2007 Ontario By-election – Vote and make your voice heard!

Vote and make your voice heard! Otherwise don’t complain about what you get. With Federal, Provincal and Muniple elections, voter turn out tends to be low. In addition, people have become quite “sinicle” with politics lately. Garth Turner, David Emmerson, Belinda Stronach and a host of others have not helped. However, a message must be sent! Otherwise why bother with democracy? Ontarians in the ridings of Burlington, Markham and York South-Weston will be heading out to the polls on February 8th. For the past month opposition parties have been urging voters in Burlington, Markham and York South-Weston to send the Liberals a message when they go to the polls. Take some time to learn about the candidates’ and make an informed choice!

For more information on your riding and where to vote, please see the link below.

http://www.electionsontario.on.ca/en/home_en.shtml

February 8th, 2007 Candidates

For addition information visit the 'Democratic Space Blog'.
http://democraticspace.com/blog/2007/01/ontario-by-elections-8-february-2007/

Windows Vista? Why bother if we do everything on the Web?

A little more then a week ago Microsoft released its much anticipated and extremely overdue Operating System called Microsoft Vista. It has been the longest lag time between releases of Windows operating system. The new OS has promised to include numerous enhancements, better security, graphics and computing over the Web. However, it seems that Microsoft may have missed the boat a long time ago and I suspect that there is a major shift coming soon. More and more users around the world are using the web as their main source for tools and productivity applications. In some ways the web as a whole has become the OS. Items such as Web-based AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) applications may eventually become the technology of the future. The majority of users still need an Operating System to connect to the Internet, however the lines are starting to become greyed somewhat. Microsoft’s focus on Vista, unfortunately, has kept them from focusing on the real threat to their business model.

More and more we are seeing small snippets of web-based applications and tools pop up. They are not taking over, by any means. For example, Google offers tools that allow you to create ‘documents and spreadsheets’ online. Moreover, email has virtually become on online tool. Firefox has become a substantial player on the web. And Apple is no longer “small fries”. So, what does this mean for Microsoft? Not a whole lot, at the moment. The danger is if they do not anticipate the changes coming that may affect them, and how quickly they may occur. Microsoft may opt to force users to change, in order to protect their base. However, this is an extremely “risky” way to ensure that the money continues to roll in. Users at the moment, already have little reason to change their OS, if most of the work they do is online. In addition, why do I need a Microsoft OS? I could use Linux, BSD, MAC OS X, or a host of others. They are not mainstream at present; however the cost of Microsoft Vista has definitely caused many to take a second look. Albeit, Microsoft does have plans. The Microsoft-Novell pact may just be an alternative plan. Microsoft no longer sees Linux as sub par. Who knows what Microsoft may do in the future? If the tide turns back to a “Linux”, “UNIX” world, then who’s to say that Microsoft may simply just take another path. However, I gather that maybe Microsoft will take the GM approach and just diversify. But that again is just speculation.

There are definitely some big choices at Microsoft. I wonder if the fact that Bill Gates has stepped aside is actually just some type of strategy. Maybe he has learned a bit from Steve Jobs? Maybe, as protection, if Microsoft does tank he will come back as its “knight in shining armour”? Time is ticking for Microsoft and I assume that there are a lot of nervous onlookers at Microsoft, watching their back and anticipating the “pink slips”. But who’s to say! Changes are coming soon and it will be interesting to see what Microsoft actually morphs into? “Resistance is no longer futile!”

http://www.vistabuzz.com/archive/2005/12/31/6093.aspx

http://crunchgear.com/2007/02/07/apple-vs-the-world-os-x-or-vista/

http://www.applematters.com/index.php/section/comments/1827/

http://www.digitmag.co.uk/blogs/index.cfm?blogid=1&entryid=226

Fear and Intolerance about a little Mosque in Newmarket

Well isn’t this an interesting scenario? We say in Canada that we are so “tolerate” of others and their beliefs. Being of a faith minded person myself, growing up in an Evangelical Church, I found this to be an interesting and thought provoking situation. In Newmarket, Ontario, locals have become “concerned” over the building of a mosque in the community. The concern is focused around Zafar Bangash, president of the Islamic Society of York Region. Zafar Bangash has said a lot of things, however I always question when sentences are taken from here and there without the full context. Also, we must remember that we are a free society and at some level we have to protect that freedom. I find it interesting is the discussion revolves around his political views. Even though Canada is a free society we cannot allow those who would foster hateful words towards any group to continue unchallenged. There is a way to combat this hatred by dialog. If someone hates another group removing them from the country, without combating their beliefs only allow that person to go somewhere else to do the same.

There is a reason I wrote the title ‘the Fear and Intolerance’. You see in some ways, it’s true! We do fear and we are not as tolerance as we think, in Canada. We claim that we are tolerant; however I bet that we are actually driven by fear. Let’s not get bent out of shape now! We get so ‘defensive’ when someone says “you are ignorant” or maybe “intolerant”. However, maybe we should just ask “are you scared”? We are a great multicultural society that tolerates all backgrounds. Or do we? What we really see is a community, like many others, that is changing. People tend to fear change. What was more disenchanting was that fact that “Pastor Davis suggested Newmarket council consult the Ontario Human Rights Commission for guidance regarding this mosque”. Please, stick to preaching the Word of God Pastor Davis. Let God do the work and reach people, not rules and regulations. Are we so ‘righteous now? So holy and just are we! What if someone applied the same rules and asked the Ontario Human Rights Commission to outline strict ‘guidelines’ for the Church, as a whole. Even the Church has a checkered past, not that we love to talk about it. I wonder what would happen if the same principles were applied to Protestant Churches that spew unnecessary fear and hatred from the pulpit. Or is it that, they are more like Canada, so they are exempt from criticism? I often have to wonder. We label what we ‘think’ we know and actually know nothing about it.

Canada is a free and democratic country. If the people of Newmarket, and other towns for the matter, were to take time to listen to the concerns of others we would be a much better society. “Are we afraid”, there is no shame in it. At least it’s a start to the discussion. If we value freedom, then let the mosque be built. However, if we value ‘fear’ then by all means only allow Protestant Churches or Canadian organizations that look and feel like Canada, whatever that might be. It’s unfortunate because we are seeing this type of ignorance and intolerance across Canada. I know that some are now saying “no I’m not intolerant or ignorant”; however we all have to take a look in the mirror from time-to-time.

With this being Black History month, we do not have to look too far back to a time when African-Canadians were looked upon as a ‘lower class’ or even ‘in-human’. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but it’s true! How about how Canadian Sikhs and the discrimination they faced? How about Chinese-Canadians and their treatment in Canadian society, from our past? How about the Irish? And let’s not forget Jewish Canadians, along with others who have and still face discrimination today. Was ‘Mahar Arar’, just not Canadian enough? What if that was you?

http://live.canoe.ca/Words/News/YourSay/2007/01/12/3321922.html

So recently in Quebec, in the article “Quebec town outlines societal 'norms' for would-be immigrants”, discrimination and ignorance was well served.

http://www.cbc.ca/cp/national/070129/n012979A.html

The declaration by ‘The Town council of Herouxville’, reeks of sheer insults to immigrants (as a whole), and is a complete embarrassment to Canada. What is interesting is that this is not some other country, this is right in Canada. We must endeavor to not be ignorant of other cultures that come to enrich Canada and our democracy. On the same foot, immigrants must try to assimilate to Canadian society. That is an issue that I know many Canadians have a hard time with, since there is a general feeling that immigrants are not trying to assimilate into the Canadian culture. However, that problem is more linked to multiculturalism and that is best served in another article. Mr. Zafar Bangash, along with many others must be challenged through dialog and talk. We must reconcile, somehow. We must learn how to be better Canadians. If we continue down this path I fear that we will tear apart at the seams. Just because someone, who does not look like us (whatever us is now), moves in it does not mean we have to move out. We are Canadians of many colours. We can learn from one another and discuss our opinions freely; not in fear. In the end maybe we can spread a little Canada to the rest of the world and make it look more like us? Canada does not only belong to those who “sailed here” first. It actually belongs to those who were here first; however that’s another topic for another day.