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Posted by on in Culture Blogs

On November 11 this year, I reposted last year’s article that I was inspired to write after witnessing the gradual evolution of a Canadian cultural ritual around Remembrance Day (Veteran’s Day, Armistice Day) that took place at my local cenotaph.  As you might expect, this year I took my lunch break early, since I was working at the bookstore, and when my men came to fetch me I went over to the cenotaph again, shoveling a sandwich in my face so that I would be free for the ceremony.

There had to be twice the number of people who were there than last year.  I recognized the lovable dog I’d patted and the cute little girl in the pink jacket I’d smiled at; who was now a little taller.  This time the cenotaph gate was still locked, but there was a scuffed poppy wreath already laid in front of it.  My friends and coveners, who were there last year, came back as well, everyone with a poppy and a look of determination.  I scanned the crowd and the gate for the elderly veteran whose words had so moved me last year; but he wasn’t there. Then Jamie nudged me and pointed.  “Looks like the people might force them to bring it back to the cenotaph,” he said.  “Check it out; we have cops and everything.”

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Posted by on in Culture Blogs

Reposted from Between the Shadows, November 12, 2014:

Remembrance Day is how Canadians acknowledge November 11th.  In the US it is Veterans Day.  These observances evolved out of Armistice Day, which continues to be observed in some countries (or simultaneously.)  There are commonalities but the focus is different.  Our identity of ourselves as a nation came from fighting together in World War I.  At that time, Canada was still a British colony, and most of us thought of ourselves as British (or French, under British occupation).  We became Canadians together at Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele.

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Posted by on in Culture Blogs

Canadian flag courtesy of WikipediaIt's Election Day in Canada!  I awoke galvanized!  This election is different from any that I can remember in my lifetime.  I feel that the stakes have never been so high.  Really, it's about Canada's heart and soul.

For the past ten years, the Conservative Party has been in power.  They were elected on their campaign of "accountability" in the wake of the Liberal Party sponsorship scandal.  Since then, for the past several elections most of the country has been trying to remove them because they've dragged us through one scandal after another, one unconstitutional law after another, one restriction to our freedom after another. I have no words for how much I loathe them, and I have lots of reasons.  The reason why Canada has not succeeded in removing them is the odd way in which our electoral process works.

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Posted by on in Culture Blogs

Sorry about the lack of posts this month!  I've been working a lot of extra hours at my day job and then I was busy with Sabbat celebrations.  In that spirit, I thought I would share a couple of Autumn Equinox related recipes from my personal formulary.

Apothecary by Sable Aradia.  Copyright (c) 2015.  All rights reserved.

Apothecary by Sable Aradia. Copyright (c) 2015. All rights reserved.

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Posted by on in Culture Blogs

Canadian summer essentially starts, from a cultural perspective, on Victoria Day (the weekend after Memorial Day) and ends with Labour Day, which we celebrate on the same day that the United States does.  For most Canadians it's become no more than the extended long weekend before school starts again.  But this year I am struck by the great importance of remembering the necessity of the Labour Movement, especially in this time when the 1% seem determined to bleed off every scrap from the working class and divide us into rich and poor.

Let's not forget that people died so that we could have a forty hour work week, an eight-hour work day, stat holidays, overtime, safe working conditions, worker's compensation, unemployment insurance, job equity, and once upon a time before all the teeth were taken out of our unions, benefits and pensions.  If we are to keep all of these things, we must not forget that the only way to do so is to band together and support one another.

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Pagan News Beagle: Fiery Tuesday, August 4

This week for Fiery Tuesday we take a look once more at the lives and struggles of Native Americans / American Indians throughout the United States and beyond. Join us in considering the findings of Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Committee, the struggle of natives to protect their sacred land from mining companies, and how police forces have disproportionately targeted natives for violence. All this and more for the Pagan News Beagle!

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Posted by on in Culture Blogs

Yesterday Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper of the Conservative Party dropped the writ to announce the beginning of an eleven-week election campaign.  It will be one of the longest campaigns in Canadian history.  Without getting into a very long litany of what I believe to be the sins of the Canadian federal Conservative Party, I will say that for the first time in my life, I am working as a volunteer in a political campaign.  I have given my support to the party most likely to defeat the Conservative party in my riding.  I have volunteered to cold-call people on the phone; something I have to work up considerable courage to do.  I have volunteered to write press releases.  I have folded little paper fans as promotional materials.  I am doing this because I am angry and because I believe that supporting the party I've chosen to is our best chance for change.

In the meantime, I have also pleaded with Athena for the victory of my chosen party, and I am lending my magickal skills to the task.

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