Nov 14-18 Festival of Ideas – University of Alberta

The University of Alberta’s “Festival of Ideas” is another upcoming speakers festival running in venues across the city Nov 14-18 (ticket prices vary) – with a number of interesting topics and guest speakers.

Of special interest:

Sat Nov 17@1pm

The Tale of Two Nazanins with Nazanin Afshin-Jam & Susan McClelland

(This is the story of two women named Nazanin – one a new Canadian immigrant who escaped Iran after the Shah fell –  the other a teenager on death row in Iran – and how one email changed their lives forever. Nazanin Afshin-Jam is an award-winning international human rights activist, a Red Cross Global Youth Educator, singer/songwriter, actor, model and former Miss World Canada who recently wed MP Peter Mackay.)

 

But also…

 

Wed Nov 14@8pm

The Better Angels of Our Nature – Why Violence Has Declined
Opening night with Steven Pinker.

(Dr. Steven Pinker is a Canadian-born experimental psychologist, cognitive scientist, linguist and popular science author who is Johnstone Family Professor in the Department of Psychology at Harvard University.  He  writes a regular, widely regarded column in the New York Times.)

 

Fri Nov 16@8pm

An Evening with Fran Lebowitz:
Stage Interview and Q & A with Eleanor Wachtel

(Leibowitz is the iconic, long-lasting, American photo-journalist who’s first gig was writing for Andy Warhols art mag “Interview” which then gave way to “Mademoiselle” and then a lengthy parade of other well-known, high-fashion publications ending with tenure at Vanity Fair.  Eleanor Wachtel is host of “Writers & Company” – one of CBC Radio’s most rewarding programs IMHO.)

 

There are many other notable authors, artists and topics to chose from – including:

• U.S. economist Thomas Sargent won the 2011 Nobel Prize for economics and will present a talk entitled the Rules of the Game Change Economies.
• Don Tapscott, innovative Canadian thinker and business strategist  brings his critique of capitalism outlined most recently in his article, Capitalism 2.0.

….and much more.

Nov 1-4 in Ottawa – 3rd Annual Free Thinking Film Society Festival

For those who live near Ottawa – or who may be able to get there – I recommend this Upcoming Festival running Nov 1-4.

It is the 3rd Annual Free Thinking Film Society Festival in Ottawa ON.    http://www.freethinkingfilmfest.ca/

It will present a visual battery of challenging films and speakers including:

Losing Our Sons

69 minutes, 2012 United States
Americans for Peace and Tolerance

A searing true story from America’s heartland, Losing Our Sons tells of two American families whose lives intersected through a shattering act of violence. Melvin Bledsoe, a small business owner in Memphis, watched with pride as his son Carlos went to Tennessee State University in Nashville to better his life through education. Daris Long, an ex-Marine, felt honored that his son, Andy, chose to follow in his footsteps by joining the military. But when Carlos Bledsoe murdered Andy Long in Little Rock, Arkansas, both fathers are forced to confront a new kind of American nightmare. As Melvin traced the trail that led Carlos from Nashville to Yemen and then to Little Rock, Daris confronted an American government that seems to be in denial about what happened to his son.

….and many others.

Oct 20 Edmonton LitFest – “Shadows of Afghanistan”

Belatedly I learnt that Edmonton LitFest had a segment titled “Shadows of Afghanistan”   on Oct 20.  This brought together a number of notable Canadian writers  who have penned recent books related to the ongoing War in Afghanistan and was moderated by Edmonton Journal Editorial writer – Sheila Pratt and was held at at the Main Branch Milner Library downtown.

Speakers:

• Janice Williamson – “Omar Khadr, Oh Canada: An Anthology”
• Noah Richler – “What We Talk About When We Talk About War”
• Paul Wells – The Harper Decade: Inside the Fight to Remake Canada
• Terry Glavin – Come From the Shadows: The Long and Lonely Struggle for Peace in Afghanistan

You may link to each author above and most have YouTube video’s or additional materials that describes a fairly eclectic mix of viewpoints – with only U of A’s Janice Williamson as the only pro-Kadhr piece.

Terry Glavin knows Afghanistan better than any Canadian journalist and is firmly pro-interventionist regarding  Afghanistan because he believes the Taliban to be one of most dangerous totalitarian Islamic organizations ever.

From what I could divine from Noah Richler’s interview with Strombo – he is exploring how we talk about war – and how that has changed with the Harper Conservatives – and he appears to not be impressed but it does not mean he is against Afghanistan.  Watch the CBC interview to see if you come to a different conclusion.

Finally, I am unsure of exactly the position of Paul Wells – National Political columnist at Maclean’s and formerly at National Post before “it turned to the center”.

It is unfortunate that I did not know about this earlier as it would have been worth the trip to see and hear most of them – but them’s the apples.

Roxanne James introduces Treason Petition to Parliament

Yesterday,  Scarborough ON MP Roxanne JAMES introduced the Canadian Patriotic Society’s  “Charge Khadr with Treason” Petition into Parliament.

Spokesperson Shobie Kapoor was also interviewed by Jessica HUME of the Ottawa Sun.

Further signatures will still be accepted for the next 90 days if you would like to contribute your name.  Download Petition Form HERE, print, sign as instructed and gather as many other signatures/contact info as you wish – and then either mail by Canada Post (for free! – no postage is required for letters to MP’s) or fax to Roxanne JAMES ‘s Parliamentary Office:

Roxanne James MP
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0A6

Fax: (613) 943-1045

Oct 18 – OMAR KHADR TREASON PETITION TO BE PRESENTED IN PARLIAMENT

For Immediate Release
OMAR KHADR TREASON PETITION TO BE PRESENTED IN PARLIAMENT ON THURSDAY, OCT 18/12

The Canadian Patriotic Society (CPS) presented Roxanne James (Cons) MP for Scarborough Central with this petition, which she will present on our behalf on October 18th, 2012 in Parliament.

The petition requests the government of Canada to try Omar Khadr for treason under the laws of Canada for his actions against coalition forces in Afghanistan. Go to www.canadianpatrioticsociety.com  for instructions on supporting our treason petition.  We have 3 months to get more signatures and more MP’s involved. [Download Petition here.]

In July of 2002, Omar Khadr, a Canadian citizen, was captured in Eastern Afghanistan after willingly taking up arms and killing an allied soldier, U.S. Army Special Forces Medic Sgt. 1st Class Christopher J. Speer.  The definition of Treason, under the Criminal Code of Canada includes: “assist[ing] an enemy at war with Canada, or any armed forces against whom Canadian Forces are engaged in hostilities”Sgt (Ret) Layne Morris, blinded by Al Qaeda terrorist Omar Khadr gave a chilling eyewitness account (1) of that fateful day. Among the shocking details:

• Omar Khadr’s group of terrorists were given multiple chances to leave the compound but chose not to.
• Instead, they waited for the main body of allied soldiers to arrive, then shot two local Afghani interpreters who approached their compound to speak to them, point blank in the head.
• Khadr’s group showed a callous disregard for the local Afghani women and children fleeing the compound by indiscriminately shooting.
• A Canadian flag was flying at the military base in which Khadr committed his crimes.

Omar’s actions and statements revealed a desire for martyrdom and shatter the mainstream media’s ten-year mantra that Omar Khadr was a ‘child soldier’ fighting American aggression.

Al Qaeda declared a war against the West and western democracy, and the war is far from over as recently seen in the terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya that killed the American ambassador Christopher Stevens and three of his colleagues on the 11th anniversary of 9/11.

Omar Khadr, a self-confessed Al Qaeda terrorist, has not renounced violence. Since his incarceration, he has become more fundamentalist in his belief in the jihad, and has established a network of many international terrorists.  The Khadr family remains highly radicalized. Expert forensic psychiatrist, Dr. Michael Welnder concluded that Khadr is highly dangerous, remorseless and unrepentant, and the chance for successful de-radicalization is unlikely.

The majority (2) of Canadians across all party lines did not want Khadr returned to Canada.   Our enemies of freedom cannot win if we, as patriotic individuals and grassroots groups speak out and unite.

Take a moral stand for Canada. For our troops.   For the victims of Omar Khadr and all victims of Al Qaeda. For our future generations.

Sincerely,

Shobie Kapoor
Canadian Patriotic Society
647-500-5192
http://www.canadianpatrioticsociety@gmail.com
Facebook: Canadian Patriots Unite Against Terrorist Omar Khadr

Footnotes
(1) http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/video/search/all/source/the-source/remembering-that-fateful-day/1897606982001
(2) http://abacusdata.ca/2012/08/22/what-to-do-about-omar-khadr/

Glenn Beck and Brian Lilley discuss Omar Khadr

Glenn Beck discusses the Obama game-plan behind accelerated transfer of Gitmo Al Qaeda terrorists to host countries – including Omar Khadr being brought back to Canada.

Apparently should Obama win the Office of President – no-one would be surprised if this were to happen – and it is speculated that a recently DoD purchased prison in Illinois – the “John Thompson Correctional Facility” – is where all 200 remaining/nonreturnable Gitmo detainees would land.

Brian Lilley gives his perspective on the return of “Canadian of Convenience” Omar KHADR to Canada to serve remaining 6 years of 8 yr plea-bargained sentence – except he will be able to request early release for “good behaviour” in a few months (January 21, 2013) .

REMEMBERING THAT FATEFUL DAY

Retired Sergeant Layne Morris recalls that tragic 1st hand account of fateful day in Khost – when Khadr “made his bed” and took life of Sgt Chris Speers.

Gitmo memories of Khadr

Former Pentagon spokesman, JD Gordon, talks about his personal encounters with Omar Khadr in Gitmo.

TRY KHADR FOR TREASON

Shobie Kapoor of the Canadian Patriotic Society shares the details on the organization’s petition to have Omar Khadr tried for treason.

Please donate to SpeerKidsFund.com

In trying to find something positive in the terrible failure of Public Safety Minister Vic TOEWS in allowing the return of  convicted Al Qaeda Terrorist Omar KHADR , Ezra Levant has started a fund for the two children of Sgt. Christopher SPEER – Taryn and Tanner.

It was Omar KHADR who threw a grenade at SPEER as he entered the ruined hut searching for survivors to treat as he was a trained Medic.

Please consider making a donation in next 90 days at www.SpeerKidsFund.com at IndieGoGo.com.