This Veterans' Week, November 5 to 11, Canadians across the country will join together to show how they remember and honour our Veterans. As this important week starts Thursday, the Honourable Greg Thompson, Minister of Veterans Affairs, is encouraging all Canadians to think about how they will remember this Veterans' Week.
On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Canadians are asked to pause and remember the thousands of men and women who sacrificed their lives fighting for freedom and democracy during the First World War, the Second World War, the Korean War, the Afghanistan conflict and during peacekeeping missions.
Armistice Day is the anniversary of the symbolic end of World War I on 11 November 1918. a.k.a Remembrance Day,and Veterans Day.
The association between the poppy and war dates back to the Napoleonic wars when a writer saw a field of poppies growing over the graves of fallen soldiers. During the Battle of Ypres in 1915, Canadian Lt.-Col. John McCrae was inspired to write the poem In Flanders Fields on sighting the poppies growing beside a grave of a close friend who had died in battle.
The poem was a great inspiration in adopting the poppy as the Flower of Remembrance in Canada, France, the U.S, Britain and Commonwealth countries.
The first poppies were distributed in Canada in 1921. Today the volunteer donations from the distribution of millions of poppies is an important source of revenue for the Royal Canadian Legion that goes toward helping ex-servicemen and women buy food, and obtain shelter and medical attention.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved, and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders Fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.
- John McCrae, 1915
Thank a Soldier
In July, Peter Holley was asked to sing the Canadian National Anthem at an event in Niagara Falls honouring the Canadian Forces. At the time, he wished he had a song of tribute to offer. He didn't. So he wrote one.
The song is called Thank A Soldier and is his way of expressing his gratitude to those who serve.
A favourite song of my uncles, all veterans, was Unchained Melody. They would have loved this version of it.
Well done! The America Giving Challenge is over. The National Inclusion Project received donations of more than $26,000! Many thanks to the contributors and cheerleaders on all the Clay boards!
Update: This incredible performance of Unchained Melody from his suprise visit to David Foster & Friends concert tour is a real treat :)
Video courtesy of rob91902 And audio courtesy of kjmmom. for this!
The final days to contribute to America's Giving Challenge for National Inclusion Project are here. The challenge ends November 6. To win the $10,000 for the project, we must stay in the top 12. Currently we are holding #10, by a slim lead. I'm squeezing the budget (with a gift from a friend) to put $10.00 in every day now until the end. Last day donation times: Thursday, Nov. 5 - 3:00 p.m. EST to Friday, Nov. 6 - 3:00 p.m. EST ) GO TEAM!!
Not long ago a casual acquaintance asked me if I ever heard of "cyber bullies". This lady is not using a computer, and asked me as I do occasional things for her on mine. She told me her granddaughter in university was upset by being bullied on-line, and the lady was confused by this. She thought bullies were only physical beings in elementary school or maybe gangs. I compiled the following information and printed it out for her. She admitted to living a very sheltered life and was horrified that things like this were done. What could I say, other than I see it every day on the internet no matter how much I try not to and have learned to quickly pass it by.
What is bullying?
Bullying is persistent unwelcome behaviour, mostly using unwarranted or invalid criticism, nit-picking, fault-finding, also exclusion, isolation, being singled out and treated differently, being shouted at, humiliated, excessive monitoring, having verbal and written warnings imposed, and much more.
History is full of stories about the bullies of their times. Why? How do children learn this despicable act? They learn it from their parents and peers. Unfortunately this bad behavior has spread with the advent of the internet. People both young and old seem to get a kick out of being rude and disrespectful. It's sad.
Adult cyber bullies are referred to as cyber stalkers
The Internet provides the perfect forum for cyber bullies, individuals whose aim is to gain gratification from the distress caused by provoking and tormenting others.
The anonymity, ease of provocation, and almost infinite source of targets means the Internet is full of predators from pedophiles targeting children to serial bullies targeting ... anybody.
Cyber bullies get a perverse sense of satisfaction (called gratification) doing this. Serial bullies harbour a lot of internal aggression which they direct at others.
This may include projection, false criticism and patronising sarcasm whilst contributing nothing of any value. In every case it's a fabrication or a distortion - usually the former. The purpose of this tactic is to wind people up. Don't be fooled into believing it has any validity - it doesn't.
People who bully are adept at creating conflict between those who would otherwise pool negative information about them.
The method of creating conflict is provocation which bullies delight in because they know they can always coerce at least one person to respond in a manner which can then be distorted and used to further flame and inflame people. And so it goes on.
The bully then sits back and gains gratification from seeing others engage in destructive behaviour towards each other. This is known as trolling. Most serial bullies are also serial attention-seekers. More than anything else they want attention. It doesn't matter what type of attention they get, positive or negative, as long as they can provoke someone into paying them attention.
It's like a 2-year-old child throwing a tantrum to get attention from a parent. The best way to treat bullies is to refuse to respond and to refuse to engage them - which they really hate.
In other words, do not reply to their postings, and on forums carry on posting without reference to their postings as if they didn't exist. In other words, treat nobodies as nobodies.
The anger of a serial bully is especially apparent when they come across someone who can see through them to espy the weak, inadequate, immature, dysfunctional aggressive individual behind the mask.
The objectives of bullies are Power, Control, Domination, Subjugation. They get a kick out of seeing you react.
It doesn't matter how you react, the fact they've successful provoked a reaction is, to the bully, a sign that their attempt at control have been successful.
After that, it's a question of wearing you down. The more your try to explain, negotiate, conciliate, etc the more gratification they obtain from your increasingly desperate attempts to communicate with them.
Understand that it is not possible to communicate in a mature adult manner with a disordered individual.
Dealing with Cyber bullies/stalkers
- Don't respond and don't engage. This is not as easy to do as it sounds. It's a natural response to want to defend yourself, and to put the person right.
- Never argue with a serial bully; it's not a mature adult discussion, but like dealing with a child or immature teenager; whilst the serial bully may be an adult on the outside, on the inside they are like a child who's never grown up - and probably never will.
- The provoker watches, waits and stirs the pot with the occasional additional provocation. In this context, gratification is a perverse form of satisfaction akin to, but distinct from, pleasure.
- When people use bullying behaviours they project their own weaknesses, failings and shortcomings on to others. Refusing to respond and engage will result in the cyberbully losing interest and moving on.
On to a nicer topic -- Can Clay Aiken sing country? You bet he can! I love songs on his early demo recordings, a number of which are country. This montage is for Clay's
I'm Not Supposed to Love You Any More from the demo LWLHD
Clay Nation did a great job with the Trick or Treat Challenge fundraiser for Halloween weekend. Please donate daily if you can, and/or hang in until the BIG PUSH for the last two days! We want to keep in the top 12! More information on that later!! America's Giving Challenge
Another yearly fundraiser project in motion: Wrapping for Inclusion is another way to contribute to The National Inclusion Project. Read all about it at: Wrapping for Inclusion
What: A nationwide awareness and fundraiser campaign for the National Inclusion Project. When: The Holiday Season Why: To help raise awareness and support for the National Inclusion Project, spread holiday cheer, and have fun! How: If you would like to volunteer, please send your contact info to Aron Hall Inclusion Project .
