Did the US execute an innocent man?

Follows is an excellent article written about the execution of a potentially innocent man in Georgia, US, Troy Davis.

There was enough doubt in this case to warrant a new trial. Unfortunately, the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act 1996, (passed after the Oklahoma City Bombing), bars death row inmates from later presenting evidence they could have presented at the original trial. This Act bars them from having a new trial. So, if that evidence was not available at the original trial – tough luck. Potentially innocent? It doesn’t matter. Several world leaders, Amnesty International, and even the Pope intervene – so what! We are the United States and human rights don’t apply to us, and guilty beyond a reasonable doubt no longer matters.

"I Am Troy Davis: Why I’m Afraid To Be An American And You Should Be Too [OPINION] Written by Travon Free on September 22, 2011 7:23 am

I am afraid to live in this country. The United States of America. Afraid to live in a country where the new norm is thinking with our hearts or our gut and painting the rational minded individual as unpatriotic and liberal. Afraid to live in a country where intelligence and science have taken a back seat to what people “feel” is right, not what they know to be true or actually is true for that matter.

I’m afraid to live in a country where facts have become taboo and are no longer valid arguing points in shaping the society we all share and everyone’s opinion matters. I’m afraid to live in a country where now the fringe individuals who we use to consider lost in the fray or even “crazy” now have a seat at the table and are considered just another voice on the issues."

Read more of this interesting opinion here.

A Piping Summer Evening in Guelph

Enjoy this video clip of the Guelph Pipe Band performing at McCrae House from youtube.

During the summer months Guelphites can enjoy “Piping Evenings with the Guelph Pipe Band”. The Guelph Pipe Band (established in 1922) performed on the grounds of John McCrae House.

John McCrae was a Lt Colonel in the Canadian Army during WW1, and the author of the poem Flanders Fields. Because of this poem the poppy became of symbol of rememberance. He was born and raised right here on Guelph in a beautiful stone house just steps away from the Speed River.

Last night was the last “summer evening” that the Pipers would be playing at McCrae House this year. It was a little chilly, and there was a refreshment stand with a pot of, dare I say, “piping” hot tea ;) I know, I know, but I couldn't resist it.

Hubby and I brought some folding chairs, and enjoyed the show. It was nice to see so many families there.

6 Year Old Watched 9/11 Live In School Classroom

10 years ago eldest boy was in first grade and had just turned 6 when 9/11 happened. It was a strange enough day for us adults.  Parents were withdrawing their children from school. We had decided to leave him in school because we wanted his day to be normal as possible.

We didn’t know that his first grade teacher turned the classroom tv on that morning, and stood by and sobbed while these young children watched everything live on CNN.  No explanation or re-assurance was given by the teacher. I’m sure these children were all frightened.

When I picked him up at the end of the day I could tell by his face that something was wrong. He had spent 6 hours in front of the classroom tv watching live tv coverage of planes crashing into buildings, people falling and bouncing off the buildings, and the buildings crashing. He didn't know the news was replaying the same news footage repeatedly and thought many planes flew into many buildings. He was almost hysterical in the car on the way home from school because he thought a plane was going to crash into our car or our home and we would be killed. He had no idea how far away Florida was from New York. He was in such a state nothing I said to him would re-assure him that he was safe.

He suffered from nightmares for several weeks after that. Today he says he wished he hadn’t watched 9/11 live at so young an age.

When I asked the teacher why she allowed these children to watch live and uncensored coverage of the event, she said that “this was history in the making and as an American student he needs to know about it”. She said it was her duty as a patriotic American to allow her class to watch it live on tv.

I wish, as a parent, my 6 year old child had not been exposed to live and uncensored news coverage of the event without my knowledge or consent. I think it's unhealthy to expose such a young child to this.

Is It Time To Move On From 9/11?

Photo by Melissa Lyttle, St Petersburg Times.

Above photo is the installation of a permanent 9/11 memorial by the front door of Pinellas Park High School, in Pinellas Park, Florida.

Is it time to move on from 9/11? Is it healthy to continually focus on it?

Other nations have experienced terrorism, and they know that continual re-living of events is the goal of the terrorists. The “ism” is the act, and the “terror” is the residual fear caused by the act. It is like picking away at a scab instead of allowing it to heal.

Back To School Today, Yay!

Kids are back to school today.

Summer is over.

Weather has turned cooler.

Hopefully there are a few warm days left, but at least the humidity has gone.

Hot Waffle Ice Cream Bar

The Original, Freshly Baked, Ice Cream Waffle.

Of course, no visit to the Ex would be complete without a sampling of their famous Ice Cream Waffle. I loved these as a child. The waffles are freshly made and hot, served with a freshly cut slab of creamy vanilla ice cream.

Let's Go To The Ex

Princes' Gates entrance to CNE with Midway in background.

Last week we went to the Canadian National Exhibition, or CNE.

To our Usian friends, this is like a state fair. The Ex, as it’s affectionately known, has been around since 1879. It started originally as an agricultural fair and grew from there. To those of you who are familiar with Toronto’s nickname of “hogtown”, the nickname came from the CNE since "market" livestock was often sent from the CNE to the meat processing plants in Toronto.

The Ex takes place for 18 days, starting around mid-August and ending on Labour day. When I was a child we always went, and it was an exciting end to our summer vacations. Today there are bigger and better theme parks for the kids to go to, but the Ex still has a lot of charm.

3 boys had lots of fun. We bought them a Midway pass, so they rode everything.

We had so much fun we stayed until closing.