Face Coverings are Anti-Woman!

As a feminist, I feel my blood boil that women continue to be oppressed and held back by patriarchy, sexism, and cultural bullshit. The hot debate at the moment is whether wearing a face covering or niqab should be allowed in a citizenship ceremony. I say it should NOT be allowed and agree with Prime Minister Harper that it is "anti-woman" and "rooted in a culture that is anti-woman" and "a symbol of oppression"(https://ca.news.yahoo.com/harper-calls-muslim-face-covering-veil-anti-woman-211847845.html). Whereas I don't agree with Harper on everything, I'm glad that we have a prime minister who calls a spade a spade. We live in Canada and our values say that women are equal to men and have the right to show their faces. To people who don't like it, I suggest you go back to a land that has your values. Canada is about freedom, rights, and equality not oppression. Zunera Ishaq is a Pakistani woman who wants to wear her niqab at her citizenship ceremony. Do we live in the Middle East or Canada? While she says that she chooses to wear the face veil, she admits that other women and girls are forced to wear it by their families (http://news.nationalpost.com/2015/02/17/barbara-kay-zunera-ishaq-does-a-disservice-to-women-forced-to-wear-the-veil/). Can I say contradiction? Why would you willingly choose to partake in a symbol of female oppression? Perhaps because your husband or father put you up to it? Have you no respect for yourself as a woman? If as a woman you want to promote a cause, at least have a cause worthy of promoting. Women have so much potential for great things. Sadly, many parts of the world still hold a woman back. Here in Canada though, you have choices. You are valuable and not the property of anyone. You are allowed to use your own mind. You are allowed to show your face. You are a human after all.

Family Will Always Stay True

Friends may be the family you choose, but family will always stay true. Sure, you may have arguments and even hate each other at times, but most people have at least one family member who is always there for them. It can be a parent, a sibling, an uncle, an aunt, a cousin, or a grandparent. Blood runs thicker than water as they say. I'm fortunate to have four very special people who have my back: My Mom, Dad, brother Dan, and Uncle Johnny. I know my other family members love me, but these people love me in a very special way. A very deep way. It makes me want to cry. I'm currently going through some very difficult times, and it is their love, encouragement, and prayers that are helping me through. I truly don't deserve their love, but I have it. It means so much. I also have some very good friends and sadly, I continue to discover over the years who my true ones are. A friend loves at all times, says the Bible. You really discover how true this is when you go through tough times. Many thanks to my wonderful friends, especially my best friends Sigrid and Christina. I love you both so very much. Mom, Dad, Dan, and Uncle Johnny, thank you, thank you, thank you. Words cannot begin to express just how much I love you and appreciate all you do. I may not always say or show it enough, but I do. Thank God for you all!

Keep the Faith Stays True to Bon Jovi Essence

Hi Everyone: As I'm sitting here in my room listening to "Livin' on a Prayer," I thought that now would be the perfect time to tell you about an amazing Bon Jovi tribute band that I saw recently with a friend. I've been a die-hard Bon Jovi fan for 20 years and have seen them six times on five different tours in Ottawa, Toronto, and Montreal. You never forget your first time! WOW! Keep the Faith (KTF) hails from Toronto and is fronted by the good looking and dynamic Chris Newman, a.k.a. Jon Bon Jovi. With his hair cut, attire, Superman tattoo, stage mannerisms, energy, and voice, Chris is quite Jon Bon Jovi-esque. Chris and I spoke quite a bit before the show at D'Arcy McGee's Irish Pub in Kanata (Ottawa) on Sat., Nov. 1st, and I found out that he's been a BJ fan since "Born to Be My Baby" came out and has seen BJ 35 times! He's been in the pit during the last 10 shows, so that JBJ himself recognizes him! Ah, it was nice to talk to another hardcore fan who appreciates the incredible power and beauty of Bon Jovi music. I was also pleased to receive a copy of the setlist! Chris and the boys started off the night with "Lay Your Hands on Me," a great song from BJ's fourth album, New Jersey, which came out in 1988. They then launched into fan favourite "You Give Love a Bad Name" and "Roulette," a song that true BJ fans would appreciate from the first Bon Jovi album in 1984. KTF played for three and a half hours (complete with three encores!) and did a great mix of songs from Bon Jovi's 13 studio albums. They even threw in some extras, which included "Pretty Woman," "Start Me Up," and "Twist and Shout." My personal favourite was Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." Such an awesome song. My highlight of the night was "Always," which Chris performed beautifully during the second encore. That song made me fall in love with BJ when I was 13 and in Grade 7 and will forever be my favourite song. Of course, I also really appreciated classics like "Livin' on a Prayer" (second encore) and "Bed of Roses" to name a few. KTF has played D'Arcy McGee's six times in three years. It was, however, my first time seeing them. Together for eight years, KTF truly strives to give its audiences an authentic Bon Jovi experience. They stay true to the essence of Bon Jovi with their music and energy. Chris even has his maracas taped exactly how JBJ does and uses a similar acoustic guitar to him! I also tip my hat to guitarist JT Harris who was only playing his second show as the one and only Richie Sambora and Steph Snitman (a.k.a. Tico Torres) who not only plays drums well but has a pretty good voice too. Doug Adams (a.k.a. Hugh McDonald) is 62 and plays his bass enthusiastically. And how John Jablonski (a.k.a. David Bryan) maintains that crazy mullet while playing keyboard is beyond me! All I can say is that Keep the Faith provided a high energy show that essentially left me on a high and helped me remember why I love Bon Jovi so much! Thanks, Chris and Keep the Faith (http://keepthefaithtributeband.com/)! Have a Nice Day!!! Dahlia

Long Overdue!

Hi Everyone! Thanks to the ongoing encouragement (and "nagging"!) of a couple of writer friends (you know who you are!), I am writing my first blog post in three years!!!!! It was definitely a long time coming and long overdue! I confess that I haven't been writing nearly as much I was years ago. My passion hasn't died; it just hasn't been nourished in a very long time. In a sense, it has been neglected like someone crying out for love with no one hearing its cries. I saw one of my writer friends today actually and over a lovely cup of tea, I told her that there's a Bible verse that says something along the lines of how without vision the people perish. I'm not a religious person, but there's a lot of wisdom in that verse. Writing has been my passion since I was 11, and I've kind of let it die over the years because of life experiences and what not. You know the expression "Shit happens"? Well, life happens too! I wonder if perhaps I'd be a bit happier if I was writing more. I am a writer after all, and it's what I was meant to do. Some things you just know. While I have been freelancing articles for a community resource centre newsletter for a year now, I have not been cultivating my poetic side nor have I attempted to start writing a crime fiction novel. I'm addicted to the genre (and Criminal Minds)! Maybe it's time to check out the Capital Crime Writers or at least freelance more and perhaps write a poem every now and then. Then again, baby steps. 'One day at a time' as my Uncle Johnny always says. I'll slowly start by blogging again. Have a great day! Dahlia

Saudi Women Get Right to Vote but Not to Drive

Hi Everyone:

Saudi women now have the right to vote as well as be appointed to Shura Council but still remain unable to drive or travel abroad without male consent (http://ca.news.yahoo.com/saudi-king-women-given-vote-first-time-2015-130137846.html) .

While King Abdullah's ultraconservative country is slightly modernizing itself, it still remains backwards in allowing women to enjoy the rights that men have.

Where's the logic in being able to vote but not use a car? Would women endanger society if they drove?

Are women children that they must ask permission to travel? I'm surprised they can go to the bathroom without informing someone.

Patriarchy, religious fundamentalism, oppressive Shariah law, fear and ignorance are all factors that limit the rights and freedom of these poor women.

Ending stonings and lashes for adultery (the last time I checked it takes two to tango) and honour killings would be a huge victory.

However, equality will likely never come to pass in countries where women are viewed as having half the worth of men.

At least Saudi women can vote (they just have to wait until the 2015 nationwide local elections). Some progress is being made.

Dahlia

Remembering the 10th Anniversary of 9/11

Hi Everyone:

It's kind of hard to believe that today is the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

I've rewritten this post many times and wish I had something profound to say, but I don't.

My heart goes out to the families of the nearly 3,000 innocent people who died that tragic day (http://ca.news.yahoo.com/always-hero-9-11-victims-names-ring-world-151102491.html).

I also cannot forget the first responders who are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or illnesses and conditions associated with the Ground Zero clean-up. I was reminded of their situation while watching 60 Minutes.

May God bless and keep you. May we never forget.

Dahlia

Freddie Mercury Will Rock You... Even 20 Years After His Death

Hi Everyone:

I grew up listening to Queen and learning to appreciate and love the band thanks to my Dad (I'm so jealous that he saw them from the second row!).

It was, however, by surfing online today that I discovered it would have been Freddie Mercury's 65th birthday had it not been for the bronchial pneumonia resulting from AIDS, which killed him in 1991 (http://www.spinner.ca/2011/09/05/freddie-mercury-65-birthday-tributes/).

Not surprisingly, Mercury is still inspiring musicians 20 years after his death.

Artists such as Katy Perry, Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan and the Foo Fighters' Taylor Hawkins were a few of the artists to honour the late rock legend through video posts on You Tube (http://www.spinner.ca/2011/09/05/freddie-mercury-65-birthday-tributes/).

Perry sang "Happy Birthday" and said she wanted to be a "killer Queen" as well as spoke of how much of an influence Mercury had been on her
(http://www.spinner.ca/2011/09/05/freddie-mercury-65-birthday-tributes/).

While Hawkins said his first concert was Queen in 1982, Corgan said he wished he "could sing half as good as (Freddie) did" (I agree that it would make Corgan's annoying nasal voice a tad more bearable) who was a "warm, loving person" and "loved grandeur" and that "If (Queen) were a band that was coming out today they would still be massive"
(http://www.spinner.ca/2011/09/05/freddie-mercury-65-birthday-tributes/).

I will always think that "Bohemian Rhapsody" is one of the greatest rock songs of all time. I've seen footage and Mercury's unique voice and flamboyant antics made him a memorable showman. He definitely enjoyed being on stage, and I bet he would still be shaking his stuff if he was alive.

Made in heaven? I think so.

Dahlia