Category World Affairs
Refugee Resettlement
It’s the big question that no-one has the courage to ask. What happens in the second year? Canada is becoming home to 25,000 Syrian refugees before the end of February, people leaving behind civil war and ISIS terror for hope in a new land. To say life here will be a difficult adjustment is probably […]
Decision Day in Iowa
It is almost the beginning of the end. The true beginning of the end starts in September, around Labour Day, when the US presidential election moves into high gear with the field narrowed down to just two serious candidates. It just feels like this campaign has been going on forever; it’s been almost a year […]
Speaking Christian
I didn’t know it was a language. The taxi driver asked us, “Do you speak Christian.” I don’t. Though I am a Christian, I try to avoid some of the jargon that has sprung up around the faith. In North America it is all too easy to live in a Christian sub-culture that bears absolutely […]
Rabban Hormizd III
There must be some sort of special devotion that causes a person to choose a monastic life. Part of me wishes I had that kind of faith. Though I would probably miss my creature comforts. When I look at the cliff that is Rabban Hormizd Monastery I image what it must have been like for […]
Rabban Hormizd II
In most countries a seventh century Christian monastery would be a place of pilgrimage, or at least a tourist attraction. But this is Iraq, and ISIS is only 20 kilometres from here. There are no tour buses. There is no-one else here. Well, there may be a few nuns, be we don’t see them. But […]
Refugees and Migrants III – What’s The Difference?
Sometimes I get sidetracked. I wrote this post a couple of months ago as part of a series, and then never got around to posting it. Given that the Middle East refugee crisis is likely to continue to dominate the headlines in 2016, perhaps it is time to look at the subject again. I am […]
The Queen’s Message
I could do without the music before and after her annual Christmas message (she starts talking just before the two minute mark) , but I really like what Her Majesty had to say this year. I’ve linked to a version with subtitles if you have difficulty with British English. People sometimes forget that one of […]
Frankenstein’s Monster – II
With Donald Trump riding high in the polls his opponents are frequently taking a page from his playbook – they are making their arguments against his candidacy personal rather than destroying his ludicrous policy proposals. I don’t think Donald Trump is a fascist, which has certainly been suggested, though I suppose he could become one […]
Frankenstein’s Monster – I
He’s still the front-runner for the Republican Party nomination to become their candidate in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Logically he should have flamed out long ago, but Donald Trump continues to defy expectations. I will admit to being a bit surprised, not at his popularity but that the party establishment hasn’t managed to reign […]
random thoughts from lorne 
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