Drea

I don't respect everyone's religious freedoms. People should not be free to teach others to hate in the name of some unknown entity. Period. Now, I don't advocate going into people's homes -- I certainly believe that all religious doctrine should be scrutinized. White, would it be a-ok with you that a muslim is teaching his children to hate, to kill, to die in the name of Allah? You are ok with this because it's "freedom of religion"?

It was an example of free speech. Nothing more. Wrong or not, people either have the right to free speech or they do not. Can't have it both ways. You can't stop an idea from being discussed simply because it's wrong. Some people believe that *insert here* is wrong, but they cannot stop the other side from having a voice. Having free speech means everything is up for debate. IMO free speech doesn't include inciting hatred toward another group. As long as you're not harming others speak away!

Usually a poster will just type something like this... Back to the topic... and continue the topic. Not you. You gotta run with it. Go ahead RUN! Insult away! Now, back to our regularly scheduled topic... From the article: Now if one were to think about it... with Northern sovernty currently at stake this could be less of an "environmental" concern than we are led to believe. Regardless of motivation Harper did a good thing. Pass the dorito's please. *see how easy that was!

History is written by the victor. Posit, Jennie... most of us (me included) don't know anything about our real history. We learned from books written by the British for the most part. Would they have even had a clue that oral history was viable? I doubt it. There is much we do not know, much that has been/is kept from us. Funny thing is... those very people who so staunchly believe in the oral history of Jesus (written down hundreds of years after his death) as the literal truth have a difficult time believing that natives can have an accurate and true oral history. I am not knowledgeable about the issues back east but I am aware that portions of the Cariboo (where I grew up) have been settled. The natives have been there running the place the whole time anyway -- Bella Coola, Anaham Lake, the Chilcoot, etc.

Ok Harper did a good thing. Let's all have a party (tis so rare, one should party on this type of occasion!) But here's that "scary, scary" coming out... I read in the Province today that there will be mandatory sentencing for growing ONE POT PLANT. One lousy plant and you're spending a year in prison with the yoke of a criminal record around your neck for the rest of your life. I am all for getting tough on crime, but seriously -- one damn plant. There goes my idea of growing 2 or 3 for personal use... instead of, you know, supporting the Hell's Angels/UN Gang or whoever our "bud"dy gets it from. How frigging stupid is Harper? 16% of Canadians smoke weed occasionally. Picture 16% of the population in jails... do we have enough space to house 4,800,000 people? Now here we go with the "marijuana is evil" drivel. Go ahead I'm re...... hang on a sec, I gotta fill my pipe first...brb

Pssst. Jbg........Harper has a minority.

ANY job, jbg. These people have nothing, no food, no shelter, no future. The terrorist groups offer them food, shelter etc. If they had jobs, housing, food and a future they would not want to join an organization where they could possibly get killed. As it stands they have nothing to live for. If they had something to live for (a future for themselves and their children) recruitment would drop off. Yes, of course some crazies will still join, but the moderates at least would have an opportunity not to. As it stands now, they really have no other choice but to join. Like gangs, one joins because they have nothing else.

The Polish man was unarmed... and he wasn't freaking out THAT badly. If the cops would've not acted with a "swat team" mentality and sent in a cop with a calming presence, this tragic death could have been avoided. I don't blame the individual officers in this case, I blame their lack of training. Rather than being trained how to deal with an out-of-control individual, they have been trained in the "swat" mentality. On the other hand -- the other BC man that was tasered and is now in the hospital in intensive care -- he was completely out of control. The cops first tried pepper spray and he kept coming. Then they tried the taser (twice) and he kept coming. Then they beat him with their batons. Deservedly so as there was nothing but brute force that was going to get this guy to cooperate.

Moxie There should be no such thing as a "religious schools" -- paid for by taxpayers. People should not be forced into paying for someone's religious upbringing. Want religion teachings in your child's life? Send them to your church/mosque/synagog/cave/wherever or pay for private school -- as long as said private school is open to public scrutiny. Private or not, they are still teaching kids and we need to know what these kids are being taught IMO.

If one cannot stand up and say "I am a holocaust denier", then it stands to reason that another cannot say "Islam is evil". You can't have one without the other. If one has every right to preach "god hates gays" within his congegration without admonishment, then others should be able to deny the holocaust without going to jail for it. If there is freedom of speech it must extend to all. Everyone should be free to hate and spew hatred publicly if they so wish. Otherwise we would have to shut everyone up and Coulter and her ilk would be in jail by now. Evangelists would be in jail. The leader of Iran would be in jail. Michael Moore would be in jail. Kids that tease fat kids --jail. Where do we draw the line? Should there even be a "line"? For the record -- I do not deny the holocaust, just used it as an example.

That is correct White Doors. ALL religious indoctrinations, sermons, etc should be recorded and put up for public scrutiny. Did I say in one's home? I specifically mentioned only mosques -- yet you take it as an affront to your religious freedom? Having trouble with reading comprehension this morning White?

IMO all mosques should be open to anyone. Anyone should be able to go in anytime and record or listen to what is being said regardless of religious affiliation. In Canada one's religious ideals and actions are (should be) up for the scrutiny of the public. Nothing should be allowed to be "hidden" from the public.

What makes a "truly good woman" in your opinion?

If you'll notice, Fortunata, it's only the rightwing Canadians that are self-loathing. The rest of us are pretty happy with the country. I bet if one did a poll... 1. Do you consider yourself conservative?... Yes 2. Do you love being Canadian?... Hell no! I hate this liberal-multicultural-hedonistic-banana republic cesspool!

You haven't a clue as to what I have or have not done -- not only that but it's really none of your business at all. The discussion is about families. It began as a slam against nontraditional families and has evolved from there. Do please try to keep up. It sucks to be you then doesn't it. My hubby is just deciding about going back to school and I make more than enough money to maintain our lifestyle. What a pleasure for him to be able to do this thanks to the fact that his wife earns a high income. He is certainly glad that I chose to have a career. Pity the poor bastard who never had the balls to marry a woman with a career. Now he is stuck in his same old job for life. Pity him. Pity you Kengs that you will never be able to let down the yoke that you put on your young self. Congratulations on getting to be a "breadwinning-boss-of-the-household-he-man" and then whining about it. Time to grow up Kengs. You made your bed (married a woman who wanted you only for your wallet) so lie in it (as my very wise mother would say).

I think many single mothers think about what it would be like to be with the child's father as a family. Not very many single mothers, or single fathers, plan to be that way. Most of the time we start out with good intensions and things just don't work out. I've been lucky. My experience with step parents has been positive. I had a great step father and my hubby is a great guy with our son. Yah, we call him "ours". We've known him since kiddo was in Gr. 1. I have wondered what it would've been like if his father and I were together... but no...I wasn't willing to take on an irresponsible, needy man on top of everything else.

Thank you American Woman. Thank you Moxie. I appreciate you both. I was so spitting mad yesterday that I was ready to squeeze myself right through the cable in the wall and choke a certain someone... Moxie, I too learned from my sibling. My sister had her children young (and I am 5 years younger than her) and watched how she dealt with them (no consistency, no follow through) and knew I would do it differently. IMO kids need consistent parenting, clearly defined boundaries (that don't move!) sprinkled generously with love and forgiveness.

Wahhh what a whiner. Why the heck didn't you marry a woman with career? Lessen the financial burden on yourself. You want a wife/slave at home but you are not willing to suck it up and pay for her... slaves are not free you know. Afraid of being seen as a "girly man" if you stay home and wifey goes out to work? Afraid the little old church ladies will look down on you? Psss. they already do... all you are is a walking wallet. In other words... "Wahhhh I want my priveledged status as head of household and slave owner back -- my woman, she should listen and take orders no questions asked. She should not have any thoughts or ideas of her own. I own her because I married her." You need to keep your wife "placated"? How do you do that? Do you drug her or what? Ahhhh if only we could go back to a time when women are "raised" (what are we cattle?) to be slaves -- perhaps you should move to some theocratic country where women are second class citizens and you can lament the plight of slaveless men everywhere.

We are not Christian, don't want to be....But why in the sweet jebus am I explaining myself to you anyway? Even after I damn near climbed through the computer to slit your thr... I am just going to respond nicely to your extremely ignorant sexist MYSOGYNIST post. M'kay? Secular society is where sanity comes from. I can see from your evangelical tone that you are not a member of Mensa. And thank god for non believers. Nuts like you would have us "free" women burned as witches by now because we call our clits "toys". Speaking from experience are you? Got bad kids? Didn't "follow through" as they were growing up? Too busy slapping down wifey when she gets uppity? Hey pm me, I can give you some parenting tips. I killed him. He never used the wipers when it was light rain and that really bothered me. But let me be frank for a moment Kengs... uckfaye oooooyay ouyay iblethay umpinhay eakfray. See what a nice sense of humour I have? Cheers!

Many are just getting by and need both parents working. This is life in the new millenium.Why is a man not "putting his children at risk" by going to work and enjoying his career? I've been a hot commodity all these years and I had a child at home on my own. I am good at what I do therefore I am "hot" in the job market. Doesn't matter if I have kids or not, it's all about how I perfrom at work. Yes, the single father's career may suffer. But what about the married father? Does his career suffer? No. The married woman's, yes. I have not advocated for a government "program". As I am not in the daycare business I do not know what difficulties/issues they face. Provincially we already have daycare subsidy programs for low income families, but I don't think money is the biggest issue -- finding a space to place the child seems to be the problem. Exactly, and if your children have a good experience at daycare, chances are that moms out there that want to work will too. Which is why I have a problem with people saying that women going out to work "put their children at risk".

Any more insults to shell out sweety? Hey I never invented the FSM. But thank you for the vote of confidence. You really are my biggest fan! God is not an "enemy". God is nonexistent. How can something nonexistent be a foe? Typical though... spewing insults when the debate goes over his head or beyond his limited comprehension. *see I can spew out little insults too! Too bad it does nothing for the conversation. Over to you Scotty! I await the next round of insults... give it yer best shot. After all, you've got "god" on your side, all I've got is a made-up pasta dude...

Exactly AW. The notion of the traditional family where dad works and mom stays home is rare. Most families today need two people working to make ends meet. But that is not the entire crux of it. I like working. I like my career. I would not have been a happy person if I would've had to stay home. Many women feel the same. A man can have a career and a family but a woman has to choose between career and family? Not fair IMO. That's why there's been a "woman's movement". All we really want is the same choices, the same opportunites. A man's career is not held back by the fact that he has children, why should the woman's career suffer? On the other hand, many woman would be thrilled to be able to stay home, yet are forced into working for economic reasons. What we need to do is find how to help these families do the best for their children whether or not they are in daycare. Being a good parent is much more than simply being there. One must actually parent no matter the circumstances.

I think what's happened since the Taser became a tool... the police are now lazy. They don't have to physically subdue the subject they just point the taser and shoot, easy peasy. Being a police officer is a dangerous job. If you are afraid, don't become an officer. Now imagine if our firefighters decided their jobs were too dangerous -- "sorry but we are not going to save your baby, it's just too dangerous for our firefighters". "Here we'll send in this body sniffer robot -- it'll clamp right around the baby (but it's safe don't worry!) and drag him out of there". See now no one has to go in to a burning building and firefighters can be cowards too! Firefighters don't become firefighters if they are afraid of tall buildings or fire. Police officers should not become police officers if they are afraid of conflict.

I congratulate you for sticking it out in the face of such desparity. Today, and moreso 25 years ago, women traditionally get custody of the kids no matter how "crazy" she may be. This is not good. Courts have yet to look at the best interest of the child and place them with the father. Father's still are not getting the kids. This needs to change. I am not saying all women are crazy and shoud lose custody -- I am saying that in many instances (yours Oleg) the father should get custody. My bro has been fighting for his daughter for years.. it's a long sad story that I won't go into here. Better to be poor and with your children than rich and without them. Once again congratulations (wrong word but can't think of another at the moment) on doing what was best for your kids.

Didn't you read Oleg Bach's post above mine? Or are you just wandering around the board looking for "Drea" and responding only to me? Oooooh I have a fan! He said his bro's family is messed up 'cause his kid's went to daycare. Could be the ONLY case of this kind couldn't it? I was simply responding to his message about his brother's family. So he is "allowed" to use a specific example, and I am not? The so called Traditonal Family is no longer the norm. Nothing anyone says or does is going to bring it back. So the best we can do is to help find solutions. Good daycare, parenting classes, etc. Could be at least a start. Have you ever watched any of those "Nanny" shows? Most of them are two parent families with stay at home moms and kids out of control. How does this happen? In an ideal situation where mom is there 24/7 and dad is a big strong guy? How do these kids get to be such imps? Could it be that it is the fault of the individual family and not society as a whole? The new mantra of the right is to blame all society's ills on career women and single mothers in particular. Don't worry, most of us can take it, we have very large shoulders.