El Mayor
Met Paul for dinner last night. It was the first
time we've had to talk since last fall. I was looking forward to pumping him for
some juicy gossip about his employer. And he had some questions for me about
supporting Israel.
Paul works for the local public health unit which
has been the subject of some controversy of late, as it goes about policing food
and tobacco regulations.
They got a lot of bad press over the seizure and destruction of some egg salad sandwiches at Art in the Park. The volunteers, who had cooked the offending items at their homes instead of onsite as legally required, watched in horror as their efforts were dumped into a vat of bleach. The uproar eventually led to the provincial minister of health criticizing the health unit for over zealousness.
Strict enforcement of the new law banning public smoking has resulted in a couple of bars being charged for failing to completely demolish the awnings over their outdoor patios. The bar owners say the health enforcers are getting carried away in their enthusiasm for punishing smokers.
I have my own beef with the health unit. Last week they advised everyone in Belle River to boil tap water before drinking it. This week the advisory was lifted and the town engineer revealed that only one of 12 test samples had been over the limit for coliforms, and that was not by much. He suspected the test was faulty, not the water. It would have been nice to know that before I went out and bought several cases of ridiculously overpriced bottled water.
Paul sympathized, defending his bosses' strategies while agreeing public relations had taken a hit. Then he filled me in on what's happening with people I know at the unit from my time with the AIDS committee. Which brought us around to Sunday's Pride Parade.
A few years ago the glbt community in Windsor couldn't find enough volunteers or interest to organize the annual festival. This year a rejuvenated committee successfully staged a series of events that culminated in several thousands, including Paul, attending the final rally. The mayor and police chief joined the parade for the first time. And leading the procession was NDP member of Parliament Joe Comartin, a Roman Catholic who was censured last year by his bishop for supporting gay marriage.
I was particularly pleased to hear that the Canadian Forces had a recruitment booth at the rally, staffed by Naval Lt. Stephen Churm, an openly gay man.
This reminded Paul of my new found interest in things military and he diplomatically inquired if recent events in Lebanon and Iraq have shaken my hawkish resolve.
I was about to launch into a staunch defence of Israel when I remembered where we were, the popular El Mayor restaurant in the heart of Windsor's large Lebanese community. Looking around the crowded room at the mostly Arab clientele and staff I turned back to Paul, lowered my voice and admitted that being pro-war was far from a comfortable position. Even more so was confessing my approval of the Conservative government for opposing the call for an immediate cease fire in the Hezbollah - Israeli conflict.
Paul's not all sure what to make of my politics anymore but he listened and probed as I talked about what I've been reading in an attempt to get up to speed on the mid-east. He was surprised when I said it looked like Hezbollah was winning and shocked when I expressed my doubts that Israel would survive the next few decades. You know, he said, you are the only one I know who is that worried by terrorism. Islamism, I corrected him, and Mary and Zonk are just as concerned, but generally yes our friends do think we've gone over the edge. And we think everyone else is incredibly complacent.
The meal was too good to continue in such a depressing vein, so we veered off into lighter topics, eventually heading back to his place for more talk and drinks. A few hours later, feeling a bit more upbeat, I said goodbye and headed home.
......
There have been two demonstrations in Windsor coming out of the Lebanese community in the past two weeks. The first was marked by the participation of some Hezbollah supporters. The second was more tightly controlled, and led by 50 children protesting the tragic deaths at Qana. Despite the attempt by community leaders to downplay Hezbollah the Windsor Star published an interview with one admirer of the terrorist organization.
......
Michael Ignatieff, whom I hope will win the Liberal leadership race and give me a reason not to vote Conservative in the next election, has come out in favour of an immediate ceasefire. I'm not sure he would have done that were he already prime minister. But it's the job of leadership candidates and opposition MPs to propose alternatives. I'm not convinced by his arguments because he is calling for a strong international force to replace Israel's troops in containing Hezbollah, cutting off further arms shipments from Iran. I doubt that such a force will ever materialize. I would dearly love to be wrong about that.
Until such an option becomes credible, I think Israel should continue its war against Hezbollah.
They got a lot of bad press over the seizure and destruction of some egg salad sandwiches at Art in the Park. The volunteers, who had cooked the offending items at their homes instead of onsite as legally required, watched in horror as their efforts were dumped into a vat of bleach. The uproar eventually led to the provincial minister of health criticizing the health unit for over zealousness.
Strict enforcement of the new law banning public smoking has resulted in a couple of bars being charged for failing to completely demolish the awnings over their outdoor patios. The bar owners say the health enforcers are getting carried away in their enthusiasm for punishing smokers.
I have my own beef with the health unit. Last week they advised everyone in Belle River to boil tap water before drinking it. This week the advisory was lifted and the town engineer revealed that only one of 12 test samples had been over the limit for coliforms, and that was not by much. He suspected the test was faulty, not the water. It would have been nice to know that before I went out and bought several cases of ridiculously overpriced bottled water.
Paul sympathized, defending his bosses' strategies while agreeing public relations had taken a hit. Then he filled me in on what's happening with people I know at the unit from my time with the AIDS committee. Which brought us around to Sunday's Pride Parade.
A few years ago the glbt community in Windsor couldn't find enough volunteers or interest to organize the annual festival. This year a rejuvenated committee successfully staged a series of events that culminated in several thousands, including Paul, attending the final rally. The mayor and police chief joined the parade for the first time. And leading the procession was NDP member of Parliament Joe Comartin, a Roman Catholic who was censured last year by his bishop for supporting gay marriage.
I was particularly pleased to hear that the Canadian Forces had a recruitment booth at the rally, staffed by Naval Lt. Stephen Churm, an openly gay man.
This reminded Paul of my new found interest in things military and he diplomatically inquired if recent events in Lebanon and Iraq have shaken my hawkish resolve.
I was about to launch into a staunch defence of Israel when I remembered where we were, the popular El Mayor restaurant in the heart of Windsor's large Lebanese community. Looking around the crowded room at the mostly Arab clientele and staff I turned back to Paul, lowered my voice and admitted that being pro-war was far from a comfortable position. Even more so was confessing my approval of the Conservative government for opposing the call for an immediate cease fire in the Hezbollah - Israeli conflict.
Paul's not all sure what to make of my politics anymore but he listened and probed as I talked about what I've been reading in an attempt to get up to speed on the mid-east. He was surprised when I said it looked like Hezbollah was winning and shocked when I expressed my doubts that Israel would survive the next few decades. You know, he said, you are the only one I know who is that worried by terrorism. Islamism, I corrected him, and Mary and Zonk are just as concerned, but generally yes our friends do think we've gone over the edge. And we think everyone else is incredibly complacent.
The meal was too good to continue in such a depressing vein, so we veered off into lighter topics, eventually heading back to his place for more talk and drinks. A few hours later, feeling a bit more upbeat, I said goodbye and headed home.
......
There have been two demonstrations in Windsor coming out of the Lebanese community in the past two weeks. The first was marked by the participation of some Hezbollah supporters. The second was more tightly controlled, and led by 50 children protesting the tragic deaths at Qana. Despite the attempt by community leaders to downplay Hezbollah the Windsor Star published an interview with one admirer of the terrorist organization.
......
Michael Ignatieff, whom I hope will win the Liberal leadership race and give me a reason not to vote Conservative in the next election, has come out in favour of an immediate ceasefire. I'm not sure he would have done that were he already prime minister. But it's the job of leadership candidates and opposition MPs to propose alternatives. I'm not convinced by his arguments because he is calling for a strong international force to replace Israel's troops in containing Hezbollah, cutting off further arms shipments from Iran. I doubt that such a force will ever materialize. I would dearly love to be wrong about that.
Until such an option becomes credible, I think Israel should continue its war against Hezbollah.
Posted: Thu - August 3, 2006 at 09:46 PM
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Published On: Sep 12, 2007 03:13 PM
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Published On: Sep 12, 2007 03:13 PM