A Crusade of Courage ...

Dr. Henry Morgentaler's name either grates or elates.

An activist who stood up against the establishment
in defense of those who did not have a voice - woman and the right to control their reproductive destiny - died today.

Whether you were a fan or not of Morgentaler's crusade, one must admire him for his courage and  bravery.

A true warrior and champion, Morgentaler believed in a cause and acted on it. He left no stone unturned in defending a right he felt women in this country should have.

They say that life prepares us for our calling.

This was a man who spent five years in the  Nazi concentration camps of Auschwitz and Dachau. He knew about rights and the lack of them. His mother's death in that camp forged in him a passion to defend the right of other women to live the way they wanted to live.

When his calling came, he was not backing down. He was ready, willing and able to engage in a showdown with the legal authorities.   His fight peaked in the 1988 decision of the Supreme Court of Canada that rendered Canada's long-standing policy on abortion as "unconstitutional".


Carlose Castaneda once said that

A warrior considers himself already dead, so there is nothing to lose. The worst has already happened to him, therefore he's clear and calm; judging him by his acts or by his words, one would never suspect that he has witnessed everything

The truth is that Morgentaler probably already "died"
a thousand deaths in that Holocaust camp.
Everything after that was but a calm shoot of the arrow.

The end result is that women are no longer shamed for criminal activity if they make a choice about their reproductive status. Granted,access to abortion in all provinces is still not equally available.

No woman truly wants to have an abortion,
but if they have to,
they can thank Dr. Henry Morgentaler for the freedom
without being branded a criminal in our country.
In this life we can walk away from a battle or we can stand and face the fear to defend our principles and convictions and the rights of others. 

Henry Morgentaller made a choice that women should have a choice
- a crusade of courage that will withstand the test of time. 

******
If I help women to have babies at a time
when they can give love and affection,
they will not grow up to be rapists or murders.
They will not build concentration camps.”
-Henry Morgentaler











 

Culture - Everybody's Business!

Our culture is smokin' hot!

Our tourism ads are shameless in playing up this attractiveness. 

We're charming and unique. We look good and when we bat those outport eyes, there's no one resisting our come-hither look. Everyone wants a piece of us because we are enchanting, desirable and different ... in a good kinda way. 

But ironically our assets are also fading. Our outports are expiring - our youth are outmigrating, our seniors are left holding the fort and our detached government is using us for our seductiveness in tempting tourist, but they are not willing to pay the price to keep us sustainable.   

As is typical with this Government, a Cultural Plan developed seven years ago has withered on the vines. 
 http://www.tcr.gov.nl.ca/tcr/publications/2006/culturalplan2006.pdf

So, it was uplifting to read of not one, but three projects in the weekend's Telegram that are not only rejoicing in the rural way of life, but fighting to keep it alive and well.

Out in Fogo, something visionary is taking shape. The Fogo Island Inn is hopefully just the beginning of a brilliant cultural renaissance that will sweep across our fair isle.  Built on the rocky shores of the Atlantic ocean, this inn is a blend of tradition with innovation. Imagine an inn with a library, art gallery, theatre and fitness centre with the expected restaurant? Its owners ensured that not only was everything influenced by island life, but built on Fogo Island - quilts, floors, walls and  lights all constructed by Newfoundlanders and Labrador while employing those on the island. I love their philosophy of "finding new ways with old things" like structuring part of the Inn on stilts - a symbolic reverence to the stilts of our iconic flakes which dried our fish that fed the world for centuries.
http://www.fogoislandinn.ca/ourstory.php

Still on the North coast, there is the town of Port Union - "the only town in North America built by an union".  This is a town that has a unique fishing history involving Coaker's Fishermen's Protective Union and an inspiring community spirit which works tirelessly in keeping this heritage alive. The town's richness is the focus of "The Culture of Outports Project" sponsored by a Toronto architectural firm ERA Architects. The team will delve into what makes that town and surrounding areas special and parlay it into a cultural community build project.  A wonderful initiative!

Just further along at Bonavista is The Matthew - a replica of John Cabot's 1497 ship which has in recent times been out of commission. I was there in 1997 when it sailed into the Bonavista harbour on the 500th anniversary of Caboto's landing in our fair province. It is heartwarming to know that this great ship will hopefully be repaired and enrich the town's and surrounding area's array of historical assets.  

Cod bless us - it took centuries to shape us into the beauty that we are. Let us not forget who we are, no matter that governments only half-heartedly support our rural values and lives. 

Let us be inspired by our own self-worth and our deeper beauty of culture, heart and soul. The stories above behoove us to become cultural warriors fiercely protecting our smokin' hot precious heritage -  not just for tourist, but for ourselves and our children!

A "Ray" of Newfoundland Sunshine

This week Joey and Ray had a grand reunion.

That's what I like to think anyways.

Ray Guy, an outstanding satirist, humorist and full-fledged Newfoundlander finished his life journey here this week.

The brilliant words he left behind will forever be our treasures.
Many of those razor-sharp, sinful saucy and yet eloquent words were directed at former premier Joey Smallwood.  Guy was quoted as never having known Joey personally, but he did enjoy inflicting lashings him on a weekly basis in his columns.

There have been many wonderful tributes to this great Newfoundland soul since his passing. Even the current Government sent out a press release - not by the Premier herself mind you, but by a mere Minister of the crown.

Odd again, that this Government did not read a more personal Ministerial Statement into the House of Assembly this week. Why did this tremendous and beloved Newfoundland writer not deserve such an honour? 

Perhaps there is a legitimate reason. But perhaps it speaks to their usual lack of class and small mindedness that they could not use the honourable House to honour Ray Guy's life narrative - especially given politics was the prime target with his ouch pen.

If Joey had outlived Ray, he surely would have stood proudly in the Legislature and presented a message of condolence and recognition -notwithstanding the many lacerations Guy inflicted on Joey's political body by acting as his unofficial "opposition" and keeping the Premier accountable throughout his reign. 

Which is why I imagine Joey's glee in seeing his nemesis coming to the heavenly Legislature to enlighten the proceedings. I envision the two of them smiling, winking and nodding in an unspoken language of  "Let the good games begin again!"

I did not have the pleasure to know Guy personally, but I did read some of his columns through the years and enjoyed his play (which has since been made into a movie) in the 80s "Young Triffie's Been Made Away With." As is true with most of life, I wished I had paid more attention...

But I, like many others, will be aiming to read all that is Ray Guy. His language and his humour were like no other in that they made us more intimate and in love with our collective Newfoundland soul and uniqueness each time we read his work.

And reflecting on the life of the iconic Ray Guy on a cold and wet May 24th iconic weekend, I am blessed with a rare Ray of Sunshine - such was his gift ...