Preparing To Die - The Bittersweet Opportunity Of A Lifetime

The fact remains, we will all die. We just don't know when. One well-heeled adage claims that the only sure things in life are death and taxes. To counter this, however, if one has a good accountant, the taxes become less certain. Death, on the other hand, not so much.

We live in a rat race society, selfishly accumulating 'stuff' before someone else has the opportunity of amassing it in their collection. We cherish our 'things' and alter our behaviors by our very ownership of these inanimate objects, whether they be toys, gadgets, art, commemorative widgets, or whatever.

Circumstances change quickly when facing our imminent demise. Suddenly, those trinkets of artificial value become worthless reminders of how we got wrapped up in a consumer culture at the cost of sharing the experiences life offers. Few of us can honestly admit to a life of chasing dreams, having fun, enjoying the moment, smiling more, and regretting less.

Those faced with a terminal illness share a common, if not unlikely, bond with inmates on death row as well as those mere seconds away from a mortal infliction. They all have time to prepare for death. The amount of time may differ, but the fortuity remains nonetheless.

A perilous journey ensues when you know you are about to die. One of the most immediate thoughts harken to the unrealized ambitions in one's life. "If only..." could be heard their inner most thought.

Therein begins a journey within oneself of identifying the many regrets that can accumulate during a lifetime. We all have them. Some we quietly tuck away in our cerebral vault. And some are so strong and prominent as to actually help define us as a person.

We worry about loved ones, particularly our children, and what effect one's passing will have on their impressionable beings. Not being there for important milestone events, seemingly insignificant boo-boos, or shepherding them to become productive and responsible adults, all cloud prevailing thoughts.

Such notions can occur in nano-seconds, as is the case if someone is becoming the victim of a violent end. Others have the luxury of having more time to contemplate their impact on Earth and what sort of legacy we leave behind to inspire those who choose to remember and follow.

Having precious time to 'fill in the blanks' allows one to bring closure to life chapters that, for whatever reason, remain unexperienced. Some choose to travel, seeing the marvels of the world from a somewhat unique perspective. Others find the strength to educate us of the warning signs of their affliction. Still others might embark on an oddessy to fill their backpack with experiences, outlandish or otherwise. Sadly, some opt to curl up in a dank corner somewhere in a pitiful cocktail of 'woe is me'.

Religion plays a hefty role in the lives of some. Even those who barely practice their faith turn to their creator in these desperate times. For each, these pious explorations are very personal, reflecting the nature and nurture of their lifetime.

There is, perhaps, no other more profound contemplation than that undergone between the moment one learns of his or her sentence of death and when that inevitable day actually occurs. Values shift. Senses are awakened. Motivation is refocused. All is compared to how things were yesterday when everything was so routine. Regardless of the person facing this liberty, a decision is made about how our remaining time will be invested.

Those outside the fold see those facing mortality as brave, courageous, and unfailing. How can we deny the whims of someone not long for this planet?, we reason. Yet we fail to absorb those same passions and empathies for ourselves as we cling to the familiarity of our daily rut, afraid of making the changes, perhaps even enduring sacrifices, that could lead to a more fulfilling life while we still have the wherewith all to truly enjoy it. There is always a 'but...', an excuse, why we choose to continue on an unsatisfying path of blah rather than embrace the adventure awaiting around every corner.

Raise a glass and toast to those facing imminent mortality, to those who choose to complete whatever chapters in their book of life, with feats of valor, despite the challenges that await. Hail to the bravado in grabbing Death by the gonads forcing it to wait until you accomplish a few more deeds. It is something we shouldn't lack in undertaking while we can. Today. Now.

The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth of the hole.

Mississippi Burning Again

Mississippi’s history is a colorful one, but a new law signed on April 05, 2016 in the Magnolia State, threatens the rainbow, allowing businesses to discriminate against same sex couples on moral grounds and plunging the state right back into the era of Jim Crow and its devastating human rights violations.

The Way It Was

In many respects, Mississippi was the poster child for black slavery and the accompanying human rights abuses so prevalent in a fledgling America. Formerly part of a vast expanse of Indian lands, Mississippi became the twentieth US state in 1817, and by the 1830’s, it was a powerhouse in the cotton trade. Cotton was king, making the Old South the ninth largest economy in the world, with Mississippi the king of kings, commanding considerable influence among her less affluent peers.

The cotton trade (White Gold) made the Old South. During its heyday, there were more millionaires in Mississippi than anywhere else in the world. Mammoth plantations fed a worldwide frenzy for cotton. And none of this would have been possible without the backbreaking servitude of black slaves under barbaric conditions. In 1861, Mississippi became part of the Secession Movement, breaking away from the Union over disagreements about state’s rights in the republic.

Fast forward several generations, and Mississippi would become known as a hotbed of civil rights conflict and home to the notorious 1955 lynching and mutilation of Emmet Till and the 1964 murder of three civil rights activists that would form the nucleus plot of the Academy Award winning movie Mississippi Burning, starring Gene Hackman and Willem Dafoe, released in 1988.

The Way It Is

Gambling aboard paddle boats amid a sweltering sun. Home to blues pioneering greats such as BB King, Bo Diddley, and Willie Dixon. Residents speaking with a drawl reminiscent of time slowly passing. The Bible Belt, and an equally religious passion for college football. These all describe Mississippi today.

As firmly planted as one foot is in the past, so too is the other foot marching forward. There is an air of sophistication among Mississippi’s simpler way of life that is uniquely placed. Most would be startled to learn that the world’s first heart and lung transplants were performed at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Or that Jackson, Mississippi is the only North American city to host the International Ballet Competition. Or, that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Waterways Experiment Station in Vicksburg, Mississippi is the world's largest hydraulic research laboratory.

Despite their advancements in culture, science, and medicine, Mississippi and Mississippians cannot seem to shake its Rebel heritage. Thumbing its nose at international covenants and federal law, Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant signed into law House Bill 1523, or more formally, Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act, that paves the way for widespread discrimination and human rights violations against a broad swath of people.

Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act

Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn claims House Bill 1523 does not enable discrimination, but rather promises that the state government will not punish people who refuse to provide services to people because of a religious opposition to same-sex marriage, extramarital sex or transgender people.

To some, HB1523 protects religious freedoms. For others, it’s just another Jim Crow law painted in the colors of a rainbow.

Governor Bryant took to Twitter in response to the explosive backlash against signing HB1523 tweeting that he did so, "to protect sincerely held religious beliefs and moral convictions ... from discriminatory action by state government."

Mississippi is a state that is already known for its extremely narrow protection of human rights. Mississippi legislation protects only three beliefs or convictions: that marriage is between a man and a woman, that sex is "properly reserved to such a marriage," and that words like "male" and "female" are "objectively determined by anatomy and genetics at birth." This bill appears to constrict any remaining legislated human rights in the state.

Governor Bryant’s full statement regarding the signing of HB1523 is as follows:

A link to the Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act in pdf format is listed below.

What It Shall Be

Tyson Foods and Nissan North America, both with major holdings in the state, called on Governor Bryant to veto the bill. He didn’t listen. He also did not heed the pleas from international conglomerates such as Time Warner and The Walt Disney Company.

Mississippi’s ally is North Carolina, who also adopted a new law violating LGBTQ rights recently. The consequence to North Carolina was immediate, when PayPal nixed its planned expansion into North Carolina that would have provided 400 jobs.

It would not be out of line to suggest court challenges to HB1523 and its similar legislation in North Carolina. In commenting on the Mississippi bill, the ACLU said, "It's a sad day for Mississippi".

In brighter human rights news, Georgia's Governor shot down a similar bill in the Peach State.

The Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act becomes law in the Magnolia State on July 01, 2016.

Links

House Bill 1523 Official Act

Contact Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant

OJ Simpson vs Jian Ghomeshi

The legal systems of Canada and United States are similar in many ways, particularly as it applies to criminal matters. The recent acquittal of Jian Ghomeshi on four counts of sexual assault sparked deep division among Canadians in much the same way as OJ Simpson’s double murder acquittal did in United States, which should not come as too much of a shock, given the similarities between the two.

It would be difficult to laud the same degree of celebrity on Jian Ghomeshi as that enjoyed by OJ Simpson. Still, in Canada and anywhere within the reaches of CBC’s airwaves, Jian Ghomeshi was their brightest star. Handsome, well-paid, and very much in the public eye, Ghomeshi attracted throngs of eager and willing sexual partners for all the same reasons as did OJ Simpson and other celebrities.

Nobody died in Ghomeshi’s cases. However, the sexual assault allegations made against him was about to lay waste to five individuals (Ghomeshi himself and the four alleged victims) who were at the center of this melee.

What is strikingly similar between the cases of Ghomeshi and Simpson was the absolute floundering of the prosecution team to vet their own witnesses, and arguably, it was this pivotal point on which the justice system failed any victims, and further impeded the likelihood of future sexual assault victims of any perpetrator coming forward to endure the trial process.

In Simpson’s case, Mark Fuhrman, a Los Angeles Police Detective, lied on the witness stand, and then pled the fifth on the direct question of did he plant evidence. It would be a crucial hurdle for the District Attorney to overcome, and a point that distracted the jury from maintaining any focus on the double murder for which they had been convened. If one of the key LAPD Detectives planted evidence and lied in court, then how can any evidence presented be untainted? Marcia Clark, lead prosecutor against Simpson ought to have known. On the Fuhrman perjury alone, Marcia Clark failed the Goldman and Brown families.

With Ghomeshi, Crown prosecutor, Michael Callaghan, equally failed in his duties bringing forth a high profile case against one of Canada’s most celebrated broadcasting personalities with alleged victims who were not as innocent as one might expect. In allegations against Ghomeshi claiming that he sexually assaulted four women, his brilliant defense counsel, Marie Henein, was able to prove that his alleged victims engaged in behavior that would be difficult to assimilate to that of one being sexually assaulted. One woman sent him flowers after being allegedly sexually assaulted. One messaged Ghomeshi practically begging for another date. Prosecutor Michael Callaghan failed all legitimate sexual assault victims in his quest for glory with little regard to the impact his personal agenda would have on Canadian society.

Due to double jeopardy laws in Canada and United States, we will never truly know whether OJ Simpson and Jian Ghomeshi participated in the crimes for which they were accused. Everybody will have their personal beliefs, but in the eyes of the law, both men are not guilty of those crimes. We can thank the respective prosecutors of these cases for wasting millions of dollars in taxpayer money in bringing cases before court that were not sufficiently vetted, and for which there is no accountability.

Canada's Homegrown Terrorism

It has been said and repeated ad nauseam that one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter. Difficult to argue the point when the acts of ‘terror’ are limited to a couple of countries, or kept internally, where one faction is hell-bent on convincing a narrow population of a particular point of view. Impossible to maintain a ‘freedom’ perspective once multiple countries are caught in the crosshairs, or when innocent civilians are being shredded to bits while sipping a beverage in a sidewalk café.

Canada has long enjoyed a positive international reputation, and with only a few exceptions, this country has been inoculated against participation in acts of terrorism, the Air India Flight 182 in June, 1985 being the most direct and public level of global terrorism participation.

As Canada continues with its immigration and multicultural policies welcoming tens of thousands each year to enjoy her way of life, and as Canadians themselves become more radicalized to a particular ideology, the threat of more frequent occasions of homegrown plots will undoubtedly challenge the intelligence community to identify and intercept the purveyors of domestic terrorism.

Nonetheless, Canadian citizens have left their shores to train with radical factions of Islam, contributing to worldwide panic and terror. Too, Canada has been abused as a thoroughfare for the transit of people and armaments focused on wreaking havoc on a more prominent international stage. From banking to flying to cyber-attacks, and all points in between, Canada has played a more important, albeit gullible, role in facilitating acts of international terrorism than its citizens would care to admit.

That said, one does not have to venture outside Canada, nor look very far into her past, to find numerous acts of domestic terrorism that created the much anticipated levels of fear, panic, and destabilization desperately sought by the perpetrators of these villainous deeds.

Here is a brief reminder of three notorious moments in Canadian history where homegrown terrorism ruled the news headlines and struck a major blow to the innocence and peace of mind of her conscience.

The Doukhobor

Aided in their escape from persecution from Tsar Nicolas 1 and the Russian Orthodox Church by the likes of renowned novelist Leo Tolstoy and international Quakers, the Doukhobor (Spirit Wrestlers) emigrated to Canada between 1899 and 1914 to land that is in present day Saskatchewan. Around 1908, some 6000 Doukhobor migrated further west to British Columbia, where they were permitted to live a communal lifestyle, forming a splinter group called Sons of Freedom (later to be known familiarly as the Freedomites).

For the next six decades, the Doukhobor often clashed with provincial and federal authorities over issues such as vital statistics registrations, education of children, and military service. Though claiming to live a life of passiveness and peace, the Doukhobor marched nude in parades, committed acts of arson, and bombed public buildings and railways. Their skirmishes with the British Columbia authorities over registering live births and sending their children to school led to the police seizing the children and holding them in captivity (forcing the provincial curriculum down their throats) for up to six years, while the parents languished in prison.

Stopping short of an apology to the Doukhobor, the British Columbia government issued a ‘statement of regret’ in 2004 for their heavy handed approach in seizing and holding the Doukhobor children.

The FLQ

This is arguably the best known version of Canadian homegrown terrorism.

During the period of 1963 to 1970, the Front de liberation du Quebec (FLQ) was involved in kidnappings, murder, bank robberies, and bombings to further their efforts to separate Quebec from Canada. The FLQ would lay claim to nearly 100 bombings in the Montreal area, most notably the February 13, 1969 bombing of the Montreal Stock Exchange where 27 people were injured. The FLQ robbed banks to finance their activities and stole dynamite and explosive materials to construct their bombs.

In what would be known as the October Crisis, the FLQ were responsible for the kidnapping and murder of provincial cabinet minister Pierre Laporte in 1970, and the kidnapping of British diplomat James Cross. In response to these acts of domestic terrorism, then-Prime Minister of Canada, Pierre Trudeau, invoked the War Measures Act on October 16, 1970, the one and only use during peacetime this country has been under what is commonly called Martial Law.

Eco Terrorism

There have been numerous incidents of eco terrorism desperately carried out in Canada. Typically these include acts against resource companies such as tree spiking and pipeline sabotage. None, however, rose to the frequency and intensity of those involving Wiebo Ludwig near Hythe, Alberta.

Wiebo Ludwig was the leader of a Christian community called Trickle Creek located in northwestern Alberta. They were a quiet and peaceful group until the 1990’s when conflicts arose between the Trickle Creek community and the oil and gas industry, who were rapidly installing new facilities in the area to extract sour gas.

Ludwig and his followers (mainly extended family members) linked the toxins from nearby oil and gas activities to the sudden onset of birth defects and stillborn deaths of animals and humans, and the poisoning of soil and water on the Trickle Creek farm.

Following peaceful attempts to have the oil and gas conglomerates held responsible for contaminating the environment, acts of sabotage against assets of the polluting companies became more frequent, including bombings of pipelines and distribution sites, some of which Wiebo Ludwig would later be imprisoned.

Interestingly, during one of the trials against Ludwig, the Crown was forced to admit that the RCMP acted as agent provocateurs when the storied police force themselves detonated a bomb at a pipeline facility, with the apparent blessing of the Province of Alberta and the energy company that owned the asset. As intended, the media ate up the story and made veiled or direct links to Ludwig and his followers.

In 1999, adolescents in a pick-up truck took a joy ride out to the Trickle Creek farm and trespassed onto the land, driving in an erratic manner without regard to the well-being of humans or animals. In non-legal terms, they were spinning donuts and frantically racing around the property near some occupied camping sites. Fearing for their safety, some residents of Trickle Creek shot at the pick-up truck. One of the bullets ricocheted, striking and killing one of the joy riding teenagers, Karman Willis.

Wiebo Ludwig died on April 12, 2012.

Tinkering with Nature – Man’s Failure to Coexist with Wildlife

Mankind continues to encroach on the last remaining vestiges of wild lands as urban sprawl drives short sighted governments to increasingly carve up migration routes and natural habitat in favor of furthering the financial agenda.

On its own, there is absolutely nothing nefarious about financial growth for corporations that provide jobs and drive those economic indicators heard on nightly newscasts. However, when that expansion clashes with ancient ecosystems, migratory paths, breeding grounds,  and wildlife habitat, our response is to slaughter the diminishing numbers and genetic purity of wildlife that most concrete jungle dwellers rarely have the opportunity to see outside the caged prison of a zoo.

To ease barriers faced by developers, mankind seems perfectly willing to slaughter any wildlife in the path of ‘progress’. Routinely, those charged with wildlife management have introduced wild horse culls, coyote culls, wolf culls. bison culls, elk and deer culls, and a host of marine and land based wildlife culls to suit short sighted agendas.

Recent news reports of the bison cull at Yellowstone National Park and British Columbia’s wolf cull led to outrage as it was learned the reasons behind the culls. Most would likely agree that, if the reason for the culls is to prevent the spread of disease, then the ends justify the means. However, when those culls are introduced because of a contractual obligation, as is the case with the Yellowstone bison, then perhaps the contracts need to be renegotiated to reflect the realities of a more educated and enlightened people of today.

The Bison Cull at Yellowstone National Park

Once, up to 60 million head of bison thundered across the prairies of North America, providing the aboriginals with a staple of food, clothing, and other uses, until they were hunted to extinction by whites seeking only the commercialized pelts. By the early 1900’s, only a few dozen bison remained.

Today, the successful protection of bison has resulted in approximately 4900 head in Yellowstone National Park. But that’s too many according to a contractual agreement between federal agencies and Montana state representatives that has legislated a maximum 3000 head in the Park.

The Interagency Bison Management Plan (IBMP), signed in 2000, was the result of rancher’s fears that when bison migrated to lower elevations for winter forage, they would infect grazing cattle with brucellosis, a bacterial infectious disease. This, despite there not having been recorded such a case.

Ranchers in Montana are a powerful and influential lobby that are principally responsible for the eradication of wolves in Yellowstone until that species was successfully reintroduced using packs from Canada in 1995. Simmers to revert to large scale wolf culls in Yellowstone are brewing again.

To be fair to ranchers, they are hard-working people raising their herds as a source of income from which they make their living. However, in the interest of protecting an ancient ecosystem that existed long before their arrival, better solutions need to be introduced that can ensure the survival of wildlife and ranches alike.

The Wolf Cull in British Columbia

British Columbia is its second year of a two year planned cull of 500 wolves throughout the province, costing the taxpayers 2.2 million dollars. What makes this massive cull even more devious is its alleged use of a Judas wolf, something provincial authorities deny but the Wildlife Defence League (WDL) says it has proof in the form of an audio confession from one of the contractors bloodying its hands on behalf of the province.

A Judas wolf (so-called in a biblical reference to its betrayal to the pack) is outfitted with a radio transmitter collar which is tracked by a helicopter. When the tracking signal shows the wolf stationary for a period of time, it is indicative the wolf is at the den, at which time the chopper swoops in and a sniper opens fire. The wolves don’t stand a chance, except Ghost, the named Judas wolf, whose life is spared so it can lead the flying assassins to a future pack.

Wolves are revered in aboriginal culture and are an apex predator, helping to balance the ecosystem we seem hell-bent on destroying.

So, why is the beautiful province of British Columbia tinkering with the wolf population? Not coincidentally, it is because it has previously tinkered with populations of prey species, and before that, with other predator species. The circle continues to tighten like a noose, as the boundaries for wildlife shrink.

Now What?

Evidently, we lack the foresight to coexist with wildlife. Those agencies we task to help us understand the behaviors and ecosystems of wildlife are failing in their mission to be the advocates for managing development of our public lands. Agreeably, it cannot be an easy mandate. Financial pressures and bureaucratic meddling make the job difficult.

What is needed is international and inter-regional cooperation between agencies. That means federal national parks agencies, provincial and state wildlife agencies, municipal land use planners, affected special interest groups (such as ranchers) must all approach this imperative with open minds and solution-based long term vision, with the goal of eliminating the short sighted sporadic and conflicting wildlife policies that currently exist.

What we are doing is definitely not working well for man or wildlife.