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Thinking about what I Eat or Life is Sacred
(c)Susan Elizabeth Dykhuis - 12 August 2011
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Eating animals has bothered me from an early age. Wearing fur is and never will be an option in my life.

I am back to ovo-lacto-veggie diet but one of my sisters is now Vegan. Congratulations to Carol on that.

Carol at one point sent me information which led me to this blog:
http://happyherbivore which you can find on Facebook.

Within the FAQ of the blog is this page:
http://happyherbivore.com/2010/02/top-10-go-vegan-tips

Imho, advice is good and must say, the recipes tried are yummy.

I'm going to make Portobello Steak for me next time I BBQ a steak for Murray. http://happyherbivore.com/recipe/balsamic-portobellos/

Was asked by two different people these questions:

"Why are there no "straight parades?"
"Why do Vegans tell others all about it?"

Been thinking about those questions and have decided on my own answers:

Q: "Why are there no "straight parades?"
A: Straight People have, throughout human history, not had to even think about that because Straight People are the global majority and for the most part, made up all the rules vis-a-vis what is the sexual norm. They defined it as male/female sexual interaction.

The minority people, the Gay people, had to fight hard battles just to be
(a) true to themselves
(b) protected with the same laws as Straights in Democratic societies and
(c) have a major up-hill battle in societies that are theocracies.

Theocracies are a form of government in which a state is understood as governed by immediate divine guidance provided to ruling clergy or other ruling officials.

"Coming Out", "Gay Pride" and Gay Pride Parades were and are necessary tools to get the majority, the Straights, to respect the right of every person to be true to oneself.

My beloved late Mother was way ahead of her generation in accepting and defending the right of the person to be oneself without "hiding in the closet". One of the many things I admired about my Mother...

Q: "Why do Vegans tell others all about it?"
A: Choosing to be Vegetarian or Vegan generally happens when a person re-evaluates why some non-human animals are raised simply to be slaughtered for food. One wonders how the decisions came about to protect certain animals and kill others.

A person thus reasons:
if one respects and loves animal, then:
how can one choose to love and protect a pet rabbit, cat, dog, bird, horse, goldfish, duck and yet say to cows, pigs, sheep, chickens:
You are not pet quality thus you are food.

Most likely many who love cats, dogs, bunnies, ducks et cetera would rather die than eat an animal one has deemed "companion pet". That got many thinking about this, and step by step, some eliminate eating red meat; others eliminate the consumption of all living creatures.

It is a progressive change which brings the minority aka the vegan to the final step:

I will not consume/use/wear any product from or tested on animals
(aquatic, avian, warm-blooded)
nor any product that involves other lives, thus:
not the eggs, not the milk, not the cheese, not the ice cream
not anything derived from them including to name a few:
fur,leather, ivory from tusks, comestics or cleaners tested on animals

Those who are Vegetarian (various degrees) or Vegan are a minuscule part of the 6.94 BILLION humans on Planet Earth have made a good choice. Planet Earth has only so much to give and once all used up, well, do we have another Planet available where we can all move?

My view is we humans globally must make another hard but necessary choice:
Very serious human population control to bring our numbers down to, say,
TWO BILLION.

In 1350 c.e. our numbers were a very manageable 300 million.

And to think we humans continue damming rivers for electrical power, culling various species because we deem them pests or population out of control -- complain about squirrels, skunks, raccoons who invade our (? !!) property: how many of us wonder before our neighbourhood was built, who the previous owner/residents were?

And yet in spite of all of the eco-damage we've done, we still do profess to be the "intelligent" species ... rof lol

Imho, being any level Vegetarian or being Vegan is a personal, moral decision and it is valid and right one for our small Planet. No one is compelled to do so, but please understand how the V people got to where they are today.

So to Carol, to Noreen, to Lorraine, to Cindy: Good on you.



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Thinking about what I Eat or Life is Sacred
(c)Susan Elizabeth Dykhuis - 12 August 2011
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Bullies: Scum of the Earth©Susan Elizabeth Dykhuis
May 17 2011 2:10 PM EST

I wish this video

http://www.feastoffun.com/videos/2011/04/02/video-powerful-irish-anti-gay-bullying-ad/

would be played beginning in Grade 1 in every school on Planet Earth. So touching. My friends walk many paths; it is their right to be true to themselves. Those of us [like me] who are heterosexual take if for granted that we can hold hands, kiss, and hug the one we love.

This right is not exclusive to heterosexual couples.

Bravo! Thank you for creating this video.


Bullies: Scum of the Earth©Susan Elizabeth Dykhuis
May 17 2011 2:10 PM EST

BLOGS at http://sashacanadian.blogspot.com are copyrighted(c)Susan Elizabeth Dykhuis, and under Nom de Plume (c)Sasha Canadian and Nom de Plume(c)Sasha Gold

ST-PATRICK'S DAY IN MONTREAL
(c)*Susan Elizabeth Dykhuis_17March2011
(c)*AKA Sasha Gold, Sasha Canadian

In our home lives a lovely Oxalis plant -- in the living room during the months of October to May. Then little "Ms. Irish" plant resides in a green flower pot suspended from the balcony overlooking our patio during Summer months.











Our beautiful Ms.Irish is in full St. Patrick's Day bloom, looking out the living room window where the morning sun kisses her and keeps her green.

Two of our three beautiful felines love the living room window but when Ms. Irish is in residence, the French Doors remain closed as the =^..^= boys, Norman and Felix love to nibble on little Ms. Irish's leaves. Forbidden leaves are the most delectable...


This year Montréal's 2011 187th ST. PATRICK’S PARADE will be on Sunday, March 20th. The parades have been held in continuity since 1824. Our family history includes Quebec Irish and Quebec French -- my mother's side. In our family this is a very special day. Mother celebrated it every year and her children and grandchildren were there with her, celebrating our "Irish".

Montréal's St.Patrick's week weather can be lovely and warm, promising us Spring is just around the corner OR the day can be in the midst of a snowstorm! Mother's apartment [sadly, this building no longer exists]had these lovely windows that fronted the Parade route as her apartment was on the corner of Mackay and Ste-Catherine streets. Ste-Catherine Street, sporting a green line in the middle of its one-way East bound direction, is the Parade route. This was a wonderful way to watch The Parade, all comfy and warm, three generations together at Mother's, celebrating our Irish heritage.

Like so many Canadians, our clan is multi-heritage. We celebrate all of them. Since the passing of our greatly loved and wonderful Mother, grandmother and great-grandmother we keep our Irish ever in our hearts and express it in many different ways. I attend the Parade (Weather permitting).


Tomorrow, March 17th is the day of the Irish everywhere. To my family and friends, Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Go raibh tú daibhir i mí-áidh
Agus saibhir i mbeannachtaí
Go mall ag déanamh namhaid, go luath a déanamh carad,
Ach saibhir nó daibhir, go mall nó go luath,
Nach raibh ach áthas agat
Ón lá seo amach.

May you be poor in misfortune,
Rich in blessings,
Slow to make enemies,
quick to make friends,
But rich or poor, quick or slow,
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.

On the 17th of March, let your inner Irish out!
Montreal Ste. Patrick's Day Parade route:
http://tinyurl.com/4lavftu


(c)"Ms. Irish" Plant photo 2011 by Susan E. Dykhuis
(c)St Patrick's Day in Montreal by Susan E. Dykhuis

UPDATE: The Parade was wonderful with perfect, sunny Spring weather. No snow, no rain, just sunshine and happiness at the Parade.

ST-PATRICK'S DAY IN MONTREAL
(c)*Susan Elizabeth Dykhuis_17March2011
(c)*AKA Sasha Gold, Sasha Canadian

"Raves" Family Pride 2010OCT03 SARAH©Susan E. Dykhuis

Meet Sarah, my great-niece by copying & pasting link into your browser line.

http://www.ellecanada.com/video/fall-winter-2010-11-trends-dresses/1125

Pet Lovers: if you find a stray, please bring the animal to your veterinarian for *SIR treatment.

*SIR = Sterilize Inoculate Release















"Raves" Family Pride 2010OCT03 SARAH©Susan E. Dykhuis

“Raves” For Justice : My Canada -- 2010JULY31©Susan Dykhuis


This blog, For Justice : My Canada is in response to an e-mail I received today attributing to Sir Wilfrid Laurier a speech given by U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt:

The speech Sir Wilfrid Laurier never made.

“In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American…There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag… We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language ... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”

http://www.snopes.com/politics/quotes/troosevelt.asp
http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_roosevelt_on_immigrants.htm
http://lighthousepatriotjournal.wordpress.com/2007/05/06/1232/

Sir Wilfrid Laurier was a French Canadian. I can't imagine him opining:

"...We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... "

Being Canadian means such a statement is unacceptable because in this country, the Official Languages of Canada are English and French. However, the original first languages of Canada were other than English and French.

Canadian history factoids one can find in Canadian history websites:

After Franco Euro-Christians claimed the land for the King of France and overran the First Nations of Canada, the first language of all of North America was French (up until the British colonized all of North America, imposing as English the lingua franca).

"O Canada" -- National Anthem of Canada

* "O Canada" was proclaimed Canada's national anthem on July 1, 1980, 100 years after it was first sung on June 24, 1880 at a banquet in the "Pavillon des Patineurs" in Quebec City as the climax of a"Mosaïque sur des airs populaires canadiens " arranged by Joseph Vézina, a prominent composer and bandmaster.

* The lyrics to the anthem of Canada was written in French by Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier, French Canadian.

* Music was composed by Calixa Lavallée, French Canadian.

* English version penned in 1908 by by Mr. Justice Robert Stanley Weir.

* The official English version includes changes recommended in 1968 by a Special Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Commons.

* Original French lyrics remain unaltered.


Canadians are not Americans -- Canada is a multi-cultural mosaic thus benefit from the collected knowledge of many peoples while the United States of America is a big melting pot with one official language.

My view of what immigrants must do:

Immigrants granted Canadian citizenship must accommodate Canada by accepting -- as a condition of becoming Canadian -- the Charter of Rights and Freedoms of Canada, especially the Rights and Freedoms below which are very precious to Canadians:

EQUALITY BEFORE AND UNDER LAW AND EQUAL PROTECTION AND BENEFIT OF LAW / Affirmative action programs.

15. (1) Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.

(2) Subsection (1) does not preclude any law, program or activity that has as its object the amelioration of conditions of disadvantaged individuals or groups including those that are disadvantaged because of race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.

OFFICIAL LANGUAGES OF CANADA / Official languages of New Brunswick / Advancement of status and use.

16. (1) English and French are the official languages of Canada and have equality of status and equal rights and privileges as to their use in all institutions of the Parliament and government of Canada.

(2) English and French are the official languages of New Brunswick and have equality of status and equal rights and privileges as to their use in all institutions of the legislature and government of New Brunswick.

(3) Nothing in this Charter limits the authority of Parliament or a legislature to advance the equality of status or use of English and French.

Regarding religious rights:
imho, if one's religion interferes with The Charter of Rights and Freedoms of Canada, Clause 15. (1), then Clause 15. (1) has precedence.

Most Canadians of my generation acknowledge that white Euro-Christians overran First Nations Peoples, causing them great harm which is still evident today. Our white Euro-centric ancestors would be called racists and bigots if they were ding what they did then today.

Canadians have grown and progressed to the point where we are inclusive and accept that Canada is multi-cultural, mulit-racial, no longer a white Euro-centric nation, professing one faith and speaking one language. Canada has worked diligently to become the best we can be by addressing the wrongs done to First Nations peoples, working with First Nations peoples and founding peoples, i.e.: settlers/colonizers from France, followed by England, Scotland and Ireland and later by people from all over this orb we call Planet Earth.

I wish my city, Montreal would redesign its flag, placing in the centre a symbol selected by Indigenous peoples from the Montreal area. The founding peoples' symbols are already on the flag:

Fleur-de-Lis (France) Rose (England) Thistle (Scotland) Shamrock (Ireland)



With a FN symbol in the centre, my city's flag would then reflect which peoples worked together to create this country, Canada...the best country on planet Earth.

About Sir Wilfrid Laurier from the Canadian Encyclopedia:

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0004558

Idolized by his French Canadian compatriots who remembered his vigorous defence of the rights of Franco-Ontarians in 1916, he became a symbol of division within the country. Now even his party disintegrated when several eminent English-Canadian Liberals crossed the floor to join the UNION GOVERNMENT in which Laurier refused to participate. In the general election of December 1917, Laurier was overwhelmingly defeated by Borden's Unionist Party. The vote was divided along distinctly cultural lines. Laurier died on 17 February 1919, just after beginning his courageous effort to restructure his party and to rebuild Canadian unity.

Under Laurier's leadership the country continued its industrialization and urbanization and was strengthened by the addition of 2 provinces and 2 million inhabitants. A clever and eloquent politician, a true legend in his own time, Laurier has been judged in a variety of ways. For some, he was the spiritual successor to Macdonald, who pursued and consolidated Confederation. For others, Laurier, in the name of national unity and necessary compromise, too often sacrificed the interest of French Canadian Catholics to those of a majority little inclined to support the ideals of Confederation. Finally, some think he too often governed his country with only Québec's interest in mind. Support for each of these opinions can be found in Laurier's actions in Ottawa but the last view is most open to argument.

“Raves” For Justice : My Canada -- 2010JULY31©Susan Dykhuis

Raves~Rants
Rave #3 Cheers for U.S. Justice
& for Judge Warren Wilbert_2010FEB01©Susan Dykhuis

Excerpt from:
NY Times
Abortion Foe (Scott Roeder) found Guilty in Doctor’s Killing
By MONICA DAVEY
Published: January 29, 2010

Mr. Roeder’s defense team had hoped the judge in the case, Warren Wilbert, would instruct jurors that they could take into account Mr. Roeder’s motive and consider a lesser conviction of voluntary manslaughter if they believed he held, as Kansas law states, “an unreasonable but honest belief that circumstances existed that justified deadly force.”

But the judge ruled that the circumstances did not meet the requirements for such a conviction, and jurors on Friday were essentially given two choices: convict Mr. Roeder of pre-meditated murder or send him home.

Mr. Roeder will be sentenced in March; the conviction carries a life sentence, but prosecutors say they hope to ensure that he is not eligible for parole for 50 years. He was also convicted of aggravated assault for aiming his gun at other church members as he fled. Mr. Roeder’s defense team plans to appeal.

At his trial, Scott Roeder admitted to jurors that he had planned for many years to kill Dr. Tiller.

________________________________________________


My view:

According to the NY Times report, it took jurors 37 minutes on Friday to convict Scott Roeder, an abortion opponent, of first-degree murder in the death of George R. Tiller, one of the few doctors in the country to perform late-term abortions.

If I were a juror and heard with my own ears Roeder state he planned for many years to kill Dr. Tiller, it would have taken me all of a nanosecond to convict.

People can debate the pros and cons of abortion; we are entitled to our own opinion on the subject. However, people who oppose abortion do not have the right to gun down doctors who perform abortions in the United States. In that country, abortion is a legal right.

If Hell exists, Hell awaits Scott Roeder.

Thou shalt not kill
In the United States this commandment has been interpreted to cover those already born.

No tears from me for Scott Roeder; my tears and compassion are for the family of the murdered Dr. George Tiller, for his friends, colleagues, and patients -- and for Dr. Tiller whose life was taken by one who decided to disregard the law of the land. This murderer planned and waited for the opportune time to murder a doctor who was not breaking the law.

Rave #3 Cheers for U.S. Justice
& for Judge Warren Wilbert_2010FEB01©Susan Dykhuis

Raves~n~Rants :
Raves # 2: www.catoftheday.com2010JAN29©SusanDykhuis

Cat of the Day is one of my favourite sites on The 'Net. I check-in daily to meet who has been selected for the honour of being Cat, Dog, Pet of the Day.

Many among my family and friends are pet lovers so I wanted to give "Raves" to Karen and Paul Watts for creating such a wonderful place for pet lovers to spend some time.

As serious pet lovers and parents of Furkids, on behalf of our darling =^..^=s Norman the King, the Princes Felix and Baby Rascal, my husband, Sidekick (aka Paw-Paw) and I ask that should you rescue a stray cat or dog whom you cannot keep, please have your veterinarian ensure the animal receives the *SIR treatment. This will prevent unwanted pets from being born. Boycotting pet stores which sell pets is something we advocate. We live in the Province of Quebec which seems to be the puppy/kitten mill capital of Canada; logic tells us many pets for sale in pet stores are puppy/kitten mill animals.

Our personal view is as there are so many abandoned pets left on the streets and/or brought to local shelters, one needs not go to a pet store to buy a pet. So many out there need good, loving homes. We think animal lovers should consider rescuing a pet rather than purchasing one.

Every pet's birthright is to live in a loving home, protected and cared for by humans who value them.

Enjoy meeting the pets at www.catoftheday.com !!

*SIR = Sterilize Inoculate Release
Raves~n~Rants :
Raves #2 : www.catoftheday.com_2010JAN29©SusanDykhuis

“Raves” For Justice 2010JAN25 ©Susan Dykhuis


In the news today:
SADDAM Hussein's cousin Ali Hassan al-Majid or 'Chemical Ali' was executed on Monday, an Iraqi government official said, a week after he received a fourth death sentence.

Such a gentleman and kind-hearted sweet “human” this Ali Hassan al-Majid was.

In 1988 "Chemical Ali" ordered the gassing of Kurds in the northeastern town of Halabja and the majority of victims were women and children. An act of genocide…don’t you just want this kind of man to marry your daughter?

The Iraqi judge, Mr. Abud Mustapha al-Hamani said Ali Hassan al- Majid's offences were "deliberate murder, a crime against humanity".

At least one judge in Iraq has a sense of how horrific this crime was and would not set an example by letting Ali Hassan al-Majid get away with mass murder.

“Raves”
for Iraqi Judge Abud Mustapha al-Hamani.

Don’t ask me to shed tears for mass murderers.

I will shed tears for
Haitians who have seen thousands of lives and Haiti destroyed;
and all others who have faced disasters akin to Haiti;
children who are abused;
women and men who suffer at the hands of terrorists, homicide bombers, dictators, and the Hitlers and Chemical Alis of the world.

“humans” like Ali Hassan al-Majid deserve punishment equal to the crime -- carried out in slow motion. The grief caused by such scum is not erased by execution. It lasts for generations and generations and generations.
Ask any person whose family members died during the systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Turkish Ottoman Empire.
Ask any person whose family members died during the Holocaust.

I read that Hitler commented: "Who now remembers the Armenians?"

Information listed below on 20th Century genocides from: http://www.historyplace.com

Bosnia-Herzegovina, 1992-1995 — 200,000 deaths
Rwanda, 1994 — 800,000 deaths
Pol Pit, Cambodia, 1975-1979 — 2,000,000 deaths
Nazi Holocaust, 1938-1945 — 6,000,000 deaths
Rape of Nanking, 1938-1945 — 300,000 deaths
Stalin’s Forced Famine, 1932-1933 — 7,000,000 deaths
Armenians in Turkish Ottoman Empire, 1915-1918 — 1,500,000 deaths

Wikipedia lists are longer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genocides_in_history

How many mass murders, serial killers, pedophiles, abusers of men, women, children and of animals are female?

What is the ratio
Male: Female
mass murderers, serial killers, pedophiles, etc?
If anyone knows where on The Internet one can find reliable studies on this subject, please inform me.


“Raves” for Honourable André Denis who rendered his judgment convicting Rwandan Désiré Munyaneza of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. This is the first conviction in Canada under the Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act. Rwandan Désiré Munyaneza who was found guilty under Canadian law of war crimes committed in his home country must face the maximum sentence. Canadians are proud of ruling.
Click: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2009/09/15/munyaneza-war-crimes-sentencing.html

I feel better now; as always and forever I am
PROUD TO BE CANADIAN




“Raves” For Justice 2010JAN25©Susan Dykhuis