Political Trivia and Opinions ~ Part 2

Dear Mr. Trudeau: 

Please find below our suggestion for fixing Canada's economy. Instead of giving billions of dollars to corporations that will squander the money on lavish parties and unearned bonuses, use the following plan. You can call it the Patriotic Retirement Plan:

There are about 10 million people over 50 in the work force. Pay them 1 million dollars each, severance for early retirement with the following stipulations:

They MUST retire. Now, ten million job openings ~ unemployment fixed.

They MUST buy a new car. Ten million cars ordered ~ car industry fixed.

They MUST either buy a house or pay off their mortgage ~ housing crisis fixed.

They MUST send their kids to school/college/university ~ crime rate fixed.

They MUST buy $50 WORTH of alcohol/tobacco a week ~ and there's your money back in duty/taxes.

It can't get any easier than that!

P.S. If more money is needed, have all the members of parliament

pay back their falsely claimed expenses and second home allowances.

Also, how about putting the very elderly pensioners in jail and the criminals in a nursing home...that way, the pensioners would have access to showers, hobbies and walks.

They'd receive unlimited free prescriptions, dental and medical treatment, wheel chairs,etc.

And they'd receive money instead of paying it out.

They would have constant video monitoring so they could be helped instantly, if they fell, or needed assistance.

Bedding would be washed twice a week...and all clothing would be ironed and returned to them.

A guard would check on them every 20 minutes and bring their meals and snacks to their cells.

They would have family visits in a suite built for that purpose.

They would have access to a library, a weight room, spiritual counselling, pool and education.

Simple clothing, shoes, slippers, PJ's and legal aid would be free, on request.

Private, secure rooms for all...with an exercise outdoor yard with gardens.

Each senior could have a PC, a TV, radio and daily telephone calls.

There would be a board of directors to hear complaints and the guards would have a code of conduct that would be strictly adhered to.

The criminals would get cold food...be left all alone and unsupervised...lights off at 8 pm and showers once a week. Live in a tiny room and pay $300 per week and with little hope of ever getting out.

Moving to Pakistan

Dear Mr. Trudeau:

I'm planning to move my family and extended family to Pakistan for my health and I would like to ask you to assist me with this. We're planning to simply fly from Canada to Pakistan and we'll need your help to make a few arrangements.

We plan to skip all of the legal stuff like visas, passports, immigration quotas and laws. I'm sure they can handle those things in the same way you do here. So would you mind telling your buddy, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that I 'm on my way over? Please let him know that I will be expecting the following: Free medical care for my entire family.

English-speaking government bureaucrats for all services I might need.

All Pakistani Government forms must be printed in English.

I want my grandkids to be taught Urdu by English speaking (bi-lingual) teachers.

Tell their schools they need to include classes on Canadian culture and history.

I want my grandkids to see the Canadian flag on one of the flagpoles at their school.

Please plan to feed my grandkids at school both breakfast (bacon and eggs) and lunch.

I willI need a local Pakistani driver's licence so I can get access to government services.

I do plan to get a car and drive in Pakistan, but I don't plan to purchase car insurance...

and probably won't make any special effort to learn local traffic laws.

In case one of the Pakistani police officers does not get the memo from President Zardari to leave me alone, please be sure that every patrol car has at least one English-speaking officer.

I plan to fly the Canadian flag from my housetop and put Canadian Flag decals on my car.

I shall have a gigantic celebration on December 25^th.

I do not want any complaints or negative comments from the locals.

I would also like to have a nice job without paying any taxes or having any labour or tax laws enforced on any business I may start.

Please have Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif tell all of the Pakistani people to be extremely nice and never say critical things about me or my family or about the strain we might place on their economy.

I want to receive free food stamps.

Naturally, I'll expect free rent subsidies.

I'll need income tax credits so that although I won't pay Pakistani taxes, I'll receive money from the government.

Please arrange it so that the Pakistan Government pays me the needed monies to help me buy a car.

Oh, yes, I almost forgot: please enrol me free into the Pakistan Social Security Program so that I'll get a monthly pension cheque in retirement. If they have no such program in place, then to make one especially for me.

The government should also provide full time security protection against all the hateful religious loonies that populate their cities.

I know the foregoing is an easy request because you already do all these things for all of the people who come to Canada from Pakistan. I am sure that Prime Minister Sharif won't mind returning the favour if you ask him nicely. Thank you so much for your kind help.

An Airplane About to Crash

An airplane about to crash, had 5 passengers on board but only 4 parachutes.

The first passenger, Holly Madison said, “I have my own reality show and I'm the smartest and prettiest woman at Playboy, so Americans don't want me to die.” She took the first pack and jumped out of the plane.

The second passenger, John McCain said “I'm a Senator and a decorated war hero from an elite navy unit from the United States of America.” So he grabbed the second pack and jumped.

The third passenger, Donald Trump said, “I'm the President of the United States and the smartest man in our country...and I will make America 'great again'! So he grabbed the next pack and jumped out.

The fourth passenger, Billy Graham, said to the fifth passenger, a 10-yearold school girl, “I have lived a full life and served my God the best I could. I will sacrifice my life and let you have the last parachute.” The little girl said, “That's Okay, Mr. Graham. There's a parachute left for you. The smartest man in America took my schoolbag!”.

(My thanks to all foregoing contributors)

Words of Wisdom by Merry Browne

The trouble with the world today is that people are most concerned

with what they're not getting... and not in the least concerned

with what they're not giving.

Compiled by Merle Baird-Kerr...February 15, 2017

To comment: mbairdkerr@cogeco.ca or inezkate@gmail.com

Political Trivia and Opinions

Across my desk, I receive much info, opinions and trivia

re our world today...our lifestyle...plans to benefit us in many ways...

solutions and programs to institute by local and provincial governments.

(The following are comments from several of my correspondents)

Opinion re my series on 'Infiltration of Muslims'

It comes from forgotten lessons of history. Muslims were a nuisance to Europe throughout the dark ages. In the late 18^th and 19^th centuries, pirates from Libya and Algeria attacked and pillaged trade ships in the Mediterranean...often enslaving the passengers and crew. The Libyan ambassador defended this piracy, saying that his Islamic religion gave him and his country that right. This led to the Barbary Coast wars. They were called 'Barbarians' back then.

Nothing has become more civilized in recent years. Germany, France and Sweden are up to their ears with violence, including countless aggressive gang rapes...almost all committed by Muslims. Stephen Harper had said 'No' to Syrian refugees...already knowing what was happening in Europe...and not welcoming these problems in Canada. That was, of course, perceived as 'hateful'.

I have said before, “It makes no difference at all whether you are a King, an elected President or even a Dictator: your first order of business is to protect your people and preserve your civilization.”

(Sent to me by one of my blog readers)

Wisdom From Early Ages

“The Budget should be balanced.

The Treasury should be refilled;

Public debt should be reduced;

The arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled;

And the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed...

lest Rome will become bankrupt.

People must again learn to work instead of living on public assistance.”

(Cicero, 55 BC)

So, evidently we've learned bugger all over the past 2,071 years!

One of my readers, futher comments, “Many of our traditions from past history have 'value and richness' today. Often we become so wrapped up in new technology and fast-paced living of today we tend to 'flow with the tide' of what is modern and new...ignoring basic family roots of our culture. Native Americans and many Canadians still live by their traditions of yesterday...adapting to them with philosophies of today.”

CPP Ponzi Scheme

When the CPP was put in place by the government of the day in 1965,

it was meant to assist people that did not have a pension.

Employee put in a per-cent and the employer doubled the employee's input. There is no money from the CPP from the Government of Canada. For a fee from the pool, the government was supposed to make the pool grow. We as Canadians are getting less than half of what that pool should by paying out every month. We are being cheated out of something that is really ours...not the government's This should be investigated by the Supreme Court.

Those Who Went Before: One very major thing wrong with the government's calculations of 'available CPP' is that they forgot to figure in the people WHO DIED BEFORE THEY EVER COLLECTED A CPP CHEQUE. Where did that money go?????

The Math: Remember, not only did you and I contribute to CPP but your employer did, too...totalling 15% of your income before taxes. If you averaged only $30K over your working life (say 45 years), that's $202,500. Read that again! Did you see where the Government paid one single penny? We are talking about the money you and your employer put in a Government bank to insure you and I that we would have a retirement cheque from the money we put in...not the Government. If you calculate the future invested value of $4,500 per year (yours and your employer's contribution) at a simple 5% interest, after 49 years of working, you'd have $892,919.98,

The Scheme: If you took out only 3% per year, you'd receive $26,787.60 per year...and it would last better than 30 years (until you're 95 if you retire at age 65) and that's with no interest paid on that final amount on deposit! If you bought an annuity and it paid 4% per year, you'd have a lifetime income of $2,976.40 per month. These losers in Ottawa have pulled off a bigger Ponzi scheme than Bernie Madoff ever did! They call CPP an 'entitlement' even though most of us have been paying for it all our working lives...and now when it's time for us to collect, the Government is running out of money! Why does the Government keep using it as their general piggy bank? They are calling CPP payouts 'an entitlement' . Just because they borrowed the money for other government spending, doesn't make my benefits some kind of charity or handout!

Think about senator entitlements we pay for: free healthcare, outrageous retirement packages, 67 paid holidays, three weeks paid vacation, unlimited paid sick days! NOW, that's welfare...and they have the nerve to call my CPP retirement payments : entitlements???

The Refugees: The latest estimate (as per Global News) is that it is going to cost SIX HUNDRED MILLION ($600,000,000) to bring in the 25,000 refugees. The Government (according to the Public Accounts office) is already FIVE BILLION in the hole. How much more will it take from our CPP to cover this expense? The Immigration Minister, John McCallum, in a recent Global interview, said that he was presenting his plan to Cabinet shortly. He could not be pinned down as to the cost. Will they write a blank cheque out of our CPP???

The new philosophy is refugees first...Canadians last.

Who stands on guard for us?

Employee Notice for Old People

(this is finally a 'chuckle'!)

Due to the current financial situation caused by the slowdown in the economy, Government has decided to implement a scheme to putting workers of 50 years of age and older on early, mandatory retirement...thus creating jobs and reducing unemployment. This scheme will be known as RAPE (Retired Aged People Early).

Persons selected to be RAPED can apply to the Government to be considered for the SHAFT program (Special Help After Forced Termination).

Persons who have been RAPED and SHAFTED will be reviewed under the SCREW program (System Covering Retired-Early Workers).

A person may be RAPED once, SHAFTED twice and SCREWED as many times as the Government deems appropriate.

Persons who have been RAPED could get AIDS (Additional Income for Dependents & Spouse) or HERPES (Half Earnings for Retired Personal Early Severance).

Obviously, persons who have AIDS or HERPES will not be SHAFTED or SCREWED any further by the Government.

Persons who are not RAPED and are staying on will receive SHIT (Special High Intensity Training) as possible. The Government has always prided themselves on the amount of SHIT they give our citizens.

If you feel that you do not receive enough SHIT, please bring this to the attention of your MP...who has been trained to give you all the SHIT you can handle.

Sincerely,

The Committee for Economic Value of Individual Lives (E.V.I.L.)

PS. ~ Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas and oil,

as well as current market conditions,

The Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off!

(My thanks to all foregoing contributors)

Merle Baird-Kerr...written February 15, 2017

To comment: mbairdkerr@cogeco.ca or inezkate@gmail.com

Understanding Our Parents

Did I ever consider trying to understand them?

“No,” I would reply. What either stated by them (or admonished us about)

was not to be questioned!

If my sister (14 months my senior) or I disobeyed, we were reprimanded. Next time, it was a 'trip to the barn'! My sister was there a few times (never discussing with me what had occurred). It was always at least 30 minutes before she returned. I knew the horses were stabled in the barn as well as their tack (harness); I had imagined that my father had applied the leather reins to her. Fortunately, I never made that trip! If caught in a lie, Mom would scrub our mouths with strong soap!

My mother had beautiful flower gardens, so it was frequent that neighbours stopped by to admire them and share a cup of tea with her. One time I had to 'go pee' so went to the 'outhouse' to relieve myself. However, my father was using it...standing beside the wall of our house where I could view him leaving it, I tried very hard to 'hold it'...and calling to him that I was waiting. I couldn't interrupt my mother with her visitors...finally, the pee ran down my legs on to the grass. My father, realizing what I had done...spanked me and strongly reprimanded me! And I was so humiliated!

They fed us...they clothed us...they taught us 'right from wrong' ...they trained us to work together as a family with the vegetable gardens, the fruit tree orchards, with the sowing and harvesting of crops. In school, we were never allowed to participate in 'extra-curricular' activities. We attended church and Sunday School dressed in 'our best' complete with hat and gloves; never were we permitted to attend “Girl Guides” held in another church's Parish Hall. However, we were involved with 4-H Clubs:

A Youth development program to encourage gardening, landscaping,

farming in general, vegetable and fruit markets, sewing and cooking,

and the raising of farm animals.

The 4-H Clubs today can be found in over 70 countries where almost 70 million young people share in the 4-H experience. In our day, we submitted crafts and baking, choice fruit, vegetables, flowers...even calves and lambs...all to be judged within the Club and also with entries at local fall fairs.

When I reflect on our parents' teaching and training, it was beneficial, keeping us on 'straight paths' and away from 'worldly enticements'. However, there were many times, especially in High School where we felt segregated...unable to participate in activities with our school friends.

Why should our parents deny us these opportunities???

Why could I not attend a daytime performance with my Grade 12 classmates to view a Shakespearean play, travelling by bus to the Capitol Theatre in Brantford...to enhance our Literature appreciation? Two English teachers from school came to discuss this with my parents. The answer was still negative!

During my High School days, I played softball with the Burford Bluebirds. Loving baseball, my father took me to the International League's Brantford Red Sox games occasionally; once, I had 'lucky numbers' for a drawn prize...so excited was I to discover I'd won a case of ginger ale plus 6 free movie passes to the Capitol Theatre. We gladly accepted the pop...my father tore the tickets, discarding them.

(The reason for the rejection of the two foregoing experiences was due to the fact that...it would be supporting the sins of Hollywood!)

My parents' attitudes like these, I didn't understand!

There were also good times designed for our 'life training'...Easter Sunday was one of them! As teens, my sister and I were driven into Brantford to attend a Sunrise Service. We had new coats, hats and gloves, so felt thrilled to attend this Christian youth service along the banks of the Grand River...following which we were all entertained with breakfast at a local Christian church. And now, to the gist of this writing:

Playful Frogs and Toads: Living on a farm, Mom would leave my sister and me in the house while she assisted Dad with the 'milking and feeding of the cows' which was done twice a day. Many evenings, Eileen gathered up a few frogs (or toads) which she'd locate near marshy grasses adjacent to our house...bring them to the kitchen table for us to play with. This was Great Joy! But one time, Mom returned early...and we were caught! I failed to understand why Eileen was 'sent to the barn' because of this bit of fun we were enjoying. WHY?

The Old Dishcloth: For some reason, ugly warts developed on the top of my right hand, forming a thickish line below the knuckles. (Was this God's punishment for playing with these amphibians???) To rid the warts, Mom suggested I take an old ragged dishcloth and bury it in the garden. She was certain my warts would disappear!!! (Recalling, I really believe that behind that stern discipline, was a sense of imagination... and a sense of humour.) After 4 weeks, she sent me to dig up this old rag...and would you believe? The warts had already begun to disappear!!! Such Magic!

My Mother's Talent: She gave readings! Not teacup or futuristic advice...she would stand before an audience reading stories or articles she herself had either written or located...all which embraced Life, both humourously and philosophically. She had gained appreciation and popularity through rural bazaars where local country folk attended. It was at such events, she met my father...who played his guitar, Jew's harp and mouth-organ. Two years later, they married...and the rest is 'history'!

Santa Claus is Busy: After the fall harvest, Dad had 'leisure time' to work in the machine shop, mend fences, do house repairs, play the guitar and sing. Noting the fact that he was busy in November and December Mom told us he was assisting Santa Claus. Since we couldn't question our parents' decisions, at 5 or 6 years of age, we paid little attention. In mid December, we trudged through the crispy snow into the back woodland to select our Christmas Tree. Mom helped us to bake cookies and make decorations for the tree. On Christmas Eve, Eileen and I went to bed like good little angels. Lo and Behold! On Christmas morning, Santa Claus had indeed arrived! There was a small rectangular table and two hand-crafted bench style chairs...all 3 pieces painted in red and yellow like Mom's kitchen.

How delightful for our dolls' tea parties!

The Chariot of Fire: It happens! When my aunt (Dad's sister) married to Uncle Earl, died, Mom tried to explain her death. Yes, my sister and I would miss her...but we wondered why we couldn't attend her funeral service. Trying to pacify us, Mom raconted that “God took her to be with Him.” Asking how God did this, she replied, “God sent his chariot to take her to heaven.” I asked, “Did you see the chariot?” She stated, “Of course...it was a chariot of fire, and once in the sky, He sent his horses to lead them to God's pearly gates.” So wonderfully believable at my young age!

When a teenager, Mom told me about the Biblical version of Elijah and Elisha ~

reading from Ezekiel chapter 1: verses 1-28.

“And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven.

Elisha saw it and cried, 'My father, my father...

the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!'

And he saw Elijah no more.”

Merle Baird-Kerr...composed January 19, 2015

To comment...email to: inezkate@gmail.com or mbairdkerr@cogeco.ca

Creative Innovation for Cars

A couple of years ago my son sent me the following article

stating, “Here's a little factoid for your automotive buffs

or just to dazzle your friends.”

The following information may be true or untrue...you decide

about the four Goldberg brothers: Lowell, Norman, Hiram and Max

who invented and developed the first automotive air conditioner.

On July 17, 1946 the temperature in Detroit was 97 degrees!

The four brothers walked into old man Henry Ford's office and sweet-talked his secretary into telling him that four gentlemen were there with the most exciting innovation in the auto industry since the electric starter.

Henry was curious and invited them into his office. They refused and instead asked that he come out to the parking lot to their car. They persuaded him to get into the car which was about 130 degrees, turned on the air conditioner...and cooled the car off immediately.

The old man got very excited and invited them back to the office, where he offered $3 million for the patent. The brothers refused, saying they would settle for $2 million...but they wanted the recognition by having a label The Goldberg Air Conditioner on the dashboard of each car in which it was installed. Now, old man Ford was more than just a little anti-Semitic...and there was no way he was going to put the Goldberg name on two million Fords. They haggled back and forth for about two hours...finally agreeing on $4 million...and that just their first names would be shown.

And so, to this day, the Ford air conditioners show:

Lo, Norm, Hi and Max on the controls.

For the Love of Cars!

Although a farmer for many years and eventually owning and operating a Service Station/Garage with two bays, two Supertest Gas Pumps located in Brantford, he'd always loved cars and trains! Every two or three years, he changed cars from a Model T (which I don't recall), then possibly a Peerless (unclear in my memory), a gray slope-backed Dodge, a duel-tone blue and white Pontiac...and for my wedding, he purchased a new Buick! Sundays, when not working at his gas station, Mom and he would enjoy long country drives...then locate a fine restaurant for an enjoyable dinner together.

After gaining my Driver's Licence, I'd asked Dad several times if he'd permit me to drive en route to Port Dover one Sunday. He loved cars! He loved driving! In lieu of permitting me to drive his car, his advice was always handing me an Ontario map, stating, “Learn to read a map and interpret the directions before driving anywhere!” Thus, I became skilled at this task!

After his sudden heart-attack at age 56 in November, I drove his valued Buick to Burlington over the winter months to keep it in opertion; my parents' home had no garage, so his car was open to the all-weather elements. In the spring, my advice to Mom was, “You need to take driving lessons...or sell it!” After three attempts she gained her licence...driving only in daytime or on good-weather-days. After her many enjoyable years of driving, she was never issued a violation ticket.

Driving Violations

The Breath Test: This happened to an Englishman in France who was totally drunk. The French policeman stops his car...and asks the gentleman if he has been drinking. With great difficulty, the Englishman admits he has been drinking all day...that his daughter got married in the morning to a Frenchman...and that he drank champagne...a few bottles of wine at the reception...and quite a few glasses of single malt thereafter!

Quite upset, the policeman proceeds to alco-test (breath test) him...and asks the Englishman if he knows that under French law, why he is going to be arrested. The Englishman answers with humour, “No, Sir...I do not! But while we're asking questions, do you know that this is a British car...and my wife is driving on the other side?”

Traffic Camera: A man was driving when he saw the flash of a traffic camera. He figured that his picture had been taken for exceeding the speed limit, even though he knew he was not speeding. Just to be sure, he went around the block and passed the same spot...driving even more slowly...but again the camera flashed. Now he began to think that this was quite funny...so he drove even slower, but again the camera flashed. He tried the fourth time with the same result. Doing this a fifth time, he was now laughing when the camera flashed as he drove past...this time at a slower pace!

Two weeks later, he got five tickets in the mail

for driving without a seat belt!

Compiled by Merle Baird-Kerr...February 10, 2017

To comment: mbairdkerr@cogeco.ca or inezkate@gmail.com

Aga Khan and Canada

A Decades-long, Multi-Partisan Friendship.

Tory MP Garnett Genuis stated, “It is unfortunate that many Canadians

who are not familiar with the Aga Khan may hear his name for the first time

in the context of this scandal with the Prime Minister”

He forwards a publication written by Chelsea Nash on January 25, 2017.

(The following are excerpts from her article)

With the recent hubbub about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Christmas vacations to the Aga Khan's private island in the Bahamas, the spiritual leader for the world's 15 million Ismaili Muslims has been a topic of discussion in Canada. While he is not usually at the forefront of political scandal, ties between the Aga Khan and the Canadian government go back decades.

Conservative MP Garnett Genuis (Sherwood Park-Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.)

further stated, “The spiritual leader has often praised Canada as a leader

in pluralism, multculturalism and a beacon for the rest of the world to follow.”

He is personal friends with the current prime minister, as well as with former governor general, Adrienne Clarkson and her husband, John Ralston Saul. Over the course of eight years, Global Affairs Canada spent just under $200,000 on six of the Aga Khan's visits to Canada. In 2010, he became one of only a handful of people in the world to ever receive honorary Canadian citizenship, and he has had a consistently close relationship with the prime minister of Canada, regardless of their political stripe. He was also made an honorary companion of the Order of Canada in 2005 under the Paul Martin government.

According to the National Post, the Aga Khan Development Network,

a non-denominational group of institutions of which Aga Khan is the founder

that helps poor peoople in Africa, Asia and the Middle East

has received nearly $310-million from the Canadian government

since 2004 for 16 foreign aid projects.

In 2016 alone, through its Canadian branch, Aga Khan Foundation Canada, the AKDN lobbied the federal government 15 times, according to the lobbying registry. The Aga Khan has, “Always felt that Canada is a special place,” said Liberal Senator Mobina Jaffer. Ms. Jaffer, herself is an Ismaili. She came to Canada in 1975 as a refugee from Uganda. In 1972, the Ugandan leader at the time, expelled the country's 80,000 South Asians, giving them 90 days to leave. Many of the Ismailis fleeing Uganda found refuge in Canada, in large part thanks to a long-time friendship between the Aga Kahn and then prime-minister Pierre Trudeau. The Aga Khan and the elder Trudeau developed a friendship long before Mr. Trudeau's political ambitions would be realized. The pair met while attending Harvard University and developed a lifelong bond.

The Aga Khan was an honorary pallbearer at Mr. Trudeau's funeral.

When Ismailis in Uganda were fleeing for their lives, Mr. Trudeau answered the request of his friend, the Aga Khan, to provide refuge for Ismailis in Canada. Today, the population of Ismaili Muslims in Canada is estimated to be 100,000 ~ the largest settlement of Ismailis in any Western country...that friendship came to include the men's respective families.

Current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Papineau, Quebec) grew up

in close contact with the Aga Khan, and his children, having gone on a family trip

with the Aga Khan when he was 12 to Greece.

Today, Mr. Trudeau calls the Aga Khan “Uncle K.”

While the Aga Khan's political ties and friendships are extensive, Ismailis in Canada have achieved their own individual levels of influence. A lot of people who had previously settled in places such as Britain, relocated to Canada. What's happened is...people who have done well in their own fields, go on to serve in various international networks, including the Aga Khan Development Network. Arif Lalani, a former Canadian ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and Afghanistan, is now head of the Diplomatic Department for the Aga Khan. They've been selected because of their hard work.

Carlton University professor, Karim Karim, who is an Ismaili migrant from Kenya stated that the Aga Khan is one of the wealthiest royals in the world, with a net worth of $800 million. He inherited his fortune from his grandfather and predecessor, but also runs businesses including horse breeding. Members of the religion also give back to the institution, in order to fund mosques, schools and hospitals around the world.

Ismaili Liberal MP Yasmin Ratansi (Don Valley East, Ontario) said, “ Ismailis aren't that different from other communities who've come to Canada. The first generation works very hard to get their children educated. The bottom line is...we are a well-integrated community...we believe in giving back.

“The Aga Khan is able to advocate for all Muslims to governments

like Canada's...regardless of the government of the day.”

Prominent Ismailis in Canada

Nadir Mohamed ~ former Rogers CEO

Mobina Jaffer ~ Liberal Senator

Mohamed Dhanani ~ Hill & Knowlton's new vice-president of public affairs

Arif Lalani ~ Canada's former ambassador to Afghanistan and the UAE

Alykhan Velshi ~ former director of issues management in Stephen Harper's PMO,

now senior associate at McKinsey & Company

Rumina Velshi ~ Member of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission

(Alykhan's mother)

Rahim Jaffer ~ former Conservative MP, first Muslim

elected to the House of Commons

Arif Verani ~ Liberal MP

Yasmin Ratansi ~ Liberal MP

Naheed Nenshi ~ Calgary Mayor

Ali Velshi ~ MSNBC journalist, formerly with Al Jezeera and CNN

Murad Velshi ~ former Ontario Liberal MPP and father to Ali Velshi

Aliza Vellani ~ actress, including the http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2490049/

Compiled by Merle Baird-Kerr...February 4, 2017

To comment: mbairdkerr@cogeco.ca or inezkate@gmail.com

Vladimir Putin's Speech to Russians and Muslims Who Prefer Sharia Law!

No wonder, he was selected by Forbes

as the most powerful person in the world!

This is one time our elected leaders should pay attention to the advice given by a Communist leader. Circulated to me by one of my faithful readers, the sender suggests that not only leaders...but every citizen of USA should pay attention to this advice given by the Russian president.

Addressing Duma (Russian Parliament), he gave a speech about the tensions with minorities in Russia:

“In Russia, live like Russians! Any minority from anywhere, if it wants to live in Russia...to work and eat in Russia...it should speak Russian...and should respect Russian laws.

“If they prefer Sharia Law...and live the life of Muslims, then we advise them to go to those places where that's the 'state law.'

“Russia does not need Muslim minorities.

Minorities need Russia...and we will not grant them special privileges...

or try to change our laws to fit their desires...no matter how loud they yell “DISCRIMINATION”!

We will not tolerate disrespect of our Russian culture.

“We better learn from the suicides of America, England, Holland and France...if we are to survive as a nation. The Muslims are taking over those countries...and they will not take over Russia! The Russian customs and traditions are not compatible with the lack of culture...or the primitive ways of Sharia Law and Muslims.

“When this honourable legislative body thinks of creating new laws...it should have in mind the Russian national interest first...observing that the Muslims Minorities Are Not Russians”

The politicians in the Duma gave Putin a five-minute standing ovation!

Kindly note that the Australian Prime Minister

gave a couple similar speeches to her nation in the past few years!

Merle Baird-Kerr...written January 19, 2017

Comments welcome: mbairdkerr@cogeco.ca or inezkate@gmail.com

Freedom for Some...Chaos for Others!

Big fault lines have opened up across the European Union...both east-west and north-south...because of the 'migrant crisis.' Many migrants seek asylum in Germany or Sweden...but those countries want other EU partners to show 'solidarity' and share the burden. Many have fled the conflicts and abuses in Syria, Afghanistan and Eritrea; also many 'economic migrants' are fleeing poverty in the Balkans and countries like Nigeria and Pakistan. The Greek islands near Turkey are the main focus of EU as thousands of migrants continue to come ashore there daily. Tensions have been escalating between Greece and some of its EU partners. Greece insists that it cannot become Europe's 'holding center' for migrants! And the tensions increase!

Consider some migrants who demand 'rights' and 'free handout of services'...

some even bringing children (not even their own) to cash in on 'family freebies'!

So much is unknown to us in other nations.

Consider the following article forwarded to me today by one of my readers.

At Pretium Libertatis

“The Truth Will Set You Free”

A Female Doctor Working in Germany Warns the World

“Yesterday, at the hospital in Germany where I work, we had a meeting about how the influx of muslim immigrants from the middle east is simply unsustainable. Walk-in-Health Clinics cannot handle the emergencies; being overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of serious health emergencies, they are starting to send everything to the hospitals.

Many muslims are refusing treatment by female staff here in Germany. The muslim men make sick, crude comments and overtures to the female staff members...because to them, any non-muslim woman is a whore or a future slave. After brief exposure to these cruel, sadistic, female-hating beats, we women are refusing to go among these animals...especially the muslim men from Africa.

Relations between the female hospital staff and muslim immigrants are going from bad to worse. Since, the assault and unreported rapes of German women last weekend, migrants going to the hospitals must be accompanied by police with K-9 units.

Very high numbersof migrants have AIDS, syphilis, open TB and

many exotic diseases that we, in Europe, do not know how to treat them.

If they receive a prescription in the pharmacy, when they learn they have to pay cash, they become violent. They were told in the middle east that everything in Germany would be free. Everything would be handed to them on a 'silver platter.' Finding out that they MUST pay for certain things, leads to loud, violent outbursts...especially when it is about drugs for the children. Many of these muslim immigrants kidnapped children, so that, their social benefits would be higher, once they landed in Germany. Informed about having to pay for the children's drugs, they gave up the ruse, abandoning the children with pharmacy staff with the words, “So, cure them here yourselves!”

Now, the police are not just guarding the clinics and hospitals...

but also large pharmacies.

Truly, we said openly, “Where are all those who had been welcomed in front of TV cameras..and with signs at train stations??? Yes, for now, the border has been closed...but a million of them are already here...and we will definitely not be able to get rid of them.

Until now, the number of unemployed in Germany was 2.2 million. Now,it will be at leasst 3.5 million or higher. Most of these people are completely unemployable. An infinitesimal bare minimum of them have any education. What is more...their women usually do not job-work at all. I estimate that one in ten is pregnant with many children in tow. Hundreds of thousands of them have brought along infants and little kids under six...many emaciated and neglected. If this continues, and Germany re-opens its borders, I'm going home to the Czech Republic. Nobody can keep me here in this situation...not even double the salary than at home. I went to Germany, not to Africa or the Middle East.

Even the professor who heads our department told us how sad it makes him, to see the cleaning woman, who for 800 Euros a month, cleans every day for years. She has to pick up the refuse the muslim men discard everywhere they go. She has to serve the young muslim men in the hallways who stand there with their hand outstretched...demanding everything for free...and when they don't get it, throw a fit!

They know Germany and her citizens are very civilized.

Add to that, the world is watching, so these vicious, lazy, muslim youths

know if they scream, shout and threaten violence,

the German people will cave in.

I tell you, no one who has not come in contact with them, has any idea what kind of animals they are, especially the ones from Africa...and how the muslim men and women act superior to our staff who are Christian. They look down upon us...verbally deride our Christian values...and then demand that their every wish be granted immediately.

If Germans, with our generous nature cannot handle this,

then the rest of Europe will be in total chaos!

For now, the local hospital staff has not come down with the diseases they brought here, but, with so many hundreds of patients every day ~ this is just a question of time!

In a hospital near the Rhine, migrants attacked the staff with knives after they had handed over an 8-month-old on the brink of death, which they had dragged across half of Europe for three months before seeking medical attention. The child died in two days, despite having received top care at one of the best pediatric clinics in Germany. The physician had to undergo surgery...and two nurses are in ICU. Nobody has been, and no one will be punished.

The local press is forbidden to write about it!

A Note on Terminology: “The BBC uses the term 'migrant' to refer to all people on the move who have yet to complete the legal process of 'claiming asylum'. This group includes people fleeing war-torn courntries such as Syria, who are likely to be granted 'refugee status' as well as people seeking better jobs and better lives...who will likely be regarded as economic migrants.”

(The foregoing submitted by one of my readers)

Kindly understand, the foregoing has not be verified by the below writer.

Merle Baird-Kerr...written October 31, 2016

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