God's Midnight Meadow

 I'm walking through a green field in my dream. The grass is above my waist and it is wet. It's the middle of the night, the sky a velvet black. I walk slowly, and glide my hand over the top of the grass. All I see is the glistening green, and the comforting darkness. I am at peace. There are no sounds, just the wisk of my hand, brushing the grass, and the soft sqealch of my shoes on the dark, damp soil.
            
         I have no destination, no goal. There is just me and You, God.

I walk, and I walk, and I walk. There is no rush, no hurry, no schedule to abide by. Instead I abide in You. This heart of mine, this heart of darkness, is serene. I like the darkness, and You are there.

  I hear Your whisper, Your soft voice is the only sound, and as You speak, it is music to my soul. I find comfort in the night, when it's just me and You. When everybody is dead to the world, and the Sun slumbers. When the Moon glows and the stars, the stars decorate the sky like pin pricks in black mattee.

  My soul is midnight, yet You are the light. My sin is slowly dripping oil, yet You absorbed it with Your blood. I taste the dew of the meadow, and it is sweet. I am soaked in your grace.

 I walk through this field, through this wet grass, through this black night, through my deep dream. I walk alone, but You are there. I'm by myself, but You are by my side. I walk for so long, so long, and then I walk into You.

  You've waited for me and You will wait for everyone at their own pace, in their own place.
My place is the night, the dark, the blackness, but instead of dispair, there is hope. Instead of death, there is life, and instead of misery, there is joy.

      You are the light in my night, the small flicker of flame, the candle in the dark room.

For in this gloom, it's just me and You...and I am at peace.

Jericho: A Loving God or A Ruthless Killer?

            It started with a documentary on Netflix. An archaeologist set to find the city of Jericho of Biblical fame. He discovered a site which after excavating provided a wealth of evidence supporting the story. Most people know it. God commanded the Israelites to march around the city for seven days, and on the seventh day, seven times. Then with a great shout and blowing of horns, the walls collapsed and Jericho fell. That's as far the story goes, at least in the Children's Bible.
            The truth is that it was a wholesale massacre. Man, women, child, animal put to death at the edge of the sword. Then the city was burned. No survivors, except for a prostitute and her family.
             I hadn't read the story for quite a while, but I remembered the basic details. What the documentary brought to light and after reading it again, was the slaughter which followed the miraculous victory.
            Many Christians nowadays, particularly new ones, are taught almost completely from the New Testament. The Old Testament is viewed often as irrelevant, and too challenging for young faith to explore. After all we are living under the new covenant. Jesus died for our sins because a gracious God loves us. This God to many is also a pacifist. Violence simply does not compute, and turn the other cheek is the golden standard. Treat others as you yourself want to be treated.
          That is not the whole story. It is a half truth.
The first thought that popped in my head while I was trying to rationalize the Old Testament God with the New Testament was this: We were all born with a death sentence. Every man, woman, and child is on death row. The crime is sin.
          God hasn't changed. He is the same loving God from the beginning to now. He is also a vengeful, violent God. The subject of that wrath is and always will be sin.
          The Old Testament is full of God's judgement and wrath, especially against His own people. Many people read that and that's it for them. Sorry, they say, I can't believe in a God who would inflict that kind of violence on men.
           The truth is much more than that stumbling block though. If you can get past that, you'll find a wealth of evidence pointing to a gracious, loving, Old Testament God.
            Isn't it interesting that the survivor of the Jericho massacre was a prostitute? A harlot who would go onto to be a part of Jesus' family tree. The world's view of prostitutes hasn't changed. They exist on the outskirts of acceptable society. Outcasts and broken, shameful women. Jesus loved prostitutes, He'd rather hang out with them than with Pharisees, the so called righteous ones.
           When God told Abraham He was going to destroy Sodom for its sin, Abraham pleaded on the city's behalf. God listened. Judgement followed, yet God allowed an incredible amount of leeway on the small chance that such a wicked city could be spared.
             (Another interesting fact which most people miss about the story of Sodom is this. Lot and his daughters survived while their husbands and Lot's wife perished. Faced with a childless future, which for women back then was a fate worse than death, the two daughters got their father drunk and impregnated themselves through him. One of the boys born was Moab, who was the ancestor of the Moabites, Ruth, from the book of Ruth, was a Moabite, and also part Jesus' family tree.)
           Why did God command that every one in Jericho be killed though? The Bible doesn't say it was a particularly wicked city. Not on Sodom's level of debauchery. There is a clue, however. Joshua 6:18 reads: " And you, by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it." Now you could read different things into that, but my interpretation is this: Curses are not be messed around with. If you invoke a curse, the consequences are and can be deadly on a physical and spiritual level. For whatever reason, Jericho was cursed, and the only way to deal with a curse is complete and total annihilation, lest it corrupts you. This is applies to Christians on a personal and corporate level. God did not stop being an Old Testament God when it came to Christ either. When Jesus died on the cross, He was cursed...with all the accumulative sins of mankind, past, present, and future. The only way to break a curse is to kill it, so Christ died and the curse of sin along with Him. Jericho in my mind is a representation of that.
           If you still struggle with the dichotomy of the vengeful, violent God and the loving, gracious one, let me conclude with God explaining Himself in His own words.
              Deuteronomy 32: 39-43
"I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand. For I raise My hand to heaven, and I say, as I live forever, if I whet My glittering sword, and My hand takes hold on judgement, I will render vengeance to My enemies, and repay those who hate Me. I will make My arrows drunk with blood, and My sword shall devour flesh, with the blood of the slain and the captives, from the heads of the leaders of the enemy."  Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people; for He will avenge the blood of His servants, and render vengeance to His adversaries; He will provide atonement for His land and His people.
                 Two words jump out at me. Gentiles and atonement. Gentiles = Us, and atonement = Christ.
                 I serve a loving, vengeful, atoning, violent God who delivers a lethal blow to wickedness and evil, and delivers and heals us.

Elections: Why it's a Giant Sham

            Okay, here's the thing. Come the fallout on election day, whichever party manages to grab the reigns will be equally vilified and praised, and the fault and credit will be given to Canada's election system. For example, say the NDP grab a majority government. Supporters will be jubilant and at the same time say, "Oh, I'm not surprised. We were due for a change and...the people have spoken. On the flip side, say the Conservatives manage to prevail against the Orange Crush. The lefties will be crushed, and the following will be pronounced: our election system is past time for an overhaul. The results are rigged and once again Western Canada has been left out in the cold, while the East has decided for us.
            For a democratic process that technically is supposed to be fair and be the voice of the people, this is incredibly unfair and distinctly biased. If the vote swings our way, everything is good, if not...well, bring out the torches and pitchforks because it's witch hunting time.
             Consider this, each party in the running spends millions upon millions of dollars to essentially buy your vote. Call it capitalistic democracy. Every dirty trick is pulled out, every dirty secret is dug up on candidates, and mud slinging is du jour.
              Oh, and the promises, the fucking promises. Politicians are literally bending over backwards to sate the public appetite for what the government if elected can do for you. The sky is the limit, no promise is too big. In fact, the bigger, the better. National fifteen dollar a day daycare. Sure, I can do that with one hand tied behind my back and still balance the budget. It's only a few billion dollars. No sweat. Why don't you just take the cash straight from our wallets, while you're at it, because bet my bottom dollar, taxes will go through the stratosphere.
                Not to single out the NDP, because each party is guilty of pandering.
The Syrian refugee crisis has each party trying to outbid each other in how many refugees will be admitted if elected. It's an auction, folks, and the highest bidder walks away with the most votes.
               Drawing straws or putting our little pieces of paper in a hat is more honest than the joke which is our election. People are notoriously fickle, finicky and flat out fatuous. The average person on the street doesn't care who is in charge or whether the government is Left or Right, as long as their every day life isn't overly disrupted or affected. A lot of people would actually be hard pressed to name the current Prime Minister. Stephen Who? Which is why political rallies aren't held for the great unwashed masses, but rather handpicked and vetted, hardcore party supporters.
                Election ads aim for the lowest common denominator. They aren't aimed at party faithful who already know who they'll vote for without fail, but rather to spark the slightest interest in a general cause, a sound bite, a topical issue that will appeal to everybody. It's a numbers game, and the target audience are the undecided and the unknowledgeable. What shiny toy can they dangle in front of the people to get the most bums in the seats.
                 The media: the politicians best friend and worst enemy. Oh, you better believe the press have a stake in the election. Their tool. Polls. Let me be clear, (Harper's favorite phrase by the way) people will say anything when quizzed on the phone about their political preference, if only to get back to dinner as quickly as possible and off the line. Polls aren't worth the paper they're printed on, and yet the media will use poll results to shape a narrative which best suits their interests. If the mainstream media wants Harper ousted, then they'll do their best to make it happen. You can find plenty of articles for and against Harper on the web, but to find a truly unbiased, factual article on the current government and the opposition, well I say, good luck!
                    So on election day, vote if you must but keep this in mind: vote with your heart, not your head, because the garbage that is spewed out on a daily basis will not do you an ounce of good.
                
              

Pride Parade Show & Tell

Dauntless

god struggled as a child
to color within the lines
then realized creativity
knew no bounds
and loved it all

          - Harriet Tecumsah Watt

  

I've been thinking about the Vancouver Pride parade frequently this past week or so. This year's controversy was the banning of the Liberal party from attending by parade organizers for refusing to update BC's human rights code regarding transgender people. That itself is a whole 'nother can of worms I'm not going to delve into. What I will address though is the irony this has presented. That a parade priding itself on inclusiveness, equality, freedom & nonpartisanship engaged in such a pointedly political action was revealing. Beneath the sunshine, rainbows, and happy dances there are and always have been agendas at play. 

Another peek behind the curtain has brought to light how commercialized the parade has become. Big name companies vie for top spot in the procession, one of the biggest being TD bank. Securing a float is expensive but the benefits are priceless. Showing that your company is supportive of the LGBT community is solid street cred and the advertising is a bonus. It's easy to be cynical, money talks, however I understand the vetting process is designed to weed out soulless corporations and endorse the ones who genuinely back the movement.

 I, myself have never attended the Pride Parade. The reasons have differed over the years, ranging from intolerance to cautious acceptance chased with an unwillingness to throw my hat in quite yet.

 There is a difference to me in personally knowing a few Gay people to buying into the whole kit and kaboodle.

I applaud the bravery of the people on the front lines, the ones fighting for and caring for the disenfranchised, the kids who are scared and confused about their sexuality, the ones who face discrimination, taunting and physical violence. I respect the artists, musicians, the flamboyant and ones bursting with life, creativity and joy. They are people and regardless of sexual preference, God loves them all.

What I can't and won't support are the power plays that usually happen behind the scenes but every once in a while are exposed. It isn't pretty. There are people who use the Pride movement for one purpose. Power. Political machinations in education and religion are insidious and presented as being for the good of the people. Before I start sounding too conspiracy theorist though, let me say this: A grassroots, community oriented movement is one thing, a powerful, political lobby with ulterior motives is another and one that immediately sends up red flags. It can be applied to any organization, not just the LGBT. From what I've observed these past couple of weeks however is that Vancouver Pride parade is starting to show cracks beneath its bouncy exterior. The paint is starting to peel and I don't like what I see underneath.

Wedding Receptions...Time for a Revolution

   I have a beef with wedding receptions...before I start though, this is not a direct criticism of the one I attended last night. I wish that couple the best and enjoyed myself despite my qualms. No, this is more of a general overview of what I find disagreeable with receptions.

   To begin with the most enjoyable reception I've ever attended was one in Trail, BC. It was held outdoors, under canopies and with picnic tables. There was over two dozen pies, a whole pig roast and plenty of beer. It had a redneck atmosphere, and it was completely informal, fun and a night nobody wanted to end.

  The majority of receptions I've attended follow the same script however. Formal dress, designated tables, buffet style with one table which gets first dibs, usually the head table, (this is a two fold complaint) speeches, open mike (which can be great or terrible, more on that later. Kudos to the reception last night for declining open mike) Slide show (no complaints, actually) dessert, and dancing, (I'm not a dancer).

   I don't dress up that often. When I do, I look good though, believe me. For weddings, funerals and other formal events it's fine. However for a reception which should ostensibly be a party, I feel overdressed and awkward and usually get food on my suit. That is why I partially dressed down for the reception last night, keeping the pants and shoes but opting for a long sleeved pullover and hoodie. I still looked good but felt much more comfortable. If receptions were more casual starting with dress I think they'd be infinitely more enjoyable, and people would feel more comfortable and at ease.

   It has become an unfortunate routine that no matter how many receptions I attend, I without fail end up at the last table in line for the buffet. Sometimes that means most of the food is gone by the time I arrive for the more casual buffets. Thankfully that was not case last night, also I was second to last so...score? One reception in particular, I think the MC who was in charge of choosing tables to go up was spiting me by choosing my table to go last, it was that obvious. Now those of you reading this may say I've never had that problem and have always had the good fortune to be one of the first up for food. You lucky son of gun. Yes, I take this fairly personally after a while but more in general, I think the whole table lottery is simply an unfair tradition with somebody always losing out.

    The alternative is what I had for my reception and the awesome one in Trail. Simply no designated tables, just a table or two of food and everybody just forms a line. Believe it or not, it does not end up in mass chaos. To make it work in a more formal setting, I suggest that prior to eating there should just be general milling and socialization with nobody forced to sit at a certain table. When the time is ready for food people can choose to continue socializing or form a line and sit with whomever they've struck up a conversation with rather than that awkward, "Oh, it looks like I should go back to my table...sorry, talk later?" This system works for church lunches, so why the heck can't it work for receptions.

     The head table. I have a problem with this setup. First of all it gives the reception that atmosphere of a medieval feast with the royalty seated high above the commoners. It is an artificial feeling of partition, and in most cases it feels like you're breaching protocol by even approaching the head table. One reception I was at broke that down by inviting guests up to play Rock Paper Scissors with the bride and groom. That was fun.

     The groom in particular last night made an effort to socialize with the tables and that was appreciated, but often it feels at most receptions that the limited time you have with the couple of honor is too short, stilted and just more awkward than your normal interactions with them. Half the time I never know what to say and in a more casual setting like Trail, socialization with the bride and groom doesn't feel forced or constrained.

       Open mike. In some cases it works great to break down formality and is a barrel of laughs. It other cases it can just be bad. For example, one reception I was at, the open mike turned into a roast of the groom. It was merciless and embarrassing. Other times, people can be lengthy, melodramatic, unfiltered, and frankly boring. In its defense, I've witnessed and participated in some great open mike, so really it's a toss up. I guess it should be up the discretion of the bride and groom and come with a warning label.

     Dessert. Awesome. That's all I have to say.

Dancing. Now I'm not saying receptions should do away with dancing. Lots of people love it and it truly gives a formal setting a party atmosphere. This is more of a pet peeve in that I have two left feet and feel incredibly awkward dancing. Get me in a mosh pit or in my living room and it's a different story. I will say this though. There is always a segment of the guests at receptions who will feel left out during dancing, mainly singles whom don't have the gumption to get up and join the fray without a partner. I've been on both sides of the coin and it was pure torture as a single honestly. As a married man, I've danced a few times with my wife but neither she or I are dancers.

      At my reception we had line dancing. It was great for two reasons. One, it was inclusive and not couples only. Two it was structured in such a way so that anybody could participate, good dancer or not. The two points kind of overlap, but the point being is that it was simply a ton of fun.

     In conclusion, the ideal reception in my mind is an outdoor (not always possible, but ideal) casual affair structured like a church lunch or school BBQ with plenty of food, plenty of time to socialize and no artificial barriers between the bride, groom and guests. A little bit of redneck spirit never hurts either, ;-).

Horror Movie Reality

           How open are you to the supernatural? After watching the Conjuring, reported to be the scariest movie since the Exorcist, that subject is fresh on my mind. I didn't jump, scream or even feel that scared while watching the movie, perhaps because I've always known that the demonic element presented in the movie exists. In a nutshell, the movie is based on a reported haunting of a house in the '70's where a family was terrified by the spirit of a witch among others.
        There are four notable experiences in my life in which I've encountered and sensed the demonic. The first time was when we had a long term student from Taiwan stay with my family with the homestay program for foreign students. His brother had arrived from Taiwan and they were sharing a room. I was  in the room watching them play video games and I physically felt a spiritual presence in the room of a dark, evil nature. I could actually visualize the presence standing beside me behind the couch. A tall, heavy shadow. Needless to say, I left the room promptly. Yet I wasn't scared. I just knew I needed to leave.
         The second incident I recall clearly was in the middle of the night when I awoke to a crushing pressure on my windpipe. It felt like an arm was pressing down on my throat. I sensed a physical presence yet did not see it. I called out the name of Jesus and it was if the presence was abruptly pulled away.
         The third time was when I was experiencing anxiety attacks and depression. I was at the time very aware of when a certain mood would come upon me like a blanket. On this one occasion, I felt this mood falling on me and I actually physically pushed it away and off with a simple jerk of my shoulders. It didn't come back. At the time I was quite spiritually sensitive, and I've never experienced anything quite like that again.
         The fourth time was when I was walking to our vehicle with my wife and son, and this women came up to me and didn't say anything other than give a wide, creepy smile. I could see without a word of lie, that there was demon in this women just staring at me and grinning. I've never experienced that before then or after, and I know what I saw.
         Now depending on your belief or lack of in the supernatural, you can either believe me or write me off. Many people who saw the movie the Conjuring wouldn't have considered it as anything but a good horror movie and nothing more. The plot its self was highly dramatized and written to make people jump, but the element of truth in the movie was clear to me though sadly missed by most.
        If you are inclined to believe me, keep this in mind. No matter how powerful, evil or frightening the Darkness makes its self out to be, it will always be in submission to Jesus. Keeping a clear head, acknowledging the reality of the supernatural and knowing who is in control will diminish whatever hold the Darkness has.
       So the next time you watch a horror movie, keep this in mind. There may be a bit of truth hidden for the discerning viewer. It's up to you to see it or dismiss it.

Sex, Lies and...Weed

    I've been thinking a lot about current events lately. During my hours driving as a courier I've been tuning into AM 980 CKNW, Vancouver's News and Talk station. Three major topics have been dominating the discussion on the airwaves. Vancouver council's decision to regulate the over ninety medical marijuana dispensaries in the city proper, a direct affront to the Feds.  Two, the landmark Supreme Court ruling in the US of A legalizing gay marriage in all fifty states, and three, the Provincial government's scandalous firing of eight independent drug researchers three years ago which is now coming back to haunt them.

   I'll tackle the huge news about gay marriage first. I wrote a piece a while ago about my view on same sex unions [https://www.facebook.com/notes/daniel-conchie/god-is-my-judge-christians-and-gay-marriage/10153073681769079?pnref=lhc] and my opinion hasn't changed. What is interesting is seeing the wide array of reactions on social media.

  There is obvious joy and celebration, and general exuberance. A sense of vindication, if you will. I appreciate the fact that so many gay couples feel liberated and I can't help but feel happy for them. On the flip side is the sense of disappointment, moral outrage, and defeat felt by many conservative christians, Republicans and anti - gay activists. I can relate to that too since I was raised in that school of thought. Marriage is between a man and woman, homosexuality is a sin, and Christians are grieving on God's behalf as this is yet one more indication that the world is going to hell.

  My point of view is this: There are gay couples who genuinely love each other, have been in a relationship for years and have just been waiting, hoping, for a legal precedent to affirm their relationship. This is their day and I share their joy. There are also christians, who genuinely believe that God says that homosexuality is an abomination and yet are loving, gracious people who don't treat gays as second class citizens, respect them as people and yet firmly believe that they are living in sin. This ruling breaks their hearts, and I sympathize with them.

  On the opposite side of the fence now are the vindictive, militant, thin skinned, close minded gay activists who see this as just one more step to world domination. I may be hyperbolizing just a little but the fact is there are many such people out there who if not completely, certainly come close to meeting that description. The same can be applied to the extreme right, notably Westboro Baptist. These sorry excuses for human beings have nothing but hate in their hearts and on their minds, and will only believe justice is done when every single homosexual is roasting in hell.

  It may appear that I am of two minds about this, and that could be true. However, I see that the world is changing for better or for worse depending on your point of view and as a christian, the best thing I can do is not go out kicking and screaming but rather stay true to myself and my faith, and abide by Christ's greatest rule. LOVE. IF YOU STICK TO THAT ONE RULE, EVERYTHING WILL FALL INTO PLACE.

    As Ellen Degeneres tweeted: Love won.

                ....AND LOVE WILL WIN.

                                            __________________________

   Changing topics now, let's explore this marijuana kerfuffle. Bruce Allen said it best on his Reality Check bit on CKNW. I'm paraphrasing...the fact that there are over ninety medical pot shops in Vancouver is ridiculous. There isn't a need for that many and there is an excess of supply vs. demand.

   Bruce is in favor of medical marijuana, and believes that the city is doing the right thing in regulating it if only to weed out the less reputable dispensaries only in it for the money.

  Another point of view expressed by Sean Leslie is that visitors to Van City could be forgiven for believing that pot is legal here when it is still a nationally banned controlled substance. The VPD aren't going to arrest anyone for smoking a joint and generally turn a blind eye to the dispensaries except in cases of public safety being compromised. As he said, marijuana is in de facto legal in Vancouver.

   I admit I've smoked a few joints in my time and huffed on a bong. The two fold results of that experimentation were that it didn't do anything for me ninety percent of the time and I became very paranoid one evening, an experience I don't wish to repeat. I couldn't care less for recreational pot nowadays and believe getting high is just a big, dumb waste of time.

   The therapeutic benefits of pot for people suffering from cancer, seizures, anxiety attacks and terminal pain are documented however and nothing to laugh at. When comparing a joint to many medications out there with a shit load of fucking nasty side effects, and the only side effect of weed is drifting off blissfully into a haze of relief, I find it hard to argue against it.

    Rona Ambrose, the Federal Health Minister would disagree however. In short, she's expressed deep disappointment with Vancouver city council for in effect condoning an illegal substance and has given repeated calls to the VPD to enforce the law and bust all these dispensaries littering the landscape. The police refuse to listen to her and the majority of opinions expressed about Ms. Ambrose and by extension the Federal Government are as follows: Wake up, you're out of touch, you have nice hair but nothing underneath, it's impossible to have an adult conversation with the Feds about drugs, the world is changing but they are hopelessly out of step and they are oblivious to the realities of BC, Vancouver in particular.

    I can just picture Harper and his close associates discussing the debacle and saying, "Geez, what a pain in the ass BC is being. The majority of Canada agrees with our hardline approach to drugs, and we're not going to lose any votes on the issue, but pothead Vancouver is flouting a sensible law and in effect giving us the finger. Can't we just march in and quash this irritating rebellion?"

   Now just to be clear I am not a pot advocate. I don't smoke it, and dislike its skunky smell. I do believe though that are real benefits to medicinal pot and that the Harper government should start thinking outside of the box and seriously consider treating this issue differently, because it sure as heck isn't going away and with it already legal in Washington and Colorado its only a matter of time before the rest of the dominos start to collapse.

                                    ____________________________________

   Finally a story that quite literally gives me a chill about the Provincial government. Three years ago, eight researchers conducting tests on prescription medicines were summarily suspended, interrogated and fired all because of a suspected data breach. The people targeted were highly professional, experienced, intelligent researchers with supposedly ironclad contracts backed by the BCGEU (government employees union). Now anybody in a union or experience with one knows how difficult and how many hoops have to be jumped through to fire a union member. All eight firings were conducted in a manner more reminiscent of the Homeland Security approach to terrorists, with all legal rights suspended. I mentioned interrogation and yes, no two ways about it, every single person was grilled, so much so that there was a reported case of an extreme anxiety attack which forced one of these "interviews" to be halted.

   One of the terrible outcomes of this kangaroo court was the suicide of one researcher after he was sacked.

     A two year investigation followed conducted in house by the government with the report given to the RCMP to confirm whether any of these researchers could be criminally charged. Within the last day or two, the RCMP came back saying there was no evidence of any wrongdoing by any of the researchers. This in effect topples the leg the government was standing on by way of refusing any comments due to the fact that the matter is under investigation.

    An open letter was sent to Terry Lake, the Provincial Health Minister written by the researchers and sister of the one who committed suicide stating that they would forgo any privacy concerns and be completely open to a public inquiry to find out why and how this all went down.

   Ever since this scandal broke, the government has steadfastly refused, denied and flat out said no to any possibility of a public inquiry. Their excuse: We apologized, reinstated some of the researchers, paid out settlements and basically washed our hands of this. A public inquiry would be lengthy, costly and have a slim chance of coming to a satisfactory resolution. Oh yeah, and it would compromise the privacy of a select few civil servants. My guess? These civil servants are to blame and the government's shielding them.

   This facade crumbled just a little though after the RCMP stated that there was no wrong doing on part of the researchers, and guess what, the government didn't give the RCMP any evidence for the entire two years other than the report.

    Terry Lake has now said he's leaving the door open to an independent public inquiry though he still has concerns about cost and privacy.

    This whole debacle just sickens me. The rottenness of politics exposed and the subsequent ass covering, lying and total disregard for people and their livelihoods is a disgrace.

    I hope a fair, timely and definitive investigation is conducted and the lily livered, shiny shoed, shirt and tie bureaucrats responsible for ruining these lives are caught with their pants down, red handed and severely disciplined for their callousness and pure fucking vindictive evilness.