Thoughts on News and Media

I have been aware of the news media since I was a young girl. We never had a television at home, but Mom listened to the radio news on the Toronto station CFRB twice a day. My oldest brother delivered the Toronto Telegram newspaper in the 1960s and we all read a copy before he started his route each afternoon. It was known as a Conservative-leaning paper while its competitor, the Toronto Star was Liberal-leaning. Grandma D did have a television. After dinner, before the dishes were cleared from the table, she always moved to the living room to watch the thirty-minute CFTO TV evening news. 

When I was in university, I seldom missed CBC's 6:00 PM World Report on the radio followed by As It Happens, hosted by Barbara Frum. I loved her interviewing style and her interesting take on current stories. Both of these radio programs play in the same time slots today. Good journalism, whether in print, on radio or television is essential when sharing important news stories. I watched an interview with Peter Mansbridge who described how each story that he read on the evening news was discussed with his team as they worked to identify and eliminate bias in the reporting. He admitted that bias is always present, whether it is political, geographical, racial or gender-based in nature. 

Today we wade through multiple online news sources, many luring visitors to their sites with sensationalized click-bait headlines. Photos can be manipulated and modified to fit any narrative. Citizen reporting is easy with cell phones available to record events instantly, but verification and context can be difficult to establish. Many independent journalists report on Substack and I have enjoyed reading some newsletters on this site. But there is a lot of misinformation presented on the platform as well. Facebook and Twitter encourage instant, emotional responses from their readers and false narratives can become viral very quickly. Online news has become emotionally draining and tiring for me, especially during the recent protests in Canada and the current invasion of Ukraine. Staying informed is important, but constant immersion in the news cycle is unhealthy. 

Part of my effort in controlling excessive online scrolling is to read at least one book a week. It takes discipline to make my mind focus on more than 280 characters of a Twitter post or the five points of an informative blog. This week I read a library copy of Nothing But the Truth, A Memoir written by Marie Henein. The author is a renowned Toronto criminal lawyer whose family immigrated to Canada from Egypt and Lebanon in the 1960s. She shares her family story and how her early experiences shaped her values and aspirations as a lawyer. She has been criticized for defending people who have been charged criminally but points out that a surgeon operates on good and bad people because it is the ethical thing to do. Likewise, all people in our society are entitled to representation before the court of law. The book was so good that I purchased my own hardcover copy today, something I rarely do.

We are entering the season of Lent this week, and I have resolved to "fast" from social media for the next six weeks (other than writing posts on this blog). I can use the time to read and contemplate, visit three-dimensional people, and interact with nature. I will stay informed through more traditional channels such as radio and reliable print sources. I actually started this a couple of days ago and am sleeping better and have more time for projects I have procrastinated in completing. Social media is here to stay and it has the potential for good if used thoughtfully rather than with emotional reaction. Stepping away for a period of time will help me decide its value in my life.

In Praise of Buffalo Plaid

Nothing feels and looks cozier on a cold Canadian winter day than an oversized, lined buffalo plaid shirt or similarly patterned fleece pyjamas. One benefit of Covid lockdowns has been the comfort of lounging at home in soft pants and if you do not have to present a professional upper body look on Zoom, baggy tops. buffalo plaid, an imported and renamed Scottish tartan is very popular right now. When our granddaughter was still three, she asked for "red plaid pants". She likes red as much as I do. It wasn't hard to find a few items of clothing in red plaid at our excellent neighbourhood children's second-hand shop.

My daughter decided that she is done with the expense and waste of wrapping paper and paper gift bags. We went shopping for fabric at a post-Christmas sale and found a bolt of red and black buffalo plaid that is thick enough to make durable and reusable gift bags. I have been sewing them up in several sizes and like how they look. I chose the following dimensions for the bags. 

Small: 4"x7" and 7"x 9"

Medium: 8"x12" and 11"x13"

Large: 16"x19" and 17"x 24"

I also made a couple of slipcovers in the same material to change the look of the cushions on the chesterfield for the winter months. 

Little Miss P. is not very sociable first thing in the morning. I usually have an early FaceTime visit with her little brother, Master A. who is a cheerful morning person 99.9% of the time. I had to laugh at Miss P.'s 7 AM disguise as she placed the toy bin over her head while clutching her cup and angry Incredible Hulk doll. Her quintessential indoor winter Canadian outfit includes buffalo plaid pants and a oversized sweatshirt. You cannot stay sulky for long in these comfortable clothes and she did emerge to say hello when she was ready. 

I know we all have days when we wish we could stay out of sight and away from people. Before long we will have to see if our "hard pants" and jackets still fit and take time in the morning to make sure our entire face is presentable in public. 

 

Thoughts on Change

 
We have a cluster of birthdays in our immediate and extended family at the beginning of each year. My husband had a milestone birthday yesterday which we celebrated with a meal inside a nice restaurant. Birthdays and anniversaries offer a time to reflect on our accomplishments and goals for the future. 

The Atlantic published an article on February 17, 2022, entitled The Seven Habits that Lead to Happiness in Old Age. It had the usual advice about healthy eating and exercise but included these three points which are quoted below.

• Practice your coping mechanisms now. The earlier you can find healthy ways to deal with life’s inevitable distresses, the more prepared you’ll be if ill-luck strikes in your 80s. This means working consciously...to avoid excessive rumination, unhealthy emotional reactions, or avoidance behaviour.
• Keep learning. More education leads to a more active mind in old age, and that means a longer, happier life...you simply need to engage in lifelong, purposive learning. For example, that can mean reading serious nonfiction as part of a routine to learn more about new subjects.
• Do the work to cultivate stable, long-term relationships now...The point is to find people with whom you can grow, whom you can count on, no matter what comes your way.

I would add that it is important to accept that life changes, and embracing change is essential to remaining relevant and emotionally healthy. We watched Disney's Peter Pan a couple of weeks ago, a movie which our children watched many times when they were young. The movie now carries a disclaimer, but I cringed at scenes that gave me no pause thirty years ago. Racism and sexism were not unusual in 1953 but, while they are still present, we are more aware of the damage this kind of behaviour has caused and the ongoing effects of marginalizing people on the basis of race and sex. 

A popular reflective exercise asks the question, "How have you changed in the past five years?"

Hopefully, we can all report that we have changed for the better in recent years. As I think back over the past ten years, I see how many major events in this time period have changed my attitudes and beliefs, sometimes stretching me painfully as I was forced to choose between old and new paradigms. 

Ten years ago, my mother was in her last year of life as she fought valiantly, medically and spiritually, to overcome her cancer diagnosis. My dad was diagnosed with a cruel and unrelenting progressive neurological disorder the same year, robbing him of his physical and cognitive abilities until his death in 2019. I started working on a specialized mental health unit in 2012 and gradually learned to see people who suffer from various psychiatric conditions with increased empathy and understanding. These experiences have been beneficial in giving me the confidence to talk to people about end-of-life and mental health issues. I had skilled mentors who guided me by example as I learned and practiced new ways of thinking.

There are other events in the past ten years that have changed me, many of them too personal and confidential to share publicly. I recognize that inner pride and know-it-all attitudes make it easy to quickly judge others without taking time to listen to their story. I continue to go through a deconstruction and reconstruction of my faith, exploring writings and voices outside of the camp I was born into while establishing meaningful spiritual disciplines. 

Nature shows us that change is inevitable and essential, bringing healthy growth and reproduction. Nature is very diverse, and so is humankind. Positive change and growth protect us from the rigidity of thought that can be as confining and repulsive as the physical rigour mortis of death. We all tend to hang out with like-minded people who share our personal views and biases. Positive change requires us to move outside our comfort zones to create bridges, not barriers between generations, other cultures, and schools of thought. 

Recommended reading:

Philip Yancey's most recent book, Where the Light Fell: A Memoir (2021), is an autobiographical account of a life of change. The author's religious background mirrors mine in many ways and he writes with grace and compassion about events that have changed and formed him. 

I don't know how long this link will remain active, but this essay by Milton Packer MD in Medscape Today is beautiful. It is titled Two Caterpillars in Love: The Science of Death and Resurrection.

Slippery Slopes

I walked through uptown Waterloo a couple of weeks ago where a downsized celebration of Winterloo featured a few ice sculptures. I admired the skill of the artists who uncovered a wolf, an owl and a tiger in blocks of ice. A whimsical and colourful gnome fort stood at a nearby intersection and skaters of all ages enjoyed the city-run rink. February has been cold, snowy and icy, great for the winter enthusiasts but confining for others who have mobility issues.

On another cold morning, I walked along the river and admired the natural beauty of hoar frost on tree branches, shrubs and feathery grass fronds. The frost disappeared as the sun rose, just as dew disappears in the spring and fall. I am not a good tracker but tried to identify the patterns in the snow made by nocturnal visitors. A mouse, a deer, a rabbit, and wild turkeys left their marks in artistic arrangements. 

We all leave our mark and it can be a thing of beauty or a thing of destruction. Yesterday I planned to walk to the grocery store which is a short kilometre from our home. My daughter left the house before I did and called, warning me not to walk outside due to very icy and treacherous sidewalks. I have had a couple of serious falls on ice in the past and took her warning seriously. Ice can also be a thing of beauty or a thing of destruction. The current Winter Olympics feature athletes who challenge the dangers of ice and snow, performing their sports at the outer limits of physical human ability. Years of training culminate in their efforts to win a medal for their country. 

Our nation is on a slippery slope right now, which if not navigated skillfully will lead to anarchy and further division of our society. I have experienced anxiety at times while watching the news which is similar to the anxiety I have when walking on ice. The weakness of our leaders, the apparent complicity of the police, the disregard for the law and disrespect for fellow citizens are alarming. The cracks in the foundation of our society are not new, but they are wide open and ugly right now. 

I also grieve the way the gospel, the message of Jesus and the example of his life and been corrupted and used to support hatred, obscenity, and racism. The cross is not a symbol of protest but a symbol of sacrifice and humble submission. Many evangelical churches promote messages of personal health and prosperity along with Christian nationalism and supremacy. These groups focus their energy on a Sunday morning "show" that endeavours to draw paying "seeker-sensitive" consumers to their brand. Personal rights are valued more than caring for others, particularly the most vulnerable in our society. This is not the way of Christ.  

I hope and pray that leaders of our nation will demonstrate "Olympian" strength to step up to set us on the right path before it is too late.  

And to those who follow the way of Christ, these verses from 1 Peter 2:12-17 offer good advice. To add context, the epistle was written to believers who were suffering severe religious persecution, something that is not happening in Canada. There have been times in history when submitting to authority was contrary to conscience and moral law, but these words offer wise counsel in our current situation.

Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbours. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honourable behaviour, and they will give honour to God when he judges the world.

For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honour those who do right.

It is God’s will that your honourable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king.

And finally, a prayer from the Episcopal prayer book (Forward Movement)

O God you have bound us together in a common life. 

Help us, in the midst of our struggles for justice and truth, 

to confront one another without hatred or bitterness, 

and to work together with mutual forbearance and respect; 

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

On the Water: January 1 to February 1 Bird Sightings

Grand River Kitchener ON- January 2022

Today is Groundhog Day, Candlemas, and the halfway point between winter solstice and spring equinox. The days are noticeably longer and birds are preparing for spring. This is also World Wetlands Day, with the hashtag #ActForWetlands. 

The Pioneer Tower, which marks the area where my husband's ancestors settled in this region over 200 years ago, is opposite one of our city's wastewater treatment plants. The effluent from the plant enters the river and keeps ice from forming, even when it is extremely cold as the past month has been. Many waterbirds from areas to the north spend the winter here.

Hooded Mergansers

A pair of Hooded Mergansers dove for small fish on the opposite bank from the trail where I was walking. Waterbirds wear their best plumage from fall to spring making it easy to identify males from females. By summer the fancy feathers will have worn off. 

Canada Geese

This was a cold day and a Canada Goose stood on one leg and then the other as if it was trying to keep at least one foot warm. It is hard to believe that Canada Geese were scarce in the mid-20th century due to previous overhunting and more recent wetland habitat losses. 

Male Common Merganser

Common Mergansers also spend winters in our area. When we see these birds on Manitoulin Island in the summer where they breed and the males do not look like this at all. 

Male and female Common Goldeneye Ducks

There is an abundance of Common Goldeneye ducks on the river this winter. The heads of the male birds are iridescent and appear green or black depending on the light. Females have brown plumage. 

Female Belted Kingfisher

Belted Kingfishers are found year-round in southern Ontario but they need open water as they perform a noisy, head-first dive for small fish. I heard this female Kingfisher before I found her with her rust-coloured belt, fluffed up for warmth.

These ducks spend their non-breeding months on rivers and lakes but will nest in wetland marshes and swamps. The Kingfisher nests in deep burrows in earthen river banks. Over 70% of southern Ontario wetlands have been drained and filled in for farming and other development. Urban sprawl continues to threaten natural areas but there is increasing awareness of the importance of wetlands and the species they support.

Airborne: January 1 to February 1 Bird Sightings

Black-capped Chickadee in flight

I enjoyed the morning walking a trail at the confluence of the Grand and Speed Rivers in Cambridge ON. It has been a year since I walked the Linear Trail, which is one of the best birding areas in the region. The currents of the converging rivers are strong enough to keep the water open and discharge from a water treatment plant at the end of the trail is warm enough to keep ice from forming in a small creek. 

Downy Woodpecker- (A Hairy Woodpecker and Red-bellied Woodpecker were nearby too)

Juvenile Bald Eagle

Bald Eagles have made a good comeback in recent years in Southwestern Ontario and there are increasing numbers of nesting pairs in the Grand River watershed. Fifteen years ago, they were only seen in the winter as they came south to open water along this trail. Today I watched this juvenile Bald Eagle circle high about the river. It was easily identified at a distance by its size and the straight wing line

Another bird species that has made a great recovery from near extirpation is the Trumpeter Swan. A line of Trumpeters flew noisily overhead and then circled back to an area of open water. I also saw a Great Blue Heron fly out from the water treatment plant. Herons generally leave Ontario in the winter, but there are reports of two Great Blue Herons and one juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron that have stayed in the creek near the water facility. 

Birds in this area benefit from the natural confluence of two rivers, and from the man-made environment around the water treatment facility. The bushes and trees along the river banks offer food and shelter for smaller birds and human trail walkers bring handouts of birdseed and fruit that attract many passerines. The birds gain an advantage from the dual environment and we get to enjoy a wide variety of bird families and species within a small area.

Trumpeter Swans