When I was young I didn't realize that when you write to the society they do not reply to you without having contacted your hall to get all the dirt on you. They also tell the local elders what they are writing back to you. I innocently wrote a letter asking about being able to play in a band and ended up facing an elders meeting. Jerks.
mamochan13
JoinedPosts by mamochan13
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20
Can some good come from abuse?
by NoRegrets ini'm referring to abuse in all it's forms: emotional, physical, sexual, mental, spiritual, whatever.. i.
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mamochan13
I don't think it's "good". But it's perhaps a form of growth and development that some can turn into a strength. Not everyone can do it, tho.
I guess you could ask the bigger question. How can we truly appreciate the good things in life if we don't know about/experience the bad?
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82
Canada To Let Quebec Go?
by metatron inhttp://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/28/us-secession-idusbre90r15n20130128.
ok, not yet....... but this could be a move in that direction.. things are gonna get weird.. metatron.
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mamochan13
It's interesting to see so many perspectives of the story here. Lady Lee has the experience of an English (part) Canadian in Quebec, NVR2L8 of a French Canadian. My perspective is from across the country, but I will admit it's largely an English-speaking one. I reflect how we felt in my province when we were forced to embrace bilingualism, but I don't know what it was like for those living in Quebec. I do know I heard many horror stories of immigrants who were refused the opportunity of having their children educated in English schools.
I guess my only comment here to NVR2L8 would be - you say "So if one wants to live in Quebec, wouldn't make sense to learn to speak French?"
Well, then what is the whole point of a bilingual Canada? Italy does not obligate the rest of the European Union to speak Italian. I thought we in the rest of Canada have to learn French and those in Quebec have to learn English so we have some kind of common, united ground. You are admitting that is not the case. Why, then, does the rest of Canada have to be bilingual when Quebec does not? Why can I not get a federal job if I don't speak French, even though I live in a province where it's completely unnecessary and spoken by a small minority?
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140
Bipolar Landlady kicks me out!
by Terry infun times.. a year and a month have passed since i moved in to the house where my cousin deb and her husband bobby live.. i had a small but comfortable room, tv, etc.. a nice cozy family situation, you might say....right?.
i pay $600 a month to defray expenses.. hunky dory.. sure.
until the first few eruptions!.
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mamochan13
Terry - I believe everything happens for a reason. I've been kicked to the curb so many times over the past few years it's not even funny. But each time there has been something really good that happens to pick me up. So I choose to focus on that.
I've just recently gone through something similar to you financially, where I had to go to my youngest daughter and ask for a temporary loan. It's hard. AS a parent you feel like you are supposed to be the one that supports them, who is always the rock, the tough one. Having to go to them for help doesn't feel very good. So I understand.
Glad your daughter has stepped up for you. You know, if my dad needed to come stay with me, I'd welcome him with open arms and be thrilled that he was willing to ask for my help. It would make me feel so valued and special that my dad thought so much of me that he was willing to come to me in his time of need. I bet your daughter (and your other kids) feel the same. You've been a wonderful dad. Don't be afraid to let them give some of that love and caring back to you. And I bet your grandkids are tickled at having you around, too.
I'm not as old as you, but I'm close. I've been pounding the pavement looking for work at a time when most of my peers are considering retirement. It's not a bad thing to get a job. There are many places that value the kind of wisdom and experience people like us can offer. ANd maybe it would give you something interesting to do. You never know.
Best of luck. Thinking of you.
Mamo
Oh, edited to add: I forgot. I wanted to comment on your cousin. Yes, she may well have a diagnosable mental illness. But often people behave in certain ways simply because they can get away with it. I think people around your cousin have been walking on eggshells and enabling her behaviour for a long time. EVen people with mental illness can be quite aware of behaviour limits and can adjust if those around them refuse to tolerate crap.
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19
Why have 3 people unfriended me?
by compound complex in.
so says the ad.. i'm taking it personally!.
cc.
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mamochan13
I get unfriended all the time. Nobody tells me.
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82
Canada To Let Quebec Go?
by metatron inhttp://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/28/us-secession-idusbre90r15n20130128.
ok, not yet....... but this could be a move in that direction.. things are gonna get weird.. metatron.
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mamochan13
Lady Lee, you have expressed it very well. That's exactly how many of us in the west see it, too. All of Canada is bilingual except Quebec.
Without getting into a whole other debate, I do see similarities with some of the demands of First Nations people. We recently had a native leader go on a hunger strike, insisting on government concessions and native self-government rights among other things. Unfortunately, she herself is one of the worst offenders, drawing a giant salary while leaving her people living in poverty. Huge government handouts do not help the rank and file. It's interesting that Lady Lee has pointed out how the average Quebecer has been kept under control. I thought that was only true of the Duplessis years, but on reflection - it is continuing.
Part of the dilemma, I guess, of building a nation is finding a way to blend different cultures successfully without assimilating them. I would argue that Newfoundlanders have just as distinct a culture as Quebec - including a unique language. I think the same is likely true of other provinces. And yes, it is true that Quebec is not the only province that receives a disproportionate share of federal money. They are just the ones that complain the most about not getting enough. The divorce analogy is right on.
I think the U.S. has done a much better job at keeping a diverse group of states united. We still have too many Canadians who want the Canadian passport and all it brings without having to do the work of being Canadian.
I'm not sure what to make of Mulcair's role in all this. I voted for the guy as NDP leader, but I don't support this legislation he's bringing forward.
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Canada To Let Quebec Go?
by metatron inhttp://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/28/us-secession-idusbre90r15n20130128.
ok, not yet....... but this could be a move in that direction.. things are gonna get weird.. metatron.
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mamochan13
I think Quebec is a beautiful province and Canada is richer for it. One of my son-in-laws is from Quebec, and I've had the opportunity to visit Montreal. My province has a fairly large french community as well. I'm not crazy about forced bilingualism, but a second language is a good thing.
HOWEVER....Talesin is completely right. The rest of Canada has been held hostage by Quebec's threats. Every time they threaten, they get all kinds of political concessions and extra money - so it's become an efficient tactic.
A disproportionate amount of tax dollars go to Quebec, and the federal government's favoritism towards that province is quite staggering. Federal transfer payments, for example. Alberta gets half of what Quebec gets, yet Quebec's GDP is higher than Alberta's. That's just one example. Government bailouts for companies like Bombardier have disproportionately enriched Quebec. Up until last year, Quebec received more half of the federal budget for Canada Day festivities - the rest of the provinces divvied up the rest. Quite the irony, really.
One thing that has always angered me is the huge difference in university cost. Quebec students are striking against small increases. In Quebec, the average cost for university is $2500 a year, while Canada average is $5,300. The majority of the other provinces are well over $5,000 a year. Only Manitoba and Newfoundland are lower. Alberta students pay $5,600. Why? Perhaps if we received a fairer share of federal money, we could lower our tuition, too.
So, no. Quebec could not survive without the money it receives from the rest of the provinces.
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94
Not sure what to do next
by magotan ini'm 19, and i'm still currently a jw.
i guess i'm a born-in, or whatever you guys call it.
i've had some serious issues with the faith at the moment, and sexuality is a huge part.
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mamochan13
Magotan - you are smart. You reason well. EVeryone has given great advice and I suspect you are very good at processing it. You are taking steps towards a desired outcome. Being gay is secondary, really. It's a non issue in the real world.
I was part of the cult and used to think gays were doing something wrong, too. EVeryone can change. Including your parents and family. Take the steps that are right for you, and the rest will come together.
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Sickening Dilemma
by ItsMyLife ini would like to have your opinions on what i should do about a situation please.. i have recently discovered that a 'brother' in the congregation (which i no longer attend) is a child molester.
i've seen documentation from his psychiatrist dated a few years ago, stating that he doesn't feel that this person is likely to offend again.
the 'brother' has said to the elders at some point that he has it under control but cannot be 100% sure it won't happen again.
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mamochan13
While there are some variances in what a psychiatrist may be obligated to report, the code of ethics is pretty much universal. While the psychiatrist might have believed the man was low-risk to re-offend, the knowledge that he plans to marry into a family with small girls might change things. In Canada all mental health professionals have an obligation to report if they suspect child abuse is occurring, but potential abuse is more of a grey area. In reality, you cannot charge someone because they have a history of abuse and might do it again.
I agree with Datadog's point about having ducks in a row. There are treatment programs for offenders, which may be why this man was seeing a psychiatrist, but the vast majority do re-offend. That's why they are never to put themselves into a tempting situation.
Another consideration is that his proposed fiance may already know, but if she's swallowed the Jdub Koolaid, she may well believe he's okay and that prayer and meetings and field service can rehabilitate a sex offender. She needs to know, yes, but it may not solve the problem.
Where I lve we have emergency child protection services that work closely with the police. We also have several nonprofit child abuse protection agencies. You likely have something similar, so contacting them might be a good first step to get some guidance.
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You-are-too-dumb: Proper handling of nested magazines (BOE Letter)
by pixel into all bodies of elders.
re: proper handling of nested magazines.
dear brothers:.
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mamochan13
It's either
1. a group of people who can longer think for themselves
2. the Awake University does not teach any reasoning skills
3. both of the above