Gearing up for Bush

(Disclaimer: The title of this post may not live up to your expectations.)

Former President George Walker Bush will descend on Calgary’s Stephen Avenue next Wednesday for his first private speaking engagement since leaving office in January. Unfortunately for him, he won’t be lucky enough to avoid the semi-professional, semi-sane moonbat parade during his visit on St Patrick’s Day, as this Herald article points out:

A series of events aimed at protesting the impending visit of former United States president George W. Bush to Calgary launched Thursday afternoon with a short-lived demonstration on downtown’s Stephen Avenue.

Usually protesters wait, you know, until the protestee actually arrives before they begin protesting. It sure has been a long two months for these poor souls.

Hanging two banners — one black to reflect the events that unfolded while the United States was helmed by Bush and one white bearing messages looking toward the future — peace activists tried to engage passers-by.

Black = bad? White = good? Racists!

According to Toby Pollet, a former peacekeeper who served in Croatia and Yugoslavia, Bush should be facing war crimes charges under the Canadian Criminal Code.

“Now we’re inviting him here for a chat. It’s ridiculous,” he said as he helped hang the black banner.

Somehow I don’t believe that Peacekeeper Toby invited anyone to chat anywhere.

Or vice versa.

Fellow activist Tavis Ford said he was shocked to learn not only that Bush was coming to Calgary, but that the Chamber of Commerce was welcoming him on behalf of Calgarians.

“What are we doing?” he asked.

Good question.

Besides the banner event, the People vs. Bush group has planned a fake trial of the former leader–complete with actors and a script — for his alleged crimes.

The correct legal terminology in Canada would be Rex v. Bush, Roundhead.

Ford said it doesn’t matter that Bush is no longer the leader of the United States.

“If we let Bush go, what do we tell future leaders?” he said.

Perhaps that Canada doesn’t jail former leaders of our allies on the whim of a small but embarrassing mob?

Bush is set to talk on March 17 at the Telus Convention Centre.During the private event, called A conversation with George W. Bush, the former president is expected to talk about his eight years as the head of the United States and what challenges the world now faces.

Event organizers would not say how ticket sales for the event are progressing. Previously, they said they expected about 1,500 people to attend.

A friend is one of the organizers. He tells me that this is one of the most popular events they have ever had.

Mount Royal College political scientist Keith Brownsey called the strong dislike of Bush “profound,” but said it is “in many ways” deserved for leading the United States into a war in which thousands have lost their lives.

… and in which two brutal dictatorships were disposed and when Saddam Hussein was captured and tried and where liberal democracy in the Middle East has grabbed a foot-hold …

“The hopes that were dashed with George W. Bush, the policies he pursued, have put the United States in a profoundly difficult position, both domestically and worldwide,” he said. But he added he is interested in hearing what the former leader has to say.

Come now, Brownsey. What hopes did you ever have of George Bush, and whence were they dashed?

The activists’ arguments echo those from a group of lawyers who have asked the RCMP to bar the former president from entering the country, saying there is “overwhelming evidence that he has committed, outside Canada, torture and other offences.”

The group, called the Lawyers Against War, wrote a letter to the national police service’s war crimes section, copying Prime Minister Stephen Harper, other federal ministers and opposition MPs and has asked for a reply prior to Bush’s arrival in Canada.

I’m going to write a letter asking Prime Minister Stephen Harper to declare a War Against Lawyers.

Thursday’s event lasted less than an hour as bylaw officers indicated the group could face fines or court appearances for hanging their banners on trees and lampposts, and the signs were subsequently taken down by the group. One of the officers confirmed they had received a call about the protest.

They’re flouting the law! Arrest them! Arrest them all!

As an aside, am I the only one in thinking that these nut-bags would secretly endorse a change to the American Constitution that would have enabled President Bush to hold office indefinitely — if only to provide meaning to their pathetic lives?

Parking the car in Harvard Yard

The Better Third and I just got back from our five-day trip to the beautiful city of Boston. She was there to attend the Yoga Journal 2008 Boston Conference along with her brother and sister (last year, the three traveled to San Francisco for the same) while I was simply along for the ride.

Thought I’d share a few photos for all y’all.

A general shot of the financial district from the wharf area

“The Cradle of Liberty” — Fanueil Hall — is located near Quincy Market, and is where such revolutionary patriots as Samuel Adams, Paul Revere and John Hancock would debate the ideas of the Enlightenment and democracy. The upper levels of the building were designed by self-taught architect Charles Bulfinch, who popularized the “federalist” style of the early 1800s, defining Boston for the ages.

Faneuil Hall

As could be expected, plenty of churches dominate the Bostonian skyline, even to this day. While the first were made primarily of wood, thus being prone to fire and other damage, brick and mortar churches soon developed. Many have since been removed to make way for progressive development, but there remain more than a few notable houses of worship which beautify the city today.

New North Church

King’s Chapel

Old South Meeting House

The architecture in this city cannot be described as anything other than phenomenal. The aforementioned Charles Bulfinch left an enduring legacy on the city, as did the considerably more modern I.M. Pei, the world famous graduate from Harvard University.

New State House by Charles Bulfinch, 1797

Trinity Church by Henry Hobson Richardson, 1877

Boston Public Library by McKim, Mead and White, 1895

Zakim-Bunker Hill Bridge, 2002

The First Church of Christ, Scientist (not to be confused with the Church of Scientology) was founded by Mary Baker Eddy in 1879. In addition to being home of the Christian Science Monitor, the Christ the Scientist Park deserves special mention when it comes to Boston architecture:

Church of Christ, Scientist, Park

The Original Mother Church, 1894

The Mother Church Extension, 1906

Christian Science Center and Reflecting Pool by I.M. Pei, 1968 and 1974

Patriots abound throughout the Boston area, even those who eventually won the big game:

Paul Revere, he of the ride made famous by Longfellow

George Washington was given control of the Continental army in nearby Cambridge

Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston and attended the Latin School

Samuel Adams — brewer, philosopher, politician, writer, rabble-rouser, and Founding Father of the United States of America

The Boston Holocaust Memorial is a subtle yet profoundly moving commemoration to that infamous time. The six towers symbolize the six major concentration camps; upon the towers are etched 6 million numbers, the numbers which were assigned those destined to extermination in those death camps. Steam rises from grates below, and visitors are encouraged to walk beneath the towers, reflect on the quotations featured inside, and feel the suffocating effects of the steam as representative of the Nazi gas chambers.

Again, it was very moving.

The Holocaust Memorial

Last, but not least, while the Better Third was stretching in some ridiculous poses at the yoga conference, I took the opportunity to do the ultimate Boston adventure — seeing the Red Sox play at Fenway Park.

Bumf enters Fenway

Fenway Park

The Green Monstah

Big Pappi up to bat

All in all, we had a wonderful time. We didn’t get to the North End for a classic Italian dinner, and I didn’t run into Cam Neely, but the weather was decent and we got to see plenty of sights.

The city is very walkable and beautiful. Its eye-catching red brick buildings contrast beautifully with the ubiquitous green foliage, and the lovely banks of the harbour and the Charles River offer plenty of sights well worth seeing. The New World history is second-to-none, while the city prides itself on its ability to renew itself time and time again.

If you ever make it out to the Mass Bay region, I can recommend that you do both a walking tour of the Freedom Trail, as well as take a Duck Tour. Harvard University is a short subway ride north from the city and features some of the most beautiful neighbourhoods anywhere. The Boston Children’s Museum is a terrific place for young’uns, while the Science Center is a treat for kids and grown-ups alike. And, really, I can’t say enough about how fun a ball game at Fenway can be.

Good times were had by all. Bumf recommends.

Nothing new, feeling Blue

Whilst scrounging through the soon-to-be obsolete McNally-Robinsonon Stephen Avenue recently, I came across this interesting display in the music section:

Being a fan of music in general — and CanRock culture in particular — I couldn’t help but pick up this book and examine its contents right there in the store, mostly because I had no intention of actually buying anything that day.

Of course, being well aware of the overly nationalistic tendencies of our cultural cognoscenti, I knew to expect plenty of old-school Canadiana to dominate the listings.

And — boy! — was I right. There were no less than 8 Neil Young albums in the Top 100, including 2 in the top 3. In addition, there were 2 selections from the Band in the top 10, and a whole bevy of Leonard Cohen albums, all of which I have never heard and will likely never do so in the future.

What really bothered me, however, was the perhaps inevitable high status of Joni Mitchell’s “Blue” by the voters of the list. I have known for years that this supposedly ground-breaking album is considered by many music aficionados to be among the greatest of all time.

To each their own, of course, but I just don’t get it. I own it, I’ve listened to it a few times, but I simply can’t get into it. Her songs are pretty, I admit, and she is a hell of a lyricist. Yet, her lilting singing grates on the ears about 3 songs in. The stories are incredibly personal, so much so that they tend to lose the universality which defines the lyrics of the truly great pop masterpieces. Her trills and wavering voice is unique, of course, but that style ultimately renders her songs almost completely unsingable by anyone else. I can’t abide a pop song if I can’t sing along with it, in theory or in fact.

I also have a problem with “Gord’s Gold”, Gordon Lightfoots seminal ‘best-of’ release ubiquitous in the collections of many Canadians. I own it, love it, but I cannot condone a greatest hits package within a Top Albums list. If it ain’t original, it don’t belong.

Outside of that, I was pleased to see Arcade Fire’s “Funeral” crack the top 10, as well as Bryan Adam’s “Reckless” given a strong showing. I’m also glad to know that the Lowest of the Low’s “Shakespeare … My Butt” and Our Lady Peace’s “Naveed” got mentions. I go against conventional thinking with my belief that Sloan’s “One Chord to Another” is far superior to their more acclaimed “Twice Removed”, but I do appreciate the Halifax quartet’s inclusion among CanRock’s pantheon. There were a few notable absences, including Sandbox’s self-titled debut, I Mother Earth’s “Dig”, or any reference to the great King Cobb Steelie.

Still, it is an interesting read, more so when you don’t have to pay for it, and should spark debate among lovers of modern Canadian rock ‘n’ roll.

Iron Flames?

Wow:

Sources tell TSN that Mike Keenan is on the verge of becoming the new head coach of the Calgary Flames.

While the Flames declined to comment when contacted by TSN today, sources confirm Keenan is currently in Calgary and if all goes as expected, the well-traveled NHL executive and coach could be announced as the head coach of the Flames as early as Thursday.

Darryl Sutter doesn’t piss around. Having accumulated a roster which many commentators felt was that of a contender, the Flames GM surely felt that his team had all the pieces together for a decent run. In his eyes, there are only two reasons why the Flames floundered in the first round of the playoffs: either he concocted a losing formula; or his coach didn’t know how to broil it.

If this rumour is true, Cowtown skaters players will no longer be lead by a player-friendly gentleman but, instead, be flogged by an universally-acknowledge son-of-a-bitch. Considering the Stanley Cup is currently held by a franchise who has such a man behind their own bench, it’s likely that Sutter went to his old coach to beat some passion into his pampered personel.

Stay tuned.