Facing the Storm: Looking Beyond the Left and Right

There has been such a bizarre whirlwind of hate and intolerance and such a heartwarming response to it that I thought I'd make a few simple clarifications on a point of order so that we are all on the same page. Those who have a problem with that are free to turn the page and move on elsewhere. This is not a Hells Angels support group.

I most certainly do believe in free speech. If someone wants to spam the internet with their opinion about how wonderful the Hells Angels are, they are free to do so. Just not on my blog. This is the wrong place for that. The internet is full of Hells Angles support sites. This is not one of them. This is a small corner of cyberspace devoted to the alternate view.

This blog does not support Hillary Clinton. As far as I'm concerned she is a dirty criminal who has been deeply involved with arms dealing, money laundering and drug trafficking for a generation ever since Mena, Arkansas. Initially I had huge concerns with Donald Trump winning the nomination for the Republican Party. His beef with the CIA was a good thing. My concern was with his racism and intolerance. Time has already shown that those concerns are and were valid.

I am not going to approve comments that hate on Muslims, Jews, Catholics or anyone else. I do not support Donald Trump's recent executive order on immigration. It is not because I have been brainwashed by the main stream media. It is simply because I disagree with it. I totally agree that the Americans are free to ban whoever they want from visiting their country. I will simply say that is not the type of society I want to live in and that is not the type of society the Constitution was framed to create. That's all there is to it.

I attended a candlelight vigil at a mosque in Vancouver where a Jewish Rabbi spoke in support of religious freedom and tolerance. I totally support that. There are extremists in every religion, trade union or political party under the sun. There is good and bad everywhere you go.

Donald Trump has completely lost my support. When he was beefing with the CIA I saw that as an opportunity for him to do something positive. Unfortunately he dropped the ball and steamrolled ahead right into their false flag agenda of hate and intolerance rationalizing the destruction of civil liberty and the US Constitution. Donald Trump is a prick and I don't mean that in a nice way. I set up a twitter account and started following him. Every post he keeps making over and over again is racist, arrogant and negative. I finally had to unsubscribe to that toxic waste because it was too much for me to stomach.

Initially I tried to rationalize Trump's election by stating not everyone that voted for him are racist. Evidently many are and I cannot support that. Some claim the executive order isn't racist but it is. Former Mayor Giuliani came right out and said Donald Trump came to him wanting a Muslim ban and asked him how they could do it legally so this is what they came up with. They picked seven countries that were predominately Muslim and went from there. Trailrunner says Muslims are the problem, its a cultural thing. He's going to have to post that perpetual hate somewhere else as is anyone else who wants to promote Trumps racism. This is not the place for that.

There are tons of neoNaazi whitesupremecists sites out there. This is not one of them. You guys are going to have to dance with your white sheets over your head somewhere else. All I can say is that I'll see you on the other side. Not the way Ozzy Osbourn meant but they way they meant in the song Some Nights except I know exactly what I stand for. I'll see you on the other side of the battle field because the freedom of religion is what wars are fought over and you are on the wrong side of that war. As the brother form Boston said, who on earth would want a union with a group of people who fought a war for the right to keep slaves? Not me.

Botched US Raid in Yemen killed civilians again

CBC is reporting that The U.S. military says it is investigating last weekend's raid by U.S. special operations forces in Yemen and that innocent civilians, including children, were apparently killed. So here we have US soldiers launching an attack in a foreign country and engage in a firefight with a group of "terrorists" that they themselves armed killing numerous civilians again.

Donald Trump is a raging lunatic that needs to spend some time with Dr. Phil. I do not support him. He had a wonderful opportunity to address some of the real problems surrounding the CIA's arms dealing and drug trafficking network. Instead he dropped the ball and ran the other direction launching a full scale assault on the US Constitution. That is shameful.

This attack had nothing to do with confronting terrorists. It was once again choosing sides in a civil war just like in Syria only this time it was defending Saudi interests. Buyer Beware.

Vancouver Rally against Islamophobia

We attended a candlelight vigil at a Mosque in Vancouver tonight in response to the outrageous act of hate and violence displayed at the Quebec shooting. The place was packed. They let people in and it filled up pretty quick with tons of people still outside in the snow.



You can see the mound of shoes outside from all the people that went in beside some of the flowers people brought from all different faiths. One lone wolf commits a senseless act of violence and thousands more come out in support in cities across the country.



There was a First Nations sister that played her drum outside and sang a traveling song for those who have passed on and are traveling to the other side. It was very nice.



The spiritual leader from the Mosque spoke about the golden rule and wanted to make sure the guests from other faiths were allowed to speak. He invited his friend who was a Jewish Rabbi to speak who blew a rams horn as a wake up call to arms in support of religious freedom.



So that candlelight vigil and the warning from the rams horn did indeed spark an awakening. The rally then moved to the Olympic Caldron which was relight in memory of those recently slain in Quebec. Vancouver speaks out against Islamophobia. This is my home. Today I am proud to be Canadian and proud to be from Vancouver. This is the kind of society I choose to live in. Peace.





The Toronto Star is reporting that a group of Toronto-based Jewish organizations is leading an interfaith effort to express support for Canada’s Muslim community on Friday. A local rabbi has galvanized synagogues and organized groups throughout the city to form “rings of peace” around mosques during Islamic mid-day prayer services.

Nicky Jam marries Angélica Cruz in Medellin, Vin Diesel is his Best Man

The Daily UK is reporting that Latin singer Nicky Jam weds Angélica Cruz in Colombia and Vin Diesel declares it 'the best wedding I've ever been to'. Nicky Jam is from Puerto Rico but lives in Columbia and made a recent appearance on the big screen with Vin Diesel. in the Return of Xander Cage. The Americanos - In My Foreign. Brothers in the hood. Nicky Jam que Bacano!

Little Italy bar in Toronto closed after gang rape

CBC is reporting that "College Street Bar will remain closed until May and the two men accused of forcibly confining and sexually assaulting a woman there are banned from the premises, the city says. Toronto police said a 24-year-old woman was allegedly held inside the bar from the evening of Dec. 14 until the early morning hours of Dec. 15 and sexually assaulted. The shocking case prompted one councillor to ask the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario to revoke the bar's liquor license."

"Gavin MacMillan, who owns the bar, and Enzo De Jesus Carrasco, the bar's manager, are not permitted to be at or immediately next to the establishment, the city says. MacMillan, 41, is facing charges of forcible confinement, trafficking in schedule substance, failure to comply with recognizance, and four counts of gang sexual assault. Carrasco, 31, is facing charges of forcible confinement, trafficking in schedule substance, four counts of gang sexual assault, and three counts of sexual assault. Both men have been released on bail."

So it's the owner of the bar and an employee that have been charged. Now Toronto is reporting that both men have been charged with drug trafficking in addition to gang rape and forcible confinement.

Man Fatally Stabbed on Stanley Park Seawall in Vancouver

1130 News is reporting that "Vancouver Police say a 61-year-old man stabbed on the Stanley Park seawall last night died at the scene. A person of interest is in custody and police are trying to figure out if that person played a role in the man’s death. The VPD also says it’s too early in the investigation to know whether the killing was random or targeted." CBC is reporting that the body was found between 2nd and 3rd beach.

Sudan Refugees - Update

Turns out that Trumps travel ban affects some NBA players from Sudan. What on earth has he got against Sudan? Netflix has a movie called the Lost Boys of Sudan describing some of the hardhsips many young kids faced fleeing war torn Sudan and coming to America as refugees.

Obviously the Americans can ban whoever they want from visiting their country. I will simply say that is not the type of society I want to live in and that is not the type of society the US Constitution was designed to create. This is why many voters rather have a criminal in office than a lunatic.

I'm going to share a real life story about a family of refugees from Sudan my kids grew up with in Surrey. When my kids were very young we moved back to Surrey for them to start elementary school. The school had a big buddy program where they would pair up an older kid with a younger kid just starting out. They would meet during class time and form a friendship so the younger kid wouldn't feel so scared and had someone older to look out for them on the playground.

My son's big buddie was named Mamoosh. His family were refugees from Sudan and lived in the same complex we did so they continued that friendship after school. Mamoosh had a sister named Mimi who was friends with my daughter. The father was a hard working professional.

Then the day came for Mamoosh and his family to move. My son was heartbroken. When he heard the news I saw the shock on his face. He quickly went home and went to his room to be alone. I noticed the urgency and followed him to see what he was doing. He was sitting in his room weeping. He was very young. He wasn't being a drama queen. He just wanted to be alone and grieve in private the loss of a dear friend. That is how much that friendship meant to him.

I'm not going to entertain conversations that promote hate and intolerance. Like I said, the Americans can ban whoever they want from visiting their country. That is not the type of society I want to live in and that is not the type of society the US Constitution was designed to create.



Update: Turns out Mamoosh's family was from Ethiopia not Sudan but the point remains valid. Diversity makes us strong. "I've seen too much hate to want to hate and every time I see it I say to myself that hate is too great a burden to bear." Martin Luther King

Former Norway PM Detained At Dulles Airport over travel ban

The Huffington Post is reporting that "A stunned former prime minister of Norway complained that he was caught up in the maw of Donald Trump’s controversial executive order and detained this week by border agents at Washington’s Dulles International Airport because he visited Iran in 2014. Kjell Magne Bondevik said that after he landed at Dulles on Tuesday he was herded into a room with a group of travelers from the Middle East and Africa. He was ordered to wait for 40 minutes, then questioned for another 20 after officials spotted a travel stamp on his passport revealing that he had flown to Iran three years ago, reported WJLA-TV. The passport also clearly identified him as a former prime minister of Norway, he said."

Angelina Jolie Comments On Recent Immigrant Ban

The Daily Mail is reporting that Angelina Jolie has written an article in the New York Times about Donald Trump's immigration ban. "'Refugees are men, women and children caught in the fury of war, or the cross hairs of persecution. 'Far from being terrorists, they are often the victims of terrorism themselves', she wrote.

'It is simply not true that our borders are overrun or that refugees are admitted to the United States without close scrutiny. 'Refugees are in fact subject to the highest level of screening of any category of traveler to the United States. 'Targeting the weakest does not show strength'.

Seattle judge blocks Trump immigration order

Reuters is reporting that A federal judge on Friday put a nationwide block on U.S. President Donald Trump's week-old executive order temporarily barring refugees and nationals from seven countries from entering the United States. The White House said late on Friday it believed the ban to be "lawful and appropriate" and said the U.S. Department of Justice would file an emergency motion to stop the judge's order taking effect.

The Seattle judge's ruling takes effect because it considered the broad constitutionality of Trump's order. Robart also explicitly made his ruling apply across the country, while other judges facing similar cases have so far issued orders concerning only specific individuals. Washington Governor Jay Inslee celebrated the decision as a victory for the state, adding: "no person - not even the president - is above the law."

Shooting at a Mosque in Quebec

Notwithstanding the seriousness of the tragedy, I am hesitant to even mention the Mosque shooting in Quebec because I am of the opinion most of these mass shootings are indeed orchestrated. Nevertheless it did happen. Some wack job wing nut went into a mosque in Quebec City Sunday night and started shooting random people. 6 people dead 19 injured. A complete tragedy with no real motive. Guess what, he wasn't a refugee.

Justin Trudeau asked Fox News to take down their false tweet about the Quebec City mosque shooter which claimed one of the shooters was a Moroccan-born Quebecer. Turns out the Moroccan-born Quebecer was a witness not a suspect.

Quebec's premier admitted that the Mosque shooting shows Quebec has its demons. "Xenophobia, racism and exclusion are present here." This is true but is rather baffling. The French Revolution was all about Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. Some have cited that historic pledge in light of the hypocritical quest to ban hijabs in France. Police making a woman remove her Burkini on the beach is obscene.



One blog reader recently sent me a very offensive video of a white Nazi railing on Islam. A woman wearing a hijab started to heckle him and he shouted out You're wearing a hijab in the United States of America. What's wrong with you? At that point I shut the video off. There is nothing wrong with her. That is her right. He is the one with the problem because he doesn't understand or support the US Constitution. That is the real problem.

Kamloops raid turn up empty handed

The Vancouver Province is reporting that Police will return items seized earlier this month during a high-profile raid of a North Shore gym - a search described by the lawyer for the business owner as “egregious” and “unlawful.” Heavily armed Kamloops Mounties and RCMP tactical officers descended on Heavy Metal Gym on Jan. 13. According to City of Kamloops licensing documents, the gym is owned by Konaam Shirzad - described in the past as a co-founder of the Red Scorpions gang. Jeremy Jensen, Shirzad’s lawyer, said police found nothing incriminating at the gym and alleged cops were specifically forbidden from seizing what they did. Jensen said investigators made off with computers and other office equipment.

Shirzad said his gym continues to operate at 145 Briar Ave. “The gym has been open the whole time,” he said. “It was never closed. It is not closed. People should feel free to come here. The only thing to fear is the police and their over-reaction.” Shirzad said police did not find anything illegal in his gym, because he is no longer part of the lifestyle that landed him behind bars in the last decade. “My past got brought up, but I’ve been doing a lot of good lately,” Shirzad said.

The traffic stop and drug seizure that led to the high profile public raid with freaking stun grenades wasn't the owner of the gym it was someone else. I guess I called it.

Surrey drug dealer fatally stabbed at Richmond Hospital

The Peace arch News reported that RCMP are looking for witnesses after a 24-year-old Surrey man died of stab wounds Friday night at Richmond General Hospital. Francis Le was found in the hospital parking lot just after 11:30 p.m. He was being treated when Richmond police arrived, but succumbed to his injuries. Other media outlets referred to him as a Surrey drug dealer.

Kim Bolan reported that "Last April, Le was sentenced to 10 months in jail in Surrey Provincial Court for possession for the purpose of trafficking and one day in jail for extortion with a firearm. His arrest was announced by Surrey RCMP in March 2015, after a 21-month investigation that also netted Sophon Sek."