It’s true that division weakens society, making it easier for evil to permeate. But who creates that division?
“Just so you know, I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on a machine and fluids from a bottle,” a husband told his wife. “If that happens, just pull the plug.” His wife promptly unplugged the TV and threw out all the beer. This story illustrates how one person’s solution could be…
He would like to see people leading honest and good individual lives and shining a light that way
A little girl noticed several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast on her mom’s brunette head. “Why are some of your hairs white?” she asked. “Every time you do something wrong, one of my hairs turns white,” her mom answered. After a thoughtful pause the girl asked, “Why are all of Grandma’s hairs…
Stephania Varalli talks about her own journey and how Women of Influence works to help others find their path to success
Stephania Varalli is co-CEO and head at media of Women of Influence. What’s Women of Influence and what does it do? Varalli: Our organization aims to help achieve workplace gender equality by inspiring and empowering individuals. We know that the system is biased against women, and it will take time and multiple, parallel efforts to…
How are emotions mobilized in politics, for whom and by whom? And what normalizes the expression of these emotions?
The fallout from the confirmation of President Donald Trump’s U.S. Supreme Court pick, Brett Kavanaugh, riveted people on both sides of the border and provides ample evidence that feelings can become weaponized in politics to uphold white male privilege. In his blistering, scripted opening statement to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Kavanaugh performed the role of…
It is important that we understand history as it was, and not how some of us wish it would be
The philosopher George Santayana famously wrote in The Life of Reason: The Phases of Human Progress: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” This statement makes sense, especially in light of our society’s recent trials of history – and the accuracy of history being placed on trial. The first example involves Scott…
B.C.’s Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner is a watchdog that barks public interest but whose bite is about self-interest
The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC) was created to provide independent civilian oversight over municipal police forces in British Columbia. But a string of recent cases shows the OPCC is more about overreach than oversight. I know. I was one of the cases. This summer, after 40 years of unblemished service with the…
Special interest groups demanding a say in casting choices flies in the face of diversity and freedom of expression
Visiting the Globe Theatre in London, England, is an unforgettable experience. When viewing the modest grounds and realizing that the ‘groundlings’ – the people in the cheap seats – were sometimes privileged to see original Shakespeare plays, it brings home the long and important history of the performing arts. On our tour of the theatre,…
Saudi Arabia’s anti-women laws require a swift dose of economic freedom, and they’re not alone
The Canada-Saudi Arabia diplomatic dispute appears to have calmed – for now – but the issue at the heart of the dispute remains. The dispute peaked in August after Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland tweeted her support for women’s rights activist Samar Badawi. That prompted Saudi Arabia to pull its students from Canadian colleges and universities…
There isn’t any sport – played by men or women – in which Williams’ behaviour at the U.S. Open would or should be tolerated
Serena Williams wanted an apology from Carlos Ramos. It should’ve been the other way around. Ramos was the chair umpire in the U.S. Open women’s tennis final last Saturday. The match pitted Williams against a young upstart from Japan named Naomi Osaka. Ramos is widely recognized as one of pro tennis’s best umpires, one of…
Patrick Brown lost his job. Justin Trudeau appears to have emerged unscathed. It's all a question of political support
As a result of the #MeToo movement, past sexual transgressions are haunting high-profile men. How many is anyone’s guess but the list is probably long. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is the latest casualty. I’m quite sure Trudeau will survive the allegation, but perhaps it’s worthwhile to ask why some politicians who are confronted with allegations…