If it's Tuesday, you should be dancing! This week's Cotillion is being hosted by Beth at MY Vast Right Wing Conspiracy, Clair at e-Claire, Denita at Who Tends the Fires and Sadie at Fistful of Fortnights.

It's also time to update your address books, because the Cotillion has moved out of its shotgun shack at Blogger, and over to some swank Fifth Avenue digs at MuNu.

The new Cotillion site is here.

This is how Girl on the Right started in the first place. I was hanging out on a BB (which shall remain nameless) which was populated mostly by women. One of the topics was to tell a deep dark thought you've had, one that you maybe don't want others to know. The thought I had (after having worked in HR for over a year) was that it is right and just that women are paid less than men, because a man will not force his company to pay him to stay home having babies (maternity leave), and that if I were a small business owner, I would never employ women, because the law has mat leave so heavily protected, that in the end I would be paying them more than the men, but for less work.

I was kicked of the board. Seriously - I received an email from the administrator, telling me that perhaps I should find somewhere new to hang out, because I was no longer welcome there. Apparently, they'd gotten their ovaries in a twist. Hey - they asked the question!

So I decided I would create a place where conservative women could come and feel at home, knowing that they are not the only ones. Strangely, the bulk of my readership is men. Oh well, at least I'm not alone. Or am I?

As I delve deeper and deeper into the world of conservative politics, I find that I am alienating my friends. I don't mean to, really. It's just that I have different opinions on things now, and different interests. My view of the world has changed, and different things make me happy and angry now.

My friends haven't changed much from where they were before. They seem to ask for more now, though. Having always been liberals, they have always had certain things handed to them. They worked less, but they always had money, and roofs over their heads.Now as they get older, they are still much like children, thinking they can work in low-paying or part-time jobs, but the rent will still find a way to get paid. They believe that your money and mine should go into funding things that serve no real purpose, like gay marriage legislation and the national daycare program. And don't get me started on socialized medicine, despite my best friend nearly losing her mother to medical incompetence. They are all very happy to let things go along as they are, and let government think for them. They are happy believing that everyone is nice (if misunderstood), and that no one wants to hurt us, so we should just stop scare mongering. After all, it's all the Americans' fault. Those bastards.

When speaking to an old friend of mine today, I was telling her about my wonderful time in Ohio, and how I would be perfectly happy to pack my bags (again!), and correct the mistake made at my birth - I should have been born there. I will not repeat the bile that spewed forth from her on the subject of the Great Satan. She travels to Florida (Ack! Bush-land!) at least twice a year, but she seems to not notice that it is not only in America, but Republican America.

When I speak to my dearest friend Heather, whose hand I held all day on 9/11, she tells me that I'm overreacting, and after all, America is much more aggressive and contentious than Canada, and I should stop eyeing every Muslim with suspicion.

Is it me? Have I gone too far, and become a fanatic? Or have I just moved on far enough to feel like a stranger among friends? I'd like to be able to shrug, and say I'll make new ones, but how does a conservative go about making like-minded friends in Toronto, anyway? The pickings are pretty slim, consisting mostly of nerds and old men. The occasional religious housewife - but I'm a bit too rough around the edges for them. So where do I fit in?

Oh, right. America.

"I Would Eat Monkeyshit For a Million Bucks"

So said the blond lady at the party I was at on Saturday night, as she talked about making her submission video for the next Survivor. I didn't get her name, but I know that someday I'll be flipping channels, and a familiar face will pop up on one of the tackier reality shows (they're all tacky), and I will shout "It's the monkeyshit lady!"

Ohio was grand - my bags are packed and I'm ready to move there! The air was clean and smog-free out in the country. Every car had a Support the Troops bumper sticker, and every lawn had a flag. People wore Jesus Saves t-shirts in all seriousness, and I didn't laugh. I used to laugh.

Our trip down was uneventful, with very little hold-up at the US border. This concerns me, because although they stopped my husband to fill out a landing card, they didn't even attempt to match my passport to my face. To my knowledge, they didn't even open it. And they didn't ask about the dog, despite the fact that he had 10lbs of C-4 strapped to his tiny rabies-ravaged body (well, not really, but you see what I mean - no security).

We arrived at our destination around 1:30 on Saturday morning. Although I couldn't see much of what was there, I could easily see what wasn't. There was no pretense. When you live full time in a city like Toronto, lack of pretense can often be mistaken for lack of civilization. Not so. This was small-town, Norman Rockwell, white Methodist America. Land of the Free. Town squares looked like Stars Hollow from the Gilmore Girls, complete with gazebo drapped in red, white and blue bunting. Century homes had candles burning in every window - leaving a light on for us. Pickup trucks had mud on their tires. All was as it should be.

Saturday was the Medieval Faire in the Ashtabula woods. Comedy troupes, juggling acts and fire-eaters, contortionists, lords and ladies, costumers, and lots of food! The tickets were free because my lovely hostess works for Clear Channel, who are one of the sponsors. But they really zinged you on souvenirs and concessions. A bag of roasted pecans was $8!!

Saturday night was a biker/truck driver party and cookout. Plenty of beer and shots, lots of off color jokes, and stories told 'round the fire. Was it redneck? Yes. Did it bother us city folk? Not in the slightest.

So what is a redneck? Is it all about Jeff Foxworthy jokes, or is there more to it than that? From Wikipedia:

A redneck is typically a social conservative; as well as being, rural, working class, and opposed to taxation and regulation (all of these are subject to wild variations). A redneck is almost always a white American whose family has clearly been of rustic and traditional circumstances.

The term was originally used to describe a person of pale complexion who has been sunburned due to outdoor blue collar work. Because some think it applies exclusively to poor, working class whites, it has been regarded by them to mean racist and classist. Many also mistakingly associate all rednecks (negative stereotype) with the Ku Klux Klan.

On the other hand, it is embraced by many, such as the Southern celebrities Jerry Clower and Jeff Foxworthy. While some prefer the terms "country" or "southern", the term redneck is used both as a term of pride and as a derogatory epithet. In one of his stand-up routines, Foxworthy sums up the condition as "a glorious absence of sophistication".

A glorious absence of sophistication? No wonder they scare the shit out of the city mice! I admit, I would be disappointed by the lack of decent sushi available in Youngstown, but I would probably get over it. A redneck is someone who would eat monkeyshit for a million bucks, but it's also someone whose home has a flag in the yard, a welcome mat, and a pot of coffee on for anyone who cares to stop by. Of course, if she doesn't recognize you as you're walking up the driveway, she might shoot you. But it's worth taking the chance.

Sunday morning we slept late, then hit the road for the drive back. Just as we were leaving Ohio and heading into Pennsylvania, we stopped at an old favorite of mine for breakfast: Waffle House. When I journeyed across the U.S. back in late 1995, it seemed there was always a Waffle House at the next exit after I realized I was hungry. It was always open, the food is good and cheap, and everyone is smiling and friendly, whether it's two in the afternoon, or two in the moning. Yesterday was no different. Mr. Right had his first experience with grits. He took my advice and added Tobasco, which made the grimace disappear from his face. As we were leaving, a man wearing a Bush/Cheney 2004 t-shirt was holding the door open for his two little girls. He said good morning. People don't say good morning to strangers in the city. It simply isn't done.

Back on the road, radio cranked and listening to cheesey country music stations, I came across a song that actually made me cry. Not since the day I was caught off guard and heard the song from my mother's funeral on the radio have I spontaneously burst into tears while driving. Perhaps it was the sheer American-ness of it all. Perhaps it was because I had just dropped a few postcards for my adopted soldiers into the mailbox. Maybe it was the waffles. But I cried.

I never thought that this is where I'd settle down.
I thought I'd die an old man back in my hometown.
They gave me this plot of land,
Me and some other men, for a job well done.

There's a big White House sits on a hill just up the road.
The man inside, he cried the day they brought me home.
They folded up a flag and told my Mom and Dad:
"We're proud of your son."

And I'm proud to be on this peaceful piece of property.
I'm on sacred ground and I'm in the best of company.
I'm thankful for those thankful for the things I've done.
I can rest in peace;
I'm one of the chosen ones:
I made it to Arlington.

I remember Daddy brought me here when I was eight.
We searched all day to find out where my grand-dad lay.
And when we finally found that cross,
He said: "Son, this is what it cost to keep us free."

Now here I am, a thousand stones away from him.
He recognized me on the first day I came in.
And it gave me a chill when he clicked his heels,
And saluted me.

And I'm proud to be on this peaceful piece of property.
I'm on sacred ground and I'm in the best of company.
I'm thankful for those thankful for the things I've done.
I can rest in peace;
I'm one of the chosen ones:
I made it to Arlington.

And everytime I hear twenty-one guns,
I know they brought another hero home to us.

And I'm proud to be on this peaceful piece of property.
I'm on sacred ground and I'm in the best of company.
We're thankful for those thankful for the things we've done.
We can rest in peace;
'Cause we are the chosen ones:
We made it to Arlington.

Yeah, dust to dust,
Don't cry for us:
We made it to Arlington.

I will leave it at that for now. It's a good place to end. Maybe tomorrow I will go into how bad the security is heading into Canada. But not now. I need to go wipe my eyes and blow my nose.

Taking a break this weekend, and heading south of the 49th. Off to do very American things with friends - drink weak beer and shoot things.

Catch up with y'all next week.

Not only does my fair city harbor terrorist cells, apparently the elected officials take their cue from them, as well.

Miss Universe has been deemed too tasteless to open a culinary festival celebrating the Tastes of Thailand.

Officials with the City of Toronto banned the hometown beauty from opening a Thai festival on the weekend, citing a city bylaw that bans activities deemed degrading to men or women through sexual stereotyping.

Was it so long ago...

Miss World contestants in bright summer dresses and tank tops left Nigeria for London on Sunday after four days of sectarian violence left more than 100 people dead and forced the pageant to move.

Organizers decided to move the contest from Nigeria to London "for the sake of the nation," pageant publicist Stella Din said. "Even though we believe this violence is not connected to us ... we didn't want any more bloodshed."

[snip]

Islamic groups have complained for months that the beauty pageant promotes promiscuity. But organizers insisted the women never intended to offend anyone.

Week after week, we debutantes of the Cotillion dance with un-named partners. Who are our ideal men? While I can's speak for my co-hostesses this week, Beth from MY Vast Right Wing Conspiracy, Annika from Annika's Journal, and Dr. Sanity, for me the greatest dance partners are the men of Hollywood's yesteryear. They are the blue collar Stanley Kowalski, or the blue-eyed Newman. They are English, like Laurence Olivier, or French like Yves Montand.

Some of these men love us to the point of insanity; some of them are elusive, and won't let themselves be caught. The leading men of Hollywood's golden age were not metrosexuals, but real men.

Some were more soft-spoken than others, like Jimmy Stewart, but they were strong and silent, always eager to rescue their leading ladies, with never a thought to breaking a nail or mussing a perfect 'do. In today's age of Brad Pitt and Matt Damon, a pretty face is all you get. There are no heroes who rush off to war. There are only guys who leave their wives to rush off with Hollywood's ambassador to the UN. Ugh.

Beth at MY Vast Right Wing Conspiracy uses White Trash Wednesday to poke fun at the idiots at NARAL, and their Screw Abstinance Party. After all, it's okay to screw around indiscriminantly if NARAL is there to end any unwanted pregnancies that may result.

Stacy from Not A Desperate Housewife asks you where your loyalties lie.

Sissy at Sisu discusses the attitude of the French:

Sacré bleu! We'll have that order of French Fries after all! Pipes offers a provocative explanation, putting French chauvinism in a new and flattering light:

The British have seemingly lost interest in their heritage while the French hold on to theirs; even as the British ban fox hunting, the French ban hijabs.

The former embraced multiculturalism, the latter retain a pride in their historic culture. This contrast in matters of identity makes Great Britain the Western country most vulnerable to the ravages of radical Islam, whereas France, for all its political failings, has retained a sense of self that may yet see it through.

What would Yves say about that? He would probably just shrug with that aristocratic insouciance he was known for, and order another martini, while debating whether or not to bed the petite poule at the next table.

While we're on the subject of the French, Merri from Merri Musings says that they can keep Roman Polanski. We don't want him!


The Maxed Out Mama gives us a lesson on what is and is not bigotry, and argues a little with an anonymous (they're always anonymous) commenter who judges her on the fact that she's from Georgia, and therefore must own slaves or something. Really, there's little wonder why these people don't post their names.

Charmaine from Reasoned Audacity talks about her experience at Edinburgh's Live 8 show, and ponders the question of whether or not a concert can eradicate poverty.

John Hinderaker and I talked before I left for the trip. We were both curious about whether or not the potential for a right-left convergence on this issue is real.

It could be. The boos of the Live8 crowd any time President Bush's name was mentioned left me skeptical. But in Bono and Geldof's praise for President Bush, George Clooney's refusals to accept bait to criticize the administration, and other obvious efforts to craft a coalition-building message, I saw a glimmer of potential.

Charmaine's photos are great, too. This is blogger journalism!

Portia Rediscovered has been over-achieving this week, and sends me two links: Weekend Nugget talks about the difference between the "torture" in Gitmo (i.e. wear panties on your head while talking to a hot female interrogator - sounds more like a frat party to me!), and the dirty deeds of Saddam Hussein's regime. Get a grip, people. That was real torture!
And Sad, Sad, Sad, Sad World is the ridiculous plan of the San Bernadino School Board to teach Ebonics in order to give black students a chance to get better grades. There is nothing I can say to this. It leaves me speechless, which is exactly what it's going to do to kids in San Bernadino!

Mamamontezz writes a beautiful poem for the fallen:

I do not know your names,
nor will I ever.
I only know that you are dead and gone,
casualties of war,
fallen heroes,
who's deeds will never be shared
except by those who were with you.

I do not know your families,
nor will I ever.
I only know that in the hours
and days
and months of their grief and anguish,
there is nothing that can be said to ease their pain.
Only their memories
and the knowledge of your courage
can soothe them
and give them solace.

Follow the link to read the whole thing, and some of her other poetry.


Little Miss Atilla also touches on the subject of bigotry, and "humor" that goes too far. Blackface? Is it ever okay? What about cross-dressing? What about depicting an entire race as animals? Yeah, that's going too far.

SondraK from Knowledge is Power reminds us that July 18th marks the death of Mary Jo Kopechne. In case you don't remember who she is, she was the young lady that Ted Kennedy left for dead after driving his car off a bridge.

Kathy from RightWingSparkle talks about the culture war in America, and the new gay television station. How can it be threatening to your kids if they don't even know what bondage means? Yikes! And she points out that the media will have you believe that groups like NARAL and NOW are the only women's organizations in America. Not so...




And last but most certainly not least, the inspiration for my leading man theme this week: Right Thinking Girl stays strong under burdens that would kill a lesser woman. She knows that the problems of three little people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. So she's going to kiss Rick goodbye, and get on the plane with Victor Laszlo. But they'll always have Paris (unfortunately, in this case, it's Paris Hilton...).

I just returned from the Toronto "town hall style" meet and greet for the Conservative Party. It was at Municipal chambers, and the host was an enthusiastic candidate for the riding of Trinity/Spadina, Sam Goldstein, who was a convert of Preston Manning while studying out in Calgary. The moderator for the evening was Peter Kent, who will be running in St. Paul.

The original invite that was sent out didn't name any names, so it was anybody's guess as to who would be in attendence. Perhaps that's why there were less than 100 people there (or perhaps that was because there are less than 100 Conservatives in Toronto!). Well, those that didn't turn up missed their chance to shake hands with Peter Van Loan, Monte Solberg and Steven Fletcher. Each of these men covered a topic: Where are we with regard to the election? What is our plan for Canada? What is the Conservative Party about (who are we)? respectively.

Peter Van Loan brought up something of interest to Torontonians, as well as to the environmentalists to the left. Part of the Conservative platform will be to institute a tax credit for those who use public transit. That means that the $100/month I spend on a TTC pass will be tax deductible, thereby promoting the use of mass transit, which in turn cuts down on the amount of emissions from cars on the road.

Monte Solberg talked of how Canada isn't reaching its potential, but how it could turn itself into the most prosperous country in the world. By being so prosperous, we could then become more generous. He also reminded us that we're sitting slightly to the north of an absolute goldmine of economic growth, and that we need to do more to strengthen - not weaken - ties with the U.S.

Steven Fletcher, as health critic, provided a questionnaire regarding access to medical care, wait time, and the like. I will be scanning and uploading this by tomorrow evening (*sigh* scanner is at work, FTP is at home!). Lucky me will have the opportunity to tour St. Joseph's Hospital on the Queensway with Mr. Fletcher tomorrow afternoon.

And in regards to liberal dominance in the mainstream media, Monte reminds us that the blogosphere is within everyone's reach. In case you hadn't already noticed...

From the Parkdale-High Park Conservative EDA website:

Join us on Monday, July 18th, 2005, 7:30pm at Metro Council Chambers, 55 John Street, Toronto. Learn about the conservative Party of Canada, and what we stand for!

Where are we with regard to the election? What is the Conservative Party about (who are we)? What is our plan for Canada? Meet some of the MP's, and learn more about the Party's plans. No hidden agendas here!

As you know, I've been trying to organize some type of letter writing campaign to our soldiers over in Afghanistan. To recap, our military is sending anywhere between 800 and 1500 combat troops to Kandahar in August (These numbers are dependent on what news source you get your information from. When I spoke to CFB Petawawa, the figure they gave me was 1000.) My issue is that we do not have an adequate support system in place for soldier morale. The Department of National Defence (DND) suspended the "Any Soldier" program for security reasons. You can now only send a postcard (i.e. nothing sealed that could contain anthrax or hatemail) to "Any Soldier".

The DND has created a message board where you can leave words of support for our brave boys and girls overseas. This board is a good idea, but I feel it doesn't go far enough, for a few reasons. The first being that not every situation allows for an internet connection. And even if the base in Kabul or Kandahar is wired, can every soldier actually get a moment to access the message board? Hardly. Second, mail call is an important part of every soldier's week. Heck, it's an important part of Harry feckin' Potter's week, imagine how much more it means to someone fighting a war against an unseen and unidentifiable enemy! Words of support, prayers, and cards of best wishes mean so much, and not everyone has family here at home who can write to them. Or who will write to them. Even if they do, the support of a stranger can sometimes mean more, because that person doesn't feel obliged to thank you or worry about you, the way perhaps your mother or sister would feel. It is what the Deepak Chopra types call "random acts of kindness", and it means the world to these guys who feel like any moment could be their last. Third, there is nothing personal for a soldier to hold on to if he reads a message off a BB. There's no folded letter or card he can pull out of his rucksack at night if he can't sleep. There is no postmark, no ink smudge, no privacy. Thousands of other people read those messages every week. It's not just for him.

So the Angels'n'Camouflage stepped up the the plate, and are spreading the word via American soldiers that they wish to adopt any Canadian service member who signs up. It is their policy that no veteran feels unloved, and if that means allies as well as Americans, so be it. We've got U.S. Chaplains contacting Canadian Chaplains. We've got people phoning in favors where they know someone who is serving in a joint operation. These ladies (and a few gents) have resources I could never have tapped on my own!

I figured that perhaps I could leave a message on the DND board, letting our troops know about Angels'n'Camouflage, so that they could get themselves and their buddies signed up before they head over. Know what happened? The board is moderated, and my message and link were not posted, because it was deemed "advertizing and solicitation". Solicitation! There's one that even I have never been accused of before!

On the same day as I received that particular slap in the face, I heard back from the Deployment Coordinator in Petawawa. Actually, I didn't hear back from him specifically. He had forwarded my message up the ranks, but the email I received back was from info@... It was the same form letter I received when I first sent out feelers a month ago, and the same words that are written on the DND website.

Thank you for writing and visiting our Defence web site. Please note that
the
delivery of letters or packages to Canadian Forces members in the care of
"Any Canadian Soldier" overseas is, unfortunately, still under temporary
suspension. Family members and friends of Canadian Forces members
may still send parcels or letters to CF members as long as a full
identification
of the member (rank, name and unit) is provided.

For your information, an individual may write a post card or send an e-mail
to
our members abroad on peacekeeping or military missions by addressing
their message to: 'Any Canadian Soldier'. Please see our web site's home
page
at: http://www.forces.gc.ca/ and click on "Write to the Troops" banner for
instructions and addresses of the various missions.
Thank you for your interest in the Canadian Forces.

I've gotten nowhere. Am I disappointed? Yes. Am I surprised? No, not really.
I am encouraged by the lengths that the American ladies of Angels'n'Camouflage are going to in order that our troops may feel valued by them, and by us.

The ladies have donned their best frocks, and it's time for the Cotillion.

Hosting this week:

Cassandra of Villainous Company takes the gloves off against the Oink Cadre.

Sissy at Sisu tells us about famous ladies in the history of warfare. We're beautiful when we're angry.

Janette of Common Sense Runs Wild will catch up with us later today. In the meantime, head over to read yesterday's post about how violent peace protesters can be!

Christina of Fiesty Repartee invites you to dance - how can you refuse??

And in other important Cotillion news, we've been linked by Instapundit.

On Fourth of July, I wrote about the lack of support our soldiers were receiving in the form of letters and care packages. The Americans have groups like Soldiers' Angels, and we do not. I was under the impression that it was due to apathy and disinterest where our military is concerned, so I tried to drum up some support. Boy, did I get support! Dozens of emails from you, telling me how you would love to get involved in something like this, and where can you sign up. It was very heartening, and I wish the soldeirs themselves could see some of the emails I received.

I spoke last week to the Deployment Director at Petawawa. Told him of my plans, asked how it could be instituted, and gave him some details regarding the American programs. And then I hit the wall. I can't believe I didn't see it coming... Red tape. "Blah blah, your heart and your intentions are in the right place..." and "I'll see what I can do, but it might be months before I get an answer, and it may not be the one you are hoping for..."

Apparently, this brilliant idea of mine has to go before a commission on military security. Seriously. I want to send these guys letters and cards, and the very idea has to pass a commission. Gay marriage didn't spend that much time being debated!

So I decided that perhaps I would be better off if I did something similar to the Angels program, where soldiers or their friends and family sent their name in to an organization's main address, and that soldier was assigned an Angel. I would start a Canadian Angels board.

So far I have not had the chance to bang something together - and I'm still holding out hope that the Deployment Director can get the bureaucrats to sign here, here and initial here on my plan to work through them, the way the 82nd Airborne does it.

And then, on July 5th, I received an email from an organization called Angels'n'Camouflage. It brought tears to my eyes, their devotion that no soldier, veteran, or incarcerated vet should be forgotten or feel unloved. Even us Canucks! When these kind Angels heard of my plight, they sent notes out to their members and soldiers:

In your next mail call letters, please pass along the following to
your adoptees: If you know of any Canadian Troops that would like to
be a part of Angels 'n Camouflage, please tell them that we are here
for them with open arms and all they need to do is get signed up!!

If any of you have a brother, sister, child or friend serving in the Canadian Armed Forces overseas (or UK forces, too! They are just as forgotten), they deserve support. Please sign them up to Angels'n'Camouflage! These wonderful American ladies will do what our own government and military is too bogged down in red tape to do: care.

Click here to join the Angels'n'Camouflage or Soldiers' Angels.

I am watching a feed from BBC right now that says 20,000 people have been evacuated from Birmingham city center in England. It's Britain's second largest city, and houses Britains largest concentration of Muslims.

Police have already carried out four controlled explosions on a city bus, and they are still not allowing anyone into the area, and those within the area are still being evacuated. It's not over.

More as it happens.

Today I saw at least 9 people wearing New York City t-shirts. I guess not everyone has a shirt with the Union Jack on it, so in solidarity, they wore their NYC shirts.

Nice to see.

I just read a post from a blogger I hadn't heard of before: Mad Dog Vinnie.

The explosives you used, you didn't invent. The internet you use to crow, you didn't invent. The bus and trains you blew up, you didn't invent. The printing presses you shut down in your home countries, you didn't invent.

You didn't build the AK-47s you fire into the air. You didn't build the planes you fly in. You didn't build the cars you ride in. Those jeans you're wearing? You didn't make those either.

Show me the three Islamic countries with the highest number of oil reserves, and I'll show you the three Western oil companies you had to hire to even get it out of the ground. You didn't even invent the tools that brought you your wealth.

Read the rest here.

Gotta give him credit, both for being apologetic, and for being quick about it. From an email I just received:

You are right. My remarks, however, were taken out of the context of
a long interview where some members of the press were implying that
Toronto had not done enough to make our system secure. I regretted them
as soon as they were made and meant no disrespect to the people of
London. Fortunately most media understood the context and did not use
them. Unfortunately some did.
In the interview what I intended to convey was that our transit system
was as safe as any in the world and that despite the billions the US
has provided their public transit systems for homeland security the TTC
is as safe as say Washington's and less of a target. I apologize.

I just wrote an email to the councilor responsible for the Toronto Transit Commission, regarding inappropriate remarks he made earlier today at a press conference.

Mr. Moscoe

I am writing because I feel ashamed at this moment that you - a high profile member of Toronto's council - were quoted in a press conference this afternoon making glib and catty remarks regarding the London attacks.

For you to say that "we have no troops to pull out of Iraq" and "the terrorists would have to find Toronto first" is disrespectful, condescending, and completely out of line.

In regards to your comment about Iraq, it leads to even more anti-Americanism, and it is already rampant here in Toronto. There is already a feeling that everything from the Crusades to a fender bender should be blamed on George Bush and America. Your remarks do not help. It also indicates that the blame for today's attacks rests with Tony Blair and the UK itself. Would you have the courage to say such things on the BBC? Please remember that you are a politician, and you are to behave in a more diplomatic way than you demonstrated to us today.

Your words about the terrorists finding their way to Toronto is a lark, when you consider the "diversity" that is oh so prized in this city. The remark also diminishes Toronto's importance on the world stage, as if it were a backwater that no one should bother with. Perhaps you should run for minister of tourism?

You owe the people of Toronto an apology, for it is by them you are employed. And you owe the people of London an apology for your crass and disrespectful behaviour. Remember that the United Kingdom is the home from which we sprang as Canadians, and there is little point in flying our flags at half-mast in their honour if our councillors and other public figures demean the occasion by hamming it up for the cameras.

Update: If anyone else would like to have a word with Mr. Moscoe regarding his utter stupidity, email him here: councillor_moscoe@toronto.ca

Round 'em up and deport 'em. Good or bad, guilty or innocent: round 'em up and deport 'em. Does it not make more sense to inadvertantly deport an innocent person, than to allow a guilty one to murder hundreds of innocent people?

Back in WWII, Canada had internment camps for Japanese-Canadians. There has been much wringing of hands over it, and I'm sure it wasn't pretty, but it was war, not a garden party. Sometimes you have to do things like effect martial law (temporarily), or remove threatening persons from your country. Sometimes you need to invoke the Patriot Act.

I am sick to death of the left's "We hate America" and "Hug a Muslim Today" stupidity. The devil walks among us, and to the left, it simply serves to make us more "diverse". Diverse? You mean divided. I do not wish to be forced to celebrate a diversity that could kill me. I have no doubts that the cells operating in Scarborough, Ontario are just waiting for their moment. I have no doubts that the people responsible for London's attacks were living there, probably educated and working there, with families and a strong community presence. They may have even been born there.

The Democrats and the rest of the left complain about Bush and his Christianity. They don't understand that the killers have changed the rules. They are fighting a religious war. This isn't about money, or oil, or politics. They want to kill us because we're not Muslims. Hell, they kill other Muslims who aren't Islamic enough! We can't fight by the Geneva Convention. We can't fight by UN guidlines. We are being attacked because we do not pray to Allah. We are being attacked for democracy, for letting our women vote (it took a while, but we're proud of it), for women to work and contribute to society, for investing and borrowing with interest... these are hardly reasons to kill anyone. The West has gone through the era of political correctness, and we're no longer allowed to discriminate against a person or group based on their faith (except, apparently, Christains). But members of a particular faith are killing us, and we won't speak out against them.

In my office today, there has been the usual "Did you hear??" gossip about London. But no one is talking about who is responsible. Nobody wants to say it out loud - not just because they're afraid of Al Qaeda, but gecause they're afraid of being branded as bigots. If they blame Al Qaeda, they're being anti-Muslim. Or worse - pro-American. WTF?

They are all around us. They are in London, Spain and New York. They are in Bali. They are throughout the Middle East. They are maybe sitting right next to you at work. Why the fuck isn't it okay to say you're afraid of the swarthy, bearded man with the intense expresion? Why is it bigoted to be suspicious? Why is it racist to tighten security at airports? Why are you a bad person for not wanting to die? At some point, it stops being racial profiling, and starts being a description of the criminal. Enough is enough. I'm not going to reach out to my Muslim countrymen as they pay lip service to the killings in the name of their insane god and false prophet. Fuck you. You're not welcome in my country anymore.

My friend Karen just called me from London to say that her and her husband are okay - thanks to the fact that they live and work outside the city, and can drive their cars to work.

I wonder what the Greenpeace gang think of all this? I mean, after all, who's going to want to take transit?

Blasts in London. Rush hour on the tube and double decker buses. The BBC reports 2 dead already, and hundreds injured. We'll watch and wait.

Scotland Yard said explosions have been reported at Edgware Road, King's Cross, Liverpool Street, Russell Square, Aldgate East and Moorgate.

All London Underground services have been suspended indefinitely and bus services in central London (Zone One) have been halted.

One caller to BBC Five said his friend had seen "the bus ripped open like a can of sardines and bodies everywhere".

Tony Blair and George Bush were called paranoid for pushing time and again for what was considered insane security measures. It is inappropriate at this time for the rest of us to say we told you so. Instead, to all the naysayers, may I just say "Are you fuckin happy now?" The bastards have done it again, like they did in New York, like they did in Spain.

Thankfully London has dealt with this shit before, thanks to the IRA, but this is different. A series of controlled hits is not the MO of the IRA. In my mind, and in the mind of Tony Blair, there is no doubt who did this.

Don't think it can't happen to us.

Update: More than forty dead as reported at around 10am EST.

I had it the first time in Scotland, about two years ago. I dreamed that developers had decided to turn Ground Zero into an amusement park, complete with roller coaster, hot air machines, pyrotechnics, and worst of all: a 500 foot bungee jump platform, meant to simulate the experience of jumping to death to avoid burning slowly.

In my dream, I am forced onto the platform, and the harness is attached around my waist. I'm screaming and crying, telling the people running the carnival that they're wrong, they shouldn't be doing this, it's not fun. I plead with them to shut the fairground down, because people died here. You shouldn't have cotton candy on the graves of innocent people, I tell the man handing me a candy apple, and pushing me to the edge of the platform.

And then I'm over the side, screaming, and that's when my husband wakes me.

I've had this dream about 5 times, and the terror never diminishes. The sadness never goes away.

I know all about the controversy surrounding the Freedom Tower, and that ridiculous museum they want to build, to remind Americans that everything is their fault, and how all murder and pestilence in the world can be traced back to Karl Rove. That's what makes my dream all the more frightening. It's coming true.

'Al-Qaeda' group linked to London blasts
BERLIN (AP) — A group calling itself "Secret Organization — al-Qaeda in Europe" has posted a claim of responsibility for the series of blasts in London, a German magazine reported Thursday.
Der Spiegel magazine reported that the group posted its message on a Web site popular with Islamic militants, which it did not name. It said the group claimed the explosions were in retaliation for Britain's involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Rejoice, Islamic nation. Rejoice, Arab world. The time has come for vengeance against the Zionist crusader government of Britain in response to the massacres Britain committed in Iraq and Afghanistan," read the statement, a photograph of which was displayed on Der Spiegel's Web site.

"The heroic mujahedeen carried out a blessed attack in London, and now Britain is burning with fear and terror, from north to south, east to west," it said.

I'm not so sure about the fear and terror part. Nice try, you arab motherfuckers, but the British don't bend that easily. You won't scare thm out of Iraq or Afghanistan like you did with Spain. You have probably just succeeded in having them redouble their efforts. You're going down.

Looks like he will no longer be the shining star of this summit. Once agqain, we are reminded that there are bigger things than the whims of rock stars. Africa will be moved back, left to deal with their petty tyrants a little longer.

Quote from Mr. Right:

Nothing stops you from being generous like being mugged.

This is by far one of the best rants Angry in the Great White North has ever done, and he's done a lot!

Angus, a New Democrat MP who represents a northern Ontario riding, ran afoul of the Roman Catholic church over his support for the federal government's controversial same-sex marriage bill.

"It's quite disturbing," said Angus, pointing to what he called "the rising militancy of language within the church. I went to Ottawa feeling that I would be speaking as someone rooted in a faith tradition and rooted in a justice tradition.

News flash to Angus and Symmonds: we are all defined by our choices. You know that because you claim to be Catholics. You understand that in Catholic teaching, as opposed to Calvinism, for example, the choices you make are the basis on which you will be judged.

Calvinism teaches predeterminism, which says that the decision of who will be saved and who will not has already been made, and there is no way a mote like you or I can alter the decision of an all-powerful and all-knowing God with our meagre attempts at good living. That dogma is very liberating, since the most venal sinner will be saved by God's infinite grace.

The Catholic Church has always taught that salvation can be granted through God's grace and earned by good acts. That is one of the fundamental theological differences between the Catholic Church and most Protestant Churches. The Catholic Church thus has a responsibility to understand what constitutes good and bad choices, and to guide the flock. Those who chose poorly chose to be separate from the Church.

Angus and Symmonds have to know all this, and yet they think the rules are different for them. Narcissism, plain and simple.

Go read the rest. The comments are great, too.

The ladies of the Cotillion threw quite a Fourth of July party on Monday, and we're still recovering. However, even though we're a day late, we're having another Cotillion today. So get ready to party with the prettiest debutants you've (n)ever seen!

Jody at Steal the Bandwagon reminds us that we're only as old as we feel. She's highlighting some excellent bloggers this week, and has great pictures up, reminding us of the debutantes we used to be, back when we were children.

Little Miss Atilla is still sleeping... but she'll join us a bit later today.

The Anchoress is inviting us to dance a reel, do a jig, and kick up our heels with men in kilts. Sounds like my wedding in Scotland! The Anchoress also takes a moment to remind us about Carol from An American Housewife.

Reasoned Audacity must have the same hangover as Little Miss Atilla, because she's taking the morning off, too! Check back with her later today, and bring some aspirin for her, okay? Some of the gals got a little out of hand with those soldiers on Monday...

On the day the G8 summit begins, President Bush turns 59. Do you think they're having a birthday party for him over in Edinburgh? Unlikely. It has occured to me on more than one occasion that he is probably the most hated man alive today. What a horrible notion! But I don't hate him, that's why I'm having this little birthday party for him at Girl on the Right.

All the best, Mr. President. Hope you have a wonderful birthday, despite the company you'll be keeping.

The gals of the Cotillion are paying tribute to the brave boys and girls overseas, fighting the War on Terror far enough away that people like you and I can sleep without fear.

Check out A Soldier's Blog: a Christian, a husband, a son, a brother, a Soldier from Shawn of the 278th Regimental Combat Team. I've read comments about soldiers in the past saying that they go into the military because they're "too stupid to get a real job". Screw you. Shawn has a BA and MS in Criminal Justice.

What about the ladies that are over there sweating their guts out and suffering "desert hair"? Well, Tasha is about to be deployed, so I'm sure she'll be telling us what it's like. Check Tasha out at i'm just in it for the clothes and the food.

Holly Aho from A Soldiers' Angel is the newest addition to the Cotillion (at least as of the last time I checked my email), and she's very active in the whole letter-writing-sponsoring-soldiers thing that I admire so much. She basically writes letters to perfect strangers, and takes them on as her personal responsibility, making sure they have a contact point back home, as well as care packages and goodies being sent over. Kind of reminds me of the old days, when all the single girls would write to soldiers posted overseas. It gave the guys something to fight for, and sometimes gave the girls husbands when the boys returned! There's such an old school romance to the whole thing, and I think what she's doing is great. And before you ask - she's married with four kids. She really is just writing to these guys because her heart's in the right place.

A Soldiers' Angel isn't to be confused with Soldiers' Angels, an organization that matches letter-writers to soldiers, raises funds for military families, and helps returning soldiers find employers to hire them.

Within a few short months, The Soldiers'Angels Foundation went from a mother writing a few extra letters to an Internet Community with thousands of angels worldwide and growing stronger with the addition of new members daily. With more and more merchants donating services, money and items for packages, the Angels reorganized as a 501 c 3 non-profit foundation. On February 26, 2004, Soldiers' Angels formed the Alliance of Angels, proving with our allies we find new strength that better enables us to complete our mission of providing tangible caring support for our military.

So what of our Canadian soldiers, stuck in Afghanistan with nothing but a rusted Korea-era tank and a potato gun? Nothing. No blogs that I could find, and worse still - no letter-writing organizations. They've been forgotten. By our government, by our media, by our citizens, and by our charitable Christian women's hearts. They fight shoulder to shoulder with their American brothers and sisters, who receive care packages from perfect strangers, and the Canadians remain unthanked.

I plan to change that. I have been in contact with the Canadian Forces Family Resource Centre at Petawawa to set up a Canadian Soldiers' Angels group. But I can't do it by myself. I need you. If anyone is interested in writing to our lads and ladies in the field, please email me at rightgirl@girlontheright.com. It doesn't matter where in the world you are. All that matters is that you care.

O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

A belated Happy Dominion Day for the Canadians, and a rockin' Fourth of July to the Americans!

He can get over 300 channels with those ears.

One of the ladies of the Cotillion, Carol of An American Housewife, lost her husband on Thursday night.

Our hearts and prayers go out to Carol and her family at this time.

We debutantes are doing a collection for her, just to help out with the incidentals. I remember from when my father died that the outlay of cash all took place within the first 72 hours - the life insurance didn't arrive for 3 weeks.

If you can give a little something, that's great. If you can't, but you still want her to know you're thinking of her, please leave her a message.