The findings of a report released last week into the tragic Taser-related death of Robert Dziekanski in the Vancouver Airport didn’t surprise me. Most of us had seen the video taken by a bystander, and could appreciate that the response of the RCMP Officers on the scene was inappropriate. Perhaps more significantly, we were aware that their inquiry testimony about the event differed strongly from the facts in the video.

One news commentator indicated that as far as public support, the RCMP has been “bleeding” badly over the last few years. It’s unfortunate that the force, long an iconic symbol of Canada, peaks in its support by Canadians only when some of the members are killed. “Inappropriate response” was a common phrase in the report on the Dziekanski incident, and that labels most difficulties the RCMP has gotten into over the last decade.
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The hysteria is even getting to me. I came at this article with half a notion of revising my position on the H1N1 Swine flu, and probably urging all of you to stampede your way to the nearest vaccination center, shove a few hundred people aside, and demand to be immediately jabbed.

So… I did a little research. While it doesn’t seem to be human nature to let facts get in the way of “feelings”, I like to back up my all too ready opinions with at least some foundation.

We’re going nuts. The last couple of days saw hundreds of clinics open across the country to provide vaccinations. A couple of months ago, surveys indicated that a great many Canadians were less than excited about getting vaccinated for H1N1, in fact it was of great concern to health officials that interest in the shots by the general public didn’t mirror their hopes for coverage. That seems to have changed– no doubt due to the media attention, and the accidental or intended messages that health officials have been sending.
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My articles have been few and far between lately… busy time.

I had written a draft of a column immediately following the discovery of the body of Tori Stafford, a follow-up to my last column (end of May—where does the time go?). I thought I should complete the column, perhaps as a way of getting things rolling again.

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Too Civilized?

Reporters at the time of the discovery of Tori’s body described the situation accurately as one of intense but mixed feelings for the family. I don’t think anyone in the situation of a missing person, particularly a child, abandons all hope until a body is finally found. Despite indications that the child is likely dead, as with a person lost at sea somehow a sliver of hope remains that the impossible happened and somewhere, somehow, the person is alive. Could Victoria be somewhere else– perhaps transferred, sold, whatever, to another person or family, and the indications of her being killed only a story to divert attention? Unlikely, but an anguished family clings to this faint hope. When a body is found and confirmed to be the missing child, that hope, however unreasonable, is extinguished.

The only positive, if one can twist the mind in that direction is, as Tori’s aunt described it, “at least we won’t be spending the rest of our lives watching for her, scanning every crowd, looking in every car that passes.”
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I certainly haven’t been very productive with this blog lately… where does the time go? Perhaps it’s part of the winter mentality, where we just hunker down and hold our breath, waiting for spring.

At least spring seems to be coming to our area of the Maritimes. Snow only exists in the woods or sheltered areas, and the sun has been shining brightly the past few days (though sometimes it isn’t as warm outside as a view from the window would suggest). Officially, spring is supposed to arrive in less than a week, so I guess we’re entitled.

For the last two months, as we worked our way through the worst of winter, we have been treated to never-ending talk of economic “stimulus”. Provincial stimulus talk lately (perhaps only as pre-election promises); before that, federal talk and legislation. We even hear international stimulus talk and see changes as nations struggle with getting out of this quagmire of recession.

And will it work? Perhaps, but I have my doubts if it will cooperate with the schedule that is promised, at least in Canada. We have enjoyed the luxury in Canada of having governments that seldom go to extremes, though in our limited experience we might at times think they do. I can’t recall the last time that armed men strode into the House of Commons and announced they were taking over the government, fed up with the rule of those in power—though it might be welcome much of the time. We are accustomed to little moves, the tweaking and adjusting of the nation’s business, a government that just muddles about, always ready to pull back if voters get too offended.
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By chance I was reading a book on the O.J. Simpson trial this morning, where the author went to great lengths to support his belief that incompetence is rampant in modern society (as obvious prelude to his comments about the trial). He’s certainly correct on that, and it’s all a part of a larger problem that I’ll comment on some time.

I glanced over my book to see Stephane Dion in what was apparently his TV address, comments supporting the coalition plan, comments that were supposed to arrive at CTV in time to air immediately following Harper’s address to the nation last night, and never did. Dion was on the receiving end of a lot of free shots last night as the reporters tried to fill time with frequently inane comments (like the one that “the Governor-General might consult her hairdresser” on the current issues, this from Lloyd Robertson—who should know better— a comment that my wife immediate labelled “sexist”). The camera turned then to reporter Robert Fife for comment, and he confessed he “didn’t hear the question because I was checking my email”. One shot they did get off about Dion & Co. was the obvious “how can they expect to govern Canada if they can’t get an important tape to the studio as promised?”

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