The Anniversary Blog

Happy 12th Anniversary to my dear husband Jim! My how time flies! It seems like yesterday we were just hanging out at the Oak, and baby, look at us now!

Saw Sicko this week. It made me ill. The travesty that is the American health care (or rather lack of care) system is beyond belief. So much unnecessary suffering whilst the powers that be continue to line their pockets with money -- money that is soaked in blood. This seems to be the only kind of money that the politicos, especially in the States are interested making. Iraq anyone?

Michael Moore contrasts the American system with the British, French and Canadian health care systems. All are far better, although he does simplify matters for the masses. Just as I know that our health care system in Canada is flawed, I suspect that there are problems in the British and French systems too. Nonetheless, these seem minor in comparison to what our neighbours south of the border must endure. The real irony of this film is that it isn't about those without health care coverage, but rather about those who are "covered" and yet are consistently denied. Profit, profit, profit people and we just don't care who dies.

We are off to see Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix tonight. This is what happens when you get older. No sexy foreign films for us! Harry's been all the rage as of late with the release of the final book, about which I may have been spoiled. Oh well, perhaps I will forget. I admire J.K. Rowling for her savvy in parlaying the Potter books into such an empire. However, I cannot help but being saddened by the fact that years ago when asked why she didn't make her protagonist a female, she said that she had long recognized that such a book about a girl wouldn't sell. That is such a tragic reflection on the subtle sexism that women/girls continue to face in our so-called progressive societies.

Speaking of sexism, we have just completed our first week of a civil strike in Vancouver. The city's library workers walked out this week too. The main issue is wage parity. Apparently, the wage gap between library workers who are primarily women and the city's outside workers who are predominantly male, is about 20 per cent. It galls me that this is still happening. It galls me further that folks don't realize that women are still very far from being equal in every way. The uncollected garbage is not the only thing that stinks here.

Death, Celebration and the damn phone company

It's been an interesting week for me.  I was haunted by the death of Shemina Hirji, an Ismaili woman who was killed "allegedly" during a violent home invasion.  Interestingly, nothing was taken from the home and her husband only sustained minor injuries.  His violent, criminal past has come to light.  My suspicions and those of everyone else grow. 

In his past, he attempted to kidnap and uttered vicious threats against his ex-finacee and her family.  He served close to two years in prison for that.  Now, five days after marrying Shemina, she is killed under suspicious circumstances. Did Shemina know about his past?  No one is certain, but most assume not.

Along with about 3,000 others, I attended the funeral.  I did not know Shemina, but her face was so familiar.  Turns out that we were at SFU at the same time.  She finished a year before me.  I am certain that I had seen her up there and about.  I also went out of a sense of community.  The Ismaili community is one that I still feel connected to, but perhaps not a part of.  I am always welcome there.  Mostly though, I think I went because my feminist instincts necessitated that I do so.  For every woman killed at the hands of a man, I must grieve, before I can stand and fight. 

The next day was the Aga Khan's Golden Jubilee celebration.  This time 14,000 local Ismailis congregated to honour and celebrate 50 years of Imamat.  I went out of peer pressure.  I went out of curiousity.  I went to make my mother happy.  I went for a fleeting connection to community. 

It was the hottest day that Vancouver has had and wouldn't you know it, BC Place has no air conditioning.  It was cooler outside.  But the Ismailis are organized, so they had fans going, as well as bottled water and cardboard fans as giveaways.  It was nice to see some familiar faces.  Those who have aged and those who remain forever young.

My ongoing stressor for the week has been Telus.  They sent me a letter offering me one thing and yet refusing to give it to me saying that there was a misprint and today, that the offer has expired.  I am pissed.  It's more as sense of justice than anything else.  Besides, they have phoned me every day this week, including this morning where I was woken up on the one day I am allowed to sleep in.  Oy to the veh!

The Birthday Blog

Well here it is, my 39th birthday.  Already, many readers have turned off.  Who is this old chick doing a blog?  Pretty soon, there will be knitting patterns and recipes.  I can safely assure you that knitting patterns, tips or other related matters will likely never appear on this blog.  Recipes, perhaps, but usually I am too lazy to type them out.

Watched the news before I went to bed.  Bad idea.  Ismaili woman was killed in a "home invasion".  She had just married this past weekend to a Punjabi man.  His family opposed the union.  The media and I infer the same conclusion.  At least, I recognize that my perspective is racially constructed.  They just continue in their maintenance of the status quo.

Six Canadian soldiers died in a roadside bomb day before yesterday.  More senseless death due to a senseless war.  Is anyone still looking for Osama Bin Laden?  I am pretty sure given my three-year-old increasing proficiency at hide-and-go-seek, she could find him before the Bushman's people do.  In the meantime, so-called "peacekeepers" (although no more) from Canada continue to die.

The American president commuted "Scooter" Libby's jail sentence.  Another criminal is set free by the Bush administration.  Keith Olbermann did a great op ed rant about  the whole situation, concluding that even Nixon was patriotic enough to resign.  Bush is too much of a nitwit and Cheney is far too greedy.  Both are too arrogant.  Why are the American people so apathetic?  Is it there lack of choice?  Indecision 2008 looms.  The world must hold its breath, or perhaps its nose.

I share my birth date with GWB.  This causes me no end of consternation.  However, I also share it with the Dalai Lama.  I am the intersect of good and evil.  Perhaps, I am its true axis.

Got the husband unit to take the day off so we can all head to the beach.  I hope to get some sleep as tomorrow night (tonight), we shall eat.

Went for my soul sister's birthday to the Cannery.  They printed our names on the menus, gave us balloons and dessert.  We had a lovely time.  Those of us who had the salmon did end up with a ticklish tummy.  A sign of age perhaps...

Happy Birthday to me!