music by the Spinney Brothers

memoir writers homework-on the way to the library

It was a fine day in early September and I awoke later than usual because it was the first day of vacation from work.I didn't have a lot planned for the day,or the week for that matter.So it was a perfect time for a visit to the library.I'm in the habit of going to the library more than once a week anyway because I'm always reading and I always have books that need to be returned.The library is located in a decrepit old building in downtown Calgary,a little more than a mile from where I lived.Part of the walk takes me through Lindsay Park,on the banks of the Elbow river.It's a very picturesque part of Calgary,and it was still summer and quite warm. Squirrels ran frantically about gathering nuts and magpies squabbled over every tiny bit of food they could find.Lindsay Park also has a sizeable population of homeless people living in the bushes,under picnic tables and in cardboard boxes and even tents.By the time I started on my way to the library,most of those people were up and about,wandering about in the park or just sitting in groups in the grass.They are usually somewhat rowdy,sometimes passing a bottle around.Today was different.Today they were not making a sound.I walked along the path from west to east,then turned north when I came to McLeod Trail and walked the remaining fifteen twelve or so blocks to the library.I returned a number of books,borrowed some others and used the computer to send my mother an email.When I was through,about noon,I started off for home again,wondering how to spend the rest of the day.I finally decided upon gathering up my guitar and mandolin and heading back to the park to spend the rest of the afternoon.Because there might not be so many nice days left to do that.Lindsay Park had barbecues too,so I thought I might stop on the way home and buy some steaks top bring along.But when I reached the path leading through the park again,it was blocked off by police with dogs,and there was even a helicopter hovering overhead.It turned out that someone was murdered in a tent just off of the path.On the way to the library,I must have walked within a few feet of the place where the body was hidden.I didn't see a thing.I only noticed a stillness among the people who always occupied the park.They knew something,if not everything,and they were saying nothing.Sometimes I wonder about that trip to the library.How close did I come to walking into something really bad? 

morning people-calgary

foggy morning/calgary

  It's trying to warm up after a week of unseasonably cool weather.The result is that the air was filled with ice crystals and fog in the early morning hours.Ice crystals are not so unusual here.Fog is a  somewhat more uncommon event.

op/ed-alabama amendment 4

What in the world is going on in Alabama?I'll have to admit a limited knowledge of Alabama politics.I am,after all a Canadian,so you can easily appreciate how I would have a limited exposure to all things Alabama.But,between braving the lineup at Tim Hortons and getting the old igloo decorated for Halloween,I took notice of a newspaper article noting that Alabama voters are being asked,on November 6 to support an amendment to their state constitution which would remove racist language regarding the establishment of separate and segregated schools,and the establishment of a poll tax.High ideals to be sure.But shouldn't this debate have been settled long ago?

Amendment Four is sponsored by state legislator Arthur Orr.It seems Mr.Orr is concerned with the image the current language imposes on his state and the people there of.And that worry might be well invested,because the fact that Alabama's constitution contains any artifacts at all to it's Jim Crow past certainly causes a less than favorable image to form in my mind.That image does not make me want to visit the fine state of Alabama,or,for that matter,invest there.So voting yes to the amendment would show,if only symbolically that the past is past in Alabama.Never mind that segregation is not the reality in Alabama and has not been for many years now.But Alabama had to be dragged kicking and screaming by the feds to it's current progressive reality.Still,the ancient,archaic language remains.That gives birth to a nagging suspicion in my mind that attitudes may not have changed so much as having been hidden under a bushel.Time alone will tell,I suppose,but Arthur Orr is correct-the world is watching.While we here in Canada scarcely give race a second though,and while the United States has a black president-it's first,George Wallace seems as though he my be among the undead in Alabama.At least when Wallace was foaming at the mouth about segregation,the whole world knew where he stood.Prejudice and bigotry driven underground is far harder to deal with though.So come on Alabamans,show us that there is nothing hidden in your closet by voting yes on Amendment Four,even if it's thirty,forty or a hundred years too late.

Sunday Music

op/ed-devon clunis

Devon Clunis is a cop,and a religious man.For the past number of years he has been a chaplain with the Winnepeg Police Services in Manitoba,Canada.That is until he was recently appointed Chief Of Police.There would be nothing out of the ordinary about that,except that Devon Clunis has publically stated that he believes in the power of prayer,as you might well expect from a practicing Christian.This,of course invites the critics of organized religion,and there are so many in this world to cast Clunis in a negative light.Most of their arguments relate loosely to the ideal of separation of church and state.Their fears are that religion will somehow be imposed upon the rest of us,including rank and file members of the Winnipeg Police Services,and perhaps even those they serve.In point of fact,Clunis has said nothing of the sort.His comments were made in the context of an interview to Christian media.Without a doubt,we should expect such an interview to explore the faith of the person being interviewed.I am at a loss as to why there is any controversy here at all.

On the other hand,maybe what we are seeing here is a reaction to the state of todays world.I made mention of that last week in response a story involving some Texas cheerleaders who created a controversy by displaying religious signs at high school football games.For decades now we have seemed to be moving toward a society where the only orthadox belief is a belief that excludes God and elevates man to the level of deity.The problem is that such things don't work very well.they don't seem to serve human need.Ultimately,while we can ignore God,we cannot evade the reality that we are in a fallen world,with all that that entails:crime,enviromental degredation,school shootings,drunkeness,depression,drug use,bullying and corruption. Devon Clunis is tired of living in what is often the murder capital of this country and he plans to do something about that.I'm certain he did not mean to replace proven police methods with prayer,any more than some studies showing that cancer patients benefit from prayer recommend casting aside proven medical practices.But Devon Clunis is a Christian.I would be very uncomfortable if my Chief Of Police presented himself as something other that who and what he is.To his credit,we see a man living out his chosen lifestyle in the context of his employment.Moreover,I expect to see job performance that flows out of that belief.There is a name for that.It's called integrity.Sadly it seems have been going the way of ethics in general,to be replaced by political correctness and subjective morality a failed social experiment.Thank you Devon Clunis for saying so,if in fact that is what you are saying.You are quite right,it's time we were more involved in our community,it's time we treated each other better,it's time to do whatever it takes.Should we give up on current police methods.Of course not.Should we require prayer of police personel.No.But the same freedom of religion that allows one to be Muslim or Atheist,allows Devon Clunis to practice Christianity and to advance through the ranks to a position he has earned by merit.Should we pray for Winnepeg.It sure couldn't hurt."The prayers of a rightous man availeth much."Devon Clunis has shown the leadership,by way of his comments,that will serve him and his fellow citizens well in years to come.Sadly,that is far to rare in todays world.