What a wonderful and timely interview. I just finished turning off the CBC News in total frustration. What happened to the agency that used to be the voice of Canada? Now spouting judgment every news clip. And then sit down to discover this voice of reason and optimism. Everyone from historians to astrologers is talking about how we are on the cusp of tremendous societal change. Can we stay aware of that, Live from the inside out (rather than the outside in, constantly reacting to the forces around us)? Can we Head up to the balcony and as she suggests, get a different perspective? Can we, in our own little ways, aim for that vision of connection and belonging, whatever that looks like? That’s what I’m aiming for. Thanks for the inspiration!
Great interview. One point I challenge PJ on is her comment about finding space to rent for song sessions that are not affiliated with a religion. What does religion have to do with using space in a religious facility for a non religious purpose? The Lutheran church I belong to welcomes all people to use the non religious parts of the building (fellowship hall & kitchen) at a very low or no cost. Places of worship are there for the community, not just the congregation and I would encourage PJ to talk with the leaders here to work together for activities that support the community. That really is what places of worship are there for. James Taylor
It is so lovely to meet PJ and learn about her life and her views. I have read her comments in the past and somehow it feels good to know more about the person behind the comment. She may be right that we are in the messy bit before a new positive era for Canadians. I hope very much that this is the case. Thank you PJ and Tara for this interview.
Wonderful interview. I feel better. Crisis is always an opportunity. And change is inevitable and constant. We need resilience and hope. I remind myself daily there is something to be grateful for. Love this Tara's interviews and her ability to look at all angles.
Very cool interview. Great idea. I recommend you keep doing these.
I like that he kept saying "he can't put his finger on it", but I suspect he does have theories for the cause or culprits of the divide he laments. I have my own theory and call it the globalist managerial class oligarchy. It is the same infecting most of the West. Canadians have elected puppet leaders backing this regime as have Americans... until Trump.
1. Divide & conquer are at the root of empire. As long as we fight each other, we can be controlled. The whole woke thing came out of nowhere and from what I can tell it came from the top. (I have never had any issues with the LGBT community, but suddenly they were talking about 28 genders, conversion therapy, drag queen story hour, and transitioning kids.)
2. Diverting our attention away from the "elites" and what they are doing is always important. So after the 2008 financial crisis and the Occupy Wall Street and the money printing (Quantitative Easing) it was necessary to move the focus to other things
3. We have financialized our economy and are graduating more & more people with Humanities degrees. They need to be employed and expect good incomes, but do not produce tradable goods & services (food, tools, refrigerators) This means that we are stacking more & more costs the the people who do, to pay for the services provided by government, and the NGO sector. White Collar workers are overhead to the economy and this creates a class division between the working class & the managerial class.
A great book on what, what, who regarding woke that I am reading "No we were never Woke" by Musa Al-Gharbi. I disagree with comment above woke did not come out of nowhere it has been building for years.
I am a senior and my observation is that everyone wants everything for free. Nothing is for free there is only one taxpayer.
The interview indicates in Canamore they are helping people with very large incomes buy very expensive housing. This is part of the problem not the solution. If you can't afford to buy into a pricing area go where you can afford to buy. I live in Toronto it is the same sad story. Today young people want their first house to have everything that is not how my generation lived. We bought a small house than we could afford, fixed it up and once we could afford bigger bought a bit bigger house while working and raising our families. Yes I worked for all my life even when my children were young and paid huge amounts of money for daycare during their early years there was no government help. Today I am retired with no financial worries and although never had my dream house and could buy whatever I choose now I don't care to. It's not what matters. However I have things money can't buy happy, education and employed children with many happy, thriving grandchildren. Now every decision people make is about how much money will it make.
Most people had no issue with Gay Rights until it became about Drag Queen Story hour & Transitioning kids. It was a non issue until Trump was elected the first time.
As to Canmore. Canmore is unique because it is a community with working class roots (mining) located in a very desirable location with very limited land that can be developed. It has a large tourism component, plus a lot of wealthy people want to live there which drives up housing prices. At the same time they expect to have coffee shops, groomed ski trails, and a luxury lifestyle which means lots of low paid people working those jobs who have to live somewhere. The nearest place they could live is at least an hour away in Calgary.
There is nothing wrong with Humanities degrees; they provide a terrific foundation to understanding or making sense of the world. But the problem lies in the expectation once that student graduates, and I believe a lot of that comes from the parents. There’s this expectation that investing in a university degree should automatically set that kid up for a really cushy job in the workplace. But university degrees aren’t about job security, and they never have been. By prioritizing money over knowledge, parents have done a huge disservice to their kids. And many, I believe, shouldn’t even be there. If money is what you’re after, get a trade at a local community college. But to your point, ANY university degree these days doesn’t necessarily warrant that a kid will graduate with enough skills, and knowledge, to garner a good position in the workplace.
The problem with Humanities degrees is they don't always lead to great jobs which is an unrealistic expectation. Plus the universities are a business. So the name of the game is money. I went back to university in my late fifties and finished in 2020 (second degree). They were pushing woke then. Which is a distraction and a disaster for some. I don't think things have changed much over history. It is still the rich vs the poor. Mainstream media is about money. Why wouldn't they be when they are funded and owed by governments and billionaires?
This discussion is a little too pie in the sky for me. I mean, how many times do we have to hear I can’t put my finger on it, or o don’t know? It might be a reflection of the community they live in. Canmore is a mostly rich community now, which chased all the regular small town folk away. I finished reading this interview thoroughly confused, without any idea about what this interviewee stands for. And this, I think, is why we are in a bit of a mess. By constantly moving and shape shifting, and trying to fit it, we lose sense of ourselves. Not always, but I see it here where we live on Vancouver Island. People move here from Ontario, or the Prairies, and abandon their values as they embrace the green Utopian ideal that people out here preach. Is it any coincidence that one of the richest communities here has both a Green MLA and MP - the only community in Canada to do so - convinced that they’re the enlightened few, and the rest of Canada is the problem? We’re in trouble because too many are standing on the sidelines, wringing our hands, and don’t want to wade in to clean up the muck. We used to be very clear on that a generation ago. Now all we do is whine and say we can’t quite put our finger on it.
I'm one of the nasty Boomers who have been blamed for all the current societal problems. I felt we really made progress with overcoming racism and accepting people of all religions and sexual leanings. Then the educators were given the agency to tear it all down with their bizarre extremes. Hopefully this is truly a time of great change where speaking the obvious truths, with love, caring and community, is not met with animosity. P.J. skirts around the issues and seems afraid to voice actual opinions. I long for real free speech.
What a wonderful and timely interview. I just finished turning off the CBC News in total frustration. What happened to the agency that used to be the voice of Canada? Now spouting judgment every news clip. And then sit down to discover this voice of reason and optimism. Everyone from historians to astrologers is talking about how we are on the cusp of tremendous societal change. Can we stay aware of that, Live from the inside out (rather than the outside in, constantly reacting to the forces around us)? Can we Head up to the balcony and as she suggests, get a different perspective? Can we, in our own little ways, aim for that vision of connection and belonging, whatever that looks like? That’s what I’m aiming for. Thanks for the inspiration!
Great interview. One point I challenge PJ on is her comment about finding space to rent for song sessions that are not affiliated with a religion. What does religion have to do with using space in a religious facility for a non religious purpose? The Lutheran church I belong to welcomes all people to use the non religious parts of the building (fellowship hall & kitchen) at a very low or no cost. Places of worship are there for the community, not just the congregation and I would encourage PJ to talk with the leaders here to work together for activities that support the community. That really is what places of worship are there for. James Taylor
I agree. Church Halls are vastly under utilized, and a bargain. They are great spaces for events like this.
It is so lovely to meet PJ and learn about her life and her views. I have read her comments in the past and somehow it feels good to know more about the person behind the comment. She may be right that we are in the messy bit before a new positive era for Canadians. I hope very much that this is the case. Thank you PJ and Tara for this interview.
Wonderful interview. I feel better. Crisis is always an opportunity. And change is inevitable and constant. We need resilience and hope. I remind myself daily there is something to be grateful for. Love this Tara's interviews and her ability to look at all angles.
Lovely interview.
Very cool interview. Great idea. I recommend you keep doing these.
I like that he kept saying "he can't put his finger on it", but I suspect he does have theories for the cause or culprits of the divide he laments. I have my own theory and call it the globalist managerial class oligarchy. It is the same infecting most of the West. Canadians have elected puppet leaders backing this regime as have Americans... until Trump.
I think there are three streams.
1. Divide & conquer are at the root of empire. As long as we fight each other, we can be controlled. The whole woke thing came out of nowhere and from what I can tell it came from the top. (I have never had any issues with the LGBT community, but suddenly they were talking about 28 genders, conversion therapy, drag queen story hour, and transitioning kids.)
2. Diverting our attention away from the "elites" and what they are doing is always important. So after the 2008 financial crisis and the Occupy Wall Street and the money printing (Quantitative Easing) it was necessary to move the focus to other things
3. We have financialized our economy and are graduating more & more people with Humanities degrees. They need to be employed and expect good incomes, but do not produce tradable goods & services (food, tools, refrigerators) This means that we are stacking more & more costs the the people who do, to pay for the services provided by government, and the NGO sector. White Collar workers are overhead to the economy and this creates a class division between the working class & the managerial class.
A great book on what, what, who regarding woke that I am reading "No we were never Woke" by Musa Al-Gharbi. I disagree with comment above woke did not come out of nowhere it has been building for years.
I am a senior and my observation is that everyone wants everything for free. Nothing is for free there is only one taxpayer.
The interview indicates in Canamore they are helping people with very large incomes buy very expensive housing. This is part of the problem not the solution. If you can't afford to buy into a pricing area go where you can afford to buy. I live in Toronto it is the same sad story. Today young people want their first house to have everything that is not how my generation lived. We bought a small house than we could afford, fixed it up and once we could afford bigger bought a bit bigger house while working and raising our families. Yes I worked for all my life even when my children were young and paid huge amounts of money for daycare during their early years there was no government help. Today I am retired with no financial worries and although never had my dream house and could buy whatever I choose now I don't care to. It's not what matters. However I have things money can't buy happy, education and employed children with many happy, thriving grandchildren. Now every decision people make is about how much money will it make.
Most people had no issue with Gay Rights until it became about Drag Queen Story hour & Transitioning kids. It was a non issue until Trump was elected the first time.
As to Canmore. Canmore is unique because it is a community with working class roots (mining) located in a very desirable location with very limited land that can be developed. It has a large tourism component, plus a lot of wealthy people want to live there which drives up housing prices. At the same time they expect to have coffee shops, groomed ski trails, and a luxury lifestyle which means lots of low paid people working those jobs who have to live somewhere. The nearest place they could live is at least an hour away in Calgary.
There is nothing wrong with Humanities degrees; they provide a terrific foundation to understanding or making sense of the world. But the problem lies in the expectation once that student graduates, and I believe a lot of that comes from the parents. There’s this expectation that investing in a university degree should automatically set that kid up for a really cushy job in the workplace. But university degrees aren’t about job security, and they never have been. By prioritizing money over knowledge, parents have done a huge disservice to their kids. And many, I believe, shouldn’t even be there. If money is what you’re after, get a trade at a local community college. But to your point, ANY university degree these days doesn’t necessarily warrant that a kid will graduate with enough skills, and knowledge, to garner a good position in the workplace.
The problem with Humanities degrees is they don't always lead to great jobs which is an unrealistic expectation. Plus the universities are a business. So the name of the game is money. I went back to university in my late fifties and finished in 2020 (second degree). They were pushing woke then. Which is a distraction and a disaster for some. I don't think things have changed much over history. It is still the rich vs the poor. Mainstream media is about money. Why wouldn't they be when they are funded and owed by governments and billionaires?
This discussion is a little too pie in the sky for me. I mean, how many times do we have to hear I can’t put my finger on it, or o don’t know? It might be a reflection of the community they live in. Canmore is a mostly rich community now, which chased all the regular small town folk away. I finished reading this interview thoroughly confused, without any idea about what this interviewee stands for. And this, I think, is why we are in a bit of a mess. By constantly moving and shape shifting, and trying to fit it, we lose sense of ourselves. Not always, but I see it here where we live on Vancouver Island. People move here from Ontario, or the Prairies, and abandon their values as they embrace the green Utopian ideal that people out here preach. Is it any coincidence that one of the richest communities here has both a Green MLA and MP - the only community in Canada to do so - convinced that they’re the enlightened few, and the rest of Canada is the problem? We’re in trouble because too many are standing on the sidelines, wringing our hands, and don’t want to wade in to clean up the muck. We used to be very clear on that a generation ago. Now all we do is whine and say we can’t quite put our finger on it.
I've got a feeling CJ voted for you know who twice.
As for finding people and a place for the song circle, how about the line at the food bank?
Brace for impact Canada.
I'm one of the nasty Boomers who have been blamed for all the current societal problems. I felt we really made progress with overcoming racism and accepting people of all religions and sexual leanings. Then the educators were given the agency to tear it all down with their bizarre extremes. Hopefully this is truly a time of great change where speaking the obvious truths, with love, caring and community, is not met with animosity. P.J. skirts around the issues and seems afraid to voice actual opinions. I long for real free speech.