Canada - Greatest nation for Sikhs?

I know 'multiculturalism' is one of the liberal reasons to like Canada, but its really the only solid reason that I like Canada at all. And I'm not referring to state-sponsored multiculturalism programs, just so you know...

I'm able to practice my religion more freely here in Canada, than in any other nation in the entire world. Most people don't realize that. America, UK, Australia and some other English commonwealth nations are probably second, but they're not as 'free' in a lot of ways.

I know that the liberals have ruined some of this in the past few years when they rammed through the hate-crime legislation that included homosexuality (thus potentially classifying the bible as hate-literature) and the potential in the future for forcing or pressuring churches, temples or mosques to perform same-sex weddings is also troublesome, but I don't think either of these issues is as severe and real as others see them.

However, on the whole, there's a lot to appreciate in Canada's diversity. I grew up (from Kindergarted to Grade 10) attending a Sikh private school--the only real Sikh private school with a state/provincial cirriculum in the entire continent. Even when I did attend public school, the only comments that I received about my appearance were positive and encouraging. For show and tell (something we did in Grade 12! - in public school), I would bring Sikh swords to class, something nearly impossible to imagine in American public schools. My principal and my teachers were GLAD to see me wearing my religious clothing to school, which includes my kirpaan (dagger).

There's also been a welcome culture shift in high schools in recent years. Back in the '80s and even through most of the '90s, Sikh kids cut their hair often. In my experiences at least, this is becoming much less common. I've heard so many stories of Sikh students cutting their hair, and then being scolded by their WHITE friends and also even by their hair-cutting Sikh/Punjabi friends for "selling out" - I don't really understand it, but I think its funny. Sikh students are becoming more appreciated for their diversity in Canadian schools. This isn't really the case in other countries--including the Sikh homeland in Punjab.

My brother is a salesperson in my parent's wholesale import company, and he spent a whole two weeks, travelling rural Alberta this past summer, the supposedly "American" part of Canada, yet all of his experiences were positive and left him more appreciative than ever of Canadian society.

I don't know what else to say--I'm not bashing America though. I think the vast majority of Americans are pretty tolerant, yet a significant minority in America makes things difficult for a lot of minorities. In addition, the whole "security environment" causes well-meaning people to over-react in a lot of situations, and I'm not referring to the "patriot act", I'm referring to basic, usually small, oversteps by American police officers and border officials.

Anyways... on the whole, Canada is a pretty cool place--relative to the rest of the world. I wouldn't say its the best country in the world, but it really could be if Canadians just grew up a bit about other issues; if Canadians stopped being such whiney, loserish, anti-Americans and matured just a bit into responsible, mature and most importantly honest (honest about our flaws, our identity issues, our jealousy and misunderstanding of American power, etc.) people, Canada would undoubtedly be the world's greatest nation.

Unfortunate

Has anybody else watched the American coverage of today's visit? Its so shocking and so totally disconnected from the truth.

The anti-Bush forces in America (CNN) are portraying the trip as a failure to make Bush look like an idiot, and the pro-Bush forces (Fox News) are also portraying the trip to be a failure in order to appease Bush's base which generally dislikes all countries who refused to send troops into Iraq.

The visit has been, by all direct accounts, a reasonably good success. I saw a few clips of Bush at his press conference and at the formal dinner, and he seemed genuinely happy, the atmosphere seemed pleasant, and yet none of that is being reported in the American media. And its really so tragic because US public opinion is the only thing that can drive US lawmakers to go easy on their protectionism--if Tony Blair was the Prime Minister of Canada, I'm sure any trade disputes would've been settled before they became real issues.

UPDATE: I link to this guy too much, but Mike Brock has some thoughts on the same subject.

Religious Headwear Ban

As almost everybody should know, a few months ago, France passed a law banning the presence of all "visible" religious headwear or symbols in government buildings, including schools. I'm not usually the type to complain about racism and discrimination and things like that, however... I have noticed that a lot of right-wing bloggers and commentators shockingly AGREE with the merits behind having such a ban.

How could anyone agree with such a ban? Every reason behind the ban is ridiculous. I can only imagine that bigots or total ignoramuses could ever support such a measure, and it turns out that I was naive to think that supporters of the ban were limited to Europe - it appears that they also exist in North America.

The main reason behind the ban isn't anti-specific races or groups, it's anti-religion. The French people, by in large, hate religion, which is their right I suppose, but they hate it so much that they can't bear seeing others practicing it, which of course is one of the many reasons why every rational thinking person should hate France. They hate it when George W. Bush uses the word god, and I'm sure they hate it just as much to see Muslims dress in their traditional dress or when Sikhs (such as myself) wear their Turbans. There's subtely racist reasons for supporting the ban as well. Its one thing to believe that western culture is better than Arab culture, but its quite another thing to forcefully demand that Arabs and Muslims comply with western customs.

In North America, people who are "anti-religion" aren't that common. There's a bunch of people who seem anti-Christian, but not "anti-religion" as a whole. North Americans generally try to believe in diversity, pluralism and all that sort of stuff, even if they believe that the government should not fund multiculturalism programs... So why do some otherwise well-meaning people support France's actions? Its because a lot of "good" people try to show their support for the War on Terror in every way possible, even though they might have reservations about specific issues, which just strikes me as ridiculous. How does preventing people from practicing their religion and forcefully assimilating them help in any way? Isn't the allowance of freedom one of the central components of the War on Terror? Or am I missing something? Its one thing if Muslim girls were carrying bombs under their headscarves to school every day, its completely another thing to ban headscarves because you don't believe in their right to dress as they please, because of religion or any other reason.

And one last point, I suppose its alright for European governments to be aware and concerned that (radical versions of) Islam is (are) becoming the largest religion in certain portions of Europe, however, I sincerely believe that they should have thought of that before allowing them to immigrate. Allowing people to immigrate to a country under the assumption that they could freely practice their religion and then revoking that right is tragic. And if the French and others (the Dutch in particular) chose to restrict immigration, it'd be completely irrational to restrict immigration from specific countries. We might not hear about it much in the news, but a lot, if not the majority of Arabs, particularly the ones who are educated would be glad to live in western countries, in peace with their neighbours, working hard, contributing to society, etc. Its simply a failure of the immigration departments of most European nations in allowing people that are able to immigrate and then incapable of contributing meaningfully to society while disallowing or simply not seeking qualified, sincere immigrants. Check out Brock's latest post on immigration for a deeper understanding of the problems with most immigration systems. Just to sum up one point in his post: Immigration is not a system based on compassion, its a system based on welcoming those who sincerely wish to work hard, to estabilish families (to correct the west's horrible birth rate situation), and to contribute positively to society. The Refugee system is the system that is based on compassion, the two concepts should not be confused.

Just on a side note, a couple of months ago, when a couple of Iraqi terrorists kidnapped a couple of French journalists, I remembered a lot of people urging the French government to stay strong--which is admirable, however, a lot of other people also expressed support and agreement with the French government's actions in relation to the religious ban along with their support for the French government to not bend to the will of the kidnappers - I simply want to clarify the difference between these two positions, the first one is completely legitimate and good - the second is either misguided or supportive of bigoted/racist policy.

Purpose of my blog

I've received a couple of questions on a couple of posts, so let me clarify the purpose of my blog.

I should've made this post a couple of days ago when my site probably reached its peak in readership.

Anyways... unexpectedly, I've been linked to by a couple of my favourite blogs. And naturally, this has significantly altered my audience.

I had about a 95% "Sikh" audience before Thursday, and now my audience is a lot more "white" (for lack of a better word).

When I first started writing, it was partially due to the fact that there was a complete absence of "Sikh" blogs, or even that much blogging going on at all in the Punjabi community. My second reason was because of the annoyingly "liberal" bent in all of my friends. I need there to be Sikhs who can relate to my views! I can't stand the completely mindless Trudeau/Chretien/Martin worshipping that I heard this past summer when it came to talking about the June election. So basically, my blog is supposed to have two purposes: talking about Sikh-related issues and using my words to hopefully persuade even a single (Sikh or otherwise) person I know to re-evaluate their political leanings. Politics isn't everything, and I know that, to quote Mark Steyn: "For a true conservative, politics should never be all consuming. The purpose of conservative politics is to free the citizen to get on with more important stuff - family, home, fishing, stamp-collecting."

I've encountered quite a few catholic blogs and blogs that are religiously based from a whole host of Christian denominations--where they combined politics, culture and religious issues into a single page, and that's what I hope to emulate.

Why am I making this post? Because most non-Sikh people will have no idea what I'm talking about in nearly half of my posts. A lot of my posts will probably deal with issues related to Sikh youth and Sikh doctrine, community issues, Gurdvara (temple) elections, etc.

For example, I've tried to follow Kathy Shaidle over at Relapsed Catholic, and honestly, because of my completely hopeless ignorance when it comes to Christian/Catholic doctrine, I have no idea what she's talking about half the time, but I still read what she has to say.

My blog will hopefully look like something similar. So I say to my white brothers, don't be confused by my posts when they deal with Sikh community issues; I know I'll be making posts that are more universal, posts that anybody can relate to as well.

No way!

Was the 1969 White Paper on Indian Affairs written by the SAME Jean Chretien that later (by default) became our Prime Minister? It can't be. I won't believe it. It just seems so farfetched that Chretien would attach his name to something so logical.

All these conditions of the Indians are the product of history and have nothing to do with their abilities and capacities. Indian relations with other Canadians began with special treatment by government and society, and special treatment has been the rule since Europeans first settled in Canada. Special treatment has made of the Indians a community disadvantaged and apart.

Obviously, the course of history must be changed.

To be an Indian must be to be free - free to develop Indian cultures in an environment of legal, social and economic equality with other Canadians.

Anyways, to read more about how Chretien's (alleged) position and Tom Flanagan's position (Flanagan is supposedly Harper's "brain" just like Karl Rove is supposedly Bush's "brain" - apparently no conservative politicians can be intelligent on their own) and how they're essentially the same, go here.

Immigration Minister

Someone over at the Western Standard group blog is predicting that Ruby Dhalla, a young Punjabi (Sikh) woman will probably become the next immigration minister.

God, I hope not. If our image isn't being ruined enough as it is by Ujjal, I hope to god that someone whose perceived as an inexperienced rookie, lacking any qualification for executive office whatsoever, doesn't get catapulted into the cabinet... for no good reason, except of course that she'd probably even further lock up the South Asian vote in the next election. (Ujjal can't do that alone, he's too alienating within the Sikh community.)

And if Paul Martin did choose to go that route, I genuinely hope that he'd pick Navdeep Bains. Navdeep is from a neighbouring riding, he won his own nomination battle (a huge nomination battle), he seems reasonably intelligent. I met him for about five seconds this past summer, when his cousin introduced me "Oh, meet Japnaam Singh, he's a conservative." I didn't really know what to say after that. He just tried to re-assure me and his cousin with an uncomfortable smile... that I wasn't THAT bad of a person.

Update: Let me clarify, I wasn't explicitly questioning Ruby Dhalla's intellectual capabilities... I was just stating the obvious perception that they're lacking. She's a former Bollywood actress/model... not someone most people would imagine in cabinet.

Woo Hoo!

I'm not sure if many of you know, however, in Canada, we still have a queen.

Now since our "queen" is located in England, we spend millions of dollars in appointing a representative to the Queen whose called the "Governor General". This Governor General lives in an amazing house, has a huge staff, chefs, drivers, the works basically, for absolutely no reason, except to showcase Canada's contempt for democracy.

Hypothetically, this representative of the queen has major powers. He or she has to approve ALL legislation, he or she appoints the Prime Minister which is particularly important in a minority government, and lastly, he or she is ultimately responsible in calling elections.

Anyways, currently, we're blessed with a particularly spoiled and ruthless Governor General when it comes to spending the public's money. She has a budget of $19million dollars per year, mostly just to maintain a lavish lifestyle. Not only is she designed to show contempt for democracy, she's now designed to show contempt for taxpayer dollars.

Anyways.... I've gone way off track. The "Woo Hoo!" in this post's title is in relation to the opposition party's courage in slashing her budget earlier today.

Funniest poem, ever

Usually, I have pride in being a former Khalsa School student, I waive that pride in relation to this poem. Khalsa School published this a few years ago in its year book.... and they basically had too, because the kid won a province-wide poetry competition or something.

Anyways... here's the poem, I'm sure you'll all enjoy it, and just a small tip, for maximum reading pleasure, read it aloud:

Love Of My Life.

The girl walked into my life that day.
With her long-short black hair, that’s when
She became the love of my life
She was as beautiful as a rose,
She put me at a loss for words every time we met.
Then one day she actually said
Hi, I was stunned, I didn’t know what to
Say, I’m so lucky that I managed to say hi back.
After that we had our first conversation, I
Shall savor those moments until the end
Of time. Unfortunately it was the end of my
Time at Ellendale Elementary school.
Next year I would be off to another school.
Just the thought of it all crushed my heart.
Now I know I may never see her again.
The love of my life, had left my life,
For now at least!

By,
Navneet S. Dhillon
Grade 6A

PS. I just realized that this is an effective piece of evidence to counteract those who think that everyone who goes to Khalsa School is a dull and boring fanatic... Although I'd probably have people believe that we're maniacs before I'd let them believe that we're like... sappy poem writers.

UPDATE: I just realized that only former Khalsa-School students will realize why the above poem is funny - Sorry.

The Death Penalty

My support and sometimes opposition to the death penalty has gone back and forth in recent years... however, within the past year or so, I've turned staunchly in favour of it.

There's really not much to say about this topic, because the decision to either support or oppose the death penalty is deeply personal... but I thought I'd share some thoughts on why I support it.

1) First and foremost, every time I read about another brutal killing, another brutal rape/killing, another brutal child rape, another brutal serial killing, I lose all sympathy for murderers. I don't even believe that the death penalty should be applied in regular murders - only in special circumstances, where the crime is particulary heinous or heartless.

2) I sincerely believe that its an effective deterrent. The worst kind of criminals can still enjoy themselves behind bars. And if they're not enjoying themselves, at the very least, society is clothing them, housing them and feeding them... I can't stomach the thought of some serial rapist/murderer celebrating another birthday or even enjoying another sick laugh, even if they're behind bars. Death is far worse than 25 to life in prison.

3) This isn't really a reason, but I'd like to clarify that I'd think there should be a stronger burden of proof in death penalty cases. Only when guilt is certain should the death penalty be executed.

Most of my reasons are emotional however... Hearing the stories of victims, reading about the brutalities of specific crimes...etc. I just think its moral and that a brutal murderer should know that his/her heinous actions will not be punished with any less severity than the actions they committed themselves.

Environmentalism

Over the past few months, and even years, I've started to buy into some of logic of some of the crazy "doom scenarios" that those wacky enviro-nazis throw out there.

And so, because of that and other concerns (gas costs, parking costs, etc.) I only take the bus to school. I consider that my environmental contribution. Even when there's a car around, I take the bus to school. Last year, I took the car to school sometimes, but this year, I never do. Not only do I consider it a social duty to be environmentally conscious, I think its the duty of a Sikh as well. Maybe in another post, I'll relate my wacky adventures on public transit.. sitting alongside common people, like one time, I closed my eyes for a bit, was falling in and out of sleep and when I "woke up" I was sort of shocked to see everyone without their heads covered.... For a whole 5-10 seconds, I just looked around confused, wondering why everyone looked so weird.

Anyways... I don't think that the world will end in my life time due to environmental catastrophe, only the mentally insane do, but I do believe that there will be amazing energy crisises. My family owns two SUVS, I think that its irresponsible and I try not to drive them.

For more articulate thoughts on the world's looming energy crisis check this link.

Things that annoy me - #5

(Have I made a post about this already?)

Now that I've mentioned AKJ.org in the previous post, and because this presents an opportunity to explain the strikethrough across the AKJ.org link on the side panel, I will try to explain why AKJ.org so greatly annoys me.

AKJ.org has hurt the reputation of the Jatha in the past few years immeasurably. Their incapability of moderating their own message board makes them look like... like, they really don't care.

Their judgment when it comes to allowing or disallowing posts is capricious and arbitrary. And when they do choose to have "principles" or standards in their moderating policies, their judgment is usually immoral and wrong.

They'll allow completely useless posts bashing so many different sangats including Dodhra, and thinly veiled but inappropriate criticisms of Taksal and other groups, which alienates countless people, and in other cases, they don't allow up posts defending "Jatha positions" on several topics. If I didn't know any better I'd suspect that anti-AKJ forces had hijacked the Administration of the message board.

The atmosphere on the board is nauseating. The level and amount of intellectual discussion on that board has been stifled and slowly but surely killed.

I've heard numerous stories about innocent posts being rejected. Clean and pure questions on Gurmat, very long and deeply researched posts on rehit, and even "inspirational" stories!

AHHHH! I just get so angry thinking about it. How can such people own and operate the Jatha's "official" site? Its a travesty. AKJ.org used to be the TOP Sikh message board up until 2 or 3 years ago, and then because of their arrogance, they threw it all away.

I'll just give you one last example. A few months ago, I e-mailed an AKJ.org Administrator expressing complaints and concerns about the direction of the Website. I suggested that a friend of mines become a moderator in order for faster updates and more lively discussion to take place on the message board. I was surprised, but within one day, my friend was given full Admin status on the message board. Now unfortunately, because of other committments, he was unable to help out as much as I would have hoped, but within a few months, the corrupt and out-of-touch Admins revoked his moderator status in their ever-so passionate quest to alienate and annoy every person they felt was possible to annoy. My friend did not share the same view as the rest of the Admins on a particular issue, and because of that, they cruelly and without-notice removed his Admin privileges. This is just one example of a pattern of arrogance and putting personal agendas ahead of the panthic good.

In some sense, AKJ.org became somewhat of a Sikh institution in the late 90s and up until 2002, it was the first site to provide free keertan (as far as I know; and they still do, so good for them), and its message board was the best on the entire internet. When a website becomes an institution, like AKJ.org became, its tragic and sad when the wrong people assume control, or when the people who were previously in control lose their way.

There are so many other examples of AKJ.org's carelessness and arrogance, yet I don't have the time or energy to list them all.

PS. I was listening to a certain AKJ.org moderator's keertan while writing this entire post... How ironic and weird.

Where is everybody?

On Tapoban.org, Akj.org, Sikhsangat.com and all the other sites, all the tributes to Giani Amolak Singh have sucked so far.

They were far better when Bhai Rama Singh passed away and far better on a number of other occasions as well.

If no one steps up and writes something soon, that'd be unfortunate.

UPDATE: "Someone" used my post below and posted it on Tapoban.org... Naturally, if I were to make a post on Tapoban.org, I would've made a NEW post, instead of copying the one from here.

Year of Death

Many people have passed away this year, and now one more prominent name has been added to that list: Giani Amolak Singh Jee.

Giani Amolak Singh Jee was a very complex person. He was the sharpest, most quick-witted person I'd ever encountered... Sometimes even giving off the impression of arrogance... yet when people saw him the least--behind closed doors, he was amazingly soft and humble.

His keertan was amazing... he was amazingly charismatic... but he wasn't just that simple, there was a lot more to him than that. From what I came to know about him, he was a Gursikh in so many ways. He was involved in activities for the panthic good, he did keertan like nobody else and the sense of confidence that he projected was like nothing most of us had ever seen. God bless him.

Two years ago, when Bhai Sahib (Jeevan Singh) was sick and had just suffered his stroke, and while he was staying at Aniljit Singh's house in Surrey--Giani Jee would visit him often. There was one time, when a friend of mine showed up at the house, opened Bhai Sahib's door and saw Giani Jee sitting on the ground massaging Bhai Sahib's feet. Giani Jee, a man of around 80 years old... was putting all his energy and effort into massaging someone else's feet. That's an image that most people can't imagine... There's this one line from that shabad.... Rus Amrit Naam Rus.....

ras a(n)mrith naam ras ath bhalaa kith bidhh milai ras khaae
The Essence of the Ambrosial Naam is the most sublime essence; how can I get to taste this essence?

jaae pushhahu sohaaganee thusaa kio kar miliaa prabh aae
I go and ask the happy soul-brides, "How did you come to meet God?"

oue vaeparavaah n bolanee ho mal mal dhhovaa thin paae
They are care-free and do not speak; I massage and wash their feet.

Drumroll Please...

Khalsa School has ranked number ONE in the Ministry of Education's basic skills exams.

BEST NEWS I'VE HEARD IN A LONG TIME.

(Though I wouldn't be surprised if it was reported as some huge fraud in the Vancouver Sun some day...)

This is Khalsa School's greatest achievement, ever. (probably... electing me as Student Council President was pretty high up there too)

They beat out the most PRESTIGIOUS, PRIVATE SCHOOLS in the ENTIRE province.

This is major, major news. This is a huge shot of pride for so many of us who attended Khalsa School and who've stuck up for it, defending it all these years.

No longer will people be able to mock Khalsa School. And if they do, they'll just look increasingly hateful and stupid for doing so.

A French cowboy?

I thought this was one of the coolest articles that I've read in a while.

By FRED GION

Since the re-election of President Bush, I've been reading on American blogs and newspaper Web sites that lots of you, particularly in the Blue States, are talking about leaving your country for more culturally hospitable nations, like Canada, or even my native France.

Well, I can be of assistance. I can even help one of you would-be expatriates relocate here to Paris. My apartment is on the market, because I don't like it here anymore! I want to immigrate to Red State America.

I mean it. I've just filled an entry form for the annual diversity visa lottery administered by the U.S. government. I've done it for the fifth time, and now the odds are on my side.

I'm not in a rush. I'm not running from anything. I've got a comfortable life here. It's just that someday, I want to marry and have a family, and I don't want to raise my kids in France, or in Europe. The hope of the future, as I see it, is in America.

See, I want my green card because I need smiles, not the constant pouting we live with in France. I want to live where people are happy with their lives and confident about what's to come. I want to live among people like those I saw at the Republican convention, which I stayed up late to watch on CNN International. Those folks looked like they were fun to be with. They looked optimistic, pleased to be there, none more than that successful European immigrant, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

I have a strong faith, but I'm not exactly what you'd call religious. What scares me about French society today, though, are the consequences of total faithlessness. The French are sarcastic, cynical, greedy – and miserable. Is this despair the price of throwing away our religious traditions?

My family and I will be safer in America. Aside from Tony Blair, I don't think European leaders really understand the stakes in this war on Islamic terrorism. President Bush does. I deeply respected Sen. John Kerry, but I am reassured by Mr. Bush's re-election.

I can't take anymore the arguments with my countrymen every time I say I support Mr. Bush. I'm sick of the smug, condescending responses I get, as if it were impossible to consider that maybe, just maybe, Mr. Bush is right. France is paralyzed by what we call la pensée unique – this idea that there is only one way to think about issues. It's killing all forms of discussion.

A huge majority of the French people doesn't want to know what Mr. Bush's program really is about. They just want to insult him by calling him a cowboy. But a cowboy is what I want to be! (Well, maybe only on weekends.) That's why, to be perfectly honest, I want to settle down in Texas.

Yes, Texas, which strikes the cool and the connected in Paris and New York as horribly unfashionable. Hey, sounds good to me! I want my kids to learn how to ride a horse instead of a moped. I want a simpler life, closer to nature and closer to my neighbors. The people whose attitude exhausts me look down their noses at Texas – which is an argument this Lone Star wannabe finds persuasive.

In the end, I want to move to Red America because I know I'll belong. I don't know what happened to the French joie de vivre, and I'm tired of looking for it. But I cast my gaze across the Atlantic, and the values I see in the American character are a beacon calling me ... home.

So, if I'm lucky enough to win a visa in the lottery, I have everything planned. I won't fly to America – too fast, too modern. I'll take the boat, like my great-great uncles did at the beginning of the 20th century. I want to see the Statue of Liberty from the deck, my beautiful French cousin welcoming me at the threshold of my new life. Then, I'll drive all the way from New York City to Texas, to slowly shake off the alien in me.

Yes, this is only a dream, but it's my American dream, and I hope it comes true. To Americans dreaming about leaving your country, good luck and bon voyage. Don't forget to leave the light on. I wasn't born in Texas, but I'm getting there as fast as I can.

Health Alert!!!

A plausible explanation on why the "Liberals" have such a strangehold on power in Canada... For once, I'd like to actually THANK the Vancouver Sun:

The federal government's first study of pharmaceuticals in drinking water will confirm traces of common painkillers, anti-cholesterol drugs and the antidepressant Prozac are ending up in the treated water that Canadians drink, CanWest News Service has learned.

A study by researchers from the National Water Research Institute for Health and Environment Canada, designed to gauge how efficiently plants removed traces of drugs from drinking water, found nine different drugs in water samples taken near 20 drinking water treatment plants across southern Ontario.

So that should basically be at the top of the Conservative Party's agenda....

Awww....

Today John Ashcroft resigned as Attorney General of the United States.

As some of you might know, this is a particularly sad day for me.....



(Its really not, but some people claim that I have some sort of deep affection for AG Ashcroft - When in fact, I do not.... but I thought I'd play along anyway.)

Very Nicely Said

Really GOOD article today by Christopher Hitchens in Slate.

Hitchens is a former hardline socialist. He used to be good friends with tonnes of hardcore leftist intellectuals up until a few years ago. He wrote a book about the war crimes of Henry Kissinger and he authored lots of other leftist literature as well. He was, and still is to a large extent a HARDCORE communist.

Anyways.... in the past couple of years he's made a pretty sharp conversion and is now one of the only leftists who supports the idea of regime change in the Middle East. He's probably one of the most eloquent spokespersons out there, who could make the liberal or leftist argument for supporting President Bush's foreign policy.

George Bush may subjectively be a Christian, but he—and the U.S. armed forces—have objectively done more for secularism than the whole of the American agnostic community combined and doubled. The demolition of the Taliban, the huge damage inflicted on the al-Qaida network, and the confrontation with theocratic saboteurs in Iraq represent huge advances for the non-fundamentalist forces in many countries. The "antiwar" faction even recognizes this achievement, if only indirectly, by complaining about the way in which it has infuriated the Islamic religious extremists around the world. But does it accept the apparent corollary—that we should have been pursuing a policy to which the fanatics had no objection?

So Funny

Someone just pointed me in the direction of a really funny post.... However, none of it applies to me; I just thought it was a hilarious image:

Still Celebrating the Bush win

I'm still not done reveling in the wake of the Bush/GOP blowout. I tried to think of a fitting way to celebrate, as a white male conservative. I've decided to spend most of tomorrow standing in the front yard, in an open housecoat, gesturing with a glass of Scotch, waving a golf club, and cursing the working class.

Things that annoy me - #4

Ok, this is unfortunately the biggest of them all.

People who believe, with all their heart that George W. Bush knew of 9/11 beforehand.

Because I have no respect for these people whatsoever, and because the arguments against these people are too stupid to even state, I won't bother elaborating too much.

The belief itself, isn't what annoys me the most. Its just that, I've encountered numerous, otherwise level-headed people who make the most ludicrous, depraved, ultra-cynical, evil arguments explaining their unexplainable position. They offer no evidence and in order to believe the motives put forth, you would have to be a total idiot. Apparently, he did it for money even though he was already extremely rich, famous and powerful.

Anyways... its all fine and good to argue about so many things, i.e. going into Iraq, etc. but to go low enough, and without any evidence or reasonable, logical reason, to accuse someone of complicity or outright involvement in the murder of over 3000 people... is just so pathetic and depraved.

The Good Guy Won

What a nice, happy ending huh? I happened to watch parts of Kerry's concession speech, and I just felt so sorry for the guy. He was actually 'gracious' and essentially decent. If only he seemed that way during the campaign.... he would've probably won.

Anyways, I've refused, for the most part to "gloat", because a) I never won anything, someone else did, b) It really doesn't matter THAT much, c) There's not much to gloat about; I believed that Kerry's appeasement-like attitude would've noticeablely shook global stability; things will remain essentially the same from now on, d) Living in Canada, I know what its like to be on the losing side, e) Almost everyone I know supported Kerry; why alienate everyone you know?

Anyways, I wanted to address something else:

Why do Sikhs find it so shocking and wrong that religious people vote for Bush more than they vote for Kerry? Apparently that taints the results for almost everyone I know. Wouldn't this be a good thing??

"Yeah, so what, he was mainly supported by the evangelicals anyway..."

What the?? What's so bad about a) having religious people holding office, b) having religious people supporting you??

What's better? I'm sure Kerry scored huge with the Atheist vote, and I'm sure that's re-assuring to most atheists, but why in the world do most "Sikhs" feel threatened that religious people supported Bush? What totally irrational, illogical hypocrisy. "Yeah, I'm religious... I go to Gurdvara once a week, but ummm, Bush totally got all his votes for church-going Christians.... what a sham!"

What total idiots. I wanted Bush to win because I sensed (rightly or wrongly, who knows) that Bush had a certain sense of authenticity in his faith. I gathered that belief from both hearing him speak and reading and hearing of stories and events that took place away from the cameras.

Why do other Sikhs find that so wrong?