A copy of a letter I've sent to the New Democrats. I've also phoned and left messages stating my point of view.
Mr. Jack Layton
Leader - New Democrat Party
Dear Mr. Layton
I've been following the discussion about the upcoming televised Leader's Debate. Imagine my surprise when the media announced that my beloved N.D. party has said that they would not back Elizabeth May and the Green Party's participation in the debate.
I have voted New Democrat in every federal election since I turned 18 (over 20 years ago!). I always believed in the ideal of grass roots democracy. I even ran as a candidate for the party in 1997. Never have I been so disappointed in this party as I am at this point. I thought that my party believed in grass roots organizing and democracy. I thought we supported election reform. And yet this decision flies completely in the face of those principles.
I can assure you that I will not vote New Democrat in this election based solely upon this issue. I believe that I have a rather wide circle of influence amongst friends and relatives who have also been New Democrat supporters. I will do what I can to influence them to not vote N.D. this election as well, given this stance of the party against democratic values. This was a bad bad decision on the part of the party and ill thought out. I don't think the hierarchy of the party has realized the impact that the Green Party can have on this nation.
I'm sorely disappointed and want to suggest that you should be ashamed of yourself!
Most respectfully
Shakti Roberta Allen
Edmonton, Alberta
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Monday, September 8, 2008
The National Election
Our Prime Minister announced yesterday that we're going to have another election. Not because our country wants one or asked for one or even needs one. But because he decided he could.
One of the many "traditional" activities of a federal election in Canada is that the media get together and host a televised "Leader's Debate". There is usually only one, and it's a chance for the public to witness the leaders going toe to toe on the important issues. Often it becomes a childish yelling match, but it really is an opportunity for leaders to make their points known and for Canadians to see how the leaders manage under pressure.
In Canada, we have three major parties: the Liberals, the Conservatives, and the New Democrats. We also have the Bloc Quebecois who is a party that serves only the province of Quebec and holds virtually no interest to the rest of the country, except in how it relates to Quebec's sovereignty. In the recent past few years the Green Party has also become a significant force across the country. They achieve a sufficient amount of votes to receive additional funding from the government. They're outspoken and often recognized by the media.
But a "consortium of media" has come together and decided that the Green Party will not be allowed to participate. The leader of the Green Party had predicted the impending election and had been lobbying the media to ensure her inclusion in the debate. But instead she's been excluded. The media consortium indicates that this decision was made under pressure of "three of four of the parties". Apparently only the Liberals were in support of the Greens participating in the debate.
What I'm curious about is what are they so afraid of? I'm not a member of the Green Party (I'm not a member of any party)but it seems to me that their ideas have been acknowledged and accepted by each of the parties at different times. But the Conservatives, the Bloc, and the N.D.s obviously believe that they will lose votes to the Greens.
Whatever their reasoning, I'm outraged at the decision. It seems to me that Canadians have a right to make up their own minds. And to do so, the information shouldn't be controlled by the media and by the other parties. I say "shame on them". I've written a couple of letters already. Tomorrow I'll make some phone calls. I wish that anyone who was even slightly uncomfortable with this decision would do the same.
Shame on Them!!!
One of the many "traditional" activities of a federal election in Canada is that the media get together and host a televised "Leader's Debate". There is usually only one, and it's a chance for the public to witness the leaders going toe to toe on the important issues. Often it becomes a childish yelling match, but it really is an opportunity for leaders to make their points known and for Canadians to see how the leaders manage under pressure.
In Canada, we have three major parties: the Liberals, the Conservatives, and the New Democrats. We also have the Bloc Quebecois who is a party that serves only the province of Quebec and holds virtually no interest to the rest of the country, except in how it relates to Quebec's sovereignty. In the recent past few years the Green Party has also become a significant force across the country. They achieve a sufficient amount of votes to receive additional funding from the government. They're outspoken and often recognized by the media.
But a "consortium of media" has come together and decided that the Green Party will not be allowed to participate. The leader of the Green Party had predicted the impending election and had been lobbying the media to ensure her inclusion in the debate. But instead she's been excluded. The media consortium indicates that this decision was made under pressure of "three of four of the parties". Apparently only the Liberals were in support of the Greens participating in the debate.
What I'm curious about is what are they so afraid of? I'm not a member of the Green Party (I'm not a member of any party)but it seems to me that their ideas have been acknowledged and accepted by each of the parties at different times. But the Conservatives, the Bloc, and the N.D.s obviously believe that they will lose votes to the Greens.
Whatever their reasoning, I'm outraged at the decision. It seems to me that Canadians have a right to make up their own minds. And to do so, the information shouldn't be controlled by the media and by the other parties. I say "shame on them". I've written a couple of letters already. Tomorrow I'll make some phone calls. I wish that anyone who was even slightly uncomfortable with this decision would do the same.
Shame on Them!!!
Saturday, September 6, 2008
On Why It's Difficult to Return from Witchcamp
I spent a week at the B.C. Witchcamp. This is my sixth year of attending. Each year is a different experience and the return to this world is also different.
Witchcamp is a place where hearts and chakras are open. It's not so much that we all say, "okay, now we're going to be open", but more a process that occurs rapidly. People who have attended previous camps know what to expect, so return to this honest way of living quickly. Newcomers pick it up so quickly that it suggests that this honest way of living is the most natural way to be.
When I'm at camp I get to speak honestly how I'm feeling all of the time. For example, if I'm having a moment of fear, I can say so to whomever might be around me if I so desire. And my emotion is not only respected but honored. One day at camp I was walking up the stairs to the cabins. Standing at the top of the stairs was one of the other campers - a woman who I often found myself thinking was very beautiful. As I reached the top of the stairs I told her "I think you are one of the most beautiful women at camp". There was no expectation of response or necessary interaction. She accepted the compliment, thanked me, and we both carried on with our days.
Campers express love freely and easily without the fear that is often attached in the other world. If I feel love in the moment, I can tell the other person that I love them. Again, there's no expectation and so there's no fear of rejection. I don't require that the other person tell me that they love me, and they can freely do so or not, depending on how they feel in the moment. One day I was walking across the lawn and one of the fellows yelled at me "Shakti, have I told you today that I love you?" I responded that he hadn't, so he shouted "I love you Shakti". And I yelled back that it made me happy that he loved me and I loved him, too.
People are not afraid to touch each other. Touching is consensual, kind, and loving. Every day I was hugged good morning, good afternoon, and good night. By many different people. I held hands and touched hair and backs and arms. I cuddled on couches and floors and in doorways under awnings. There is always an element of sexual energy running throughout - but not sex that's rude and disrespectful. It's sexual energy that is the life force that we all share. If I touch someone and consensually we agree to become sexual, then we can. Likewise, if I touch someone, and we both just like the affection, there's no expectation or anxiety about what might happen next. And if there is, the space is such that we can just talk about it.
Coming out of camp, means that I re-enter a world of fear. It means that people are afraid to touch each other for fear that the touch will be misinterpreted or misunderstood. People can't speak honestly about their emotions where ever they go because there's so much judgment to be faced. I feel isolated and alone - lost without my tribe. I go months without someone telling me they love me. I can go weeks without being touched in a meaningful way. I can only tell a few people that I love them - no matter how much love I feel.
One of the tasks given us when we attend camp is to "bring the magic out into the world". This is a common message in many types of mysticism now. Learn what we need to learn, and then bring it out into the world to pass it on. But I don't know how to pass on a message of unconditional acceptance and love. I don't quite know how to live out here as openly as I do in camp. I find myself in a place of grief that is so contradictory to the joy I experienced when I was at camp.
Witchcamp is a place where hearts and chakras are open. It's not so much that we all say, "okay, now we're going to be open", but more a process that occurs rapidly. People who have attended previous camps know what to expect, so return to this honest way of living quickly. Newcomers pick it up so quickly that it suggests that this honest way of living is the most natural way to be.
When I'm at camp I get to speak honestly how I'm feeling all of the time. For example, if I'm having a moment of fear, I can say so to whomever might be around me if I so desire. And my emotion is not only respected but honored. One day at camp I was walking up the stairs to the cabins. Standing at the top of the stairs was one of the other campers - a woman who I often found myself thinking was very beautiful. As I reached the top of the stairs I told her "I think you are one of the most beautiful women at camp". There was no expectation of response or necessary interaction. She accepted the compliment, thanked me, and we both carried on with our days.
Campers express love freely and easily without the fear that is often attached in the other world. If I feel love in the moment, I can tell the other person that I love them. Again, there's no expectation and so there's no fear of rejection. I don't require that the other person tell me that they love me, and they can freely do so or not, depending on how they feel in the moment. One day I was walking across the lawn and one of the fellows yelled at me "Shakti, have I told you today that I love you?" I responded that he hadn't, so he shouted "I love you Shakti". And I yelled back that it made me happy that he loved me and I loved him, too.
People are not afraid to touch each other. Touching is consensual, kind, and loving. Every day I was hugged good morning, good afternoon, and good night. By many different people. I held hands and touched hair and backs and arms. I cuddled on couches and floors and in doorways under awnings. There is always an element of sexual energy running throughout - but not sex that's rude and disrespectful. It's sexual energy that is the life force that we all share. If I touch someone and consensually we agree to become sexual, then we can. Likewise, if I touch someone, and we both just like the affection, there's no expectation or anxiety about what might happen next. And if there is, the space is such that we can just talk about it.
Coming out of camp, means that I re-enter a world of fear. It means that people are afraid to touch each other for fear that the touch will be misinterpreted or misunderstood. People can't speak honestly about their emotions where ever they go because there's so much judgment to be faced. I feel isolated and alone - lost without my tribe. I go months without someone telling me they love me. I can go weeks without being touched in a meaningful way. I can only tell a few people that I love them - no matter how much love I feel.
One of the tasks given us when we attend camp is to "bring the magic out into the world". This is a common message in many types of mysticism now. Learn what we need to learn, and then bring it out into the world to pass it on. But I don't know how to pass on a message of unconditional acceptance and love. I don't quite know how to live out here as openly as I do in camp. I find myself in a place of grief that is so contradictory to the joy I experienced when I was at camp.
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