Category World Affairs
Nobody Cares About Tariffs
August 1 was tariff day, the day Donald Trump was to announce what financial penalties he was going to levy on Canada for selling Americans the oil, gas and electricity they need. Earlier in 2025 people waited for those announcements, wondering how Trump’s tariff wars would impact them personally and Canada as a nation. No-one […]
The Gaza Question
First it was the French, then the British. Unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza, they will recognize Palestinian statehood. Leaving aside the issue of the legalities of recognizing a territory with no government, this pretty much precludes an end to hostilities. Why would the Palestinians agree to end to their fighting now that […]
Canceling Colbert
It’s all about the money according to CBS. It just looks like censorship. Or craven pandering to the president. Which I can’t quite buy. If CBS wanted to curry favor with Donald Trump they would have taken Stephen Colbert off the air immediately and not announced that his show would end in 2026. Still, is […]
This is Leadership?
Donald Trump’s big tax bill has passed a divided Senate. One senator who initially opposed the legislation changed her mind in exchange for concessions for her state. That got me to thinking about the nature of leadership and the responsibility that comes with elected office. Where do you draw the line? Is it moral to […]
Thoughts on the Fourth
I’ve been waffling al day about posting here today. Three days ago, on Canada Day, I decided not to say anything about that holiday. It isn’t that there isn’t anything to celebrate about Canada, because there are many blessings that come with being Canadian. But we live in challenging times, and I felt I should […]
Just Thinking
As a student of world affairs, I understand Israel’s preoccupation with security matters, even if I wonder at times if being less heavy-handed would better further their national aims. Bombing Iran’s nuclear facilities was no surprise. Back in 1981 Israel bombed nuclear facilities in Iraq to stop that country’s nuclear weapons program. It established a […]
Today In Red Square
Am I the only one who was struck by the similarity between Donald Trump’s big parade of military vehicles in Washington and the the annual May Day parades that used to be a staple of the Soviet Union? The ones Vladimir Putin has moved to Victory Day? Soldiers from all branches of the service, military […]
Troops on the Ground
First it was the National Guard, then the Marines. U.S. President Donald Trump has sent troops into Los Angeles to put an end to protests against his immigration policies. Needless to say, there is a lot of outrage. The courts may yet restrain him. For those of us old enough to remember the Guard being […]
Roman Reflections
Pope Francis died on Monday. Not being Roman Catholic, his death didn’t impact me emotionally, but it brought back memories of 2018, when I heard him speak in St Peter’s Square. It was Easter Sunday morning, the annual Urbe et Orbe (City and the World) sermon, kind of like an American State of the Union […]
So True!
I’ve seen this floating around social media a few times this past week. If you are Canadian you are smiling when you see these iconic images. Mind you, everyone’s experience of a country and culture is different. I haven’t asked my wife if she can name what all four of these are – but if […]
random thoughts from lorne 
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