Videos: The Quick and Easy Blog Post

Here's a vid that my cuz Saskboy linked to on his blog. Thought it was just the inspiration that Uni students need.

Even Peaceful Theocracies are Bad

Although conflicts in the Middle East have distracted the world from the Dalai Lama's struggle with China, I thought I would look closely at what "Free Tibet" actually means.
The Hollywood elite have spent much time bringing to light the exile of the Dalai Lama. He has been raised to the level of a saint, and has become a symbol for peaceful struggle against a powerful government.

However, in spite of all this good press, it is important to remember that the Dalai Lama is supposed to be an autocratic ruler of a theocracy. The Dalai Lama is not democratically elected, nor does the separation of church and state exist. He is religious leader who is seeking to regain the throne of Tibet. Most people in the world do not want to live under theocratic rule, however this particular disposed ruler is granted and elevated status. The social structure of Tibet prior to the expulsion of the Dalai Lama was highly stratified, with a small ruling class of monks and a large underclass made up mostly of serfs. Breaking the law for a serf meant horrible torture (eye-gouging, pulling out of tongues, etc.). On the other hand, the Chinese introduced secular education, electricity, running water, Communist oppression, and sent many Tibetans to forced labour camps. Kind of a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation. I'm not saying the Chinese are better than the Dalai Lama, I just wish Hollywood boneheads would think about what they are supporting before organizing "Free Tibet" rallies.
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The picture is Potala Palace, the holy place in Tibet where the Dalai Lama would live should he regain control. No wonder he wants to regain power so bad!

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This post was done in honour of Blogging against Theocracy Weekend. Unfortunately, I could only post today due to a full schedule and computer troubles. Here is also a link to last years Zombie Jesus Day post.

ATTN Aboriginals: Apparently our laws of protection don't apply to you

In 2001, a twelve-year-old native girl was picked up outside a bar in Chelan, east of Tisdale, Saskatchewan. The three men who picked her up, Jeffery Kindrat, Jeffrey Lorne Brown, and Dean Edmondson were all in their mid-twenties. She lied about her age, claiming to be 14, and asked them for a ride to a friend's place in Tisdale. They plied her with alcohol and then all three attempted to have sex with her. Whether they were successful or not is debatable; the rape evidence was inconclusive and Kindrat admitted when questioned by police that he had a case of whiskey-dick. When they dropped her at her friend's house, she was apparently crying, in pain, and claiming she'd been raped.

Last week Kindrat was found not guilty of sexual assault. Edmondson is serving two years house arrest after he was found guilty. Brown is still awaiting trial. And I am disgusted and horrified that once again the underlying racism that exists in this province has claimed another victim. There is no doubt that, at the very least, these men tried to have sex with a twelve-year-old girl. How than can they be found not guilty (or given simply house arrest), if the age of consent is 14. It makes no sense to me that the twelve jurors could let this man free. Basically, they are supporting the sexual exploitation of children. I wonder how young would the girl have had to be for them to have found Kindrat guilty. Ten years? Eight? I am certain that had the girl been white, these men would have gotten hard time. But in Saskatchewan, there exists a double standard.

This is all I'll say on this now, because I still get so angry that it's hard to be rational. I am ashamed to be from this province right now, and that is something that's a little hard to deal with. Let's hope things will get substantially better in the coming years; that we wont be the rednecked, racist province forever.