Language Nonsense

   I woke up very early this morning to the sound of rain pounding on my open bedroom window. Perhaps I should have waited to read the news of the day because now I have an overwhelming need to rant and it's not even 6am!

  An Ottawa couple has been awarded twenty-one thousand dollars because the seat belt clamp on the Air Canada flight they were on was only in english and the french writing on the emergency exit wasn't the same size as the english lettering. Official Language Violations is the official reason. And in 2016 alone they filed 26 complaints with the Commissioner of Official Languages.

  Ok here's where my blood pressure raises. Cross into Quebec. Look around. How much English do you see? Chances are none. Not a word. Every single provincial government sign is only in french. And if you are lucky enough to find a business or company who has a bi-lingual sign it will be in tiny lettering that even my bifocals would have a problem with. But that's the law and one they take very seriously.

  Already we struggle daily here in Ottawa with the unfairness of what language you speak. More money goes to french schools. Doctors who only want to care for french patients. Jobs not available unless you can speak french at a level that is not reciprocated in english. People not able to work across the river because they must be from Quebec to work in certain jobs yet the same rule doesn't apply on this side. The list goes on and on and on.

  I wonder how many english speakers file charges about language violations? And when they do what is the success rate? This particular couple, whose language rights are apparently trampled on almost daily, live in an english speaking province. Ten minutes down the road and they could have 100% of their life in their mother tongue. Yet they don't. I wonder why that is.

  Twenty some times in three years this couple feels their rights were "violated". Is that real or is this just a money grab? And how much is this costing us the taxpayers? Does Air Canada now have to change all their seat belts clasps and if they do how much will that cost us extra the next time you and I fly? Air travel is so cheap to begin with!

  We have two official languages. I accept that. But one is definitely more important than the other here in Ottawa. And certainly in the federal government workplace. When it is used as a means for financial gain, either real or perceived, that makes me very angry. Especially when it is the same people over and over again. 

  I wonder if these are the same folks who were insulted over 7Up not having a french equivalent? Probably.

  Ang

  

Leave Them Kids Alone!

  We seem to forget that politicians are people. Human beings who have lives outsides of their very public jobs. They have family, friends, and children and they deal with problems and illnesses involving those same people. So why is it we feel it is okay to attack them in all aspects of their lives? What gives us that right?

  Tuesday PM Trudeau posted a picture of his children heading off to begin another school year on Twitter. Just like I, and all my friends, will next Tuesday when our kids go back. It was a cute photo and very non-political. So I was surprised that so many Canadians took it as an opportunity to criticize his job as Prime Minister. Well....maybe not that surprised.

  Parents are proud of their children. All of us. We take every chance we can get to show them off. And we certainly don't want people criticizing them or us in front of them. Justin Trudeau is no different. Yet some political trolls used this as a chance to comment negatively on his politics. And worse yet they used his kids in their hate. There is never a reason to use children as pawns. Never.

  Disagree with their policies. Try to convince others to your way of thinking. Don't vote for them. But be an adult and leave their young kids alone.

  Ang

  

  

The Arrogance

  The arrogance of Trump is nothing new. We've seen it for years. But when I see him on the world stage pretending as if the entire world bows and scrapes at his feet I want to throw something at the tv. He has no idea, it seems, that the world is on to his dog and pony show and not believing every word he speaks.

  Saying that French PM Macron "asked" his permission to invite the Iranian Foreign Minister was a lie. You can hear in his own words that Macron did no such thing. When the leader of Denmark said Greenland wasn't for sale he called her nasty for the way she treated him. By telling the truth? Trump tried to make people believe that Greenland had a "for sale" sign on their front lawn and he was putting in an offer. How dare PM Frederikson turn it down flat! Doesn't she know who she is dealing with?

  I've said it before but whoever comes next as Pres, please let it be Pete Buttigieg, will have one hell of an uphill climb trying to convince the rest of the world that the United States is back on her meds and in a more stable and balanced condition again. We pay a price for that upheaval in too many ways to count. Check out your stocks or how much you pay for basic items. The first has gone down and the latter up. No one likes that role reversal.

  Where does this blustery confidence come from? By all accounts, he started with money, made some, lost a some, lost a lot more and didn't care who got bloodied in the process. That says entitlement to me which everyone hates. But as the years go by he has become more arrogant and more braggadocious than ever. Even with multiple bankruptcies and failed marriages he's become more vocal about his successes. Truths or not you can decide.

  Watching true leaders like Macron, Merkel, and Trudeau speak at the G7 was a great example of how dignified we expect our leaders to be. We want them respected and confident, not arrogant and bullying. It's too bad the people of the US forgot how important that is.

  Ang

**I had to use the word "braggadocious" because honestly who else have you ever heard use it?**





  

Perfect Children...No Way

  Here we are just two short weeks away from the beginning of a new school year. The nine weeks of summer are coming to an end. Parents across the country are looking thru sale flyers finding the best deals for all things back-to-school. It's an expensive time of year for most families but we happily spend the cash because we no longer have to entertain our kids! Sad but true!

  During the long days of summer break, parents are booking camps, arranging playdates and finding things to occupy their children's free time. And they have a lot of it! Some are lucky enough to have grandparents who are happy to have them for a week or two. Maybe longer. If that's you count your blessings.

  Some of my friends pretend, yes pretend, that they love having their kids at home for two months. That they are angels and every moment together is bliss. It's not remotely true. No child is happy all the time and certainly not all day every day. Yet they want to give off the impression that all is perfect. I blame that on social media.

  My kids are great...except when they are together. They have a shelf life of approximately three minutes when breathing the same air. It's not pretty but it's true. As they get older I hope it will get better. Jobs and friends will keep them busy and out of each others hair more and more as the summers pass. But they will grow up and become friends and they will forget how they used to fight....at least I hope so!

  Siblings argue and fight then laugh and make peace. They gang up on their parents and cause havoc and bring more joy than we could have ever thought. But to pretend that everything is perfect for nine weeks is a flat out lie. And one we should never let pass our lips!

  Ang

  

  

  


  

Relaunching The Kernick Life!

  Once upon a time I started writing a little blog. A daily look into the life I am living and those who I share it with. It brought me great joy and a feeling of inner peace I had somehow lost in the hustle and bustle of a busy life. Most things I experienced I passed on. Sometimes funny. Sometimes in a rant. But always honest and from my point of view.

  I talked about politics and parenting. Traveling and renovating. Good experiences and bad. I was my own therapist in many ways. I tried to be respectful...even when angry. And I never responded when there was criticism about my opinion. Allowing those who disagreed to have their say as long as it was in a respectful manner. And boy did some of you have totally different ideas on subjects.

  But then I found I was monitoring myself a little too much. Writing and rewriting topics and making them as generic as possible. Not wanting to offend someone had taken the realness out of it for me. I was dancing around issues and never quite saying what I wanted to say. So I stopped writing. At first I felt relief that I was no longer censoring myself.  Then I started to get angry that I let other peoples feelings on topics take away the pleasure I was having when writing.

  So today I am forgetting about everyone else and just writing my thoughts and opinions. If you like them....wonderful. If you don't....not my problem. Just know they are mine and mine alone and while I mean no disrespect to anyone I cannot be responsible for yours.

   If you feel very strongly I would suggest perhaps starting your own blog.

  Ang

How Much??? For How Long???

  As I watched bits and pieces of the Democratic debates over the past few days I was even more grateful to be Canadian. Not only for the obvious reasons....healthcare, no kids in cages, sane leadership....but because the US Presidential election is in November 2020!!!  Sixteen months from now. Sixteen months!!! OMG Canadians would go insane.

  We would never, ever allow our politicians to start campaigning that far in advance. No way do we have the patience to be preached and lied to for that long a stretch. We can barely survive the normal 6 weeks of pre-election gibberish we are subjected to every four years. A year and a half might kill us.

  And why are there so many of them? Seriously twenty candidates? Who could possibly remember what each one said about any issue? Or even what they all look like? It's almost impossible to keep them all straight but very soon the number will shrink....down to about ten. That is still insane but it's the process they have in place. 

  Please don't even get me started on the money. It costs millions of dollars to run for the candidacy and tens of millions to run for president. That is an awful lot of cash thrown away when you think of the twenty people running. That money could have gone to good use at school lunch programs or homeless shelters or a million other under-funded programs in the US. Can you imagine what a soup kitchen could do with even a small portion of that cash? It boggles the mind.

  Presidential politics is about money in the US. You can't get elected to run the country without the ability to raise the proverbial "shit load of money". No matter how great your ideas are or how innovative your strategies might be without cash you are sitting in front of your tv watching someone else do the job. It's called a "war chest" and Trump already has $30 million sitting in his. Keep in mind it's eighteen months til the election so he really hasn't started pushing hard for donations. That could easily double by this time next year. It's such a waste.

  We all need to elect our representatives based on their policies, ideas, and reputation. Looking for the best and brightest is extremely important. Finding those who will fight hard to make our lives better and our future brighter should be our top priority.

   I hate to think how many great leaders the US has lost out on because of money. Cause as the world sees clearly now....money isn't everything.

  Ang