Lynda L. Lock's Blog, page 3

What the actual what? Who even does something like that? By, Mary Scheidegger Adams

 

Dear 77,301,997 Americans who voted for Trump (and to a few of our ownMAGA-loving Canadians),

Let's take a moment to reflect on who we Canadians actually are, as you mayhave been misled lately. We are compassionate. We are polite. We valueeducation and children, our elders and the vulnerable. We are proud, we arestrong, we are free. We quietly (sometimes not so quietly) go about ourbusiness.

See, being Canadian has never been about shouting the loudest or demandingattention. That’s not who we are. We’re the quiet ones — the ones who shovelour neighbour’s driveway without being asked, who hold the door open, who say“sorry” when you bump into us, and who believe that getting along is betterthan shouting each other down.

We believe in fairness, decency, and looking out for each other — not just hereat home, but around the world. It’s part of why we’ve always been proud to beyour greatest neighbour.

We’ve always shown up for you — time and time again.

From the beaches of Normandy to the mountains of Korea, from the fields ofFlanders to the streets of Kandahar, Canadians have stood beside you, foughtbeside you, and yes, died beside you during your darkest hours. When HurricaneKatrina devastated New Orleans, we were there. When California burned, we sentour finest firefighters and water bombers. And on September 11, 2001, when theworld stood still, we opened our homes and airports to thousands of yourcitizens, because that’s what good neighbours do. It would certainly neveroccur to us to ask for expressions of gratitude, let alone demand it. Who doesthat?

To be frank, it’s hard — really hard — to watch your president, a convictedcriminal who built his entire persona on insults, cruelty and division, turnthat hostility on us. We’ve been your friend, your ally, your partner — and nowwe’re treated like an inconvenient commodity at best, an enemy at worst.

Now, to the Canadian MAGA cheerleaders telling me to “mind my own brokencountry” — let's take a moment and clear a few things up.

Canada isn’t broken. Do we have problems? Of course we do — name a country thatdoesn’t! But we’re not on the verge of civil war because we can’t even agree onbasic facts. We don’t rally to round up immigrants or people who don’t looklike us, or cheer when our leaders mock the disabled and vulnerable. We don’tvote convicted criminals into office — we vote them out. We don’t cling topolitical labels like they’re our whole identity. We’re Canadian first — notLiberal or Conservative first.

We actually understand how tariffs work. We know that affordable health carefor all isn’t some radical fantasy — it’s basic human decency. We don’tfantasize about dragging society back to the 1940s. And we certainly don’tbelieve the most morally corrupt person on the planet was handpicked by God.Who does that?

We didn’t gut essential health care for millions of people with the stroke of apen. We don’t think lower taxes magically cover cancer treatments or emergencysurgeries when you’ve lost your job. We believe a country is only as strong asthe way it treats its most vulnerable — not how much it worships billionaires.That's morally reprehensible. What the actual what? Who even does somethinglike that?

We didn’t hand over the keys to our government to a bunch of unelectedcorporate tycoons and media personalities. We don’t cling to a 250-year-old gunlaw while innocent children are slaughtered in their classrooms, pretendingnothing can be done.

Canada is respected around the world — not pitied or laughed at. We believe inupholding all of our Charter of Rights and Freedoms, not picking and choosingwhich rights apply based on political convenience. That's illegal, and morallyreprehensible. What the actual what? Who even does something like that?

Mind my own business? Oh, I would love to — but here’s the thing: when yourneighbour is a country of over 300 million people, and they’ve put aconspiracy-loving anti-science addict in charge of public health, that’s mybusiness. When your president tears down the economic, military, and tradealliances that keep the world stable, that’s my business.

When your leader openly talks about invading sovereigncountries — including ours — that’s my business. Oh ... that is very definitelymy business.

Dear ones, south of the border. We’re your friend, your ally, and yourneighbour — but we’re not blind, and we are definitely not fools. We’re polite.We’re fair. But we’re not pushovers. And right now? We’re watching. Closely.

Warmly, with kindness — and a whole lot of concern, Canada [image error] [image error]
“Elbows up.”

Shared from FB page of,

Mary Scheidegger Adams, BC Canada

Flag-jacking! Pretending to be Canadian

Flag-jacking. (French: prise de drapeau) the actof travelers wearing a foreign flag on their clothing or backpack in an attemptto disguise their country of origin.

The most common situation is when Americans pose asCanadians.

Flag-jacking was rampant during the 1960s and 70s, during thelengthy Vietnam War, November 1955 until April 1975. Riding on a wave of civilrights awareness, anti-war protests, the rise of feminism, and economic prosperity,students and university graduates from all countries backpacked their wayacross Europe on grand adventures that their parents could only have dreamedabout in their youth. Many American travelers plastered the Canadian flag onbackpacks, and jackets in hopes they would receive friendlier treatment orservice.

When Lawrie and I traveled extensively in Europe during the firstGulf War, we encountered only a handful of Americans. In January 1991 the StateDepartment issued a travel advisory for all Americans, telling them to stayhome! The few that we met were flag-jacking our Canadian maple leaf.

The term flag-jacking gained additional popularity after anarticle entitled "How to Spot Flag-Jacking Frauds Abroad" waspublished on 1 July 2013 by The Huffington Post.  The article stated that flag-jacking is atransitory act involving a person's use of a country's flag to create the falseimpression of being a citizen of a favored nation. Pretending to be Canadian bywearing our maple leaf still gets Americans better service when they’re abroad,provided they’re able to act the part, too.

For their 2013 article, The Huffington Post commissioned bodylanguage expert and author Mark Bowden of TruthPlane Inc. to demonstrate how topass for a Canadian.

Here are a few of Bowden’s tips.

The Maple-o-gy: A Canadian gesture showing submission byraising the shoulders in an apologetic motion, presenting oneself asnonthreatening. It’s similar to the shrug, practiced by French nationals.

The Canuck Crinkle: Showing the creases around your eyeswhen smiling – indicates genuine friendliness.

The Toque Tilt: Slight tilting of the head when smiling,shows courtesy and congeniality.

Personally, I don’t mind if our American neighboursflag-jack our maple leaf, as long as they are polite, kind, considerate, andleave the combative MAGA perspective in the USA.

Wishing everyone a peaceful day, one without additional proclamations from Trump and Company, in his economic war to destroy our country.

To, in his words, “bring Canada to its knees" because he wants to take our natural resources.

Lynda 

Canadian national pride shows at the checkout counters

Okanagan and Richmond fresh fruitMarch 6th, 2025 Penticton Western News, and Summerland Review

Column by John Arendt

As tariff threats ramp up, Canadian shoppers are looking to buy products from our country.

These days, when I’m out grocery shopping, the process takes longer than it did in the past.

In addition to checking prices, ingredients and nutrition labels — things I’ve watched for many years — I’m now paying careful attention to where the food comes from. I’m looking to buy foods and other items from Canada, preferably from here in British Columbia, whenever possible.

Elsewhere I’m looking for Canadian products and services, or international brands manufactured in Canada. 

I’m not alone in this quest.

There are groups on social media where people are recommending Canadian or non-U.S. brands instead of the more common American brand names.

A number of apps have been developed for smartphones, allowing customers to scan a barcode to determine where a product was made.

O SCANada and Shop Canadian were both launched in early February. Proudly Buying Canadian was updated in February to provide more detailed information about which items are Canadian-made and which are assembled in Canada using foreign parts. Canadian Finder (Otto) was also introduced this year.

Grocery stores and other retailers are also getting involved. Stores are displaying signs around certain items to show they are made in Canada or products of Canada. And there are signs explaining what these two terms mean.

Something labelled as Product of Canada must have at least 98 percent of the total direct cost of manufacturing incurred within Canada, while something labelled Made in Canada must meet a threshold of at least 51 percent, under federal law.

What is happening in Canada today is unlike previous consumer actions. Earlier, many boycott initiatives and calls to shop locally tended to be short-lived, often fizzling out within days.

This time, the effort to buy Canadian is continuing.

The difference is because of something affecting Canada at a national and international level.

At the end of last year and continuing into this year, the U.S. president has made repeated comments about bringing in Canada as the 51st American state. These are not jokes, and many Canadians are repulsed by the idea.

Then, when the U.S. president spoke of implementing heavy tariffs of Canadian goods, things became more serious. Canadian leaders have promised retaliatory tariffs in response, which would result in a tariff war between the two countries. 

The tariffs, implemented on March 4, mean a rate of 25 percent for items Canada imports from the U.S. The U.S. tariffs are similar, but with a lower tariff on fuels and crude oil.

For Canadians, this means American goods will become a lot more expensive.

It would be easy to hold on to past shopping patterns until tariffs take place, but many shoppers took action in advance, before there was a financial benefit to doing so.

The concept of shopping for Canadian products and services is something that matters to many.

Instead of feeling downtrodden and disheartened as a result of the ongoing insults from the U.S. and now the tariff war, Canadians are choosing to embrace this country like never before.

The action among shoppers demonstrates that they do not want to see Canada as an extension of the U.S. This country has its own unique identity, one cherished by many.

One place where this renewed national pride is showing itself is at the store checkout counters.

John Arendt is the editor of the Summerland Review.

Canadian holiday ideas: Okanagan Fest of Ale, April 11th & 12th 2025

Food, fun, music, and amazing craft beers!

Follow this link for the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kta9H...

Okanagan Area Breweries

"Enjoy Okanagan hospitality and great craft beer year-round in Penticton.  Recently named Canada's Craft Beer Capital by Lonely Planet, and one of the Best Beer Towns in Canada by Expedia, and one of the Top 10 Best Destinations for Beer Enthusiasts, 2018 by askmen.co  Penticton's booming craft beer scene won't be BC's best-kept secret for much longer."

"Penticton boasts a lively craft beer scene.  It is home to 7 craft breweries which makes Penticton the beer capital of BC with more breweries per capita than any other Canadian city!"

"Long before the craft beer craze the city has acted as host for the Fest of Ale.  The annual festival features craft beer and cider from BC and beyond and is one of the longest-running and largest beer festivals in the Pacific Northwest."

"Many local establishments offer a great selection of craft brews and fabulous fare. Make plans to check out the year-round local craft breweries in the sudsy Okanagan."

Canadian holiday ideas: Herring Neck Dory Festival, July 17th to 20th, 2025

My plan for the foreseeable future is to promote Canada in any way that I can. Today's post is about Newfoundland, our most easterly province.

The annual Grassroots Cultural Festival in Herring Neck Newfoundland takes place July 17th to 20th, 2025. (Close to Twillingate and Iceberg Alley.)Great Music, Fun Competition, and a Whole Lot of Community Spirit.
This community-based festival highlights some of Newfoundland's greatest traditions. From Kitchen Parties to Rowing Races and everything in between, the Herring Neck Dory Festival has fun for the whole family to enjoy.
The four-day festival will take place July 17-20, 2025.
Stay and play in Canada!
Nearby Twillingate, and iceberg alley

CANADA RESPONDS to TRUMP'S 25% TRADE TARIFFS

 CANADA RESPONDS to TRUMP'S TRADE TARIFFS.

25 percent tariffs against $155 billion of American goods

March 3, 2025, Ottawa, Ontario
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on unjustified U.S. tariffs against Canada:

“Today, after a 30-day pause, the United States administration has decided to proceed with imposing 25 percent tariffs on Canadian exports and 10 percent tariffs on Canadian energy. Let me be unequivocally clear – there is no justification for these actions.

“While less than 1 percent of the fentanyl intercepted at the U.S. border comes from Canada, we have worked relentlessly to address this scourge that affects Canadians and Americans alike. We implemented a $1.3 billion border plan with new choppers, boots on the ground, more coordination, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl. We appointed a Fentanyl Czar, listed transnational criminal cartels as terrorist organizations, launched the Joint Operational Intelligence Cell, and are establishing a Canada-U.S. Joint Strike Force on organized crime. Because of this work – in partnership with the United States – fentanyl seizures from Canada have dropped 97 percent between December 2024 and January 2025 to a near-zero low of 0.03 pounds seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection."

“Canada will not let this unjustified decision go unanswered. Should American tariffs come into effect tonight, Canada will, effective 12:01 a.m. EST tomorrow, respond with 25 percent tariffs against $155 billion of American goods – starting with tariffs on $30 billion worth of goods immediately, and tariffs on the remaining $125 billion on American products in 21 days’ time."

"Our tariffs will remain in place until the U.S. trade action is withdrawn, and should U.S. tariffs not cease, we are in active and ongoing discussions with provinces and territories to pursue several non-tariff measures. While we urge the U.S. administration to reconsider their tariffs, Canada remains firm in standing up for our economy, our jobs, our workers, and for a fair deal."

“Because of the tariffs imposed by the U.S., Americans will pay more for groceries, gas, and cars, and potentially lose thousands of jobs. Tariffs will disrupt an incredibly successful trading relationship. They will violate the very trade agreement that was negotiated by President Trump in his last term.”

Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister of Canada
@CanadianPM

Michael McDonald - White House chickensh!t and childish tag-team debacle

 The Other 98% 

opdnstroSe19c20096502c45hlfml4h8l1m033u83a21u34ium3at31u4306  · "I have exponentially more respect for Vladimir Zelensky than I even had before! He is living proof that character, dignity, and real courage are all it takes to shine a brighter light on despotic treachery and cowardice.I find it curious that Trump couldn't show the simple and appropriate respect to meet one on one with the president of Ukraine, who is after all, one of our most recent allies in the Free World, instead choosing to stage this embarrassingly chickensh!t and childish tag-team debacle that showed about as much statesmanlike decorum on the part of this current administration as an episode of Maury!No, in my humble opinion, I think it was a carefully orchestrated thumbs up to Vladimir Putin... you know, the guy who has nothing but contempt for anything remotely resembling democracy.However, You've got to admire Putin's skillful use of his singular tool of destruction, (Donald Trump), to cripple America's Banking system and dismantle this country's influence internationally, removing any obstacles in his path, (like NATO for instance), on the now open highway to domination of what was once the Free World.One can only hope that God sees fit to save usfrom ourselves."Michael McDonald

Norwegian Haltbakk Bunkers halts fuel supplies to American military ships

 

Trump's disgraceful behavior at the White House with President Zelensky

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President Zelensky

After Trump's disgraceful behavior at the White House today with President Zelensky major world players just came out to defend Ukraine and Zelensky:

- Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk: “Dear Zelensky, dear Ukrainian friends, you are not alone.”- President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausea: “Ukraine, you’ll never walk alone.”- Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen: “Dear Zelensky, Denmark proudly stands with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.”- French President Emmanual Macron: “There is an aggressor: Russia. There is a people being aggressed: Ukraine. We were all right to help Ukraine and sanction Russia three years ago and to continue doing so. We, that’s the Americans, the Europeans, Canadians, Japanese, and many others. Thank you to all those who have helped and continue to do so. And respect to those who, from the beginning, have been fighting. Because they are fighting for their dignity, their independence, for their children, and for the security of Europe.”- President of Moldova Maia Sandu: “The truth is simple. Russia invaded Ukraine. Russia is the aggressor. Ukraine defends its freedom—and ours. We stand with Ukraine.”- Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson: “Sweden stands with Ukraine. You are not only fighting for your freedom but also for all of Europe’s. Slava Ukraini! ”- Incoming German Chancellor Friedrich Mer: “Dear Volodymyr @zelenskyyua, we stand with #Ukraine in good and in testing times. We must never confuse aggressor and victim in this terrible war. (FM)”- Croatia’s Prime Minister Andrej Plenković: “Croatia knows from its own experience that only a just peace can last. The Croatian Government stands firm in its belief that Ukraine needs such a peace - a peace that means sovereignty, territorial integrity, and a secure Europe.”- Finland’s Prime Minister @PetteriOrpo: “Finland and the Finnish people stand firmly with Ukraine. We will continue our unwavering support and work towards a just and lasting peace.”- Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal: “We stand united with @ZelenskyyUa and Ukraine in our fight for freedom. Always. Because it is right, not easy.”- Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris: “Ukraine is not to blame for this war brought about by Russia’s illegal invasion. We stand with Ukraine.“- Latvia’s President Edgars Rinkevics: “Ukraine is a victim of the Russian aggression. It fights the war with the help from many friends and partners. We need to spare no effort for just and lasting peace. Diplomacy sometimes is the art of the impossible in difficult circumstances. Latvia stands with Ukraine”- Prime Minister of the Netherlands Dick Schoof: ”The Netherlands supports Ukraine as firmly as ever. Now more than ever. We want a lasting peace and an end to the war of aggression started by Russia. For Ukraine and its people, and for Europe.”- Prime Minister of Luxembourg Luc Friedsen: “Luxembourg stands with Ukraine. You are fighting for your freedom and a rules-based international order. ”The West stands with the heroic Zelensky. Trump sides with Putin. What has our nation become?

Petition asks PM to revoke Elon Musk’s Canadian citizenship

New Democrat MP Charlie Angus sponsors petition that garners thousands of signatures

The Canadian PressFeb 22, 2025 2:40 PMFeb 22, 2025 2:41 PM Elon Musk speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Jose Luis Magana

Thousands of people have electronically signed a parliamentary petition calling for revocation of Elon Musk’s Canadian citizenship over his role in the Trump administration, which is pointedly threatening Canada’s sovereignty.

The petition, making its way through the House of Commons process, was initiated by Qualia Reed, a Nanaimo, B.C., author.

New Democrat MP Charlie Angus, an outspoken critic of Musk, is sponsoring the petition, which had more than 34,000 signatures from across Canada as of Saturday evening.

Musk is a native of South Africa but he has Canadian citizenship through his Regina-born mother.

The petition says Musk, a billionaire businessman and adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, has engaged in activities that go against the national interest of Canada.

Trump has threatened to impose widespread tariffs on Canadian products and has openly mused about Canada becoming the 51st state, drawing the ire of millions of Canadians.

The petition asks Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to revoke Musk’s citizenship and Canadian passport.

An electronic petition must have 500 or more signatures to receive certification for presentation to the House of Commons, opening the door to a formal government response.