A Canadian's Perspective of Muslim...Part 3

A CANADIAN'S PERSPECTIVE OF MUSLIM...Part 3

Rise of Islamic Extremism in Canada

The following are excerpts from the writing of

Raheel Raza, an Ontario resident.

My family and I came to Canada 24 years ago from Pakistan, seeing the rise of fundamentalism in the land of our birth. I studied in a Catholic school; we rarely came across blatant 'extremism', terrorism or political Islam. However, in 1977, Mohammed Zia-ul-Haq came into power after removing and hanging the democratically elected Prime Minister. The founder of the Islamic party implemented his extreme version of Islam. Women had to cover their heads in public...co-education was eliminated in schools...and Friday was made the weekly holiday...now forced into the public sphere. We had always lived moderate, normal lives inbued with a traditional, spiritual interpretation of Islam. In 1979, the Hudood Ordinance were Pakistani legal provisions intended to implement Islamic Sharia Law by enforcing punishments, primarily upon women.

Instituted was the unquestionable use of vioolence.

Instituted was the distortion of historical facts...the Prophet's sayings

and his character: thus giving legitimacy to militancy!

Despite the vast difference in cuture, terrain and weather, we felt totally at home in Canada. Our boys were only 2 and 4 years old..who when of school age, attended a Brampton school. Initially we were charmed by the official multicuturalism in Canada. As new immigrants, we could preserve our own culture and heritage. We joined the work force and as we expanded horizons, we started seeing small signals...that 'something was not right' with the Muslim community in Canada...especially of the Pakistani origin. The mother of one of the children's classmates of Pakistan origin, asked why my kids sang the National Anthem of Canada when it is haren (forbidden). She confessed that the Imam of the local mosque had told the congregation that, “It was against the faith to sing Canada's National Anthem...or indeed to show loyalty to Canada.” Other mosques were endorsing the same. Many immigrants were enforcing cutltural values and ideas that were at odds with Canada's established ideology from which we had escaped. Some Pakistani-Canadians, dressing like Arabs, were resisting Western values, expressing hostility towards the principles of freedom and gender equality. We saw many Islamic schools (madrasses) being established.

I was dismayed to see the rise of Wahhabi/Salafism in Canada. The mainstream non-Muslim community at that time had very little knowledge about Islam, because until the 1980's, Muslims were the 'exotic other'. Therefore, I started writing for the Toronto Star to educate both Muslims and non-Muslims about the spiritual message of the faith...and to encourage immigrants to embrace the good in Canada!

In the late 1990's, Islamic groups in Canada were identified as Hezbolla, several Sunni Islamic groups including Hames and others..with ties to Egypt, Libya, Lebonon and Iran. In 1998, the director of Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) testified before a Canadian Senate special committee (perhaps with the exclusion of United States)...”There are more international terrorist organizations active in Canada than in any other country of the world.” He further stated that the counter-terrorism branch of CSIS was investigating over 50 organizatinos and about 350 individuals.

On June 2, 2006, 17 Muslims including 5 juveniles were arrested in Canada for 'planning major terrorist attacks on Canadian soil...including the storming of Parliament and the beheading of the Prime

Minister Stephen Harper'. The terrorists wished to bargain for the immediate release of Muslim prisoners in Canada and Afghanistan.

In the past 3 decades, 100's of young minds have been poisoned! The advent of campus radicalization and foreign funding is a concern that has not been directly (or at least) adequately addressed by Canadian policy-makers and government officials. There needs to be better monitoring of foreign fundraising by Revenue Canada...and greater transparency about funds channelled into Muslim organizations and mosques!

Some immigrants park their families in Canada while the men leave to work abroad and come back only to use the 'social welfare system'! Families here have issues adapting to Canadian lifestyles. Young boys left in charge of their mothers and female relatives...gives them a distorted understanding of women's rights and gender equality.

Later, our kids went to College...and we found to our dismay, that the Muslim Student Associations (MSA's) could be quite outspokenly anti-Semitic and extremist in their views. At York University, they often approached my son to convince him to be a better Muslim by joining 'congreational prayers' as an option over classes. They left nasty notes on my niece's door about how she would burn in hell if she did not wear the 'hijab'...this hijab, in fact started to become a 'political symbol' and I saw a sudden rise

of orthodox religiosity amongst young Muslims who were being sucked into the hardline Wahhabi/Salafist ideology...an extremist puritanical and violent movement that emerged with the pretension of reforming Islam in the coastal area of Arabia in the 18^th century. It has always viewed...and has always attached the traditional, spiritual Islam (or Sufism) that dominates the Balkans, Turkey, Central Asia, India, Malasia and Indonesia.

911 and the Immediate Aftermath: On September 9, 2011, the world changed and so did my life. It seemed that many of our warnings 'fell on deaf ears'. It was shocking and mind-boggling...but was it a surprise? The writing had been on the wall for some time. We had seen the signs in Pakistan and now in North America: so the fear that something terrible was about to happen, had been palpable well before the terrorists struck United States. Threats are the result of mental and material transactions. This, in turn, suggests that the actual incidence of Islamic plots and attacks in Canada greatly understates the underlying, developing extremist reality is upon us...waiting to break.

Muslim Youth have been Exposed! In order to understand better, the roots of Canada's developing malaise, one can find some of its foundations in the way Canada's immigration and political asylum, politics and porous Canadian-American border have lent themselves to manipulation and abuse by radical Islamists.

IF WE GRAPPLE SENSIBLY WITH THE EXTREMIST CHALLENGE,

CANADA CAN REMAIN “STRONG AND FREE”;

BECOME A MODEL FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD...AND BE A SAFE HAVEN

IN WHICH OUR CHILDREN CAN ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF BEING “CANADIAN”!

(The foregoing has not been verified by the below writer)

However, I endorse Raheel Raza's Perspective that

Today's Youth are Mankind's Future Tomorrow!

Merle Baird-Kerr...written August 7, 2016

To comment: inezkate@gmail.com or mbairdkerr@cogeco.ca

Muslims...Profound Effect of Infiltration...Part II

Dr. Peter Hammond, a doctorate in Theology,

was born in Cape Town in 1960...grew up in Rhodesia.

Converted to Christianity in 1977, the following are excerpts

from his book, “Slavery, Terrorism and Islam: The Historical Roots and Contemporary Threat”:

Islam is not a religion...nor is it a cult. In its fullest form, it is a complete, total 100% system of life. Islam has religious, legal, political, economic, social and military components. The religious component is a beard for all of the other components.

Islamization begins when there are sufficient Muslims in a country to agitate for religious privileges. When politically correct, tolerant and culturally diverse societies agree to Muslim demands for their religious privileges, some of the other components tend to creep in as well.

Here's how it works: As long as the Muslim population remains around or under 3% in any given country, they will be for the most part, be regarded as a 'peace-loving Minority' and not as a threat to other citizens. This is the case in: United States ~ Muslim 2%

Australia ~ Muslim 2.5%

Canada ~ Muslim 2.8%

Norway ~ Muslim 2.8%

China ~ Muslim 2.9%

Italy ~ Muslim 2.5%

At 3% to 8%, they begin to proselytize from other ethic minorities and disaffected groups, often with major recruiting from the jails and among street gangs. This is happening in Denmark (Muslim 5%)...Germany (Muslim 6.7%)...United Kingdom (Muslim 7.7%)...Spain (Muslim 8%)...Thailand (Muslim 7.6%). From 8% on, they exercise an inordinate influence in proportion to their percentage of the population. For example, they will push for the introduction of halal (clean by Islamic standards), food, thereby securing food preparation jobs for Muslims. They will increase pressure on supermarket chains to feature halal on their shelves...along with threats for failure to comply. This is occurring in France (Muslim 12%)...Philippines (Muslim 9%)...Sweden (Muslim 8%)...Switzerland (Muslim 8.3%)...The Netherlands (Muslim 8.5%)...Trinidad & Tobago (Muslim 10.8%)

At this point, they will work to get the ruling government to allow them to rule themselves (within their ghettos) under Sharia, (the Islamic Law). The ultimate goal of Islamists is to establish Sharia Law over the entire world. When Muslims approach 15% of the population, they tend to increase lawlessness as a means of complaint about their 'conditions'. In Paris, we are already seeing car-burnings. Any non Muslim action offends Islam...and results in uprisings and threats, such as in Amsterdam, with opposition to Mohamed cartoons and films about Islam. Such tensions are seen daily, particularly in Muslim sections, in: Guyana ~ Muslim 15%

India ~ Muslim19.4%

Israel ~ Muslim16%

Kenya ~ Muslim 18%

Russia ~ Muslim 21%

After reaching 25%, nations can expect hair-trigger rioting, jihad militia formations, sporadic killings and the burnings of Christian churches and Jewish synagogues, such as in Ethopia ~ (Muslim 32.8%)

At 40%, nations experience widespread massacres...chronic terror attacks...and ongoing militia warfare, such as in Bosnia (Muslim 40%)...Chad (Muslim 53.1%)...Lebanon (Muslim 59.7%).

From 60%, nations experience unfettered persecution of non-believers of all other religions (including non-conforming Muslims), sporadic ethnic cleansing (genocide), use of Sharia Law as a weapon and Jizya ~ the tax placed on infidels...such as in: Albania (Muslim 70%)...Malaysia (Muslim 60.4%)...Qatar (Muslim 77.5%)...Sudan (Muslim 70%).

After 80%, expect daily intimidation and violent jihad, some State-run ethnic cleansing...and even some genocide...as these nations drive out the infidels...and move toward 100% Muslim, such as Bangledesh, and is on-going in ...Iran...Iraq...Jordan...Morocco...Syria...Tajikistan...Turkey...and United Arab Emirates.

100% will usher in the peace of 'Dar-es-Salaam' ~the Islamic House of Peace! Here, there's supposed to be peace...because everybody is a Muslim, the Madrasses are the only schools and the Koran is the only word, such as in: Afghanistan...Saudi Arabia...Somalia...Yemin (all Muslim 100%).

Unfortunately, peace is never achieved...as in these 100% states, the most radical Muslims intimidate and spew hatred...and satisfy their blood lust by killing less radical Muslims, for a variety of reasons.

Before I was nine, I had learned the basic canon of Arab life. It was me against my brother; my brother and me against our father; my family against my cousins and the clan; the clan against the tribe; the tribe against the world...and all of us against the infidel ~ Leon Uris,'The Haj'

It is important to understand that in some countries, with well under 100% Muslim populations, such as France, the minority Muslim populations live in ghettos...within which they are 100% Muslim...and within which they live by Sharia Law. The national police do not even enter these ghettos. There are no national courts, nor schools, nor non-Muslim religious facilities. In such situations, Muslims do not integrate into the community at large. The children attend madrasses; they learn only the Koran. To even associate with an infidel is a crime...punishable with death!

Therefore, in some areas of certain nations, Muslim Imams and extremists

exercise more power than the national average would indicate.

Today's 2 billion Muslims make up 28% of the world's population. But their birth rates dwarf the birth rates of Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews...and all other believers. Muslims will exceed 50% of the world's population by the end of this century.

Please forward this important information

to any who care about the Future of our Country!

Thanks to Tom for this very sensitive article.

The foregoing information is not verified by the below writer.

My next and posting in this series is titled

“Muslims: A Canadian's Perspective”

Information compiled by Merle Baird-Kerr...August 6, 2016

Comments are welcome...inezkate@gmail.com or mbairdkerr@cogeco.ca

Muslims...My Asses! Part 1

Since the inception of my blog writings in March, 2011

it was never my intention to post articles controversial

re politics, religion or personnel issues.

However, being the proud Canadian I am, the influx of Muslims to world countries is disturbing! We trust that the governing parties for their immigration have been selective and that these migrants to our society will mingle with our culture, respect our flag and adopt the policies of our country...with the knowledge of still retaining their own culture.

I have excellent Muslim friends who have adapted to Canada's principles...have contributed their skills and talents...learned our language...and are proud to call Canada 'Home'. Occasionally, underlying the Muslim facade are specific sects who undermine our society with terrorist threats...and perhaps are responsible for the cancellation and removal of a few Canadian traditions:

The Lord's Prayer daily spoken in elementary school classes.

The Spirit of Christmas damaged and damned.

Resistance to singing our National Anthem.

Need I say more???

Tradition is defined as, “The body of knowledge, customs, etc.
 transmitted down through generations.

A few weeks ago, Carolyn, an American friend from Louisiana, sent me the following article...which should be a 'Wake-Up-Call” to everyone about Muslim infiltration into North America. She states, “Please forgive my ethnic incorrectness...so many asses out there, I get confused!

I want to shake the guy's hand who wrote this!”

Have you ever seen a Muslim hospital?

Have you ever heard a Muslim orchestra?

Have you ever seen a Muslim band march in a parade?

Have you ever witnessed a Muslim charity?

Have you ever shaken hands with a Muslim Girl Scout?

Have you ever seen a Candy Striper?

The answer is “NO, you have not! Just ask yourself, 'Why?”

An American Citizen's Response:

Dear Mr. Obama,

re Muslims in America when the Pilgrims first landed?

Funny, I thought they were Native American Indians.

Were those who celebrated the First Thanksgiving Day...Muslims?

Sorry again...those were Pilgrims and Native American Indians.

Can you show me one Muslim signature on the American Constitution...or on the Declaration of Independence...or on the Bill of Rights...??? Didn't think so.

Did the Muslims fight for this country's freedom from England? No!

Did the Muslims fight during the Civil War to free slaves in America? No! They did not!

In fact, Muslims to this day are still the largest traffickers in human slavery. “Your own half-brother who is a devout Muslim, still advocates slavery himself...even though the members of Arabic descent refer to black Muslims as 'pig-nosed slaves'! Says a lot of what the Muslim world thinks of your family's rich-Islamic heritage, doesn't it Mr. Obama?”

Were the

Where were Muslims during the Civil Rights era of this country? Not present!

There are no pictures or media accounts of Muslims walking side by side with Martin Luther King, Jr. or helping to advance the cause of Civil Rights!

Where were the Muslims during this country's Woman's Suffrage era? Again...Not present! In fact, devout Muslims demand that women are subservient to men in the Islamic culture! So much so, that after they are beaten for not wearing the hijab...or for talking to a man who is not a direct family member or their husband! Yep, the Muslims are 'all for women's rights', aren't they???

Where were the Muslims during World War II? They were aligned with Adolf Hitler! The muslim grand mufti himself..and with Hitler reviewed the troops...accepted support from the Nazis to kill Jews.

Finally, Mr. Obama, where were the Muslims on September 11, 2001? If they weren't flying planes into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon or a field in Pennsylvania...killing over 3,000 people on our own soil, they were rejoicing in the Middle East...shown from all parts of the Muslim world celebrating...on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC and other cable news networks that day!!! Strangely, the very 'moderate' Muslims whose asses you bent over backwards to kiss in Cairo, Egypt on June 4^th were stone-cold-silent post 9-11. To many Americans, their silence was meant approval for the acts of the day!

And that, Mr. Obama, is the 'rich heritage' that Muslims have here in America!

Oh, I'm sorry...I forgot to mention the Barbary Pirates...they were Muslims!

Add November 5, 2009...the slaughter of American soldiers at Fort Hood by a Muslim major who is a doctor and psychologist who was supposed to be counselling soldiers

returning from battle in Iraq and Afghanistan!

Also, don't forget the Boston Marathon bombing on April 15, 2013 was done by 2 Muslim brothers!

And NOW, add June 12, 2016...the massacre in Orlando, Florida by an avowed MUSLIM terrorist!

THAT, MR. OBAMA...IS THE “MUSLIM HERITAGE” IN AMERICA!

Muslim Heritage??? My Ass!

Note: The foregoing information is not verified by the below writer.

My next posting in this series is titled,

“Profound Effects to Infiltration of Muslim-itis”!

Information gathered by Merle Baird-Kerr...August 6, 2016

To comment...email inezkate@gmail.com or mbairdkerr@cogeco.ca

Province of Alberta

Located in Western Canada, its landscape encompasses

mountains, prairies, desert badlands and vast coniferous forests.

It has more than 600 lakes and rich mineral deposits .

In the west, the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks have glaciers

in the Columbia Icefields.

The Western Glacier International Peace Park

is a 'biosphere reserve' that straddles the southern border with U.S.A.

Geography: Alberta is one of three prairie provinces...and is the fourth largest province.

Saskatchewan is east of Alberta...British Columiba is west...the Northwest Territories are north and the state of Montana is its southern border.

Alberta was named after Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, fourth daughter of Queen Victoria.

Edmonton (capital city) and Calgary are the largest cities.

Alberta's motto is 'strong and free' and is known as Canada's 'energy province'.

The People: Alberta is home to over 3.7 million people (July, 2010).

Two-thirds of Albertans live in Edmonton (capital city) and Calgary.

Immigrants came from Britain, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, the East and Southeast Asia.

Ethnic origins: British (44 %), German, Ukrainian, French, Aboriginal, Scandinavian, Dutch, Polish, Chinese...and many other countries.

About one-half of the Aboriginal population resides in urban areas.

They also live in over 100 First Nation communities and 8 Metis settlements.

History: The first people settled in the area about 8,000 years ago.

In the woodland areas, the Woodland Cree and Chipewyan tribes hunted moose, caribou and deer, fished and gathered berries.

They used bark canoes to travel up and down the streams and rivers.

On the plains, the Blackfoot, Blood and Peigan tribes hunted the bison and lived in tipis.

Anthony Henday (European explorer and fur trader) came to Alberta in 1754.

Fur traders built 'trading posts' on the Athabasca River and North Saskatchewan River.

Forts were built to keep 'law and order'.

The First Nations traded furs and received guns, blankets and metal goods.

In 1874, the North-West Mounted Police established their first post in Alberta at Fort Macleod.

Alberta grew when the railroad was built in 1883.

Early settlers were ranchers from England and the United States.

Immigrants came from Ukraine, Germany, Romania and many parts of Europe to farm.

Land and Water: The main rivers are the Peace River, North and South Saskatchewan Rivers and the Athabasca River.

There are icefields in Banff and Jasper National Parks...which help to fill the rivers.

There are five national parks...Banff, Jasper, Elk Island, Waterton Lakes, Wood Buffalo.

Banff National Park is the oldest national park in Canada.

A large mountain range (Rocky Mountains) is along the western border.

The 'badlands' (dry, sandy, rocky area) are in southeastern Alberta.

Northern Alberta is covered with forests (more than half the province) and muskeg.

The rest of the province is on a great plain or prairie.

Forests cover more than half of the province.

The highest point is Mt. Columbia (3,747 metres).

Climate: The 'foothills' receive the most rainfall.

Warm, dry 'chinook winds' are produced when air funnels through theRockies.

Chinook winds sweep down on southern Alberta and raise temperatures in the winter.

Cold arctic air masses bring cool weather in the winter.

Resources: Alberta has oil...natural gas...and coal.

Oil was discovered at Leduc (near Edmonton) in 1947.

The province produces 70 percent of Canada's coal reserves.

Coal was first mined near Lethbridge in 1872...today there are 9 major coal mines.

Alberta has the world's second largest oil reserves...most found in the province's oil sands.

The province is the world's third largest producer of natural gas.

Alberta sells the oil, natural gas and coal to other provinces and other countries.

There are four petrochemical plants...products made include hard hats, computer keys, detergents.

Other resources include sulphur, silica sand, potash, quartz, thick salt deposits, clay and limestone.

Alberta is the second largest agricultural producer in Canada...growing crops like oats, canola, barley.

The top five agri-food exports (2008) were wheat, canola seed, beef, live cattle and pork.

Alberta is the only province to produce sugar from sugar beets.

There are many farms, cattle and horse ranches...also poultry, hog and sheep farms.

Beef cattle are raised on ranches in the southern foothills.

Alberta is the largest cattle producing province in Canada.

People and Places: The mountain scenery of Banff and Jasper National Parks attract thousands of tourists who fly, go by train or drive to these supurb Rocky Mountain vistas!

Calgary Stampede has bull-riding, calf-roping and chuck-wagon racing.

Wood Buffalo Park (the world's second largest national park) is home to the world's largest free-roaming-herd of wood bison. It is also the last natural nesting habitat of the rare whooping crane.

Dinosaur Provincial Park in in the badlands near Drumheller.

“Head-Smashed-In-Buffalo Jump” is the largest, oldest and best preserved buffalo jump in the world.

Other historical sites: Rocky Mountain House (fur trade) and the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village.

Figure skater, Kurt Browning (born in Caroline, Alberta) won four world championships.

Tantoo Cardinal (born in Fort McMurray) is a Canadian film and television actress.

Jann Arden and K.D. Lang are renowned singer-songwriters.

Alberta's Emblems: Floral...Wild Rose (the red berries that it produces are food for winter birds).

Tree...Lodgepole Pine; Bird...Great Horned Owl. Mammal...Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep.

The Provincial Flag displays the Shield on a royal blue background (representing prairie skies). The red 'Cross of St. George' is at the top...below it are the snow-capped mountains, green hills, prairie and wheat fields. It became the official flag in 1968.

Alberta became a Province in 1905.

Compiled by Merle Baird-Kerr...June 27, 2016

Comments welcome...inezkate@gmail.com or mbairdkerr@cogeco.ca

It's So Hot in Ontario...

...the birds have to use potholders to pull the worms out of the ground.

...the trees are whistling for the dogs.

...the best parking place is determined by the shade instead of distance.

...hot water comes from both taps.

...you can make sun tea instantly.

...you learn that a seat buckle makes a pretty good branding iron.

...the temperature drops below 90 F and you feel a little chilly.

...you discover that in July, it only takes two fingers to steer your car.

...you discover that you can get sunburned through your car window.

...you actually burn your hand opening the door.

...you break into a sweat the instant you step outside at 7:30 a.m.

...your biggest motorcycle wreck fear is, “What if I get knocked out and end up lying on the pavement and cook to death?”

...you realize that asphalt has a liquid stage.

...the potatoes cook underground, so all you have to do is pull one out and add butter.

...the cows are giving evaporated milk.

...farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying boiled eggs.

.IT IS SO DRY that the Baptists are starting to baptize by sprinkling;

the Methodists are using wet-wipes;

the Presbyterians are giving rain checks;

and the Catholics are praying for the wine to turn back into water!

(compliments to Jeanne for the above)

Let a man walk 10 miles steadily on a hot summer's day

along a dusty English road...and he will soon discover

why beer was invented! (Gilbert K. Chesterton)

Doggie at the sunny window, muses,

I'm not coming out 'til it cools down out there!

You know it's hot...when the dog starts to melt!

In Praise of Summer

The following are excerpts from a press article by Paul Benedetti...who teaches

at the University of Western Ontario and lives in Hamilton.

After the summer we've had, I feel like writing an Ode to Summer.

And if I knew what an 'ode' actually is, I would do that!

Instead, I'd like to suggest that summer is the greatest season and that this summer should be placed

in the Summer Hall of Fame.

Many people claim that they love winter more than summer. Sociologically speaking, these people are known as 'liars.' Some of them may also be skiers, but they too, are probably lying since skiers spend most of their time putting on 34 layers of ski gear...and the rest of the time in the chalet for “Happy Hour” which goes from noon until midnight.

Others who claim to love winter do so safely from their condos in Boca Raton where they go on and on about being “Snow Birds” though the only snow they've seen in four months is in their pina colada slushy.

So, let's just agree that all sane people...and I include myself in that group, think that summer in Canada is a fleeeting,beautiful thing. Summer is sitting on your front porch with a cup of coffee...the morning sun lighting up your newspaper...or glaring off your iPad until you are near blind. Summer is long, long days with the sky still bright at 7 and 8 and even 9, making “Saturday afternoon beer drinking” a very dangerous activity.

Summer is driving your car with the windows down...unless of course, the humidity is no percent in which case, your car is pretty much a moving 'steam bath' and your shirt is soaked and your legs appear to be Krazy-Glued to your upholstery.

Summer is outside barbecuing. No slaving over a hot stove in the kitchen. Instead, you can sweat in front of a 600-degree grill in a cloud of hamburger fat and smoke, yelling, “Does anyone mind their burger rare?”

Summer's warm nights...and I mean nights that would make a month in a Malaysian jungle seem 'refreshing.' Nights where you lie in a sweat-soaked bed...two fans doing a great job of just blowing more hot air around the room...and making about the same level of noise as a prop plane taking off.

Summer is going out to cut the lawn and realizing 15 minutes in, the sun is roasting the top of your head where you delusionally believe you still have hair. Five more minutes and your brain has the same temperature as a sausage on the barbecue...with about the same thought processes.

Summer is people repeatedly asking, “Hot enough for you?” until you want to answer, “No, actually is is not hot enough for me. I prefer it so hot that people around me burst into flames. How about you?”

But summer is also that morning dive off the dock into cool, clear water. It's waking up as the sun peaks over the horizon at 6 a.m. and staying up until it disappears in the west, just past 10 p.m. It's reaching into a cooler filled with ice and pulling out a cold bottle of beer...popping the cap and taking your first, long pull!

It's eating outside, the air pleasant and warm...the gentle buzz of cicadas in the trees the only dinner music you need. Summer is biting into that first fresh corn of the season...the cob buttered and salted. It's savouring the sugar-sharp of sun ripened tomatoes and the sinful sweetness of sliced peaches.

Summer is sitting in the sun...a trashy novel unopened beside you,

lightly dozing and dreaming that it will never end.

Compiled by Merle Baird-Kerr...September 10, 2016

To comment...email: inezkate@gmail.com or mbairdkerr@cogeco.ca

Grandparents Matter!

Allusion of Mourning Doves to Grandparents

Marilyn Nevills in “Letters to the Spec” wrote:

Again our hanging fern provided safe haven, home and nursery for two mourning doves. Mornings, my husband and I would witness the young, jostling for space in the nest and vying for food provided by two very committed parents. As before, one chick very aggressive, the other meek and constantly being pushed aside in the search for food and attention. On that magical day of 'flight' with fluttering wings and posturing, one chick took off...and left the nest! Alas, has our other chick been abandoned because he cannot fly? Alone for hours, we watched as mama dove appeared to offer encouragement with food...for her younger one to make the attempt to fly.

Wonder of wonders...finally to leave the nest...no great distance, he thought, just to the limb of the tree. And there, together, the rest of the family, on the branch, with parents providing encouragement, these little ones...one stronger, one much less assured, face the day together.

Kind of echoes what is in the hearts of all grandparents

as they watch their own 'empty nest' and remember

how their babies and grandbabies left the nest to fly.

So now, we wait for next year when we can be 'empty nesters' again!

As the writer of this article about Grandparents, I well relate to the saga of mourning doves, who for three summers raised their families, born from two white oval eggs. They flat-nested on my third floor balcony, selecting the same black wrought-iron chair. One pair of fledglings was akin to the pair in the above story...one very ambitious to fly...the other most reticent. Mother persisted with encouragement!

* * * * * * *

Grandma, arriving home to a disaster asks Grandpa (totally flaked out in his big easy chair, “Are you alright?” He replies, “NO! The Grandchildren were here!”

The relationship between a grandchild and grandparent is a very special one.

Grandparents act as an 'authority figure' to provide unconditional love...

they get to spoil their grandchildren in a way parents can't.

KIDS may hate to learn about history in school books and from old photos and paintings.

SENIOR citizens, when growing up, learned the skills of sewing, gardening, baking, farming, wood-working and perhaps music lessons were given on an old player-piano.

WISDOM is imparted about Life lessons and other advice from grandparents.

FAMILY HISTORY: Grandparents may know where all the black and white photos were taken and who posed for these pictures and can now visualize a 'family tree'.

HUMOUR: Teasing is part of 'growing up' when it comes from someone who loves unconditionally.

LISTENING: from Grandparents is often more meaningful than heard by parents.

GAMES of bridge, canasta, pinochle, crocinole and lawn croquet are fun to learn and play.

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT: Children need a sound hand in order to navigate through the teen years.

DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF! Grandparents don't get upset over the little things

.

SNAIL MAIL: Don't let the art of letter-writing fade! Set up some 'pen-pal' time with grandparents ...sending post cards, even...and souvenirs of their good times together.

GRANDPARENTS are more 'objective' attending sports' events...children often fail to succeed when parents over-react with their parental advice and instruction.

HEALTHY MODEL: Grandchildren may wish to pattern the lives of their grandparents.

TRANSMITTING VALUES may have a greater impact upon grandchildren than from parents.

PARENTING SKILLS should be in sinc with Grandparents in their relationship.

LOVE is the greatest gift one generation can leave to another.

(Richard Garnett)

A Grandparent is a little bit 'parent'.

A Grandparent is a little bit 'teacher'.

A Grandparent is a little bit 'best friend'.

(Author unknown)

Compiled by Merle Baird-Kerr...September 3, 2016

Comments appreciated: inezkate@gmail.com or mbairdkerr@cogeco.ca

Messages From Cars

The Cars we Drive...say a Lot About Us!

(Alexandra Paul)

They emit icon warnings on the dash board.

They can sputter and fume...they can purr and rattle.

They can incite the driver to race or to drive a leisurely pace.

They advise when gas or oil is low; when a tire is to be changed.

They can beep and siren (if police or fire engine or ambulance).

They long to be owned and loved ~ as an animal yearns to be adopted.

They sell their body by style and colour as a woman dresses to appeal

They’ll give you directions if you install a GPS.

Bumper stickers, they apply to “make a statement”.

Autobiography of a Mercury

(nicknamed “Black Beauty”)

“I was born in 1939 in the Ford plant in Windsor, Ontario. My VIN is 56906. I'm classified as a Series 99A 4-door Town Sedan with a V8 engine of 239 cubic inches and a curb weight of 3,013 pounds. My first owner paid $957 for me, and I was worth it.

“That first owner was a Polish immigrant to Canada who lived in Kitchener, Ontario. I meant a lot to him and he always kept me housed in a garage and never drove me in the winter. Fortunately, he was able to walk to work at the Electrohome plant in Kitchener. He kept me for 34 years and when he was 59, he found another loving home for me. By that time, my odometer read 18,173 miles.

“There were 3 other employees at the Electrohome plant who were interested in making me a part of their family. When the day came, my first owner selected a man from Listowel, Ontario as my new owner because he was paying my full price by cash. My second owner was a real Ford enthusiast who took excellent care of me during the next 15 years. He had my body repainted and my seats and floor reupholstered. Most of the time he just washed and polished me. He had a very clean building where he kept his other cars and I was always indoors with them.

“In September 1988, Ian Panton from Oakville fell in love with me on his journeys through Listowel and my owner finally agreed to sell me to Mr. Panton. By that time, my odometer read 22,812 miles. My engine was rebuilt and my transmission was overhauled along with the usual washing and polishing. Every winter, I was lifted up onto my frame to take the weight off my springs. Perhaps the greatest highlights of my nearly 10 years with Mr. Panton were being the wedding car for his daughter's marriage and driving in the Woodward Avenue Dream Cruise. In 1998, I went to another good home in Troy, Alabama.”

This autobiography was written by Ian Panton in Kingsville, Ontario and published by Bill Sherk in the Wheels section of the Hamilton Spectator. Bill further adds that the first Mercury was introduced for the 1939 model year to fill the price gap between the Ford Deluxe and the Lincoln Zephyr.

Bill is known as The Old Car Detective

and can be reached at...billtsherk@sympatico.ca.

Bumper Stickers

Friends of mine, newly married, exchanged “personalized licence plates” on Valentine's Day:

Luv U and Luv U 2

Discover Wild Life ~ Raise Twins!

The Earth is Full ~ Go Home!

The Cardiologist and the Honda Mechanic

(Thank You,Tom, for this car story)

Working in his garage, he noticed a well-known cardiologist in his shop entry. The cardiologist was waiting for the Service Manager to come and take a look at his car when the mechanic shouted across the garage, “Hey Doc, want to take a look at this? The cardiologist, a bit surprised, walked over to where the mechanic was working on the Honda. The mechanic straightened up, wiped his hands on a rag and asked, “So Doc, look at this engine. I opened its heart...took the valves out...repaired or replaced anything damaged...and then put everything back in...and when I finished, it worked just like new. So how is it that I make $24,000 a year and you make $1.7M when you and I are doing basically the same work?” The cardiologist paused, leaned over and then whispered to the mechanic,

“Try doing it with the engine running!”

Humourous Words

(thanks to Dilu and Meg who both knew this would amuse me)

If my body were a car, this is the time I would be thinking about trading it in for a newer model. I’ve got bumps and dents and scratches in my finish and my paint job is getting a little dull…but that’s not the worst of it.

My headlights are out of focus...and it’s especially hard to see things up close.

My traction is not as graceful as it once was. I slip and slide and skid and bump into things even in the best of weather.

My whitewalls are stained with varicose veins.

It takes me hours to reach my maximum speed. My fuel rate burns inefficiently.

But, here’s the worst of it…almost every time I sneeze, cough or sputter…either my radiator leaks or my exhaust backfires!

Oh! How we love our cars! And we are so dependent on them…we cannot visualize ‘life without a car’. To many, cars are our side-kicks, our friends who transport us from A to B to C…and our 4-wheel pride of ownership whose style, colour and comfort suits our lifestyle. I wonder if cars have sensibilities…they do communicate in ‘car language’…as do birds with other birds…as do animals in their woodland and jungle tongue. I know of men having a ‘love affair’ with their vehicles ~ even addressing them romantically!

Merle Baird-Kerr...scripted May 9, 2014

Comments appreciated...e-mail to:

inezkate@gmail.com or mbairdkerr@cogeco.ca

Hello September!

What a Month! Hopefully the approach to less hot/humid days is imminent

in 'preparation with anticipation' of September 21^st...

the first day of Autumn...said date also honours National Tree Day!

Mid-month I plan to post a writing to acknowledge Grandparents on their special day of Sunday, the11th...giving recognition and attention to these remarkable persons who significantly (in most cases)

play a major role in these 3-generation families.

Continuing my series re Canada's Provinces and Territories, I'll be posting Alberta...not only our country's 3^rd prairie province, it is one of exquisite mountain beauty.

Toward the month's end, I'll be posting critical writings in 3 Parts

about the frequent Muslims' intrusive activities inflicting North America today. I counter this by stating that I have great respect for all religious faiths and recognize the benefits that immigrants bring to our country...their culture, their skills, their cravings for safer places to raise their families. That Canada has and is becoming multi-cultured is credence that our land of forests, lakes, mountains and opportunities for greater happiness offers a boon of 'good fortune' to our new neighbours!

Living amongst us, whether long-time citizens of Canada or from the influx of current immigrants, are individuals who incite others to deride the laws of our country and mock the Maple Leaf Flag!

A Hypocrite...is a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs,

principles, etc.that he or she does not actually possess...especially a person

whose actions belie their stated beliefs.

Christianity is the largest religion in Canada...representing 67.3 % of the population

while 23.9% adhere to no religion.

Other Religions in Canada: Judaism numbering about 500,000 is actually the 4^th largest Jewish community in the world...trailing only Israel, France and the United States.

Islam is often said to be the world's 3^rd largest monotheistic religious faith...its origin traced to the Middle East.

Muslims in Canada number over a half-million...and is one of the fastest-growing religions in the country...due to the recent influx of Muslim immigrants from the Islamic nations...namely South Asia and the Middle East (Iran, Pakistan, India, Egypt and Lebanon). Of all the religions practised in Canada, Islam is by far the most controversial with polls showing them to be among the least-trusted segments of the population...due to extremist attacks on United States and other countries.

Other Religions: Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Agnostics and Atheists. Canada is also home to very small sects of Pagans, Wiccans, Scientologists, Hare Krishna and New Age Spiritualists. Aboriginal faiths have existed in Canada prior to the arrival of Europeans and Christianity.

Regardless of whether the immigrant is Syrian, Lebonese or Egyptian

among the Muslim population...there are many GOOD PEOPLE.

Muslim Group Marks 50 Years in Canada

Steve Arnold of The Hamilton Spectator

in an August issue, wrote:

“They cried for their neighbour, Nathan Cirillo, they condemn all violence in the name of their religion, they support the education for women and believe loving Canada is a part of their faith. In short, the Ahmadi are nothing at all like the Muslims Donald Trump and others rant about on Fox News every night.

The community marked its 50^th anniversary in Canada, Thursday the 18^th with a special gathering at Hamilton City Hall. It describes itself as a 'revivalist movement' within Islam working to restore that religion to its true, non-violent form. Hanan Sobhi, imam of the group's Hamilton mosque, told 100 supporters and local dignitaries that Canada has been good to the group and they want to return the favour. The 'imam' stated, 'For 50 years we have called Canada, home ...we carry a deep, genuine love in our hearts for this country and this city.'

The group and its 70 chapters across the country sponsor regualar blood donor clinics, regularly issue releases condemning the violent acts of Muslim terrorists, sponsors a national program preaching against ISIL and run the Meet a Muslim program that invites interested people into the homes of local families to tearn about their faith and customs. Sohbi said, 'We want to give people a chance to sit down with their fellow Canadians and build bridges. Breaking bread together is the best way to dispel misconeptions we have about each other.'

The murder of Canadian army reservist, Nathan Cirillo, an Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders' corporal, was an incident where the community made its feelings clear. Cirillo's neighbourhood was in the community of their King Street East mosque. They staged a solidarity rally at City Hall.

In other efforts, the community's youth group at McMaster University joined with other groups across the country to raise one million pounds of food this year for food banks, charities and its own Humanity First program. The target for the entire year has already been surpassed. So far, they have raised more than 35,000 pounds of non-perishable food.

The Ahmadi movement has up to 20 million adherents around the world. Its claim to follow a prophet after Muhammad has resulted in persecution of the group in some Muslim countries.”

Words of Wisdom

We need to remain a nation that doesn't just welcome

but that celebrates legal immigrants who come here

seeking to pursue the North American Dream.

(Author unknown)

We make a living by what we get;

but we make a living by what we give!

(Winston Churchill) 

Information compiled by Merle Baird-Kerr...September 1, 2016.

To comment, email: inezkate@gmail.com or mbairdkerr@cogeco.ca