Was the attack in Arizona a senseless act of violence from a deranged man? Or a right-wing political assault? Or both?

I remember we had the same debate in Montreal days after the murders of 14 women at Ecole Polytechnique. Was this an attack on all women? Or just the act of a crazy, hateful man? Or both?

What is certain is that the level of political discourse in the U.S. has become toxic. Just watch American television...

This has been at least a decade in the making. Gone are the days of civility. Democrats hate Republicans and vice versa, and the rhetoric spewing from some of the opinion leaders is absolute poison.

In Canada, our politicians often behave like children but there does remain a certain respect and sense of fair play.

We are still polite, and we can be thankful we have gun control laws that work most of the time.

In Arizona it's the Wild West; seems anyone can own and carry a gun.

The gunman in Tucson walked in a store and walked out a few minutes later with a semi-automatic Glock and enough ammunition to kill dozens: no permit required

Will Americans ever move away from a gun culture?

Perhaps for us, north of the border, we can be thankful our society is not as polarized, but we cannot forget our history is tainted with blood as well,

On May 8, 1984, a former Canadian army corporal stormed the National Assembly, killing three people and wounding 13.

We may live in a less divided, less violent society, but we have no reason to be smug.


Sound and fury signifying nothing

What do you get for $6 million in Quebec?

How about a commission of inquiry full of sound and fury signifying nothing. It looks like the much-heralded Bastarache Commission into the appointment of judges will find no blame.

Neither Marc Bellemare, the former justice minister, nor Jean Charest will be taken to the woodshed.

With due respect to Justice Bastarache, this was a circus from the start. No real proof. No real smoking gun. A colossal waste of time and your money.

He said. He said. We paid.


Time Magazine's aspiring countries includes Vermont

You have to chuckle at this

Time Magazine has come out with a list of the world‘s top 10 "aspiring" countries

Quebec is right up there with Kurdistan, Western Sahara and Vermont

Vermont?

The second Vermont Republic Movement apparently wants to secede. Hope it would mean we would have free trade with Ben and Jerry's

By the way, here is what Time says about Quebec

“The movement has lost much of the momentum it had at its peak in the '90s, thanks in large part to the parliamentary power of the Bloc Québécois. As the party (the most popular in Quebec) works to promote Quebec's political agenda and protect Francophone interests against perceived English assimilation, separation has been less of a priority for many Quebecers."

 

Well they got that right.

Now if we could just convince Gilles Duceppe to stop running around the world on the Canadian taxpayer's dime to try to convince people otherwise.

At least we are keeping it polite