Two Koreas

Like Father, Like Son

Education ?

Since when did it become acceptable to utilize educational tax dollars to collect or adorn Ministry of Education office spaces with high priced artwork?

Heavenly Laughter

Dandelions and Dust Bunnies:

Heavens joke on those who seek

perfection and order in the universe

Heroes?

The word hero is far too often used to describe a person of celebrity status such as a hockey player or musician or actor. Such association to a true hero raises their status in the eyes of the masses but cheapens the true acts or heroism. A true hero or heroine is a person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life.

This blog has many images of real heroes but not one of a false hero...There is a reason for that.....They just don't fit in...A person of courage or nobility of purpose may be this man...

or perhaps this one

Or, perhaps even this woman

The thing to remember about heroes is that they gave their all for what they believed in, or simply reacted to a situation in an heroic manner. No one who tries to become a hero really does, and those who have heroism thrust upon them, too often die in becoming one. Perhaps then, to be a true hero is to stumble into this category of higher selfless acts or die trying to achieve the impossible for the greater good of man, or one individual.

All soldiers in the Afghanistan mission are treated as heroes by the Canadian people with a special place in their hearts for those who died during that mission. None of these men and women wanted to die, but die they did trying to accomplish an impossible task. They were sent there by a government that does not understand either the mission or the people they sent to do the job. The individuals in that mission understand their purpose, and in spite of the odds against success, do their best to succeed, even if it means dying.

And that attempt meets the definition of a hero in all sense of the definition. Each member of the mission is a hero as they exceed the criteria for becoming a hero whose "feats of courage and nobility of purpose, and especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life.", have done this hopefully for the betterment of man.

So the next time you hear of another soldier being driven down the "highway of heroes", remember, that individual gave everything they had, and came home a true hero.

Knock Knock

Change of Status

Canada Pensions... Only in Canada

It is interesting to know that the federal Government of Canada allows a monthly pension of : $1,890.00 to a simple refugee plus 580.00 in social aid for a grand total of $2,470.00 monthly X 12 monthsto equal $28,920.00 annual income

By comparison, the Old Age Pension of a senior citizen who has contributed to the development of Our Beautiful Big Country during 40 or 50 years, CANNOT receive more than (Amount/month)$1,012.00 in Old Age Pension and Guaranteed Income Supplement X 12 months $12,144.00 annual income

A difference of $16,776.00 per year

Perhaps our senior citizens should ask for the Status of Refugees instead of applying for Old Age Pension.

The Blank Cheque

Not my story but well worth Passing Along
"Buffalo Cricket"

The Sack Lunches :

I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight.

'I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought. Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me.

I decided to start a conversation. 'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me. 'Petawawa. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan.'

After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time.

As I reached for my wallet, I overheard a soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks. I'll wait till we get to base.'

His friend agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Afghanistan; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'

Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?' 'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class.

'This is your thanks.'

After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars.

Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked. I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane.

When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand and said, 'I want to shake your hand.' Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.

Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.

When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.'

Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travellers.

As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little. A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'Canada' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'

That is Honour, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.