Breastfeeding: Are We Really Talking About This Still?

Good morning my friends. I had no intention of writing a blog this morning when I got up but several news stories have really got me worked up and I thought it best that I write out my frustrations rather than carry them around all day. So let's get this show on the road before I have a brain hemorrhage and my head explodes.

It continues to amaze me how intolerant and ignorant some people can be. The human race has been around for thousands of years (tens of thousands depending on what you believe) and yet still we continue to struggle with something so very simple as respect. You thought I was going to say equality, equity or some other idealistic achievement of human tolerance didn't you? Well I'm not because it isn't about those things because they mean nothing without a certain level of respect. Tolerating me because I'm gay (I'm not) and not liking me is nothing more than lip service which leaves the door open for more hate. Equality cannot be achieved without some form of respect and understanding.

My beef is breast feeding. Why is this conversation even happening? Why do I have to sit here and waste my energy and emotions on something that is more natural than most everything else we do as human beings? Let me explain to you how this process works. A woman has a child, the child needs food, the female body, coincidentally, produces food (really high quality, nutrient rich milk)...is any of this making sense? Good; it's supposed to. So what, in whatever God's name you worship, is the problem? Even if you're a hard core extreme religious zealot you must acknowledge that this process is God's plan but yet yesterday I had to deal with a Twitter feed for over an hour that was a debate on breast feeding in public.

Have you turned on the television lately? How about surfing through YouTube? Maybe you're one of those rare people who actually reads magazine's still? What do you see? Continued sexualization of women. Women used as sex objects to sell products or services; using the beauty and grace of female sexuality to convince people to buy this or do that. It's almost sickening; especially nowadays that we're doing it to our women younger and younger (go see what Miley Cyrus looked like as Hannah Montana when she started but I'm sure you know exactly what I'm talking about). All this constant bombardment and use of women as purely sexual creatures to be used and exploited but whip out a nipple to feed a starving baby and suddenly you are an affront to humanity? Sometimes less than human...where are our principles? What happened to them? Sex sells I suppose and maybe that's the problem.

Two people sharing Intimacy

Sex is not a marketing tool. At it's most basic roots it is nothing more than a means to an ends; a function of survival to propagate the species. More expanded from this root is the emotional and psychological side of  sex. Sex began as instinct because that's how primitive humans survived: instinct. We are no longer that primitive people; we have grown, we have evolved, we have gained in knowledge and thus our perceptions have changed. Sex is no longer a means of survival, it has become something much more. It has become an intimate act of the physical manifestation of attraction and emotion felt between two human beings. It's purpose is for pleasure, love and expression. It is the unity of two people in a single moment that melts away all reality around you. It is a sacred and holy bond shared between two human beings that unifies them together in euphoric bliss, culminating in an orgasmic explosion shared between the physical and the mental. Sex is not for sale; it is for sharing (that's metaphorical; see what you will).

More people sharing Intimacy

Selling sex for profit? Good. Sexualizing women for profit? Good. Breast Feeding? Bad. Seriously, I think that it is time that we as a species take a huge step back from our own egos and think about where we are going. When war, death and fraud are commonly accepted practices; when the exploitation of women for profit is considered commonplace; when sex becomes a platform for advertising instead of an expression of true emotion (I believe EVERY sexual experience is meant to be a shared physical and emotional experience); and finally, when the natural process of our nature is considered wrong, shunned and in some cases (just ranting here; not based on fact) I am sure it is probably outlawed I think we may have misread our moral compass. 

So what do we do? Well, for starters we can start showing some respect to women; some equity and equality would probably go a long way to making things a little bit better but the best thing that can be done is to consider how you may inadvertently promote gender inequality in your own life. I use language that is predominantly male-oriented and I make a conscious effort to change it. A small step, but it's a step. I also do not buy products or services that use women and sex to sell to me. Don't get me wrong, I love intimacy as much as any man and women are the ultimate beings of sexuality, but it should be their choice to express it.

And women, if you want to breast feed in public, do it. Don't let the ignorant and narrow-minded people try to pressure, force or shame you into feeling guilty for doing what nature intended of you. You are all beautiful and amazing creatures of life and love; without you, none of us would be here. Thanks for putting up with our shit for all this time; I love you.

Did I Really Just Hear That?

Greetings and salutations my friends! I apologize for the sudden and abrupt end to my regular postings. As I mentioned in my last post I have made the decision to run for city council in the Halifax Regional Municipality municipal elections this fall. However, while sitting at today's Regional Council session, one of the current councilors made a statement which furthered my resolve to pursue this course.

"Councilor's can override the will of the people. They have that power."

"Sometimes a councilor must make a decision that is contrary to the will of the people because it is best for the people even if they don't know it."

I'll let those words sink in for a minute. Now, I am working from memory and those may not be exact quotations but they are pretty damned close. There is so much wrong with these two statements that it frightens me to consider their true, deeper meaning. Before I get to that, let's just examine them one at a time and I'll explain my concerns; concerns that you should have as well.

"Councilor's can override the will of the people. They have that power."

This sentence is extremely alarming. Elected representatives, also known as public servants, can at their whim, ignore the will of the people. I was not aware and received no memo alerting me to the fact that elected officials had supreme authority. The very meaning of representative means to stand in place of. Public officials do not have power over the people but rather, power of the people. They have been authorized by the citizens who elected them to speak on their behalf. It was my understanding from the source of this statement that city councilor's in Halifax have the right and the authority to make decisions contrary to the demand of their constituents. Frightening.

"Sometimes a councilor must make a decision that is contrary to the will of the people because it is best for the people even if they don't know it."

Firstly, no elected representative, at any time should be making any decisions that are contrary to the will of the people. The very position is defined by the fact that you are the people. Contradictions do not exist and for any representative to act contrary to the demand of their constituents is to act contrary to themselves. This cannot possibly be. Your public servants are not servants at all by this creed, they are masters. Let's move on to the second portion of this statement shall we?

Even if they don't know it? What do you take the public for? If you or all those who did not oppose this statement spent some time with your constituents you would have thought twice about saying something like this. What a terrible, terrible insult to the intelligence of the people. During my work with the Occupy Nova Scotia movement I bore witness to a number of very cunning ploys that some people attempted to throw over the heads of the General Assembly. Each time, my fears were embarrassingly relieved as that same public saw the ruse and promptly discarded it. Embarrassing because I too once underestimated the people but let me reassure you good councilors, they are not to be. They are quite intelligent and as it stands, they are quite annoyed. And with statements like this, who wouldn't be?

I made a promise to myself that if I ever entered any political arena that I would do things my way; my right way. And my right way involved some old, very old, traditions that have been forgotten. The most important of which is Honesty. Another is trust. But one that was as equally important was my integrity. I am running to be elected to represent the people because it is one of the greatest honor's I think a person can be given. It is a sacred duty and privilege to serve in the name of the people. That is why I have made it my mission to not talk negatively about my opponents or any specific candidates. This isn't a race; it's an application. The last time I checked, employers wanted to know about me and not about other people being interviewed. With that in mind, I will not however refrain from expressing my concerns or opinions regarding comments, statements and actions by the current governments at any level (excepting perhaps Stephen Harper, I'll call him out for his insanity any day).

I'm sharing this today because I think it's important to understand the psychology at play here. The deeper, scarier meaning to these statements is that it came at the Municipal level. This is the bottom tier of authority when it comes to governance here in Canada. It is grassroots and though it is important due to its impact on day to day life, it is definitely nothing as glorified as provincial or federal politics. That at this level of governance, our elected representatives know what is best regardless of the public will and can exercise that knowing with supreme authority is just frightening. I dare not imagine how provincial or federal politicians see themselves...inconceivable to consider how his Holiness Supreme Chancellor & King of Canada, Stephen Harper views himself...

It was nice to be able to write for you. I wish it had been something a little cheerier however this was weighing deeply on my mind. I want to thank those who've been checking in every so often to see if I've posted. I promise I will try to do a little better but a political campaign is no picnic but definitely worth it for the opportunity to be the change.

John Thibeau For City Council

Good morning friends, followers and family! I guess it is pretty apparent from today's blog title that I have come to a decision on running in the Municipal election here in Halifax. For those who didn't know I was considering it, please feel free to go back and read my original post on the idea, Seeking Council. 

Over the last few weeks I have been seeking feedback from all those close to me and sought out specific individuals who I felt would have a positive impact on a campaign. After much deliberation and discussion, I finally reached the decision that I would indeed run for City Council in District 10.

There is much work to be done between now and then. For starters, there is much to learn about the processes of council, regulations, policies and procedures I must understand. Then there are the various committees and community council meetings that take place which I will be investing much of my time in over the next few months. I realize that I do have some inexperience working against me however what I may lack there I more than make up for in my passion, desire and strong ability to learn and understand.

On top of all of those administrative type meetings to attend, there are also a plethora of community organized events or community group events that are happening. I aim to attend as many of these as possible; and not just the ones isolated to District 10 (though I will give those precedence). I am asking for the trust of the people from District 10 and the city of Halifax as a whole to represent their voice at City Council. I've already taken part in a number of really great events and assisted in many different social causes. Some of these include the MS Society of Canada (Atlantic Division), the Human Library at Mount St Vincent, the Diabetes Association of Canada, Clean Across Nova Scotia, LGBTO communities of Halifax and several others. I'm looking forward to participating in many more.

So, I am really excited this morning despite my press release not really being picked up by the media. That's perfectly fine. I have a really excited and dedicated team, a growing wave of support from friends, family and followers and there is still so much time between now and the election. I am really looking forward to getting out and meeting more of the people from District 10. I've met a small group of them already; some are classmates, some are friends and some are professional connections. If you want to know more about how my campaign is going, what I'm doing or want to offer advice or opinion, please check out the links below.

And most importantly, be prepared to get out and vote! Your vote is your voice and I will make it count.

Official Site - John Thibeau for District 10

Facebook Page - John Thibeau For HRM City Council 

Twitter - John_Thibeau

The Fresh "Prints" of Agricola

Good morning my friends from around the globe! I recently noticed a few new countries popping up on the analytics: Lithuania, Israel, the Philippines. Very exciting! Today's post is going to be a little more localized however. I want to take a moment to do what little is within my means to pay back to a special group of gentlemen who recently gave their time and work to a very worthy cause.

The Fresh "Prints" is actually Fresh Prints, a local business that specializes in customized shirts. I have to be completely honest, until I gave my time to volunteer to help an instructor at my college and her MS Walk Team, I had no idea they existed. I'd only ever seen one other store like it in the city. After helping her with her fundraising event, I stayed on to help her raise sponsors to pay for shirts for the team. 

A few weeks before the walk, things were not looking well. Angela nor myself had had much success in raising any sponsorship money. She had received one 50$ donation from a lawyer firm, Ritch Durnford Lawyers. One other sponsor was also going on the shirt, Kelly St-Pierre Photography, as Kelly had donated her time and resources to photograph the Play Date With A Purpose event. Things were not looking very promising and with 14 team members, 50$ was not going to cover the cost. I felt terrible, she felt dejected. Then a wondrous thing occurred. 

I asked Angela for one more day; I would just contact Fresh Prints and see what could be done. Now the internet is not a medium for trying to visualize people through language when one has never officially met. I received a reply quite quickly from a very professional gentleman named Nigel. Nigel was one of the most helpful people I have met. He was very courteous and beyond that courtesy was a generosity and genuine interest in the people of his community.

I explained to him the complete situation, the small budget we had to work with, the brief time before the walk and other details about who we were and why were talking to him. To my absolute surprise and delight, Nigel and his staff not only took on the project but went above and beyond. I cannot express how amazing it is to have experienced first hand a sense of community. They could have easily dismissed us, as other businesses had done for one reason or another, but they didn't.

Nigel and his staff not only donated their time but they donated all 14 tee shirts as well as the time and resources needed to put graphics on them. How absolutely fantastic is that? But wait, because to me this story gets better because it made me realize something very important. I'll get to that in a moment though. I just have to add that on top of all of that generosity, due to some design flaws a final product was never able to be finalized two days before the event. They did not operate on weekends. Nigel and his staff went in, on their own time, their only time, and made up 14 simple tee shirts that brought something very grand to someone who deserves it: Joy. Thank you Nigel; thank you Fresh Prints. What you did for strangers from your community made all the difference in the world.

Now, onto what I learned. I never met Nigel through our correspondence. It was all done electronically through email. I never actually met Nigel until the day before the walk. I went to Fresh Prints on the Saturday to pick up the shirts and met him for the first time. Something struck me when he came out of his office:

How fantastic it was to see someone taking such a strong investment in their community by producing and selling local goods; and doing it independently. Being an entrepreneur is no easy task. It requires a lot of hard work, dedication and ability to suffer through tough times. Having worked for several various franchises, I know it is much easier for an established and large business to absorb such losses. This is not always so easy as an independent entrepreneur; which makes the contribution all the more meaningful. Nigel, you're a class "A" gentleman and a great professional. 

So I urge you, if you're looking to be a little more creative with your next shirt purchase (they do more than just tees) then contact them down at Fresh Prints. While I was there I sifted through two of the five or so binders with suggestions and ideas for shirts and I took a look at some of the pre-made shirts on the racks and walls. Some really great designs but you'll have to go down and see for yourself! On top of that, I believe that they can even work with submitted graphics but you should talk to them about it. 

I'm not an official agent or anything. I'm just a member of the community who reached out to it and got a response from an outstanding business, with an outstanding staff who have a deep sense of charity and good will. It is a kindness that the whole world needs more of. Even the smallest of stones makes a ripple in the lake. Fresh Prints, you've just started a ripple that I'm helping to pass on here. Thank you. Truly.

Sunday Afternoon Poetry #21

Good afternoon my friends! Welcome back for another weekly edition of Sunday Afternoon Poetry. I hope that as the week concludes that you have much to look back on and be grateful for. Today's poem is another one similar to last week; a little off the wall but sometimes that's the way we need to express ourselves: outside of the norm. Thank you all for continuing to return and read my posts; it is truly appreciated. Enjoy your day, wherever you are and may the Universe conspire to see you find happiness.

Being Of North

As I walk along the thin red line
On the borders of my mind

A bird it swoops beneath the ground
The mice are meeting at the pound
To fight against the roach and bug
Who're stuck beneath a throwing rug
The geese will come to sing and play
There will be no rest today
And as for bees who've gone to swim
Or oceans boiling at the brim
A rat will come to see them all
The trees won't stand there quite so tall
For as the mountains run for cover
A cloud is searching for a lover
Lightening strikes upon the sky
Another carcass slowly dies
The birds will never fly on time
And I will slowly lose my mind

-John Thibeau 24/Feb/2002

Next

Reminder: Clean Across Nova Scotia...the World

Good day my friends! Firstly, I'd like to apologize for yesterday's missing post and perhaps several missing posts that may occur over the next few months. There are some personal things going on in my life that are going to require a lot more of my time and energy. Don't worry, nothing could keep me from writing indefinitely; it means too much to me on many levels. I will of course fill you in on everything when the time is right; until then, however, things may become a little sporadic and I ask you to please bear with me through this time. Now, let's move to today's topic.

Last month I wrote a blog entry on a global event that was happening. Though I did discuss the actual global movement, Let's Do It: World Cleanup 2012, my primary focus was on the local event happening in Halifax and the province of Nova Scotia. I also tried to encourage other people from across Canada to join in as Nova Scotia was the only province participating at that point. Today, that event date is drawing ever so near; just seven days left and it's not too late to be a part of something great.

Originally, the blog post idea came as a request from Clean Across Nova Scotia; today, this is not the case. No one asked me to write another blog about it; my first one quickly became my number one most viewed entry and continues to receive daily hits. No, today I am writing a reminder post because of the importance that I feel this event should be given and why.

You see, this event is more than just about picking up visible litter. It has a broader goal and more important objective: to bring people and communities together. Often I find myself spending hours upon hours a day, in front of my computer, alone in my room drifting through the never-ending vastness of cyberspace (sometimes as much as 12 hours). I am not alone in this; I see some of you on there as often as myself. We are disconnected; all of us. Though we could blame technology, it is only part of the problem. The root is ourselves because we choose it.

There is nothing wrong with technology or the internet or using them. There is something wrong when that becomes your main method of communication. When you spend more time on a keyboard or cell phone than you do having conversation with people face to face (and though work can provide this, it is not the kind of social activity I mean). This is when you disconnect; you forget; you become apathetic and desensitized. This event, and others based on goals like it, is trying to help you, me and each one of us to reconnect.

Like I said, it's more than about cleaning up; it's about rediscovering ourselves and our communities. Here in Halifax we have such a diverse amount of people and cultures that live outside of one another despite living in the same community. Events such as the Clean Across Nova Scotia initiative aim to bring these people and groups together; to give them a common interest; a shared goal and show them that they have more in common as people than they do differences as cultures.

Here in Halifax, the event is gaining in popularity. One of our mayoral candidates, Fred Connors, has accepted an invitation to participate and as I said the first time around, I also have registered for the event as well. As the event day draws near, I get a little more excited. I know many of the people attending two of  the cleanups I am going to try and make it to but there are more I don't know. Those are the one's I am looking forward to meeting; new people with new stories to share and to connect with.

I do my best to be consciously aware of the time I spend away from the real world while I'm hanging out in the online world. I make it a point to make plans to spend time with friends even if it's just over coffee so that I must leave the digital world behind and get back to reality. So today, I encourage you to do the same in the form of joining the growing number of people around the globe participating in this amazing, environmentally and socially conscious event.

Together we can make our communities a more beautiful and greener place to live in. At the same time, reconnect with your community and your neighbors. They are your friends; they are your family; they are your community. You have all, each one of you, an investment in it's upkeep and it's future. Share it together; share ideas together; grow together. Life is a lot more joyful when you have others to share your love with.

Have a wonderful day. Love Each Other.