h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

It's been far too hot this week for anything much to have happened in these parts. Nevertheless, Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan is frothing at the mouth about terrorism, despite the heatwave, and warning us that Canadians should expect to be blown up by terrorists just like anyone else. She's right, of course. Recent Canadian government policies that see people locked up for years without trial and deportations of would-be refugees to countries where they stand a very good chance of being tortured (despite being castigated by the UN for doing exactly that) seem tailor made to get us into the terrorism club. I just wonder why people like Ms. McLellan seem so eager for our turn.

JTH,

Politicians tried to frighten us here too, mainly I think to justify their own behaviour. Then they downgraded the Security levels for London Personally I think if we start seeing ourselves as targets and victims, and broadcast it worldwide to boot, then "they" are going to take advantage.

I don't like what your Government is doing, but then ours is too soft by half. There must be a middle road that would be effective.

We had a power cut here for an hour last week which was a and an "incident" in our road, involving neighbours, a dog and a shotgun. I can't say more but it was not nice at all.

I gather the heat is up in Canada too, as I spoke to several people in Toronto the other day. It really is difficult to work in this humidity, but I have to, so I better and get on with it I would much rather be reading h2g2 posts

preferably a long one!

Websailor

It's frightening how easy we are to frighten, and how easily manipulated we are when we're afraid.

I've been listening to a CD of 'The Wisdom of Forgiveness' by the Dalai Lama and Victor Chan lately on the drive home from work. It's an amazingly simple yet profound idea, the heart of Christianity, really, as I understand it, as well as the heart of Buddhism, and probably a lot of other religious traditions too. It's putting it into practice that's the hard part of course; and yet it seems to me that more good can come of feeling a heartfelt compassion for the bombers and their families than from all the bombs and bullets that the Americans and their allies can unleash on the world. It's a hard thing to ask of someone who's lost a loved one though.

Crikey! Dogs and shotguns! What kind of neighbourhood do you live in? I wonder if we were neghbours. Better keep your head down.

<--- tall and frosty

JTG