tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24424923836876617682024-03-05T02:29:31.870-05:00Chuck's World of Infinite MOJOHuman connection, relationships, equality and equity under the law, kindness, serendipity, and LoveChuck Bastiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726290738520110178noreply@blogger.comBlogger458125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442492383687661768.post-78107491900303252832023-05-07T10:45:00.005-04:002023-05-07T10:45:54.092-04:00Are you a Conspiracy Theorist?<p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPNV1vj8RVlmwM6Qrl-yZ9vlR97BQoYv3VhNGGRY-2qvXPE8vXWToU7wndUdkosaw3OqzPy0XkcnBPDGTcWpfhh_V_mhWJLRKR6H4ywEtp7etDfSngaQ1A2Dfd3b07D9Or-SDvzekoZMD_OuJc_UPS5YfQqD9nNulnVYvTgCtRQhKwFqycruj16FgomQ/s600/A%20second%20spitter%20Seinfeld.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="600" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPNV1vj8RVlmwM6Qrl-yZ9vlR97BQoYv3VhNGGRY-2qvXPE8vXWToU7wndUdkosaw3OqzPy0XkcnBPDGTcWpfhh_V_mhWJLRKR6H4ywEtp7etDfSngaQ1A2Dfd3b07D9Or-SDvzekoZMD_OuJc_UPS5YfQqD9nNulnVYvTgCtRQhKwFqycruj16FgomQ/s320/A%20second%20spitter%20Seinfeld.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: courier;">The narrative as I see it. I originally wrote this in May of 2020 at the height of the pandemic in Canada.</span><p></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">It's not that people like disease. It's not that they are anti-vaxxers. It's that they don't TRUST the government and the Monsanto's and big pharma. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">It's not that most people are conspiracy theorists. They are simply exhausted from their government feeding them bullshit lies about JFK, 9/11, The Iraq invasion, Presidential scandals, and the list goes on. The government is not your friend. The government is already friends with their donors. And you don't matter to <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;" tabindex="-1"></a></span>the donors and the political puppets they buy with their money and agenda.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">It's not that people are so political, as they are protective of their tribe and it's interests. Some people are more inclusive of others, and some aren't. Political affiliation is simply a vehicle of expressing those beliefs. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">It's not that anyone LIKES abortion. It's just that some people view it as a freedom of choice to do what they choose with their body. I don't like abortion, but what someone does with their own body is their freedom of choice, not how they want others to impose their beliefs on them. This is what true Freedom is. Don't like it? Move to a country that removes a person's right to choose, then talk to me about Freedom. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">There are countless examples of these and the list can go on and on. The news and social media is about to mushroom cloud in the coming months with narratives of fear mongering and blame. Peace of mind is an invaluable thing. Do you, and let others do themselves. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Hear them, understand their POV, respect their ability to have that opinion and accept that's who they are. (I call this HURA. -Heard, Understood, Respect and Accept.-That's the algorithm of workability where Love can exist) </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Don't try to change them, enroll them, or manipulate them to your way of thinking. Least of all, don't name call because they don't subscribe to your thinking. Life is too short to waste on that pointless emotion. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"> -Thanks to <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1qq9wsj xo1l8bm" href="https://www.facebook.com/james.macneil2?__cft__[0]=AZU-NuDujQyTTWOhJ3rfVFN5SVsS753kbPcqjy7PzJCBfC6IWVB_yTurq8mHzJCwvblWpSGJyVbPyf44pa6zEfu-36n0coBJP43JrU2Vas3HcIFQvjbtLI7kdeq12nsa7W4qTNUHUSmNf_GAN2_dnIRJ&__tn__=-]K-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span class="xt0psk2" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;">James MacNeil</span></a></span> for sharing HURA with me. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Stay safe, stay sane, and take the time you need to practice self-Love.</div></div>Chuck Bastiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726290738520110178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442492383687661768.post-8891212843907399682023-03-04T09:15:00.001-05:002023-03-04T09:15:20.274-05:00Gay Marriage Redux 2009-2023<p> I wrote this blog in 2009. Seems like a lifetime ago! There are few things I agree with in my blogs from that era of my life. But this one, I'm kind of proud of. I wanted to re-post it here in it's original form. Full of grammatical errors, punctuation and run on's. Unlike most of my blogs, this one is a time capsule that I think aged very well. </p><p><br /></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I don't see what the big deal is here...
</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Obviously, Im straight, so Im not trying to advocate for something that personally affects or benefits me. Whether there is gay marriage or not in this world won't change my life. But, it will change someone else's, at no cost to me and my beliefs.
</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I think people who oppose this should actually ask themselves why they care so much if 2 gay people want to get married? Why are they so opposed to that, but not opposed to the 1 in 2 couples getting divorces? If you can get divorced this easily as everyone does these days, where is the sacredness in this institution that critics are trying to protect? The truth is, divorce used to be embarrassing. Now it is as common as changing jobs every 5 years.
</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space: pre-wrap;">If people are getting divorced in record numbers, and the average wedding is about 25K-35K for a one-day party, what does this really say about the sacredness of the institution of marriage? The truth is, that marriage is a big business. They offer the Bride the chance to be a princess for a day, and the groom to be the next in line to the centre of attention and ego's pay for this. If you sat down with a financial planner to make your marriage work from the very start, and you had 2 options of spending this money on a day wedding, or putting that money into a house that MADE money, Im sure there would be a clean sweep in opinions that weddings are a bad choice.
</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yet, why do we all get married this way? The answer is custom. Its always been this way, and its usually the parents who pay for it and expect a reception that they approve of. You see, everyone really gets their fingers into the process and it usually pales in comparison to what the Princess thought this day would be like. Its usually stressful and far from the joy of what the wedding SHOULD be.
</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Anyway, Im getting off-topic here. My point is about gay marriage. Just like civil rights have been given to women, blacks, minorities, and others in our free society, so it must be given to gays. I think it will only be a matter of time until this happens. I think the equivilent to this is saying that you still want to oppose blacks' civil rights back in the 60's. It is unthinkable now that because somebody who is born with skin that isn't white, that they doesn't deserve the same rights in a "free" country. So what is the difference with this?
</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, I know what the critics are going to say because I was once one of them. You're going to say that it is written in the Bible that homosexuality is a sin. Or that physiologically, it is not natural for 2 members of the same sex to be together. I agree with this to a certain degree... But when it comes down to it, who am I to stand in the way of someone else's freedom of choice because its not something that I agree with? Just because you don't like someone's CHOICE of freedom doesn't mean that it doesn't have its place to exist in our society. Thats what freedom really is!! Its not POTENTIAL Freedom, its pure freedom.
</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space: pre-wrap;">But mostly, I hope that someday people will understand that being gay is the genetic pre-disposition of one's body. It is no more of a choice than it is to say what type of straight person that you find attractive. Everyone has certain attractions, and those who are gay don't choose the hard road in life because its "cool". They choose it because they are listening to their hearts. Which is something that us straight people could really learn from...
</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Chuck Bastiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726290738520110178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442492383687661768.post-55379622255457968632020-07-29T12:20:00.000-04:002020-07-29T12:20:02.657-04:00Paul Hendrick Retires From Leafs TV. He Was One of the Greats<div style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTM2sc4GHfDddOF3SivKk9Q6IfbAPkz43PF_qEgGCRQ3iug7TOcEgMyuxnDKaai0_O7_Kv1k14hpFlHI6soyW5lZWpJg7gQaHSp_DKK4dr6iXg3zfpiscYxyl__NoICWODHF063aAOV5LM/s1600/IMG_20190221_125107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTM2sc4GHfDddOF3SivKk9Q6IfbAPkz43PF_qEgGCRQ3iug7TOcEgMyuxnDKaai0_O7_Kv1k14hpFlHI6soyW5lZWpJg7gQaHSp_DKK4dr6iXg3zfpiscYxyl__NoICWODHF063aAOV5LM/s320/IMG_20190221_125107.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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One of the most amazing reporters I have ever had the privilege of watching was Paul Hendrick, from Leafs TV.</div>
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Paul was a master of connecting to players, and giving them the space to give their best answer under pressure. What you didn't see behind the scenes, were the countless hours Paul spent just talking to each player, getting to know them, and their stories. He was also a great teacher, taking countless interns under his wing, teaching them the ropes in sports journali<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;">sm.</span></div>
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However, one of my most favourite moments of Paul came in January of 2019, and this is the story I'd like to share with you.</div>
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It was game day, morning skate between the Leafs and the Coyotes. There was a young man, Joey, who had been recently diagnosed with a rare form of cancer which was very aggressive. We had arranged to have Joey come meet a few of his heroes on the Coyotes. When I found out Joey was attending Fanshawe College for journalism, I approached Paul Hendrick.</div>
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Morning skates on Saturday game days are absolute mayhem, especially in Toronto. But I approached Paul and told him about Joey's condition and that he was studying journalism, and asked if he would come say a few words to Joey.</div>
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Despite everything else he had going on that day (and Paul is meticulous in his preparation) he immediately came over and spoke with Joey about his trade, journalism.</div>
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I thought that was simply remarkable. It wasn't that Paul took the time to meet Joey, Paul MADE the time to speak with Joey and take a picture together during an incredibly hectic time during his work day. I thought that was remarkable.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilepVtNfk07XS5Rx8hyWjasZRHMWy2Z6c-gPYM4QqyHcHuw8IUkiOquJUrZiSDiw5lMEMeALfBueY1rXXHiy8NglocX2TGJIVT2wAICrHrrYK4xG3_JjnsMuSQQtKz6fR85o_MXHodixw1/s1600/IMG_20190120_115856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilepVtNfk07XS5Rx8hyWjasZRHMWy2Z6c-gPYM4QqyHcHuw8IUkiOquJUrZiSDiw5lMEMeALfBueY1rXXHiy8NglocX2TGJIVT2wAICrHrrYK4xG3_JjnsMuSQQtKz6fR85o_MXHodixw1/s320/IMG_20190120_115856.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Unfortunately, Joey passed away 4 months later, and this picture I took of them together reminds me of what is really important in life. Thanks Paul for being one of the great ones.</div>
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So I wanted to wish Paul a Happy Retirement from decades of work covering the Leafs, hockey, sports and life in general. He will be undoubtedly missed and impossible to replace.</div>
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Happy Trails, Paul Hendrick.</div>
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Chuck Bastiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726290738520110178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442492383687661768.post-52963173995289588312020-06-24T19:54:00.001-04:002020-06-24T19:54:59.830-04:00Donald Trump and the Supreme Court Ruling Releasing His Taxes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8nSYMZF0HNGW37m1ii_lRw9UcK84KOgGXAK7LqSSGbNFzbws4Szh_lMtprfwps11MZ-8AnDezTldkZczXhjGSTq2fGxbbb8YLbHo52feVcnBI3Zll8ZBhy_rthmEHAJArheubPMttqtB/s1600/Donald+Trump+Chuck+Bastie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="824" data-original-width="960" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8nSYMZF0HNGW37m1ii_lRw9UcK84KOgGXAK7LqSSGbNFzbws4Szh_lMtprfwps11MZ-8AnDezTldkZczXhjGSTq2fGxbbb8YLbHo52feVcnBI3Zll8ZBhy_rthmEHAJArheubPMttqtB/s320/Donald+Trump+Chuck+Bastie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It's going to be a week from hell for Donald Trump this week, June 22-28, 2020.<br />
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To give you a better idea of what's about to go down this week, Attorney General William Barr attempted to oust US District Attorney, Geoffrey Berman on Friday night, June 19th.<br />
Much to his surprise, Berman discovered he was being fired by an online post by AG Barr. Berman responded that in fact, he was NOT resigning, nor did he have the intention of doing so. Because Berman wasn't appointed by Trump, but by a court, Barr could not fire him, and needed to go to Trump to have Berman fired. That act alone is deeply troubling. The fact that Trump wouldn't acknowledge that he fired Berman was even more alarming.<br />
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One of the biggest red flags happens whenever a US attorney is fired on a Friday night. Of course, this also happened amid multiple events such as Juneteenth, the court ruling that Trump lost which allowed John Bolton's book to be released, and the upcoming Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This is also at the end of the week when the Trump administration lost two Supreme Court rulings against his policies against the LGBTQ community, and DACA. This coming, despite Trump having appointed two of his conservative justices on the SCOTUS during his tenure as POTUS.<br />
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More recently, Trump's former National Security Advisor, Michael Flynn's case was just dismissed, in which he TWICE entered into guilty pleas with the government. This is a case in which the DOJ pressured the government to dismiss the charges against Flynn, a Trump ally despite the concerns of the presiding judge.<br />
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Undoubtedly, another Trump ally, Roger Stone will receive the exact same leniency as Flynn received despite being found guilty on numerous charges against the American people.<br />
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However, this is all small potatoes in comparison to what's about to fall.<br />
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The Supreme Court should rule before the end of June on two of its cases involving Donald Trump regarding his tax info being released, and ignoring the congressional use of subpoenas on the executive branch.<br />
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Trump's ties to Deutsche Bank will undoubtedly be linked into Russian money laundering. I mean it just makes no sense why Deutsche Bank would lend a man who lost 1 Billion dollars in the 80's and 90's. They simply wouldn't, as no bank would touch him.<br />
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That is, unless it was Deutsche Bank "lending" him money as the conduit to laundering money out of Russia through Trump's business dealings. This is the reason why Trump has fought so diligently to hide his taxes from Congress and the American people. He knows that anyone who has access to his financial dealings will find fraud, money laundering, false documents, lies, and will be charged or impeached. At the very least, it would paint a very unflattering view of Trump, and it could cost him votes in the November election.<br />
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The SDNY is the independent court investigating all of Trump's business dealing, and all of Trump's accomplices. Firing SDNY Attorney Berman ahead of the Supreme Court's ruling on the release of his tax info (which they have already hinted, Trump will lose) would ensure that Trump replaced him with an ally. But thanks to the integrity of Berman, he refused to resign, and was able to appoint his successor upon his removal. The Deputy whom Berman appointed will now end up being AG Barr's and Trump's worst nightmare. It's safe to say this poorly planned Friday Night Massacre failed completely and announced the corruption of the DOJ and Trump before the Supreme Court's ruling.<br />
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Once Deutsche Bank releases Trump's financial information, look to the NY Times, Washington Post and the main stream media to pounce on this like a prize fighter. Let's hope this will be the final nail in the coffin for the Trump presidency.<br />
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<br />Chuck Bastiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726290738520110178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442492383687661768.post-14083564290869163552020-01-01T20:41:00.001-05:002020-01-03T00:41:59.568-05:00Another Auld Lang Syne, 2020<br />
Another Auld Lang Syne...<br />
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Home Free, singing Auld Lang Syne<br />
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Saying goodbye to an entire decade is pretty sobering. If you're like me and reflect back on the journey, it can get really emotional. Ten years is half a lifetime to a 20 year old, but when you're 47 like me, it's not as trans-formative in that physical growing sense. Instead, it's the spiritual growth that's the real treasure, and certainly, that was me in the 2010's.<br />
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One of the things I reflect on, is the people whom I've lost in my life. Whether they be through death, or worse, through parting of ways. I think death provides a certain amount of certainty and closure. Yet, when the person is still alive and you're estranged from them, it's another level of death without the closure. Losing people is a natural happenstance in life, and we all deal with it differently. There were Lovers, friends, family, or hero's. And remembering these people in your life are quite emotional, and sometimes its the heartbreak of your entire life that you never fully recover from.<br />
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I've had wonderful women come into my life. Each one transformed me in such a profound way that I never Loved the same in the aftermath of the break up. In the 1980's my very first girlfriend was one of these people. I Loved her in silly boy, puppy Love ways. We went out from the time we were 17 until were 25. That's an eternity when you're coming out of high school, and through College and University until you start making your way though life. Still, I say I never deserved her Love. She was an amazing woman, and I recklessly threw that Love out the window. It took me years to figure out why did that. I had horrible guilt for the longest time and even though she had forgiven me, I couldn't bring it to forgive myself. But hell, I was just a stupid kid. Thankfully, we were able to meet for dinner this year, which actually turned out to be the anniversary of the night I asked her out as a 17 year old, 30 years to the day, hour and year of having dinner together. Talk about serendipity and closure.<br />
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In the 90's it started with the woman I met one random night, and 26 short days later, I proposed to. When you meet that person, and the timing is there, Love strikes unknowingly. We were married in mid 1999, and we returned to the decade-ending New Year on the Sunset Cliffs in San Diego where I had asked her to marry me a year earlier. In making our New Year's vows, I gained a confidence I never knew existed. I promised her I would make 100K in that year so we could live a better life with choices. Up until that point, I hadn't earned more than 52K in a year, so this was quite the promise. But a funny thing happens to a man when he is inspired by the woman he adores. He finds another level to step up to. And by the first week of March, I had made 112K.<br />
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Like, wow. I finished that year making over 300K including a month where I made 60K in May. I don't say this to brag, but instead to illustrate a point that it was only possible by the Love of a woman who inspired me past a point I thought was unattainable. I didn't do this because I was capable of it, I did it because she elevated me to that point. I was clear that it wasn't me. And how I know that is, when we broke up in mid 2000's, I went back to making 50K and I've never had that level of success ever again.<br />
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In the 2000's it was a collection of weird circumstances. My marriage failed. I went into a pit of despair without the muse of a life partner to guide me away from myself. I was my own worst enemy. In fact, I was just toxic. I met a woman under the wrong circumstances, and I spent a lot of effort of putting a square peg in a round hole. Writer, Oscar Wilde has a quote that described this perfectly for me. He said, "There are only two tragedies in life: One is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it" And I got the latter.<br />
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I think this was the greatest self-loathing period of my life. Unfortunately, this is also the period of time that I did the majority of blogging and writing. I wrote about 1000+ blogs during this time. Most of them I would never read or revisit because that tormented kid is long gone, and I'd like to think a better version replaced him. However, darkness has an innate ability to create beauty. And for a glimpse of time, I was a creator of that darkness. So much so, that the partner I was with during that time was on the receiving end of the worst heartache I've ever dealt, and that is something I dearly regret. I was a lonely, emotionally tormented soul searching for a light to guide me.<br />
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Cue the entry of the woman in the 2000's that changed my life.<br />
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She was a siren. In fact, she was the strongest soul I had ever met. She had all the space in dealing with all my darkness and inabilities. She Loved me for the wounded little boy inside the cocky man I had become, and I trusted her implicitly. She became my best friend, my Lover, and life partner. The inspiration I gained from her influenced me to write. After landing in an Intensive Care Unit hospital bed, I vowed to change my life, almost akin to a near death experience. And she had all the space for that journey, and was my rock the entire way.<br />
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She taught me how to process my feelings, trauma, regrets, and losses. I had to deal with a lot of demons which created me to be my own worst enemy. I tossed 800,000 words of a novel I was working on for over 3 years. Under her direction, I finished 13 chapters of the first draft of that novel in 21 days. Some of the writing still needed a lot of work, but my process of healing came through writing that novel. I sustained multiple TBI's (concussions) during that time, and it took me about 18 months before I was symptom-free. I know I couldn't have had my own angel like the way she showed up for me in my darkest, saddest hours. In fact, never when I had little to offer in life, was I never so content inside the challenging times life dealt as I was in her arms.<br />
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Sadly, our paths parted in 2013, and it ruined me. Like truly ruined me, and I don't think I've been the same every since. Without her inspiration, I've barely coasted through the 2010's and she has never been equaled up to now. I miss that partnership, that Love, that relationship which touched and transformed my soul. I will undoubtedly never Love the same way ever again.<br />
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So this leads me to my point.<br />
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In the Robbie Burns poem, Auld Lang Syne, which we sing on New Year's Eve, he poses the question,<br />
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"Should auld acquaintances be forgot, and ne'er brought to mind? Should old acquaintances be forgot and days of Auld Lang Syne" Then he answers his reflective question by toasting these Loves, saying, "we'll take a cup of kindness yet, for Auld Lang Syne."<br />
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In the days of Auld Lang Syne, I reflect to those wonderful women who Loved me when I clearly didn't or couldn't Love myself, and be grateful for their Love and support. I now know that this inspiration that I sought needed to be created from within and complemented with a partner, and not extracted from that partner. And with that, I welcome the lessons of each decade on the first day of the year 2020.<br />
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So Happy New Year to you all. I thank you for all your friendship, Love, patience and kindness, no matter how small or big. I look forward to an exciting new start; the continuance of Self-Love, and the Journey we are all tied in, being souls having a human experience together.<br />
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<br />Chuck Bastiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726290738520110178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442492383687661768.post-73142144670256120412019-09-24T22:04:00.002-04:002019-09-24T22:04:29.808-04:00How Dumb is Donald Trump?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How Dumb is Donald Trump?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the end of the Rob Reiner movie, "A Few Good Men" Colonel Nathan R. Jessup, portrayed by Jack Nicholson, is his own worst enemy when he contradicts and perjures himself. Even more laughable, at that moment, Jessup is completely unaware and clueless that he had perjured himself. He's simply is too stupid to realize he is his own worst enemy, and his own mouth has landed him in hot water. In fact, even his own counsel realizes it immediately, leaving Jessup as the only remaining person in the room not understanding what just happened. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fact that Rob Reiner is a long standing opponent of Donald Trump is almost too perfect. Nathan Jessup is eerily characteristic of Donald Trump on so many levels. They are both arrogant, power-mongering, petty, and </span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">sociopathic and completely unaware that they have committed a crime. Meanwhile, everyone around them are stunned at what they've said, perplexed that they are clueless as to what just happened. </span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is how stupid Donald Trump is. </span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After being accused of leveraging the Ukrainian President for Trump's own political agenda, he admitted what he did as if he thought there was nothing wrong with it. While the public, the media, and politicians are standing there with their jaws wide open, there stood Trump, just like Jessup, being the only person in the room who had no idea what he said just started his worst nightmare of impeachment. </span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For months, House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, or "Nancy" as Trump refers to her, had been dragging her heels on launching an impeachment inquiry into Trump. While the numbers of Congress grew and grew well past the majority Congress needed to send the impeachment to the Senate, Pelosi still didn't support impeachment. Perhaps Pelosi was waiting for the smoking gun that would create bipartisan support to impeach Trump? Given that the Republicans have stood behind Donald Trump's defence at every opportunity they had, this seemed like a miracle in the making. </span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, Donald Trump finally gave that miracle to Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic majority of Congress by opening his mouth, and just continuing to be Donald Trump. </span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And if all follows as it should, this should be the start of Donald Trump's inevitable demise as he goes down as one of the most shamed men in modern history. And just like in a Few Good Men, Trump will be the final character to not understand what just happened, and I can't wait to see Rob Reiner's reaction when it happens.</span></span></div>
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Chuck Bastiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726290738520110178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442492383687661768.post-31549551641506391992019-02-01T00:37:00.001-05:002019-02-01T11:54:50.121-05:00The Humboldt Broncos, Jaskirit Sidhu and Justice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The story of the Humboldt Broncos Hockey Club is simply gutting at every level of Canadian humanity. I say, "Canadian" humanity because we are dealing with a Junior A hockey team, and we as Canadians are etched in the game of hockey in our roots as a nation. So when you take a team of young men whose lives were altered in such a horrific accident, the hearts of the entire nation goes out to that entire community. Nobody doubts this.<br />
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But there are also two sides to this horrific story.<br />
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Jaskirit Sidhu, the driver of the truck who blew the stop sign and collided with the Humboldt bus, will be sentenced for pleading guilty to the numerous counts he was charged with in the accident. The court has spent this entire week hearing the victim statement reports and finally, Jaskirit Sidhu will face his sentence from the court on March 22, 2019. But while I was following this story, I couldn't help but see two polarizing views from this narrative<br />
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The first view was that of the prosecuting attorney for the crown, Thomas Healey who was visibly emotional when addressing the media today. Healey recommended 10 years prison time and repeatedly referred to Sidhu's actions as "criminal" for his "crimes" as if Sidhu had planned and executed this event.<br />
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As I sat with those words, I couldn't help but think they were too much. Certainly, I'm not downplaying the result of what happened. But I can't also help but believing Sidhu's actions weren't criminal in nature because I don't think anyone believes he had the intent of committing this action. I think the man made a driving mistake. A driving mistake we have all probably made, without the carnage.<br />
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I can look into my own life where I have been impaired behind the wheel. I say impaired because it covers all matters of sins. I don't believe there is a person out there who hasn't driven impaired at some point in their life. Why do I think this? Because the government just recently made distracted driving an offence, and we have all been guilty of it. -Texting, talking, eating, multi-tasking behind the wheel. I've done all of these. I've also been behind the wheel when I was falling asleep and eventually arrived at my destination with absolutely no idea of how I got there. Clearly, that could be considered impaired driving. Impaired doesn't simply mean under the influence of drugs or alcohol.<br />
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But, in all of these circumstances, I was lucky. I never hit anyone, caused any harm or damage, and only by the good graces of fortune did I avoid carnage. I was just as guilty, probably even more so than Jaskirit Sidhu, and yet, I was more fortunate in not getting caught by my impairment.<br />
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Which brings me to the point of justice.<br />
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How do you extract justice in the terms of a prison sentence in this case? The punishment for the crimes one is faced with is to act as a deterrent and a precedent for further cases before the court. For the life of me, I can't see what a prison sentence would solve here. Jaskirit Sidhu is in no way a threat to "re-offend" for his behaviour, and no reasonable person in the future would be able to use this as a manner in justifying their actions.<br />
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This was simply a horrific accident that demonstrates what can happen when you aren't fully present and take your mind of the task at hand. So anyone who is throwing their vitriol towards Sidhu for this better be taking personal inventory of their own lives.<br />
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One of the most surprising videos I watched came from Christina Haugan, the widow of Humboldt coach, Darcy Haugan. In these few videos, you can see Christina's empathy for Jaskirit, knowing full well this was a terrible, unfortunate accident. Christina talks about the power of forgiveness and how she has forgiven Jaskirit Sidhu<br />
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<a href="https://globalnews.ca/video/4906109/remorse-expressed-by-humboldt-truck-driver-helping-widow-of-head-coach-move-on/">https://globalnews.ca/video/4906109/remorse-expressed-by-humboldt-truck-driver-helping-widow-of-head-coach-move-on/</a><br />
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So how will justice be served? Will it make the family and community feel better for Jaskirit Sidhu go to jail for 10 years? How many years would it take for him to be rehabilitated, or to "learn his lesson"? He's already waived his trial, admitted he was at fault, authentically apologized in the most humane way possible, he hasn't asked for a plea bargain, and he said he can't make it right, so he doesn't want to make things worse.<br />
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I think this man has just demonstrated all the qualities necessary in what we would want rehabilitation to look like. But now, he must be punished for people to feel like justice was served? That simply makes no sense.<br />
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The crown is asking for 10 years, the defence is saying anywhere from 1-4 years. My hope would be that this man be forgiven for making a simple human error that had catastrophic results that he will probably never be able to forgive himself for. I hope that these families find solace that he didn't do it with an ounce of malice. He was simply having a bad series of thoughts which distracted him from 4 stop sign warnings, and the stop sign itself.<br />
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We've all been distracted without the impact of the situation his lack of presence has caused, so I can't sit here and cast a stone at him. In fact, I feel terrible for this man. Jaskirit Sidhu will live in a self-induced prison for the rest of his days knowing one stupid moment caused such carnage and he can't reverse that. I think it's horrible. I think the situation is horrible, but I don't think he deserves going to prison for it.<br />
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Lastly, as always on social media, there's always a person intent on deriving their own twisted intent in projecting what they want to hear in any particular story, instead of what's really said or written. So to be clear, I will state this so there is no interpretation about what I mean.<br />
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I feel terrible for these kids, their families, their communities and all their Loved ones. This is just such a terrible story. I can't even imagine the hardships they've experienced every 5 seconds for the past 10 months since that fateful day. I hope that they all find forgiveness and peace for how they need to experience it for their own lives moving forward in what life holds for them.<br />
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To the memory of those lost in the Humboldt Broncos accident, to where you are...<br />
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<br />Chuck Bastiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726290738520110178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442492383687661768.post-50829138678129534622018-12-26T18:14:00.000-05:002018-12-26T18:58:38.292-05:00The Border Wall<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Banksy's take on the border wall</td></tr>
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If I told you about a great movie I saw, meal I ate, or experience I had and bragged that it was the greatest thing I had ever had, would you secretly want some of that?Well, of course you would!<br />
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So why wouldn't anyone in the world not want to live in North America?<br />
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About 15 years ago, I was in southern California speaking to a friend of mine who was educating me who <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cesar_Chavez">Cesar Chavez</a> was, how his leadership transformed the system, and the workers in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Joaquin_Valley">San Joachin Valley</a>. Many of these workers were illegal immigrants, but the country turned a blind eye because few white people wanted these labour intensive, and low paying jobs.<br />
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Around the same time, I had a friend who lived in New York City and she was married to a man from South America. They were living in the States because it was apparently easier to live as an illegal alien in NYC than Canada. She explained to me how there were a lot of illegals working in the States and nobody cared much about this immigration epidemic.<br />
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That was until these immigrants were Muslim.<br />
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It seems as soon as the countries the US were attacking, like Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and a handful of others who were greatly affected by these wars started to leave their countries, this immigration issue all of a sudden became really important. Up until this point, the immigrants who were coming into the US were mainly Christian, and more importantly, they were doing menial labour that no white person would ever want to do. So, if it benefited society, this was considered win-win.<br />
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And now with the government shut down in the US, the mention of this border wall keeps popping up disguised as "border security" when it has nothing to do with security at all. It has everything to do with keeping non-Christians out of the country in the facade of fear mongering.<br />
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If there was a real threat to Americans, it comes from within, not from other countries. Domestic Americans kill 10,000+ more Americans with gun violence every year than their nearest rival. Yet, there is little to nothing being done about this issue. Nobody is asking for 5 billion dollars to fix this problem because the NRA has paid off every representative and their campaigns for re-election. So this topic gets re-visited on social media whenever a classroom of school children are being murdered in their places of learning, or people in their places of worship. THAT, is real terrorism. But "these people" don't want to talk about that, because it's not on their agenda.<br />
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If these people wanted to spend 5 billion dollars of border security, they could create infrastructure behind the scenes using technology that would invest in systems and its people to create a customized solution. Building a wall is like using coal, which this president seems to think is the wave of the future.<br />
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I had a mentor in sales that once shared an invaluable insight. In sales like in life, people will give you a reason for something they don't like. The trick in sales is determining the reason they give you and then finding out the REAL reason. The faster you can ascertain the real reason before they know it, you have a better chance to get the sale. So in this situation, the border wall is the reason these people give you. It's not the real reason.<br />
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So let's be real. These people don't want a wall, because that's clearly the most inefficient way to keep the "deplorables" out. Instead, they want to align themselves with the signal which says they support dividing themselves from refugees or immigrants in need, who want a tiny taste of the Freedom the greatest country in the world says it has. These people think Freedom is so finite that it can't be shared with people who aren't fitting into the mould of people like them. Historically, these are the people didn't want Women to have a vote, didn't want people of colour to have the same inalienable rights as they did, and they certainly don't want Muslims swimming in their pool of Freedom.<br />
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This has nothing to do with border security. We all want safe border security. But this has nothing to do with border security and everything to do with the mentality of racism and bigotry which has been the main separating point in the Divided States of America since it's inception. And this has been the underlying current which presents its ugly face, over and over in a reincarnated dream for the United States of America.<br />
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This time around, it just looks like a border wall.<br />
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<br />Chuck Bastiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726290738520110178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442492383687661768.post-70036236582637590202018-12-08T00:27:00.000-05:002018-12-08T00:37:38.883-05:00I Wish My Life Looked As Good As It Does on Social Media<br />
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I wish my life were half as good as it looks when I post on Facebook or social media. I'm sure somewhere out there, someone is yearning for the life I post on Facebook. They yearn for my life as I yearn for the equally unattainable life of someone else I admire as they post their best moments on social media. It's like the hamster wheel of chasing the perfect life right in front of you.<br />
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Its exhausting and it's not possible.<br />
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December is the loneliest season of the year. It's supposed to be the happiest month of the year, and for some it may be. But I have a sneaky sensation the norm is to feel a little blue at this time of year. There are a myriad of reasons for this, and I suspect they all stem from comparing what you have now with something you want, or what you used to have. We all get a little nostalgic for this stuff around the Christmas season.<br />
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First, the comparison is yearning for something someone else has. Perhaps its good health. That's a big one. You usually only want this one when you've had your health taken away from you, then you get a really focused interest on how you, and everyone else you know takes their health for granted.<br />
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Or, you might yearn for a meaningful relationship. That's another big one; especially at Christmas with all the parties, dinners and New Year's Eve approaching. Can't be seen alone, now can we? That would mean that our worst fear of being unlovable at the most connected time of the year would be out there for all to see.<br />
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Or, it could be the timeless, big money issue. There just never seems to be enough of this old tale. You could be making 200K and it still wouldn't be enough because most of us all spend about what we make, and some of us manage to even outspend what we make too, don't we? Always chasing something better to make us feel better, rationalizing it to death with the stress delivered with the double-edged sword of justification.<br />
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It could also be something you can't compete with anymore. You're in competition with yourself when you were younger, skinnier, more attractive, made more money, you were less stressed and significant about life before you became so bitter and resentful. Perhaps you were a better mother, father, son, daughter, friend, Lover or listener. Now, you're none of those things. You're simply a shell of who you once were, and there's no way to get back to being the cool "you."<br />
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Perhaps you are searching for the memories that are long gone and you can't get them back. A time in your life that wasn't so complicated? When you were carefree, and took spontaneous vacations just because you could! You flirted with that guy or woman because you had that ability, and now it's suicide to think you could pull that off with how you look now. Ouch, that's a tough one...<br />
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Perhaps you're selling out being with that person you know you're not in Love with because they give you a life of comfort, instead of the Love you yearn for. You trade off your fear of financial stress with moments generated by money and amp up the fakeness you have to muster in order to live with yourself. Your posts on Instagram are showing all your friends that you value things more than being true to yourself.<br />
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Or maybe it isn't you at all. Maybe it's a place.<br />
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Maybe it's a place that you used to visit that held a special meaning to you. I have this place in my head. I walk in this memory in the house that I used to Love, with the dog I used to have, the crisp, winter night air biting at my nose, holding the hand of the Woman of my dreams on Christmas Eve, looking up at the stars hoping to spot a tiny sleigh pulled by 8 reindeer. A quick walk around a picturesque park newly blanketed in a sheet of white snow, illuminated by the moon above. Life certainly wasn't great back then either. But damn, those were fantastic times. Call me a romantic, but that moment will never leave me til the day I die. A part of me wants those problems back now, instead of the ones I currently have.<br />
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Perhaps it's the loss of a Loved one that bites more during this season than any other time of the year. Sometimes these Loved ones have passed away, or worse, they are still alive but just not available in the classic sense, which is worse in a way. When you've lost them a long time ago, this could be the saddest and most confronting feeling of loss.<br />
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Or lastly, perhaps it's your childhood in the eyes of your child. You get to see everything that you are and aren't through the eyes of your children or grandchildren. This can be especially hard when you're having these moments of self-loathing because you're feeling that you're just not a good enough mother or father. You aren't making enough money, or you're simply not spending enough time with your kids. You're caught up in a world of accumulation to give your kids a little better than you had growing up and the price you pay is they grow up too fast and you've missed it all.<br />
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Yes, you're really going to let yourself have it for these things you don't have, or the things you can't be, anymore. It's your worst fear to think it, let alone admit it. Well, if you're thinking any of this landed, I'm right there with you. And I'm quite sure we're not alone. We'll have lots of company thinking the same things as the next person. For all its worth, this is the great human experience.<br />
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I think half of it is just made up bullshit and the other half is the work we have left to do. Depending on which half you'd like to focus on, I'm sure that will give you the results you earn. But we all have work to do. Til the day we die, that work will never stop. And neither will the self-judgment we subject ourselves to.<br />
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So give yourself that space. The reason I wrote this is to let you know that you're not alone, even if you feel you are alone. We tend to make life much more difficult than it needs to be. We complicate the simple, and over-simplify the complicated. So instead of doing what you always do, which is make yourself stressed out, understand that we all do exactly what we are capable of, with the tools we have in the moment. No more, no less.<br />
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And if you are the one perfect person out there that none of this applied to, I hope you're able to take it all in and appreciate it all. Because just like in life, it will change. And in the not so distant future, you might look back on this, and check one of these boxes about the great human experience.<br />
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Happy Holidays to you all. Please be kind. To others, and most importantly, to yourselves.<br />
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<br />Chuck Bastiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726290738520110178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442492383687661768.post-81560450072427916782018-11-05T14:14:00.001-05:002018-11-05T14:14:54.276-05:00A Week of Remembrance: Beny-sur-mer <br />
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I remember watching this Bell Canada commercial in the early 200<a href="https://www.facebook.com/OntarioProud/videos/1917836375161130/"></a>0's, I think. It's set in the French town of Dieppe, but it always had a profound effect on me. This commercial brings me to tears every time I watch it. Perhaps it was the catalyst that propelled me to visit the Normandy coast, and the Canadian landing at Juno Beach.<br />
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I walked Juno Beach at low tide looking out at the hundreds of yards of beach out to sea where the Canadian soldiers would have landed. After an over night crossing of the English Channel in a flat-bottomed boat tossing them around with undoubted sea-sickness, they ran into oncoming machine gun fire burdened with their sea legs, back pack and the untold terror that would have been exclusively theirs.<br />
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I simply can't even imagine the horrors they saw that day.<br />
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What I can imagine is courtesy of the Juno Beach museum which keeps their memory alive from that day. I spent a couple hours inside of the museum trying to keep my eyes dry, because it was just so gutting. What a horrific business war truly is.<br />
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The Juno Beach Centre, which had just been newly constructed when I visited it in 2006, is located in the small town of Courseulles-sur-mer. Outside of this small town is the Canadian cemetery of Beny-sur-mer, a few kilometres inland. It is the final resting place of some 2100 Canadian soldiers fallen from the Normandy campaign set in the middle of a corn field. I took a taxi from the town out to the cemetery, and the driver waited while I went inside to pay my respects.<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">The grounds were absolutely immaculate, with row upon row of headstones perfectly aligned the length of the cemetery. </span></div>
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I was there in the beginning of May, a month before the June DDay ceremonies but there were flowers from every small town across Canada. A pleasant reminder that Canada and its citizens are eternally grateful for the sacrifice given 70 years before. I've stood at many Canadian memorials, but this one really left me eternally grateful for being a Canadian. </div>
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I walked back toward my waiting taxi and when I arrived back into town, the driver didn't charge me for the fare. It seems the sacrifice that Canadians made before me are still paying our way in this part of France. It made me so immensely proud to be a Canadian...</div>
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Lest We Forget</div>
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Chuck Bastiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726290738520110178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442492383687661768.post-43958798288452086812018-09-17T09:43:00.000-04:002018-09-17T09:48:21.383-04:00Losing a Friend to Mental Health and Addiction<br />
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Years ago, I was away for a weekend at a volleyball tournament. I saw a young man on the beach court and he had some kind of writing on his ribs. Upon looking more closely, I ascertained that it was some sort of script written tattoo.<br />
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Later that night, I ended up talking to this young man. I asked him what the tattoo on his ribs was about. He went on to tell me that it was a letter his father had written to him. His father had suffered from addiction issues, and because of this, the young man rarely saw his father. So one Christmas, his father couldn't afford to give him anything, so he wrote his son this note. And this note was the tattoo the young man placed on his ribcage. I read the note, and it was enough to bring tears to your eyes. It was a heartfelt plea of understanding from a tormented father to his son, telling his son how much he Loved him, while being incapable of a logical explanation of why he can't be a better father. Truly heartbreaking. I asked the young man if his father was still alive, and sadly his father succumbed to his demons and passed away.<br />
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Mental health and addiction are probably the least understood issues human beings deal with in this day and age. We seem to want to use logic to understand the patterns of trauma and abuse, which are contributors to addiction and mental health. Instead of dealing with the root cause of the issues of trauma and lack of connection, we seem to want to blame, or demonize the tormented people for the drama and impact they bring into any situation with their behaviour. I mean, it's easy to dislike the person for their behaviour and the impact it has. But too many of us dislike the person, instead of disliking the disease which controls the person. That's the big difference.<br />
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Today, I found out that a friend of mine hung himself. This is the third person I've known that has hung themselves this year, unable to cope with the addiction or mental health issue they faced. Each person, I incorrectly assumed had the coping skills to be "better" than I thought they were being. I looked at how intelligent they were, and this told me that their logic would win over their trauma.<br />
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How wrong I was...<br />
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A person's trauma isn't logical. In fact, it almost always defies or overpowers logic, making it a moot point. We seem to judge their trauma with our own ability to problem solve or cope and minimize their situation, rather than accepting that their inability to deal with the root cause of their trauma is taking every single piece of clarity they have. This then creates the repetitious hell they live and deal with on a minute by minute basis.<br />
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Mental health is exhausting. It is often too much for us to deal with, even with people we Love. We resent the energy they take from us, and blame them as if they do it intentionally. They don't. I can't choose to believe that addicts or mentally ill people choose to want to be this way, given the choice. It's the hardest way to live life. In fact, 3 people I've known this year proved it by taking their own life, rather than dealing with the trauma in their life. When these people can't deal with the trauma, and their coping mechanisms are depleted from the years of abuse they've endured, death is more preferable than living.<br />
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This is simply heart breaking.<br />
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I can't help but wonder how alone they must've felt in the final moments of their life knowing that they were going to end it all. I can't imagine what that must feel like, but I know that it's probably more common than we want to admit. That's why we need to be putting more resources into mental health and addiction. This is an epidemic that just isn't going to go away because we don't want to address it. In fact, it's only going to continue to get worse.<br />
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I think mental health and addiction affects us all. As human beings, we should want to understand this disease, its algorithm and its preventable impact. To allow any human being go through this, is cruel and unacceptable.<br />
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So to you, my tormented friend, I say goodbye in this form. I know you are now free, but I can't help but refrain from missing our chats and walks. I'm sorry for your pain and suffering and that it couldn't seemingly be helped. I will miss you and I will think of you.<br />
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To where you are...<br />
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<br />Chuck Bastiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726290738520110178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442492383687661768.post-65205490216580672802018-08-24T01:37:00.001-04:002018-08-24T01:37:39.183-04:00Celebrating and Remembering Herb Weidman
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I turned 30 years old, my now, ex-wife put together a
collage of my most favourite pictures of beloved people and meaningful moments
in my life up to that point. She put all these pictures together in a large frame,
and it was one of the most beautiful gifts I’d ever been given. I treasured
that picture, and I hung it in my office for years. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">At the very bottom was a small, rectangular
picture that made its way into the collage. If you knew me well, it might have
seemed to be the one that stuck out to be the random, isolated pictures when portrayed
next to all the others. But truth be told, it was one of my favourite. This was
a picture of me and my Uncle Herbie playing a game of crib in his house. Herbie
wasn’t my uncle by blood, but his youngest son, Barry was one of my childhood
best friends, and seeing that I’ve known him since I was about 8, he was Uncle Herb.
Together with his wife, Leona, they were surrogate parents to me for almost 40
years from the small, rural town of Beausejour, Manitoba.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When I was about 13, my family moved from Beausejour,
to Toronto but we never lost that connection. </span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I would make trips back over the years to see Barry and old
friends. When I did visit, I often stayed at Uncle Herb’s and Auntie Leona’s
home. When I stayed elsewhere, I always found the time to come back to sit and
play crib with Herb or have coffee with them. If it seemed a little weird that
a young man in his 20’s who was always chasing the ultimate party would make
time to sit with his elders, the weirdness never landed on me. I Loved spending time with
them, because they were so kind, so Loving to me. They treated me like a son,
no matter how much time had passed. In fact, I know I was back in that small
town when my name seemingly changed from the “Chuck” I am used to, to the
endearing, “Chuckie” that I was called by them. This is my childhood name, and very
few people have the ability to use it. Obviously, this was one of the occasions
when I was Chuckie, not Chuck. </span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Whenever you hear of the passing of people who have been
beloved in your life, it hits with the force of a night train. A flood of
memories cascade, visions, audio clips, memories, videos, pictures. They all
become the medium of grieving and remembering the departed. When I heard the
news of Herb’s passing, my body immediately began to respond without my consent.
I began to sob uncontrollably. It was such an immediate loss that I couldn’t
explain why I was crying. In fact, I still can’t. </span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Herbie had a herculean work ethic, like world class. For a
man of his generation, he was one of the most empathetic, compassionate men I
ever knew. He was a calm presence that left a lasting impression on me. He was
champion Father, husband and friend. I mean, his kids actually really, really
liked him!! (For reals…) Leona, his wife Loved him. Not to say Herb was ideal
or perfect, but damn, that man did his very best. A good marriage is hard work,
and Herb worked hard on his marriage. Seeing him together with Leona was
inspirational because you really saw what a lifetime of Love and commitment
looked like. Herb was committed to his wife, his kids, their kids, to his
community and to his faith. </span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I will remember Herb as a pillar of Love wrapped inside a
moustache that always smiled at me. I will remember many versions of Herb over
the 5 decades I knew and Loved him. He was a wonderful and Loving man I could
only aspire to be. So I am bidding goodbye to the man I knew. Herb has graduated
ahead of the rest of us, and he has finished his journey. I am overjoyed that
his legacy will always be remembered in the actions he took in his life. That
brings me good feelings and memories of him and the Love he showed me, and the
countless others he knew. </span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">To where you are Herb Weidman, and thank you for your Love
and light.. Enjoy your new freedom. You are Loved and we will miss you. But you
will always live on in our hearts and minds, so I know you will never be so far
away. </span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span>Chuck Bastiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726290738520110178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442492383687661768.post-38526990018218732862018-07-24T06:52:00.000-04:002018-07-24T06:52:10.775-04:00Journey of a Lifetime Social Media Tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1998 Backpacking at the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain</td></tr>
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<br />
So it's been 20 years since I went on the backpacking trip which changed my life. On that trip in 1998, a 26 year old Chuck Bastie left Canada for 10 weeks in Europe alone, and on a quest to find myself.<br />
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During that journey, I wanted to write a screenplay, a movie or a book. However, when I got to Europe, all I did was party until I ran out of money in Budapest, Hungary. That was definitely the low point of the trip, but it ended up being the necessary shift that I needed. I met a person on a night train that I had no business meeting under the most unusual circumstances. This chance encounter became the basis for my novel, Journey of a Lifetime.<br />
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When I returned to Canada, I was deeply disappointed in myself for not having written a word for my screenplay. In fact, it wasn't until over 10 years later, in 2009 when I actually started writing the novel which was to become the genesis of Journey of a Lifetime.<br />
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So here I am 20 years later. I am travelling the same timeline of my original trip, and let me tell you how surreal this is. The places look the same, but obviously the experience is different. At each point, I am now surrounded by a host of memories and feelings which feel like I am being charged with 100 volts of electricity. Admittedly, that 26 year old Chuck Bastie is long gone, and I am the replacement which feels like being a distant cousin to myself, which is to prove to be a reoccurring theme.<br />
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Speaking of themes. One of the themes in my novel is serendipity. -A fortunate coincidence, if you will. These coincidences occur in the most magical ways by manipulating and creating sliding doors of time lines. Back in 1998, I had no idea what these phenomenons were. They were more frustrating annoyances which blocked what I thought I wanted.<br />
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Now, I welcome and accept them. For example, I had originally wanted to leave on this trip on July 1 to keep to the original timeline of the novel. But life happens, and I ended up booking my ticket for July 16. When I went to fly out of Toronto, there was in climate weather and the flight was cancelled. This cost me an extra day in Paris, and after the delays so far, this was going to really make my timeline even more challenging. But in each of these sliding door moments, you have a choice to accept that The Universe has something different in store for you.<br />
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So I instead took a connecting flight to Halifax, and I got to see my Father and my aunt and have lunch together and have a wonderful visit for the afternoon. So instead of operating on the original timeline, mine seems to be Lovingly guided in a continuing series of serendipitous events which will ultimately lead me to the timeline I am supposed to be on, and not the timeline I thought I was supposed to be on.<br />
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And to start this trip, I've already been re-routed (and re-rooted lol) a couple times. So I am very excited to see how things shift as I play the role of Tristan Kelly in a social media adaptation of my novel, Journey of a Lifetime.<br />
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So I landed in Paris. Stay tuned :)<br />
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<br />Chuck Bastiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726290738520110178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442492383687661768.post-56818053283039804652018-07-05T18:46:00.001-04:002018-07-05T18:46:26.595-04:00Joachim Low and Understanding Vs. Accepting<div>
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In 2016, German football coach, Joachim Low was caught on camera scratching and sniffing himself during a game. In an explanation after wards, he spoke at a press conference explaining why he did it, and then offering a hapless apology without taking any responsibility for his gross conduct.<br />
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After watching it, I bet most people who watched this were wondering why Joachim Low was doing this. This is the difference between understanding and accepting.<br />
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You could waste a lot of energy and time trying to understand why people do the stupidest things. You can ask them, and they can answer and give you their reason. But at the end of the day, it's not about understanding why they did it. It's about whether you can accept the behaviour they exhibit is who they really are, and not who you'd like them to be.<br />
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You'll rarely understand illogical behaviour in people when looking at that behavioural pattern logically. People often make emotional decisions based on how they feel, and that's rarely logical.<br />
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So the next time you try to understand the behavioural pattern, ask yourself whether or not you can accept the behaviour of Joachim Low, instead of understanding it. </div>
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Chuck Bastiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726290738520110178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442492383687661768.post-56138883175137386772018-01-22T21:16:00.001-05:002018-01-22T21:16:33.011-05:00Love Will Save The World<br />
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I remember watching the movie, "Invictus" with Morgan Freeman, and Matt Damon. It was a movie that brilliantly used the theme of the 1995 World Cup of Rugby, and incorporated the story of post-apartheid South Africa with Nelson Mandela. It was a great movie so many reasons. Yet for me, one reason more than others.<br />
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One of my favourite scenes from the movie, (and there were many to chose from) put Nelson Mandela in a position where he was reasoning to his people. Mandela had just won the election, and was elected the first Black leader in the history of a country that openly celebrated racism. Yet what Mandela was explaining to the Black population was incredible. He was telling the Blacks that this wasn't the opportunity to lash out against the white people who had oppressed them for centuries. I'm quite sure a lot of Black people voted for Mandela so that he would do exactly that. But Mandela knew it was power, not force that provided the ability to grant forgiveness. His higher Love for his country came before his ego.<br />
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I can only imagine the restraint Mandela must've had to exercise. The whites imprisoned him for 27 years of his life, and shattered all of his family relationships. All of this was taken away from him. Now as Prime Minister, he had the power to exact his revenge, and he chose not to do it. Furthermore he asked that if he could do it after everything that had been done to him, the Blacks should too. When Mandela was elected, the white population was terrified. It was their worst fear that Mandela would treat them with the same contempt, as they had treated the Blacks. <br />
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The same can be said of the white, patriarchal society today. It fears a feminism movement which will treat them with the same contempt they have treated Women for thousands of years. But like Mandela's choice, Women must not use the same aggressive, masculine energy that men have used to abuse their power. Instead, the divine feminine must prevail so the healing of mankind can flourish. The human experience is broken because of the aggressive masculine actions of fearful men, and it cannot be fixed with the same aggression. Only the power of Love and forgiveness can do this.<br />
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This affects the liberal mentality as well. Just as certain that the far right doesn't work, neither does the hurt and abused left wing. The governing energy needs to balance itself in the compassion and empathy of the human experience, and not take its place in the divisiveness of human identity.<br />
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Human identity is the basis for all division. It attaches one's self to a religion, a nationality, a language, a team, a political party, a skin colour, and the list goes on and on. This is the game that's endured for thousands of years. It's safe to say that if it could've worked, it would've worked.<br />
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But it hasn't.<br />
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The left can't be any more defended than the right. It now has to land on the balanced energy of left and right, black and white, feminine and masculine and it has to be anchored with Love, not fear.<br />
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So when equity and equality finally shows up, it needs to be met with compassion and understanding, not with contempt and bitterness. Just like what Lincoln said about the civil war...<br />
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"With malice toward none, with charity for all..."<br />
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<br />Chuck Bastiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726290738520110178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442492383687661768.post-84484511027127471852017-10-17T14:09:00.000-04:002017-10-17T14:09:03.216-04:00Stand or Sit for the Anthem, and I Will Support You<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This whole standing for the anthem thing has certainly snowballed. The protest started by Colin Kaepernick began to protest police brutality, and somehow along the way, it became twisted into a disrespect for the anthem, the flag and the military. It became about the morality of the protest, and how people disagree with how the protest is performed. <br />
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That's what I'd like to address today.<br />
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I come from a military family. My father served, as did both of my grandfathers. I grew up on bases my entire adolescent life. I have visited the Normandy beaches, and countless battle fields of history which turned the tide in the battle for Freedom, and what it represents. I am a Canadian, and I have tattoos of the Maple Leaf and the blood red Poppy which represents our Freedom on Remembrance Day.<br />
<br />
And I say that, to say this:<br />
<br />
Whatever you want to do, stand or sit for the national anthem, or the rising of the flag in my country, I will support your choice to do so. <br />
<br />
I will support your choice whether or not I agree or disagree with it, and I do this because I Love that I live in a country where we have that choice to do so. My Love of that choice supersedes my opinion, and it certainly overrides my belief system. <br />
<br />
To me, it is quite irrelevant as to what I believe. I'm deeply rooted as to what I believe in, and I'm crystal clear on that. And I know that I'm the only person in this world that shares all of my beliefs and morality. I don't need the world to agree with me, so what I do need is the unique ability to have people peacefully express their points of view, especially when they disagree with mine. So, protest peacefully. It's a right we have to protect us against tyrannical governments who repress the ability to have a free thinking society.<br />
<br />
The thing about protests are, they're rarely ever about the cause or reason they are protesting. The Boston Tea Party had nothing to do with dumping tea into the harbour. Rosa Parks' protest to give up her seat had nothing to do with public transportation or buses, and kneeling for the playing of the national anthem has nothing to do with disrespecting the flag, although that's the way some people want to take it. <br />
<br />
Protests are about raising awareness because our society is an ever evolving world, and we have a long way to go before we live together with equity and equality.<br />
<br />
So as the NFL supports and employs men who assault women, yet shames those who sit for the national anthem, I really have to ask myself, where is the logic there? If you are for equality, you choose Freedom for all, not just who you want it for. If you want to control what others believe in, or what you believe in, that's called tyranny, and it's the opposite of what you might be thinking it is. W<br />
In fact, what that is, is about taste, and not freedom. As an American Supreme Court Justice once said, "It's useless to argue about taste, and even more useless to litigate it."<br />
<br />
Plainly put, have your opinions. Express them if you feel the need. Then allow others to do the exact thing on a soapbox as big as yours, opposing your view at the top of their lungs for all to hear. Then listen. That sound you hear is called Freedom, and its a damn wonderful thing. It's cost millions of lives to grant it to you, so enjoy it, and allow others to do the same.<br />
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<br />Chuck Bastiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726290738520110178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442492383687661768.post-85536204755160695302017-07-31T23:06:00.002-04:002017-10-17T13:33:44.801-04:00Life Isn't About the Destination, It's About the Journey<br />
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As the sun started to set on the Danube on the Budapest skyline, reality had set in. In an ideal situation, I would have been filled with a sense of happiness. Instead, I was filled with morose disappointment. I was twenty-six years old on the greatest quest of my life, having backpacked across Europe for the past thirty days. Now I stood in a park surrounded by homeless people, without a cent to my name. All I could ask myself was, how did this happen?<br />
<br />
It's my guess that when the bottom falls out from under us and the unexpected happens, most of us ask that question, "how did this happen", before taking accountability for what's about to come. I suppose it's just human nature to feel a little self pity before the bomb drops, and I was certainly no exception to this. The feeling in my stomach could've been hunger pangs, since I hadn't eaten that entire day, but hunger was the least of my concerns. I stood there in that park with a sense of loneliness that I had never experienced in my life before, and haven't experienced since. <br />
<br />
It was about ten o'clock when the sun set and the darkness set in. I had a roll mat and my backpack beside me, yet I didn't want to lay down. To me, laying down was surrendering to the inevitable reality that I was accepting my situation instead of resisting or negotiating my way out of the mess. As soon as I laid down, I would be left with all the time in the world to think about how I landed here. That's hard time. It's the kind of time you're left with when there are no more options, and the hamster wheel in your head keeps spinning, long after the hamster has died.<br />
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Before I went to sleep, I reasoned because I had no money. Anyone who wanted to rob me wouldn't get anything. Amongst the homeless people in the bushes in that park, I somehow fell asleep. That was one of the longest nights of my life and when I was awaken by the light of day, I couldn't ascertain if my predicament was a dream, or reality. However, I felt overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude that the sun had finally come.<br />
<br />
I picked up my belongings, and walked to the train station. I passed cafe after cafe on a lazy Sunday morning just yearning for a coffee. One cup of coffee. I was in the least expensive country I'd traveled to in Hungary, and I couldn't even buy myself a simple cup of coffee. I think that's when a wall of shame hit me right between the eyes, and I broke down and cried for the first time.<br />
<br />
The one tangible asset I had was the open ended train Eurail pass I bought at the beginning of summer, which allowed me to get on and off any train in all of Europe. When I boarded the train heading west to Germany, I fell fast asleep in my empty booth, completely exhausted. I awoke about five hours later approaching Munich.<br />
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Of course, I had no idea that everything that happened to me in Budapest, the homelessness, the lack of money, no food or water for 2 days happened to put me in that seat at the time when the train pulled into the high station in Munich so that I would look out my window and meet the man that would unknowingly change my life. It took a large saving hand to rescue me from myself, and to Lovingly guide me back to where I needed to be, and not where I wanted to be. This phenomenon happens over and over until we learn the lesson we are here to master.<br />
<br />
The rest of that story is a journey in itself. But I can tell you I haven't been the same person since July 31, 1998. Looking back on it all now, I am filled with a tremendous feeling of gratitude for how it all happened, and I obviously wouldn't have changed a thing. It was the worst time of my life, which ended up being the greatest time of my life. <br />
<br />
Things happen in our lives. Significant things happen as all the moving parts of our lives interact with others who we knowingly and unknowingly connect with. I suspect that we all have a story like this in our own lives. Faces, dates and the telling of the story may change, but the lesson is still the same. It made us all into the person we are today.<br />
<br />
Because of happenstances like this, I have shifted my belief that I live inside of a kind Universe, and it has my back. Even when life is oddly disguised in a facade I don't recognize, I choose to flow and accept it as where I am supposed to be because I truly believe that it's all happening for me, and not TO me. It's my job to believe that, and move forward to do my best.<br />
<br />
I believe it was Charles Darwin who said something like, Its not the strongest that survives, nor the fittest. It is the most adaptable to change that survives. Life changes constantly. Being ahead of the change with the least amount of resistance will get you to your destination more efficiently. When you arrive at your destination, take it all in, but don't remain there. <br />
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After all, life isn't about the destination, it's about the Journey...<br />
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<br />Chuck Bastiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726290738520110178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442492383687661768.post-43857860291152796562017-02-17T12:15:00.002-05:002017-02-17T12:26:05.570-05:00We All Want Equality, or Do We?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It seems that in the past year, the US Presidential election has opened some deep wounds found in the American populace. With the aid of social media, the expansion of various forms of news media, "fake" and otherwise, the experiences of people around the world are abundant with inequality and inequity.<br />
<br />
Black people are saying, "Black Lives Matter" whilst the gay, and transgender communities still cry out for equality. Jews and Muslims are being discriminated against, as are Women, and yet the only thing that occurs to me is that these groups are only willing to support their own groups, and not support other inequalities.<br />
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That makes absolutely NO sense, whatsoever.<br />
<br />
If you want equality for your tribe, then you want it for others too. Standing up for your tribe exclusively doesn't make the world a better place, it makes your own life a better place. And the only person who cares about your life is you. But if you are truly committed to the equality of all people, take a stand for that, and then watch others start to care about yours. When you start to empathize with others, acknowledging their struggles and plight as similiar to your own, you connect through each and every story of inequality. Bigotry has the same pattern, differing in the various stories and endings. <br />
<br />
The establishment who holds power over all of us wants us to be fighting as individuals, for our own identity, tribe, race, religion, sexual preference, gender ect. This still divides us as humans, which is what they want. They don't want a united force of equality for all, regardless of classification. They want to keep humans divided because they know we are less connected and powerful that way.<br />
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I am a white, straight, male. I have certain privileges that are not afforded to others because of the way I was born. I didn't choose my skin colour, my gender or my sexual orientation. I think the greatest gift I can do for humanity is to use my privileges in a way which raises awareness that not everyone has them, instead of guarding them so nobody else can have them.<br />
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But I think part of the larger problem is that human beings have bought into their identity. Meaning, the identify with their race, religion and body. I think if people saw that they weren't a body with a soul, but a soul with a body, their perceptions would be remarkably different. Perhaps then, they wouldn't be so defensive of their body, race, or religion because they would know its simply the avatar and vehicle being used by the soul which inhabits the body the exist in. Just like you aren't the car you drive, you aren't the body you exist in. Insult my body all you want, because I know I am not the body I live in. It's simply my clown suit so my soul can experience what it's like to be human. After all, we are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spirit beings, having a human experience.<br />
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If equity and equality for all makes sense for cause, then it makes sense for ALL causes. So start standing for all equality, and not simply your own.<br />
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As always I welcome your thoughts...Chuck Bastiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726290738520110178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442492383687661768.post-26816283665149815082017-02-06T18:39:00.002-05:002017-02-06T18:39:48.368-05:00Why We Need Donald Trump to Heal the Human Divide<br />
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Brilliance is very rarely recognized in its time. Preceding Lincoln,
the US had 4 "failure" Presidents, who could not solve the slavery
issue. They appeased, instead of taking a stand like Lincoln did.
Lincoln was a man ahead of his time, but I think today, he would still
be called a racist, even if his proposed 13th amendment did free the
slaves.To Lincoln, this vote preserved the union, which was his ultimate
goal. The proposed 13th amendment was a long shot to pass, and it<span class="text_exposed_show">
barely did. Seems most white people didn't want to share their seat at
the table with Black folk, and there is still that sentiment today.</span><br />
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That was over 150 years ago. Oddly, Lincoln was not even considered a
great President during his time. Even most of his own party thought he
was a Neanderthal, a failure in marriage, business and life. He was
homely, had a "crazy" wife, and was too soft on his generals. He was
constantly compared to George Washington, and couldn't possibly live up
to the challenge. But Lincoln knew it was the first step; that others
behind him would use as a stepping stone to propel the union forward
"with malice toward none, with charity for all"<br />
<br />
Nothing is ever
perfect. Not even success in the time of "change" because progress is
never ending. Equity and equality is never ending. As long as there are
weak leaders, and people in power who lead from fear, not Love, to
oppress others, there will always be work to do.<br />
<br />
We have been
sitting on a great volcano, and some of us have been enjoying the
sunshine. Now that volcano is erupting, and those people are wondering
where the divide is coming from, who is bringing it forward, and how can
we can make it go away peacefully. Well, the divide has always been
there, and the class systems of equality are going through the same
revolutions that created our countries the way we now know them to be.
It won't go away peacefully, because the ones who hold the power don't
wish to share it. Therefore, this revolt is just beginning.<br />
<br />
Trump will be the catalyst for the beginning of this awakening. It will
get worse, before it gets better. History shows this pattern time and
time again, and human beings Love to follow patterns. So be aware of the
signs, and surround yourself with people who wish to embrace change,
tear down old paradigms, and include everyone in a stand for humanity at
its greatest hour.<br />
<br />
We are all one, we are all connected, and we
will all someday die. Yet that connection has a significant impact,
even in death.So choose to live with a dignified purpose! Include all of
those who simply want to be heard, understood, respected, accepted and
Love with all their hearts.<br />
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With malice toward none, with charity toward all...<br />
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Chuck Bastiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726290738520110178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442492383687661768.post-43641530009910077472017-01-20T10:41:00.001-05:002017-01-20T10:41:55.868-05:00Donald Trump and Inauguration Day<br />
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<br />
Donald Trump is being inaugurated today, January 20, 2017. Wow. I honestly never thought, and hoped this this day would arrive. I clung to the hopes that the electoral college would recast their votes in mid December, almost as a perverse joke they were playing on all of us watching from the world stage as a reality TV star who is only known for being wealthy and controversial, takes office of the President of the United States of America.<br />
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But here we stand, ready to welcome Donald Trump as the next President into office.<br />
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I'm not going to go on about Trump's road to the White House. He won the election, and he won it because the Divided States of America had enough of the bullshit establishment that Clinton brought to the table, sending a big Fuck You, and reclaiming their country back.<br />
<br />
But here's what I wonder. I wonder if the novelty of being POTUS will last with Donald Trump. I think we can all agree Trump has no interest in serving the American people. If he did, he would've served in ANY other capacity at any time in his life. No, Trump has always been about making money. He is geared for billions. And having the kind of power that the POTUS will open up is worth TRILLIONS.<br />
<br />
For the first time in history, Trump will become the first POTUS to become impeachable the second he takes office. He has not consolidated his vast businesses into a blind trust, which is a conflict of interest as President. He has declared himself above the law and distinct from this law. He has also not disclosed any tax return information, so we the public are completely unclear as to what he says is his net worth, and if he pays his taxes at all. Those are two very concerning pieces of information that I need the leader of my country to disclose. If Trump isn't stepping into this position from a place of trust, how can he expect the American people to trust him?<br />
<br />
Anyway, I have to say my prediction is, this is going to end in a disaster for Trump. He is simply in WAY over his head. Trump has neither the patience, compassion, empathy or will to serve the American people. I don't he makes it a year in office before the wheels invariably fall off, and America gets to see its office disgraced for the first time since Nixon resigned in the early 1970's.<br />
<br />
Perhaps Trump resigns because he simply doesn't want to be POTUS. He simply likes the idea of it, and the power it affords his frail ego. But I imagine that will inevitably end with the massive responsibility and accountability that he hasn't prepared himself for. Just the same as how I would not be prepared stepping into his real estate billionaire club and would be completely out of place in his world, so is he going to be out of place in the realm of POTUS. And that isn't something you can cram for, like a test the night before. When you add his mental illness and narcissism, it's a recipe for a catastrophe. <br />
<br />
It's simply a mathematical equation until disaster strikes his administration. I think Trump's worst fear was disguised in his greatest triumph. He thinks he proved everyone wrong, when he's really about to run the gauntlet, and have it implode on himself in a most terrifying way in manner I fear he will not recover from.<br />
<br />
We in Toronto, witnessed this first hand with the election of the late Rob Ford as mayor. As unprepared as Ford was for facing the issues in his personal life, it just added to the fire storm when the media and his critics piled on. His demons became a landslide of health issues which ultimately took his life in a very sad manner that nobody wants to see or go through. We hoped Ford would get better, but it simply was insurmountable for him.<br />
<br />
And similarly, although I wish Trump well, and hope he will prove all of his critics wrong, hope is a really poor business plan. Chuck Bastiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726290738520110178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442492383687661768.post-77251603472831031142016-11-07T22:46:00.000-05:002016-11-07T22:46:07.611-05:00Why Donald Trump Won't Win<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Actually, America WAS built on fear.</td></tr>
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Success and failure both leave clues, and so does history. History has shown this, for those who are intelligent enough to study it, it can reveal what the future will look like. <div>
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As I write this on the eve of the American election, I am hopeful that history has taught us the tragedies and repercussions of electing a poor leader. And by no means am I saying that Hillary Clinton is the answer. But in the decades of service in politics, Clinton is well-versed in being a politician. One could argue that she is a flawed politician, and that may have significant merit. However, Clinton is a politician, who has earned her way in the political ring by putting in her time and sacrifices.</div>
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However, Donald Trump has done none of these things, and has spent no time in uniform, or politics. Yet, Trump expects to walk through the process that almost every American President has in order to become President. In fact, the arrogance it takes to actually move through the past 2 years of campaigning for President knowing this, is stunning. But Donald Trump won't win. Why, you ask?</div>
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Because a <a href="https://ca.hotels.com/hotel/details.html?q-check-out=2016-11-20&q-check-in=2016-11-17&WOE=7&WOD=4&q-room-0-children=0&pa=2&tab=description&hotel-id=121707&q-room-0-adults=2&YGF=7&MGT=3&ZSX=0&SYE=3">demagogue</a> never wins.</div>
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Germany had <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Hitler">Hitler</a>. Toronto, Canada had it's mayor, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Ford">Rob Ford</a>. The United States had Senator, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_McCarthy">Joe McCarthy</a>, and now, Donald Trump. But although these demagogue leaders won elections, they eventually lost. The reason being, is the path of the demagogue is one that is filled with resistance, stress, and negative energy. This eventually takes a massive toll on the individual, and can end up causing serious health issues and even death. It simply takes too much energy to expand and maintain their hate and fear driven platforms. </div>
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So tomorrow, on November the 8th, 2016, my prediction is Hillary Clinton will win the election, and Donald Trump will be the loser. Trump won't win the election, and he and his brand will lose viability in business moving forward. In fact, one of the only things Donald Trump will teach us is to reveal exactly how divided the United States really is, and always has been. Trump just spent 2 years opening up many layers of the onion. Social media exploited it in an attempt to raise the awareness that racism, sexism, bigotry, nationalist pride and ignorance is still running rampant in 2016 in the United States of America. My prediction is, this will be the end of the Republican party as we knew it. Moving forward, the GOP will need to be a much more progressive, united party or they will pass into the history books. </div>
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But do I think that Hillary Clinton will fix these issues? No. But I believe, that the ignorance and divides with Trump at the helm will only make the world a worse place to live. And at the end of the day, the world has had many corrupted politicians and survived. But a demagogue like Trump ruins countries forever. </div>
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Just ask anyone who has grown up in Germany in the last 70 years...</div>
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Chuck Bastiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726290738520110178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442492383687661768.post-29782749444971469772016-11-03T18:41:00.001-04:002016-11-03T18:41:30.235-04:00The Chicago Cubs, Steve Bartman and Scapegoats<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Finally, the curse of the goat has been lifted! The Chicago Cubs are World Series champions for the first since since horse and cart were the mode of transportation back in 1908. That's an awfully long time in between championships, so much so that the lowly Toronto Maple Leafs don't even rank on the top 10 list of teams with lengthy championship droughts. Wow!<br />
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But just like the curse of the Bambino was lifted by the Boston Red Sox, the Chicago Cubs have endured the curse of the goat. During the Red Sox World Series in 1986, they had a scapegoat in first baseman, Bill Buckner, whose game 6 error enabled the New York Mets to win the game, before going on to win the next game and win the World Series. You can watch the game 6 clip here:<br />
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Even though the Red Sox blew the game 6 lead on a wild pitch to set up Buckner's error, or the fact that the Red Sox blew a 3 run lead in game 7 to lose the World Series, it was Buckner's error in game 6 that most bitter Red Sox fans lay blame to. From 1986 to the day the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004, Bill Buckner was a hated man in Boston. After the Red Sox won the World Series to clear the curse of the Bambino, Red Sox fans came out with mantras of forgiving Bill Buckner. Yet, it should be Bill Buckner forgiving Red Sox fans, not vice versa.<br />
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Similarly in Chicago, a fan by the name of Steve Bartman became the scapegoat for the Chicago Cubs in 2003. I imagine Bartman cried harder than he had ever cried in his life when The Cubs won the World Series last night, out of pure relief. The peace of mind that Steve Bartman must have now is the stuff that magic is made of.<br />
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Imagine not even being a player, and having the entire city of Chicago hate you for what happened for being a fan foul territory going after a ball. Rather than explain it here, you can feel free to watch the clip if you don't know the story.<br />
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Bill Buckner did not cause The Red Sox to lose the World Series in 1986, yet he was blamed for it. Steve Bartman did not cause The Cubs to lose the game or NLCS against Florida, yet he was blamed for it.<br />
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And that's where I see the similarity in the shifting of energy. The projection of fear mongering and blame creates the scapegoat. Whether that's used like an unabashed <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demagogue">demagogue</a> like Donald Trump, or in the stories I've shared here, people seem to want someone to blame for their lot in life. It's easy to target a Buckner, or a Bartman and not look at any of the events before or after them to realize it wasn't the fatal moment people have made it out to be. In both cases, there were player errors, and game 7's that were squandered.<br />
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But if you live amongst bitter people who are looking to blame others in an attempt to not look deeper at the real cause or accountability, it looks like more of the same. When I see someone like Donald Trump running a campaign in a similar fashion by telling people who's to blame for their lot in life, rather than addressing the root cause issues, it's an easy pattern to spot.<br />
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The people who want a scapegoat do so because it's the easiest way to avoid accountability. Perhaps if we cease laying blame on unnecessary sources, we can be focused on what to do moving forward, instead of wasting energy on faulting others for the world not being the way we want it to be.<br />
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In the meantime, it's people like Bill Buckner and Steve Bartman who should be the ones to forgive others for how they've shamefully been treated. Now that both the Sox and the Cubs have won World Series, and lifted their respective curses, maybe the healing can begin.<br />
<br />Chuck Bastiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726290738520110178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442492383687661768.post-85844174918752114652016-10-28T07:33:00.001-04:002016-10-28T07:33:35.431-04:00The Days That Are Gone Forever<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My childhood best friend's mother passed away suddenly, 8 years ago, and I wrote this note. Her death completely changed my life in so many ways. Perhaps I was naive to think that it wouldn't, but I wasn't prepared for how my life took a right turn after a loss so great. I've re-read this blog, and decided to re-post it because I think we all get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, and sometimes, we need a gentle reminder to slow down and smell the flowers.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Even though it is more than half my life ago, I can remember special times with special people. I can remember the small things that make it like a movie in my head that can be replayed time and again. Even with all the booze trying to destroy my brain cells, I can still recall some pretty funny shit. This stuff only comes in handy these days in small doses like weddings, birthdays, campfires, and of course funerals. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">There is almost never a time that we do what we should've done, looking back in retrospect. We have these things called JOBS, careers, kids, wives, husbands and they take up all the time we were used to having as a kid. The life we were used to as a kid has had to be replaced with a life of no time in order to build up our nest egg to support our new life, kids, wives ect. So we sacrifice the relationships that we once devoted ourselves to in order to make time for our new life. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Not many people make a big deal about it, because they are generally doing the same thing themselves and they don't notice. Months turn into years and we all lose touch slowly until a funeral comes around. We say our pleasantries that day, make fake and unrealistic comments like, "we'll have to get together soon" but both people realize that this comment is a polite way of saying, "We just don't have the time anymore, but it was good to see you again" </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Just like good little North Americans do. We work and slave and sacrifice to be bigger and better. I think European and Latin American lifestyles have it right and we are wired wrong. They enjoy relationships and living life, whereas we promote work and material possessions. And of course, everyone knows about this thing called DEATH, but we all think we are smarter than it is and are always content on trying to cheat it. But guess who wins this? </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I wish that we were constantly reminding ourselves about the things in life that really matter. Friendships, amongst the most that I value in my life. Family, which supports and loves us. Jobs sustain us, but love passion, fun....These are the things that make us. I would rather be poor and love with passion, than be rich in a mansion with no one to share it with. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Touch somebody's life today. It may not be there much longer, and live each day like this....</span>Chuck Bastiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726290738520110178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442492383687661768.post-37898520563257559102016-10-24T12:47:00.001-04:002016-10-24T12:47:31.119-04:00You're Not Who You Think You Are<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Imagine you are at a costume store because Halloween is coming up. You've been invited to this massive party, and EVERYONE is going to be there wearing a costume. So, a week before, you choose your costume, and then wait for the big day. Let's call it your birthday ;)<br />
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Then the big day comes! You head to the party, and of course, nobody recognizes you. So you begin having conversations. Perhaps these conversations begin based of your respective costumes. But slowly, you begin to see that people interact with you based on your costume. You attract a certain type of tribe because they relate to you as if you ARE the costume you are wearing. Commonality breeds acceptance and comfort, right? But are you the costume that you are wearing? Well, that's absurd. It's simply a costume, an avatar, a role playing experiment for the party, right?<br />
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So what would happen the next day if you woke up from the Halloween party, and you couldn't take off the suit; you're actually stuck with the costume for the rest of your life! What if I was always destined to look like this?<br />
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Welcome to the world of being human.<br />
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You see, I'm not the costume I am wearing. The costume I'm stuck with (for this life) looks like a white guy with curly hair, blue eyes, stands about 5'8 tall, and goes by the name of Chuck Bastie. These have been some of the traits to my identity, none of which, I chose. In fact, because of these traits, I have been teased for being too short, having bad hair, and the list goes on and on. When I actually believed that I was the body I resided in, this teasing hurt my feelings. They caused me to feel badly, and bruised my ego. It caused me to feel unaccepted, and an outsider. Then came a new perspective, which changed my view of who I thought I was:<br />
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I am not the body I reside in.<br />
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Just like being the driver in a car I lease every 4 years, I am not the car I drive. I don't relate to myself as the car I lease, but rather the soul who drives it.<br />
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Souls are NOT human. They don't have gender, race, skin colour, religious beliefs, or sexuality. Just like water, a soul takes on the form it's placed in. And this time around, I was placed in a vessel which looks like what I see in the mirror. And when this body gets tired or dies, I will leave this body, and people will say, I died. But "I" will live onward. The shape of what I will look like is yet to be determined. However I believe I am not the body I used for this time on earth. That body was simply a vehicle. I understand to not get attached as if it were "me", because I am so much more than the body I reside in.<br />
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So if someone called you a name which reflected the costume you were wearing, wouldn't it be silly to react as if you were that costume? This is a manner in which I can release my identity, and not take things personally. So if anyone calls you a racist or sexist slur, you can laugh at them for believing you are what they see you as.<br />
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In fact, this is how I look at every human being. Most people actually think they are the costume they are wearing. They take things personally, and become really significant about their identity. But I think the most workable way of looking at this is to release the thought that you actually are, what you've been born as.<br />
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Imagine if everyone adapted this as their belief system. There wouldn't be any racism, sexual discrimination, or religious wars. We would all understand that we're all connected as the same particles of star dust, appearing in different roles life after life, using the experiences we encounter to develop the character we need to move on to our next grand entrance.<br />
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Now, I'm quite sure that this theory of mine isn't true. But neither is the one I was taught. And if I'm going to believe a mis-truth, I'm certainly going to choose one that works better. And the story I was taught about heaven and hell, religion and identities, is a shitty version with a horrific result. So I'm changing it. I'm changing it to view each and every person as the driver, or soul inside of the costume they are wearing, and honouring them as such. I'm not going to relate to them as to what my eyes see, but rather what their character demonstrates.<br />
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And anyone else who wants to live their lives differently is welcomed to it. I just know that my life has more acceptance for people without the limitations, and labels we put on them. I think I had it ass backwards.<br />
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Instead of treating people in this manner, I think the biggest compliment you can give someone is connecting to their soul, not to the body which drives it.<br />
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<br />Chuck Bastiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726290738520110178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442492383687661768.post-35655473262317729372016-07-11T16:47:00.000-04:002016-07-11T16:47:11.724-04:00Being Racially Colour Blind<br />
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The simple fact is, the perspective of “different” scares
most people. </div>
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People Love familiarity because it’s what they know. They
Love it so much that people can exist inside of poor choices or circumstances,
but if it’s what they know or have familiarity in, they develop coping
mechanisms to exists inside of it, and continue with that circumstance as its
partner. Wow, powerful stuff...</div>
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As human beings, we are all part of the same race. The human
race is the most intelligent collection of living souls on this planet. Yet
despite being as intelligent as we sometimes are, our fears impede us from
connecting more fluidly, and easily to each other in solidarity. We need proof
or evidence to create what is safe, and what is not safe. We learn to trust our
senses from what we see. Yet our eyes can deceive us from perceiving what is
real, and what’s an illusion. We judge and assess to make meaning of our
environment, and in doing so, we deceive ourselves from what our truth is. </div>
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Rather than seeing ourselves as whole human beings, our
insecurities can divide us to create distinctions and differences. We are so
fearful that we are not worthy enough, we create the perception that someone or
something is not what we are. Our identity kicks in like a survival mechanism,
and because that something is not what we are, we make it wrong, weird or
different. We defend our own identity, ideas, and beliefs as if they were
absolute truth. But in truth, there are mis-truths. Yet out of almost nine
billion people in the world, we are unique. There is nobody else
exactly like us. So literally everybody is going to be different from us, and
we can spend our entire lives seeking familiarity, and avoiding difference.</div>
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So we cling to the likened or familiar. We call them tribes,
countries, race, conservative, liberal, Black, white, gay, straight, and the
list goes on. We associate with these traits as if they were real and
significant because we feel it’s what defines us. Yet all of
these traits are ego-gratifying and irrelevant. They actually divide us, not
unite us. We can be so attached to these traits that we might not accept others if
they aren't. And this is the great divide. </div>
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Rather than seeing ours bodies as vehicles for the souls who
drive them, we seem to confuse ourselves as if we were the vehicle, and not the
driver. We put our emphasis on being the car, instead of being it's driver. We relate to people as being the car we are driving. I'm clear that I
am not the car I am driving in this life. It's simply a vehicle to
get my soul to where it needs to go whilst having a human experience. My
vehicle is not me, and I am not my vehicle. </div>
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So I'm not attached or significant
about my skin colour, or my eye colour, or my height, or any other trait that I
was born with. To a greater degree, I can control my body type, or my knowledge,
or whatever I can input into my vehicle, but this still doesn't define me. Releasing
the notion that I am what my body is, makes me less defensive, and less
attached. I do my best listening, connecting and growth when I’m open, and not
defensive.</div>
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What does defines me is my character. And my character is not a
colour, or a tribe, or a gender or a sexual preference. So forgive me if I
choose not to look at somebody, and assess them as their skin suit at the
costume party of life. Souls wear costumes, but we are not the costume we are
wearing. We are so much more than that, and I for one, will not assess another
for the kind of suit they are wearing. I will assess souls for their character because anything
less than that is irrelevant to me. </div>
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So if I say I don't see colour, or race, or sexuality, I think it's a step forward for humanity, and not backwards. It means I accept you as a soul looking at you from another perspective, away from the identity of what society has called me, and divided you and I on. It means I don't define you as what your skin suits looks like, because it's simply a vehicle your soul is using to connect to me. </div>
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<span style="line-height: 100%;">Because in the end, the common link of this energy that binds us, is we are all spirit beings having a human experience.</span></div>
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Chuck Bastiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726290738520110178noreply@blogger.com0