Media scaring Canadians

The media has a way of scaring peaceful-loving Canadians. After the chills of the mad cow disease, chicken and bird flu, killer mosquitoes, the incurable virus scare, tranquil Canada was awakened with news that "Osama’s Navy" will put us in danger from freighters that are being used to transport weapons and equipment for the terrorist organization which can be converted into floating suicide bombs. Then, there was a nasty rumor that a fuel ship was to be detonated in a Vancouver port. These are scary thoughts but it is reassuring to know that Canada’s special forces are prepared for maritime terrorism. Joint Task Force 2 are said to be training hard in Victoria and Halifax.

The 25-year old Philippine Asian Chronicle, the bi-monthly Filipino newspaper in English that’s published by Roque "Bodeng" and Erly Juatco is on its successful comeback trail in British Columbia. The publication had some financial and legal problems with a shareholder which was eventually resolved. Realizing that more and more Filipinos have chosen Alberta as their new home, the Juatcos recently launched the Alberta Edition of Philippine Asian Chronicle (serving the Philippine community in Edmonton, Calgary, Fort McMurray and Lethbridge).

The publication’s advertising revenue continues to increase. Religion must really be a profitable business, judging from the huge print ads of Living Word Christian Church, World Christian Fellowship, North Delta Evangelical Free Church, Jesus Is Lord Church and Tri-Cities International Community Church, to name a few.

Two Chinese Canadian men from Toronto, a gay couple married in Ontario, now vacationing in Hong Kong is creating a well-publicized controversy in the Chinese territory. They are the central figures in a debate on same-sex marriage that is still not recognized in the former British Colony.

The outspoken couple should have known better because what’s accepted in Canada is not an assurance of its validity in Hong Kong, China. It is a known fact that many Chinese are of the belief that homosexuality is a perversion which originated from the West. A lot of Chinese still believe that homosexuality does not exist in China even when it has been mentioned in the oldest Chinese texts, at certain periods during the Han and Ching dynasties when it was considered quite natural for men to engage in "sinful" activities.

But the Chinese Canadian couple may be comforted with the fact that majority of homosexuals in Hong Kong are married, a known secret. It will take time for Hong Kong to accept same-sex marriages but the former Hongkongers should be lauded for their efforts to advocate change in externally progressive but internally conservative Hong Kong.

A new Leger Marketing poll indicated that 50 percent of Canadians feel that the United States was Canada’s "best friend". On the other side, only 20 percent of American respondents consider Canadians as their "best friend" and listed Britain as number one on their best friend list with 60 percent approval. Meanwhile, Canada chose Britain as their country’s best friend and ally.

The poll validated the fact that the average American know almost nothing about Canada and Canadians despite the modern technology in media information. It is a good feeling to know that Canadians know much, much more about the Americans and the USA.

Most Canadians know about the emerging "middle mind" in America. It is a mindset that threatens America’s intellectual and cultural freedoms as more Americans don’t think for themselves. If you’re interested in the subject, you must read the new book of Curtis White, aptly titled "The Middle Mind". The book delivers an unflinching and wry look at the dumbing down of the American imagination.

On the subject of salmon, a public opinion poll revealed that 69 percent of British Columbians prefer the taste of wild salmon over farm-raised, and 72 percent believe that eating the wild product is better for the environment than eating and farmed variety. Some consumers are worried about farmed salmon, chemicals and toxins, including antibiotics.