In 1976, the movie character Howard Beale epitomized society’s rage.
I had just finished one of my anti-technology rants. I’d complained about something my computer had lost. I was angry that our television service provider had updated all of our access to programming such that I needed an electronics degree just to tune in the news. And I hated the way some of the on-air newscasters mispronounced names and places. My wife patiently waited for me to take a breath.
“Is there anything that made you happy today?” she asked.
And I smiled sheepishly back at her. Then, apologized. (more…)
MP Michael Cooper chose to stand with the “Freedom Convoy” demonstrators, whose symbols (including the swastika on the Canadian flag) represent anything but freedom.
He thought he was standing up for rights and freedoms in Canada. And last Saturday, Michael Cooper, the MP for St. Albert-Edmonton constituency, wanted to be seen while saying so. Thousands of people blocked the streets of Ottawa with trucks and demonstrations as part of a so-called “Freedom Convoy” to protest vaccine mandates and other restrictions in response to the COVID pandemic. And Cooper chose to join the demonstrations and speak to the media, which is what all politicians do when they feel they’re on the right side of history.
“(People are) just here to send a message to the prime minister,” Cooper said as the CBC TV camera rolled.
But what the Alberta MP had not planned as part of his few seconds in the limelight was the backdrop to his statement. Fluttering in the breeze immediately behind him was an upside-down Canadian flag which was also desecrated with a swastika. (more…)
