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Some issues stand the test of time

With the New Year not that far in our hindsight, I still have to remember that I have to write 2011 instead of 2010.

With the New Year not that far in our hindsight, I still have to remember that I have to write 2011 instead of 2010.

It is a strange concept that at exactly 12 o’clock I step from one year into another without changing position or place while my surrounding basically remains the same.

This moment in eternity is usually celebrated with singing Old Sam’s Spine or Old Ham ‘n Wine or something like it.

Actually the ritual of the New Year celebration makes more sense than the present ritual of Christmas.

Winter solstice was the celebration of longer days coming with more light and warmth that would make new growth.

The celebration of the birth of Christ came when the Roman legions allowed Christian priests to walk with them when they conquered Northern Europe.

To make the conversion easier for the conquered Saxons they put Christmas at the time of winter Solstice.

As far as I know Christmas was at one time a more spiritual celebration that over time has become a feast of buying, eating and drinking.

At this point in time we celebrate the birth of Christ with songs like Rudolf the red nose reindeer, I’m dreaming of a white Christmas and the one I hate with a passion little drummer boy and so on down the list.

As far as I am concerned the little drummer can go over the hill and far away to be never seen or

heard again.

I think at this time there are more Christmas songs that don’t relate to the real reason for celebrating Christmas then there were in the past.

So now we have all that behind us and we have started the New Year.

I wished that not so much crap from last year has to be dragged into the New Year. One item that really got me upset is the acquisition of forty fighter bombers at the cost of billions and billions of dollars.

Despite that very little if anything has been done to improve the environment or the social conditions under which all too many Canadians have to live, even the reason for the purchase of these fighter bombers has not been given.

Considering that Canada does not have an aircraft carrier, where and how will these aircraft be employed since this type of plane is not considered long range.

South of the border or Mexico is more than unlikely, that leaves the far North where a border dispute is already in progress.

I don’t think it is for the protection of the Natives or the polar bears or even Canadian sovereignty that this money is being spent.

The very fragile Northern environment has riches in oil and minerals and they have to be protected and exploited at all cost.

Could this be a reason for buying these very expensive planes? The human and environmental factor seems to be at a lower rating than the profits of the large oil and mining corporations.

For that reason I think the Harper government and the MP’s who supported or did not oppose the billions spent on fighter bombers should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.

I find it sad that this issue has to be dragged into the New Year, but I think it is too important to let it slide.

Bert de Vink’s a long-time Quesnel resident who wrote for the Cariboo Observer from the mid 80’s to the late 90’s. The Observer is pleased de Vink once again decided to put pen to paper.