A few weeks ago the Prime Minister of Hungary,Viktor Orban gave a speech in which he called for his country to abandon Liberal Democracy, in favor of an illeberal state. This is his second elected term and he is very popular and he does not like being told what to do.
Like Vladimir Putin of Russia he believe the flaws in Western democracies like ours warrant electing leaders who distance themselves from of the European Union. He went on to say he would not deny voters the fundamentals of liberal freedom.
He finished by citing Putin and Xi Jining, the Chinese President as fine examples of how democracy should evolve. Strong leaders unquestioned.
Last week Mike Nichols, the great director and writer died. He spoke often of how life is a pendulum and the good times can be long but the pendulum will swing and our live seems to get jumbled for a while.
Our democracies are flawed and the state of progress and cooperation that we have enjoyed for the last 100 odd years seem to be fraying. In the USA congress cannot get past the black president ( A Stranger In The White House, one new book is titled.)and Republicans seem to want to use tactic unheard of heretofore to further their agenda and confound the damn liberal democrats. In Canada Mr. Harper is a bully and cynical of the opposition as do the Conservatives in Britain. We have not evolved our democracies and the bad guys around the world like Orban and Putin and Xi are pointing it out and taking advantage.
Maybe true pure democracies are not the best way to govern. Maybe a little stick and enlightened dictatorship works better? It does not, but a lot of folks worry we are spoiled and too brazen for our own good.
John Ivison, of The Canadian Nation Post, interviewed former Russian PM Kasyanov, who was in Ottawa this week and gave a talk around this world changing phenomenon. He asked; Is Putin Mad? "I am sure he isn't and he is bluffing" He replied." If the West stays strong and gives Putin to understand that there are consequences, he will go no further."
Democracies need to stop fighting among the Left-Right party mentality and work together to keep our system strong and working and evolving to be better.
There are times, as we all know, which are critical and as the world is being gamed by madness and arrogance we need to be aware and act to protectwhat we have. Britain's Nevill Cumberland in 1938 returned from Hitler's Berlin with confidence stating that Hitler was cool and we would have peace in our time. All the while Hitler was building an army and armaments to us against us. We need to stay awake amid all the noise and see evil ambition when it rears it's head. We are not doing that and it's dangerous.
Saturday, 29 November 2014
Saturday, 8 November 2014
I'M SURPRISED.
I am surprised we are not getting more noise and genuine editorial from the USA on the Jian Ghomeshi Mesh. After all he was heard on over 150 American radio stations. I'm also surprised he has not cried out and said something, ( sorry all) but my friend Ed says psychopaths do not have remorse and he might have something there. Even if he did shout out remorse he just might be acting out.
Charles Adler a Calgary based radio talker and Sun news commentator. and CBC's Rex Murphy had the best, insightful and wise responses to Jian's actions. Mr Adler who was born and raised in Montreal around the same time I was,(1950's) always seemed to me to be a tad strident but then again I never really gave his work time and consideration until this week when John Doyle, the Globe And Mail TV columnist and a writer I admire, gave a shout out to Charles as an observer who gets the pulse of politics in Canada.
The truth about Jian, I think is, he is a bully. Probably he came late to that status as he does not strike me as having been a school yard bully but indeed may have been bullied himself as a youth and learned the craft from that experience.
I have not written anything for over two weeks because I couldn't. The two fine Soldiers here in Canada being killed. so cowardly. Obama losing the mid terms, The Justin Trudeau playing politics with the accusations that two of the Liberal MP's were sexually abusive to two female NDP MP's. The women did not want the complaints to be made public but what did they think would happen. One of the women sat down at a chance meeting with the Liberal Leader, Mr Trudeau at one of the soldier memorials and tells him what happened to her earlier this year. And, she thinks he was not going to game this horrible story in his favor by looking, the tough on abuse guy, to all female voters.? So he goes public and suspends his two MP's
Her mistake was misreading Trudeau. This lad is on a mission from Pierre to prove he's as good as dad and don't get in his way.
I am also surprised that Pierre Trudeau did not insist his sons be scholarly, as he was himself and he let them off with that. Neither of the three boys went to post grad school.Knowing your way around the media and being able to give a descent speech does not a wise leader make. To make up for that one needs to be very well read and have lived a few more years than 42. It's how we get mediocre leaders as I predict Justin Trudeau will be. If he becomes PM, the magic of the office will mask some of that for a while.
Heather Comway, a CBC V.P. of English Services says publicly today that Jian is 'egomaniacal and tyrannical.' And that he lied to his bosses about his sex life when it became a source of serious accusations and was brought to their attention. She said, management needs to find out what should or could have been done differently.
I say; someone should have taken Jian by the scruff of his shirt and said,' look here you little shit. I been watching you and how you are fucking up the people who work for this program because you think you are bigger and more important than anyone else and if you don't smarten up, I'm gonna expose you and then I'm gonna fire you. Consider yourself warned.
Charles Adler a Calgary based radio talker and Sun news commentator. and CBC's Rex Murphy had the best, insightful and wise responses to Jian's actions. Mr Adler who was born and raised in Montreal around the same time I was,(1950's) always seemed to me to be a tad strident but then again I never really gave his work time and consideration until this week when John Doyle, the Globe And Mail TV columnist and a writer I admire, gave a shout out to Charles as an observer who gets the pulse of politics in Canada.
The truth about Jian, I think is, he is a bully. Probably he came late to that status as he does not strike me as having been a school yard bully but indeed may have been bullied himself as a youth and learned the craft from that experience.
I have not written anything for over two weeks because I couldn't. The two fine Soldiers here in Canada being killed. so cowardly. Obama losing the mid terms, The Justin Trudeau playing politics with the accusations that two of the Liberal MP's were sexually abusive to two female NDP MP's. The women did not want the complaints to be made public but what did they think would happen. One of the women sat down at a chance meeting with the Liberal Leader, Mr Trudeau at one of the soldier memorials and tells him what happened to her earlier this year. And, she thinks he was not going to game this horrible story in his favor by looking, the tough on abuse guy, to all female voters.? So he goes public and suspends his two MP's
Her mistake was misreading Trudeau. This lad is on a mission from Pierre to prove he's as good as dad and don't get in his way.
I am also surprised that Pierre Trudeau did not insist his sons be scholarly, as he was himself and he let them off with that. Neither of the three boys went to post grad school.Knowing your way around the media and being able to give a descent speech does not a wise leader make. To make up for that one needs to be very well read and have lived a few more years than 42. It's how we get mediocre leaders as I predict Justin Trudeau will be. If he becomes PM, the magic of the office will mask some of that for a while.
Heather Comway, a CBC V.P. of English Services says publicly today that Jian is 'egomaniacal and tyrannical.' And that he lied to his bosses about his sex life when it became a source of serious accusations and was brought to their attention. She said, management needs to find out what should or could have been done differently.
I say; someone should have taken Jian by the scruff of his shirt and said,' look here you little shit. I been watching you and how you are fucking up the people who work for this program because you think you are bigger and more important than anyone else and if you don't smarten up, I'm gonna expose you and then I'm gonna fire you. Consider yourself warned.
Saturday, 18 October 2014
Damnit, That Is Not Fair...
There are many foundational subjects, issues and systems under which we operate, in our society. Many are a big part of our lives like religion but the debate as to whether capitalism or socialism work best, trumps all these debates. Why? Because money and livelihoods are involved and that determines our lifestyle, friends and well, pretty much everything we seem to enjoy and relish.
Over the centuries Socialism seems to have lost the debate and many socialists are converts today, to the great notion that capitalism works best for all, with a little socialism thrown in to keep the poor from rioting and causing a stir...About capitalism's faults.If anyone is going to have a go at telling some truths, you better be a charismatic, very smart and a great speaker.And you might get to first base.
As I wrote in a previous blog, my Irish friend Pat Quinn believes the Irish Good Friday Peace Accord was signed by the Catholics and Protestants because the EU Celtic Tiger was washing gobs and gobs of money across Ireland and the powers that be, even the bitterest of enemies said to themselves and each other; We can't fuck this up. Everyone has a good job and toys and homes, so let's all chill out and sign this God Damn Accord and get on over to the pub.
So, trying to get up the gumption to try and improve our capitalism with some new ideas, criticism, even honest criticism and the evolution of capitalism is a road few are brave enough to journey. The powers that be, are really powerful and much money is at stake. Also a lot of bumps in the rug are nasty realities swept there for a reason. This week Janet Yellen, the USA Fed Chief gave a speech which blew the doors off hinges.
She bravely told the crowd that the top 5 per cent of homes in USA have seen their wealth increase by 63 per cent of national total, while the bottom half are down to 1 per cent and fully 25 per cent of them have no wealth at all. She said that she wanted to provide a factual basis for future discussion. Further she noted that the sub prime mortgage meltdown and great recession had been disproportionally borne by the financially disadvantaged, who were and had been prey for banks and lenders who sold them homes they could not afford and promised they would always go up in value, either way.
She finished by saying the low interest rates in place spurred huge gains for the wealthy in the stock market, since the recession. Banks got bailed out but not the gullible, financially challenged middle class.
Everyone, it seems was at a loss, as to why she would go there. Maybe she is tired of the unfairness of our capitalism and knows it gonna take an FDR spirit to return the system to some semblance of fairness. The truly cynical suggested she wants to run for president. But do not the bankers and rich control that too. Taking big money out of the election system, now that's a blog of a different color.
Martin Wolf a British financial writer has a new book out this week and he says we need to evolve banks and way of doing business especially on loans and mortgages. Since the Banks would not let new checks and balances go in place to curb their predatory nature, then banks should be also responsible for some of the losses and work with homeowner when they fall behind.
Risk Management, that smarty Alec new mantra, needs to factor that loss into some of the mortgages they place. Why should they get all the benefit and hang their share of the fault they do bear, when economies falter, on the homeowner. What's good for the goose is good for the Banks too.
The only way to get big money to care, is to show them how being fair and financially fair, is to show them how it can make them money and enjoy a better image. Thanks to the rebirth of philanthropy by the Bill Gates family, Bill Clinton and Warren Buffett, it seems a lot of rich are jumping on board the giving wagon. And... They get a tax break. LOL
Over the centuries Socialism seems to have lost the debate and many socialists are converts today, to the great notion that capitalism works best for all, with a little socialism thrown in to keep the poor from rioting and causing a stir...About capitalism's faults.If anyone is going to have a go at telling some truths, you better be a charismatic, very smart and a great speaker.And you might get to first base.
As I wrote in a previous blog, my Irish friend Pat Quinn believes the Irish Good Friday Peace Accord was signed by the Catholics and Protestants because the EU Celtic Tiger was washing gobs and gobs of money across Ireland and the powers that be, even the bitterest of enemies said to themselves and each other; We can't fuck this up. Everyone has a good job and toys and homes, so let's all chill out and sign this God Damn Accord and get on over to the pub.
So, trying to get up the gumption to try and improve our capitalism with some new ideas, criticism, even honest criticism and the evolution of capitalism is a road few are brave enough to journey. The powers that be, are really powerful and much money is at stake. Also a lot of bumps in the rug are nasty realities swept there for a reason. This week Janet Yellen, the USA Fed Chief gave a speech which blew the doors off hinges.
She bravely told the crowd that the top 5 per cent of homes in USA have seen their wealth increase by 63 per cent of national total, while the bottom half are down to 1 per cent and fully 25 per cent of them have no wealth at all. She said that she wanted to provide a factual basis for future discussion. Further she noted that the sub prime mortgage meltdown and great recession had been disproportionally borne by the financially disadvantaged, who were and had been prey for banks and lenders who sold them homes they could not afford and promised they would always go up in value, either way.
She finished by saying the low interest rates in place spurred huge gains for the wealthy in the stock market, since the recession. Banks got bailed out but not the gullible, financially challenged middle class.
Everyone, it seems was at a loss, as to why she would go there. Maybe she is tired of the unfairness of our capitalism and knows it gonna take an FDR spirit to return the system to some semblance of fairness. The truly cynical suggested she wants to run for president. But do not the bankers and rich control that too. Taking big money out of the election system, now that's a blog of a different color.
Martin Wolf a British financial writer has a new book out this week and he says we need to evolve banks and way of doing business especially on loans and mortgages. Since the Banks would not let new checks and balances go in place to curb their predatory nature, then banks should be also responsible for some of the losses and work with homeowner when they fall behind.
Risk Management, that smarty Alec new mantra, needs to factor that loss into some of the mortgages they place. Why should they get all the benefit and hang their share of the fault they do bear, when economies falter, on the homeowner. What's good for the goose is good for the Banks too.
The only way to get big money to care, is to show them how being fair and financially fair, is to show them how it can make them money and enjoy a better image. Thanks to the rebirth of philanthropy by the Bill Gates family, Bill Clinton and Warren Buffett, it seems a lot of rich are jumping on board the giving wagon. And... They get a tax break. LOL
Wednesday, 15 October 2014
Slightly Crazy Politicians And Our Imperfect Democracies
Retired USA General Wesley Clarke writes in New York Times this week that; China is more confident, assertive and also more closed today, even thought many thought, our efforts at ' Constructive Engagement' and their economic growth and engagement in Capitalism gave us hope they would move toward democracy.
In the USA their government has been under water for much of the last 6 years, unable to get needed legislation passed including money bill that allow it to borrow capital to pay it's bills.
Too much democracy in USA and too little in China? It would seem so. But I have often wondered why we don't reform and evolve our democracies, we the so called free western countries. It seems we are all sure the democratic systems we have, are fine and so for hundreds of years, other than 27 big issue, fine tuning amendments to the USA constitution, nothing in the day to day workings of our systems have been amended or evolved.
Hard questions, like how wealthy individuals control our elected leaders through large donations and advertising,which Canada does not allow but USA allows in spades. How come, unless Canadian Members of Parliament are in the cabinet, they have virtually no say in the running of the government and made to toe whatever line the PM and his smart guys and gals come up with?
But maybe that's ok and how things have to be, to get things done and working. Messy could be a problem? No?
Only last month Great Britain dodged a democratic bullet in the Scotland independence vote.
Mr.Putin in Russia is using the loopholes in it's constitution to shuffle between PM and President because he is not allowed to serve as President for more than 2 terms. Smart fucking guy who is using the so called weakness of President Obama to mess around with Eastern Europe countries like the Ukraine. I think Obama is trying to be enlightened and move war off the table, as a go to action for solving world problems. Like JFK did with the Cuban missile crisis by not invading Cuba and negotiating a settlement with Russians.
I think what we are seeing a lot more of is, what I call small time pathological people entering public life and they seem to have no shame or embarrassment. The Ford brothers in Toronto are like that. Not dangerous but a bit crazy and smart all wrapped together. Putin as well but he is dangerous. They know news disappears within a few weeks so just suck it up; your mistakes, sins and stupidity and move on. Circumstance and the voters will too.
In the USA their government has been under water for much of the last 6 years, unable to get needed legislation passed including money bill that allow it to borrow capital to pay it's bills.
Too much democracy in USA and too little in China? It would seem so. But I have often wondered why we don't reform and evolve our democracies, we the so called free western countries. It seems we are all sure the democratic systems we have, are fine and so for hundreds of years, other than 27 big issue, fine tuning amendments to the USA constitution, nothing in the day to day workings of our systems have been amended or evolved.
Hard questions, like how wealthy individuals control our elected leaders through large donations and advertising,which Canada does not allow but USA allows in spades. How come, unless Canadian Members of Parliament are in the cabinet, they have virtually no say in the running of the government and made to toe whatever line the PM and his smart guys and gals come up with?
But maybe that's ok and how things have to be, to get things done and working. Messy could be a problem? No?
Only last month Great Britain dodged a democratic bullet in the Scotland independence vote.
Mr.Putin in Russia is using the loopholes in it's constitution to shuffle between PM and President because he is not allowed to serve as President for more than 2 terms. Smart fucking guy who is using the so called weakness of President Obama to mess around with Eastern Europe countries like the Ukraine. I think Obama is trying to be enlightened and move war off the table, as a go to action for solving world problems. Like JFK did with the Cuban missile crisis by not invading Cuba and negotiating a settlement with Russians.
I think what we are seeing a lot more of is, what I call small time pathological people entering public life and they seem to have no shame or embarrassment. The Ford brothers in Toronto are like that. Not dangerous but a bit crazy and smart all wrapped together. Putin as well but he is dangerous. They know news disappears within a few weeks so just suck it up; your mistakes, sins and stupidity and move on. Circumstance and the voters will too.
Saturday, 4 October 2014
Stephen Harper, Dead Canadians And Let's Smarten Up.
Not many men or women can claim to be responsible for the death of 158 men and women and not be put in jail, but Stephen Harper the Prime Minister of Canada can. That is the number of soldiers who died on his orders to deploy to the most dangerous part of of Afghanistan over the 20002-2011 years of that war.
A war, and not to be too cynical or backhanded, that was supposed to reorganize and bring a country and it's people, living in a virtual 14th century world, forward into this day and age. And do it in 9 years by killing a lot of bad guys, who it seems don't want to live in the 21st century but like and seem to relish living in the 14th century and determined to continue.
Did we underestimated their stamina, commitment and fearlessness. It seems we were training the Afghan Army, with the best equipment and training available but we could not match the Taliban's zeal and as we all know, zeal and commitment trumps all, in human behaviors.
Now ISIL is the monster and we need to stop him, it, from trying to keep more of the region living in the 14th century. They are the real monsters and as we all know, have torn the norms of war asunder. No rules. So we are bombing them and have no boots on the ground. I think that's good and the pundits who say we have to have some ground troops are blind to the lessons we learned over the last 10 years in Iraq and Afghanistan. Boots on the ground are our problem, not solution. ISIL see us as monsters. Infidels. They behead our citizens and claim to be planning attacks on our soil. So lets keep them over there. In misery they so badly want to see us live in.
Let's keep bombing those bad guys from the air and with Cruise Missiles from our ships and do it for next 2 years or 3. What ever it takes to wear them down. It worked in Belgrade and Bosnia. Bombing like that is scary for those being bombed. It rattles the fighters confidence and zeal and they can't move around and secure more munitions and food and no one gets in or out of the region because we are bombing everything that moves or threatens. We can do that. They can't. It will work. Go with our strengths with least possible suffering to ourselves. When they surrender or are mostly all dead we can go in and help rebuild.
If we put boots on the ground, civilians will die just the same, including our troops in boots, maybe more than from bombing. I mean, is that not why we built these planes and bombs, so we could overpower bad guys without losing our fine boys and gals. And our PM can say he didn't send 158 more Canadians to their deaths. And we killed a lot of bad guys.
I don't know how leaders live with the knowledge that they, in their role and power, as head of the nation are responsible for those deaths. It's a daunting thought and I suppose a damn good rationalization is the only way out of that reality.
The other reality is; thinking back on the week that the USA invaded Iraq with all that firepower and advanced armaments and how their great tanks rolled over the Iraq ones, we have to wonder does the firepower trump human determination and hatred, like the Iraq fighters mustered and instead of rejoicing in their freedom and possibilities for the future, they made monkeys of the occupiers, fought against them, killing and injuring tens of thousands of them, then held an election under American rules and drove the guys, who freed them from murderous Saddam Hussein, and dumped tens of billions of dollars on their revitalization,the USA, out of the country without so much as a thank you.
So BOOTS on the ground? I don't think so.
Since the world of health is so sure that alcohol is responsible for so much sickness and early death; Governments everywhere, like Ontario should get out of the business of managing the sale and distribution of the substance and leave it to the suffering. Why should the governments benefit from our misery.
A war, and not to be too cynical or backhanded, that was supposed to reorganize and bring a country and it's people, living in a virtual 14th century world, forward into this day and age. And do it in 9 years by killing a lot of bad guys, who it seems don't want to live in the 21st century but like and seem to relish living in the 14th century and determined to continue.
Did we underestimated their stamina, commitment and fearlessness. It seems we were training the Afghan Army, with the best equipment and training available but we could not match the Taliban's zeal and as we all know, zeal and commitment trumps all, in human behaviors.
Now ISIL is the monster and we need to stop him, it, from trying to keep more of the region living in the 14th century. They are the real monsters and as we all know, have torn the norms of war asunder. No rules. So we are bombing them and have no boots on the ground. I think that's good and the pundits who say we have to have some ground troops are blind to the lessons we learned over the last 10 years in Iraq and Afghanistan. Boots on the ground are our problem, not solution. ISIL see us as monsters. Infidels. They behead our citizens and claim to be planning attacks on our soil. So lets keep them over there. In misery they so badly want to see us live in.
Let's keep bombing those bad guys from the air and with Cruise Missiles from our ships and do it for next 2 years or 3. What ever it takes to wear them down. It worked in Belgrade and Bosnia. Bombing like that is scary for those being bombed. It rattles the fighters confidence and zeal and they can't move around and secure more munitions and food and no one gets in or out of the region because we are bombing everything that moves or threatens. We can do that. They can't. It will work. Go with our strengths with least possible suffering to ourselves. When they surrender or are mostly all dead we can go in and help rebuild.
If we put boots on the ground, civilians will die just the same, including our troops in boots, maybe more than from bombing. I mean, is that not why we built these planes and bombs, so we could overpower bad guys without losing our fine boys and gals. And our PM can say he didn't send 158 more Canadians to their deaths. And we killed a lot of bad guys.
I don't know how leaders live with the knowledge that they, in their role and power, as head of the nation are responsible for those deaths. It's a daunting thought and I suppose a damn good rationalization is the only way out of that reality.
The other reality is; thinking back on the week that the USA invaded Iraq with all that firepower and advanced armaments and how their great tanks rolled over the Iraq ones, we have to wonder does the firepower trump human determination and hatred, like the Iraq fighters mustered and instead of rejoicing in their freedom and possibilities for the future, they made monkeys of the occupiers, fought against them, killing and injuring tens of thousands of them, then held an election under American rules and drove the guys, who freed them from murderous Saddam Hussein, and dumped tens of billions of dollars on their revitalization,the USA, out of the country without so much as a thank you.
So BOOTS on the ground? I don't think so.
Since the world of health is so sure that alcohol is responsible for so much sickness and early death; Governments everywhere, like Ontario should get out of the business of managing the sale and distribution of the substance and leave it to the suffering. Why should the governments benefit from our misery.
Tuesday, 30 September 2014
27 YEARS AGO; AN AMAZING FAMILY REUNION IN MONTREAL JULY 1987
Well, we, my son Patrick and I are excited to be able to post a historic family documentary that my 1st cousin Allan Dwyer , now Dr Allan Dwyer, who arranged with his brothers ; Don, Tim and Brian to film our family reunion in July 1987. A two day event on the Island of Montreal. If
you are not a relative, watch it anyway. It's full of fun and great characters and freezes a day in time 1987. Incredibly beautiful children and parents. Many of them are now highly successful and fine citizens.
Let me begin again. My sister Mary Dwyer came up with the idea that we would have a family reunion of the Burke Dwyer tribe who arrived from Ireland on Fogo Island Newfoundland in the mid- 1700's. and lived there for 200 years and then moved on to USA and parts of Canada. The woman married fellas with names like Dalton, Bauregard, Lee, Cato, Iwaszczenko,Mockler, Jette. gentlemen all. Over 60 people attended.
Mary organized the whole event. Saturday night at Holiday Inn outside of Montreal, because Montreal was the landing point for almost all the families migration. And many Burkes and Dwyers were still living there . Dinner with speeches Saturday night and Sunday on St Helen's Island, in the St Lawrence River all day Sunday. The video of the Saturday dinner is unfortunately too dark to do it justice but the Sunday sunny picnic was a hangover bonanza and funny funny. The children, who were all there as you will see, are all now in their late 20's and 30's and have children of their own. Most are all first cousins.
Many of the older folk are passed on and a few of my generation as well.
Notably; Jack and Steve Hauser, brothers, of Boston. The best looking men God ever put breath in and the sweetest and finest, both died; Jack in 1989 His mother and father Carm and Charlie in 1990, and Steve in 1991. Very tough, sad time for the family. My dear brothers Patrick ( Paddy) left in 2010. The Great Uncles and Aunts; Mable Lee, Aunt Helen Dwyer, Ben Dwyer's wife ( A Saint of a man) and my Mother and father Gladys Burke Dwyer and Frank. Uncle Joe Burke and his great wife Alice Dwyer Burke.
Another sweet, civilized man was Carl Beauregard. Boston. Brother and sister,Joan and Michael Dalton. New jersey. They were children of my mother's sister ,Aunt Kit Burke Dalton and Jim. Finally Our dear Uncle Peter Dwyer, who hosted the Saturday night talks is still going strong at age 87 in Toronto. He has been a beacon.
The first video is dark, as the lighting in the ball room was low but Video 2 is great and all outdoor
you are not a relative, watch it anyway. It's full of fun and great characters and freezes a day in time 1987. Incredibly beautiful children and parents. Many of them are now highly successful and fine citizens.
Let me begin again. My sister Mary Dwyer came up with the idea that we would have a family reunion of the Burke Dwyer tribe who arrived from Ireland on Fogo Island Newfoundland in the mid- 1700's. and lived there for 200 years and then moved on to USA and parts of Canada. The woman married fellas with names like Dalton, Bauregard, Lee, Cato, Iwaszczenko,Mockler, Jette. gentlemen all. Over 60 people attended.
Mary organized the whole event. Saturday night at Holiday Inn outside of Montreal, because Montreal was the landing point for almost all the families migration. And many Burkes and Dwyers were still living there . Dinner with speeches Saturday night and Sunday on St Helen's Island, in the St Lawrence River all day Sunday. The video of the Saturday dinner is unfortunately too dark to do it justice but the Sunday sunny picnic was a hangover bonanza and funny funny. The children, who were all there as you will see, are all now in their late 20's and 30's and have children of their own. Most are all first cousins.
Many of the older folk are passed on and a few of my generation as well.
Notably; Jack and Steve Hauser, brothers, of Boston. The best looking men God ever put breath in and the sweetest and finest, both died; Jack in 1989 His mother and father Carm and Charlie in 1990, and Steve in 1991. Very tough, sad time for the family. My dear brothers Patrick ( Paddy) left in 2010. The Great Uncles and Aunts; Mable Lee, Aunt Helen Dwyer, Ben Dwyer's wife ( A Saint of a man) and my Mother and father Gladys Burke Dwyer and Frank. Uncle Joe Burke and his great wife Alice Dwyer Burke.
Another sweet, civilized man was Carl Beauregard. Boston. Brother and sister,Joan and Michael Dalton. New jersey. They were children of my mother's sister ,Aunt Kit Burke Dalton and Jim. Finally Our dear Uncle Peter Dwyer, who hosted the Saturday night talks is still going strong at age 87 in Toronto. He has been a beacon.
The first video is dark, as the lighting in the ball room was low but Video 2 is great and all outdoor
Saturday, 27 September 2014
General Assembly 2014: Obama U.N. Speech [FULL] Today | The New York Times
THIS COULD BE THE BEST SPEECH OF PRESIDENT OBAMA'S LIFE
IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN IT; DO SO, I URGE YOU.
HE HAS BEEN SEEN AS RECLUSIVE LATELY BUT IT HAD MEANING
AND SET HIS TONE FOR A MORE THOUGHTFUL APPROACH TO WAR.
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