but at least the money will  help the relatives  continue to live their daily lives. Most of them wanted justice for the deceased.

It was right for Prime Minister Trudeau to tell Iranian President Rouhani about the need for monetary compensation for the victims’relatives as well as the need for a full and thorough investigation of the plane crash. At this time,Iran had already allowed foreign aviation,disaster and forensic specialists to come to Iran for that purpose.

Today, January 12,2020,memorial services in various parts of Canada for the PS Flight 752 victims had already started. Even though all the victims’ bodies haven’t been retrieved yet for burial purposes, due to Muslim tradition,the 3 day window to honor the dead had already begun with the memorial services.

Such a tragedy really makes one be grounded and realistic and not get into the petty, immature,trivial  and frivolous politicking.

My heart goes out to the PS Flight 752 victims and their families and friends. May their deaths not be in vain and hopefully ,justice will prevail.

 

Josie

The Return of Tiger Woods

April 14,2019 will go down in  golf history as the day when pro-golfer  and living legend Tiger Woods finally won his 15th PGA Masters  win amidst an 11 year struggle of dealing with health problems and sex scandals which led to a fallen reputation with the public.

The saying—It takes years to build a good reputation and only a few minutes to destroy it—holds true in Tiger Woods’ case.

Rebuilding that reputation became the start of his resolve to return to pro-golf in fighting form but it took time for him to do so. It was the biggest gap in pro-golf history in terms of winning again .

He showed the utmost perseverance in dealing with his demons to hoping at least to be able to function physically well, realistically thinking at first that he might not be able to return to a fighting pro-golf form anymore. However, as he became more physically able to do so, he became more motivated to next get back to improving his golf game.

In the process, it helped build and improve his character as more humble,grounded and empathetic towards others.

His family and friends had stood by him,cheering him on.

Even his golf fans, corporate sponsors and fellow pro-golfers  did as well,not only  because they all believed in his golf talent but they could see that he made real effort to get back to fighting form and that he had already paid his dues.

His latest win symbolizes THE comeback and redemption in golf and I  suspect, for other aspects in life outside the world of sports.

He is the prodigal son coming home to the world of pro-golf. How timely this situation is since we are all now entering this season of Lent. He practically resurrected from near oblivion and came back with a roar. The proverbial phoenix from the ashes indeed!

He could even write a book about the art of the comeback and redemption. Whatever, as Arnold Schwarzenneger would say—and paraphrasing it—Tiger Woods( The Face of   Golf Of His Time) is back!

I could even hear the musical lyrics—Eye of the Tiger—from the Rocky III movie –humming  inside my head—as I watched on TV—the greatest sport moment in my opinion–of all time or at least one of them in the annals of sports history, not just for golf.

Welcome home,Tiger! You deserved it!

Josie

 

 

Life Lessons from Dumbo

The latest remake of the 1941 film “Dumbo” came out this weekend.

I may not be a professional film reviewer but I felt that the lovable pachyderm Dumbo with the big floppy ears had conveyed its message to its audience in spades. It touched the heart and I believe the movie had already done its work in that regard.

The life lessons that were conveyed in the  original movie is also relevant today in the remake. Let me go through it one by one for better understanding and reflection.

First,through no fault of his own, Dumbo was born with a birth defect—big,floppy ears which caused him to be the victim of bullying,even been called a freak and a misfit.

He also had to experience the awful situation of being separated from his mother ,Mrs. Jumbo because of alleged physical violence on her part on a circus staffer.

By pure accident,  the circus staffers around him noticed that he can fly though clumsily.. His birth defect suddenly becomes an asset to the circus owner and unfortunately to another circus owner(from Dreamland) who happens to be evil and greedy.

Dumbo obviously had some insecurities and it took the trainer’s young daughter to give him a feather  to use as a security blanket to help him fly better. of course, by the end of the movie, he did not need it anymore.

When the evil Dreamland owner surmised that Dumbo’s recent reunion with his mother would be distracting for his own bottom line, he began plotting to kill Mrs. Jumbo.

However, the kind-hearted circus staff  found out about the evil plot and decided to help both Dumbo and his mother escape Dreamland from danger,never mind the bottom line, much less knowing that they will miss their dear friend for good if their escape plan  does become successful.

It did and it showed at the end of the film, Dumbo and his mother Mrs. Jumbo safely back in their home country among the other elephants.

For the evil circus owner, his Dreamland circus got burned to the ground through an accident. Karma really caught up with him.

And for the rest of the circus staff who  helped Dumbo and his mother to freedom, their circus career got revived again to great lengths without needing Dumbo as their star attraction. The good deed gets rewarded. They were Dumbo’s real friends in his hour of need.

The film tells us that no one’s perfect but whatever we have been born with and the knowledge acquired throughout our lifetime can become assets for us if we only know how to apply ourselves. It would also be important and fortunate for us if we also have people in our lives who would help us in life’s journey too.

We are here in this life for a reason. Remember that.

Dumbo brings out the child in us. He also represents those who have special needs and limitations in society but who has used whatever God-given talents that he has(in this case, his big,floppy ears) to his advantage.

When I think of Dumbo flying high up in the sky using his big ears, it gives me hope that good things could still come to us in this life.

 

Josie

Luke Perry, RIP

Luke Perry of Beverly Hills 90210 fame had died at age 52 yesterday due to the effects of a massive stroke which he contracted about  a week before his death.

His accolades as a great actor  and great guy are well-known. I will always remember him as the modern version of the late James Dean. His bad-boy persona on screen was very realistic yet he also portrayed a golden heart beneath that persona. And to think that I had just recently watched 2 Hallmark TV movies with him both starring there as a brooding yet nice guy.

His death due to  a stroke will always remind me that no one is exempted from being hit by it. His legacy in terms of the medical field will be stroke awareness,prevention, treatment and rehabilitation(the latter regrettably he wasn’t able to survive long enough to experience it).

My prayers to his family and friends. A donation to the Heart and Stroke Foundation in his memory would be nice as well.

I find it quite ironic that he died on the day it was announced that a Beverly Hills 90210 reboot will be launched. No doubt his absence will be felt once that reboot becomes a reality. They will have to write in  the memory of his character of Dylan McKay  somehow in the script as part of the story line.

Wherever you are now,(whatever is your new zip code),Luke Perry, may you enjoy whatever new role you have in the afterlife. Be ready for your close-up!

Adieu!

Josie

 

 

 

George H.W. Bush,41st US President, RIP

Yesterday, the news came out that George Herbert Walker Bush, the 41st United States President had died(cause unknown by the public) at age 94.

Sir, you had given dignity and honor to the Office of the Presidency by doing your job as the  President of the People. You took a political job as a calling to serve the people and not use as a means to enrich yourself nor to pursue your personal interests. You were humble when told of your extensive and impressive public service credentials which everyone knows. One would never accuse you of being a braggart nor have an ego the size of the universe. And why should you? Your self-esteem and level of happiness/contentment was intact during your lifetime.

You can hold your head high as you travel up to the heavens to meet your wife Barbara who’s already waiting for you at the pearly gates “under a thousand  points of light” as you usually quote.

Rest in peace!

 

Josie

Three Hate Crimes in 1 Week—How Long Before This Insanity Ends?

There’s a saying that in life, things happen in 3’s. In the USA, from all of last week, 3 hate crimes came out one after the other which I felt was too much already.

The first was in Kentucky where 2 black  people were gunned down in a store.

The second was in Florida where a deranged man had attempted to kill off 14 Democratic Party critics of the current US administration with man-made pipe bombs.

The third was in Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania wherein 11 elderly Jewish parishioners were gunned down in a synagogue by an anti-Semite.

In all 3 episodes, they were all fueled by tons of hate speech which became aggravated and intensified with the upcoming US mid-term elections for the purpose of pandering to a certain minority electorate so as to achieve the purpose of election and the fulfillment of both personal and political agendas.

For change to happen, it has to start at the top of US leadership sans hypocrisy,denial ,arrogance and defiance.  Tamp down the harsh and nasty rhetoric! We are more civilized than that! Some lives have already been lost!

If such reforms do happen, these lost souls would not die in vain.

Karma’s a bitch. Take note to those who can initiate the change.

God help us all!

 

Josie

Aretha Franklin–Queen of Soul

Aretha Franklin, the 76 year old “Queen of Soul “died today(Aug. 16,2018) from an advanced stage of pancreatic cancer in her  Detroit,Michigan home under hospice care.

Whenever I think of the state of Michigan, I think of its port city–Detroit also known as Motown—-known also for all kinds of black music, soul,R & B, pop,etc.

I couldn’t help thinking that she also died today on the 41st death anniversary of  the King of Rock and Roll—Elvis Presley. as well as the birthday today of another Michigan native—Madonna.

 

Being the first female to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, as well as being the first African American female to do so was also an inescapable fact. She also had numerous other music and service awards but the role she prided herself most is being the best mother to her offsprings.

Some of her well-known songs like Respect, Ever Changing Times, Natural Woman and A Change is Gonna Come all reflect her ongoing crusade to bring the importance of a female’s role and contribution to society as well as overcoming racial barriers.

Being a trailblazer is an understatement to define her.

I could see her now riding the Midnight Train to Heaven(not Georgia this time,( excuse the pun) and the late George Michael will be there waiting for her ,reminding me of  their famous duet—I Knew You Were Waiting (for me).

As for me still here on Earth, to quote one of her famous songs—my absolute favorite from her collection—-I Say A Little Prayer for You, I give it as a tribute to her.

Thank you for the music and long live the Queen!

 

Josie

 

 

 

Afterthoughts on the Toronto Van Attack

On April 23,2018, a white van (driven by an incel enthusiast Alec Minassian) ploughed through Toronto’s longest street Yonge Street, killing mainly female pedestrians and bystanders (10 in total) on a sunny spring day here in Canada. The entire crime scene encompassed 2 kilometers in length. A  makeshift memorial site for the victims was set up at the junction of Finch Street and Yonge Street(Olive Square specifically).

The culprit was successfully caught without being shot by a nearby police officer(Constable Ken Lam) who confronted him.

Because of this, safety precautions have already been set up around the city of Toronto(Canada’s largest city–located in the province of Ontario) as if a potential terrorist attack would strike anytime.

Even other parts of the country, such similar security measures are up in case any copycats would try to do so.

Canada’s innocence has gone. Other  similar van attacks which happened in Europe sprang from terroristic aspirations.  Here in this Canadian van attack, it sprung from Mr. Minassian’s  extreme misogynistic views and his hate for women who rebuffed him which led to his deprivation of his sexual needs– ( incel—–involuntary celibate). He also idolizes another incel enthusiast —Elliot Rodgers who served as his inspiration for the Toronto van attack.

An editorial cartoon drawn by our local Maritime cartoonist–Michael De Adder depicts 2 boys sitting on park bench ,their backs to the readers, each holding a hockey stick and their jerseys emblazoned—the taller boy had HUMBOLDT and the shorter boy had TORONTO on their respective jerseys .

It depicts the prevailing mood that Canada still hasn’t recovered from the Humboldt  Broncos bus attack in April 6,2017  and now, Toronto has its own tragedy.

It’s the new reality indeed.

My thoughts and prayers to all affected !!!

 

Josie