Showing posts with label Bill Clinton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bill Clinton. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Not With A Bang, But A Whimper

Picture of the World Trade Center on 9/11 shor...
I don't know what game we are playing, how much time is left, or who to cheer for, but I can assure you that the score at the end of this decade is....

  • STUPIDITY 16
  • HUMANITY  3
At the outset of this decade Bill Clinton was presiding over the greatest economic expansion in history, global warming (sorry, "climate change") was still an issue that could possibly be defeated by decisive and unified action, and terrorism was something that happened in other countries to other people.

Things were going so well , that I even pondered the idea that Canada might stop criminalizing people who smoke pot on the heels of allowing gay marriage. Alas, it was not to be.

The man who defined this decade is George W. Bush, because he laid bare to all the differences between the haves and the have nots. He did not create this gap, but he exemplified it.

As the decade draws to a close, I am increasingly astounded by the tremendous opportunities that we have to communicate with one another, yet dismayed by our lack of anything to say.

Of course the event of the decade is the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001. That day truly ushered in a new era that defines our society to this day. Even today it was announced that I will no longer be allowed to take a carry on bag on a flight to America. In addition, another Canadian soldier died in Afghanistan.

Two announcements, one trivial, the other monumental, yet both connected to September 11th, 2001. Historians record era's by events, not dates, and they will forever remember 911 as the day that the 21st century began.

While people have been saying since the beginning of time that "The End Is Near" I have a palpable sense that the next ten years are going to be very brutal and contentious as increasing consumptive and environmental pressures continue to take their toll on the planet.

Make no mistake, my little candle of hope is alive, but it burns nowhere near as brightly as it did when the decade began. It appears to me that we have a lot of work ahead of us and that even the most monumental effort may not be enough.

Other than that, everything is perfect.

http://goyestoeverything.com

Sunday, August 30, 2009

President Bill Clinton Speaks In Toronto



Thursday, August 27, 2009

Embracing Our Common Humanity

I cannot describe the excitement I am feeling right now. I have a second row seat to hear President Clinton speak at BMO Field on Saturday here in Toronto. The subject of his address will be "Embracing Our Common Humanity".

I can honestly say that it has been a long time since I have been this giddy about attending an event.

Like many of us, I have a great respect for Mr. Clinton and to be this close to one of the great men of modern history and to hear his thoughts on this powerful topic is going to be a great privilege. I'm usually nonplussed by celebrities, and I have been in proximity to many over the years at TIFF, but to me Mr. Clinton towers over any rock star or athlete or Hollywood actor.

I am also expecting a lot of emotion, as President Clinton will be attending the funeral of Democratic icon Ted Kennedy earlier in the day, then will fly to Toronto.

I think it is going to be a very profound evening, and I feel so blessed to have this opportunity. I will fill you in on the details, and special gratitude to Kristine, without you I wouldn't have known about this.