1:01 a.m. - 2004-04-20
Music of the Spheres
Well, our hockey team won the final game of the semi-finals in overtime. That's the good news. I got a lot of recruiting work started for the polling day workers - that's good too. The public relations campaign we are required to set up for "marginalized" populations is causing an uproar all across Canada among Returning Officers. I don't think any of us mind doing outreach, but this appears to be an arm of a political campaign for one party being forced through our offices when we are supposed to be non-partisan. The young woman I signed up as part of the team today was very uncomfortable with elements of the initiative and so was the young man. I could go out and find individuals who would take it on for the money, but then I become part of the election machine by non-action. I don't like being manipulated this way. It has almost reached the boiling point and I spent most of the day on the telephone with various Returning Officers trying to define more clearly what is actually being done to us and trying to find ways to reduce it's ability to work through us. Sounds odd, I know. I just feel slimed by it.
Best article in an e-zine was about an environmental website that reports local environmental air, water, and soil contamination but goes on to explain what action an individual can do to change the damage. EarthDay. It is an extraoridinary site. It's companion site is for animals and is called Pets911. This interview with the Canadian who was taken hostage in Iraq was quite revealing - things aren't what we've been told they are Hostage. The arrival of the Dalai Lama is having a very odd, positive effect on Canadians. They are showing up in masses to hear him teach through an interpreter. The media often decries the lack of people attending church these days in our country, but obviously there is a huge spiritual hunger that is unmet by mainstream churches. His Holiness' message is a simple one of tolerance, peaceful co-habitation of all people, "loving kindness" and personal responsibilty in every individual action or non-action one chooses to ensure those principles are met. Travelling along with the Tibetan spritual teacher is Archbishop Desmond Tutu.. who is humbly in the background but also teaching the devotees. There is a very powerful message there. Wonder if the flaks, hacks, and other assorted moralists can perceive any of it.
�
�
