On what education is - and isn't

"Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself."
John Dewey

Terror hits home. We hit back.

By now, news of last night's mass shooting in a Quebec City mosque that ended with six people dead and a right-wing suspect behind bars has gone global. In the ideal world, these things don't happen here, in a city barely two hours from where I grow up, in a place I visited for work, in an everyday kind of neighbourhood that looks shockingly like mine. In the ideal world, these things don't happen at all. To anyone. For any reason. But we've all come to appreciate that the world is far from ideal.

There are so many things that gall me about an atrocity like this that I hardly know where to begin. But the one theme that keeps haunting me is that it could have happened anywhere. Even in my own city. My own place of worship. Or school. Or wherever.

We were in synagogue this past Saturday to watch our daughter recite the passage she originally learned for her bat mitzvah. A week earlier, we were on stage to watch her and our youngest son sing in the choir. They're simple moments, really, milestones in the lives of kids and the community that helped raise them. And as we've done since we moved here, we've gone to this extraordinary place filled with extraordinary, caring people because it adds a certain je ne sais quoi to our lives, an element, a spirit, a certain something that makes this place feel that much more like home. I'm not an overtly religious person by any means, but being part of a broader community somehow makes life warmer, sweeter.

It isn't any different no matter what faith you follow - or even if you don't follow a faith at all. I'm guessing the members of the mosque in the suburb of Ste-Foy sought pretty much what we all seek - togetherness, welcoming, reflection, validation, even refuge. And to be gunned down like farm animals because they dared to attend prayer on a Sunday night is an affront to anyone who values the things that make Canada so extraordinarily special. The gunman didn't just attack a group of worshippers in a single mosque. He attacked all of us.

Which is why I was heartened by London's reaction to this tragedy: Hundreds of members of the community - including the mayor and leaders of all major congregations (including mine) as well as their members - attended a rally today in front of the London Muslim Mosque. The event echoed similar gatherings at mosques across the country, a raw, poignant message from Canadians of all stripes and backgrounds that hatred isn't going to win here.

I don't know if there's enough security in the world to categorically reduce the risk of future attacks to zero. I'm guessing such a world wouldn't be all that liveable. But I do know that fomenting mass hysteria and encouraging unfounded stigmatization of identifiable groups isn't the answer. The socio-political quagmire that seemingly deepens by the hour in Trump's America may very well raise the temperature of zealots on both sides of the border - indeed, the government there perversely used the shooting to justify its just-announced immigration ban. But that doesn't mean that we have to sit around and allow any of this to happen.

There's no such thing as an ideal world. But a kinder, gentler one, where my neighbours stand up for good in spite of everything that swirls around us, feels like the kind of place I'd love to call home. Thankfully the light seems to outshine the dark.

On the card game of life

"You don't have a right to the cards you believe you should have been dealt.
You have an obligation to play the hell out of the ones you're holding."
Cheryl Strayed

On cutting the strings

"Oh what we could be if we stopped carrying the remains of who we were."
Tyler Knott Gregson

No, Mr. Trump, one is never too many

Yesterday was Holocaust Memorial Day, and like many righteous folks - Jews and non-Jews alike - I felt the need to mark it in some way. Originally, it was a simple thing, really: A quick screen grab, shared to Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, with a similarly simple set of hashtags:

#HolocaustMemorialDay #Holocaust #NeverAgain

However we choose to do so, we mark the day because failure to do so dishonours the memories of those who died simply because of who they were. As a Jew, it is my responsibility to shine the light on racism wherever I see it. Not only because of what happened - and continues to happen - to my own people. But to all others, as well. Because if we stand by in silence, we may as well be party to the atrocities in the first place. Until, of course, they come for us, too. Take your pick of identifiable groups - gays, Latinos, African-Americans, whoever - and think about how easy we make it for anyone to marginalize anyone else if we fail to step in. It doesn't have to be directed at you for you to take action.

That should have been more than enough. But then the newly minted president (lower-case deliberate) of the United States, Donald Trump, signed another executive order (he really does love those things, doesn't he?) banning anyone from seven Muslim-majority countries -  Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen - from entering the U.S. for at least the next 90 days. The order also indefinitely suspends Syrian refugees from coming to America, and also pauses the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program for 120 days. That last program will be reinstated only following the implementation of a so-called "extreme vetting" process, and even then only for countries that meet the new administration's yet-to-be-shared criteria for entry.

The irony that Trump would sign such an order on Holocaust Memorial Day should not be lost on any of us. Adding another bizarro element to the story was Trump's own statement on the day that left out any mention of Jews. Or of anti-Semitism. If these actions don't make us sick to our stomachs as members of the human race, I'm not sure what will.

During the Second World War, the U.S. famously closed its borders to refugees from war-torn nations. European Jews tried - and failed - to gain admission to the U.S. as the country maintained strict immigration quotas against Jews from Eastern Europe and from Germany in particular. Anne Frank's family tried numerous times to obtain U.S. visas, only to be denied every time.

A ship, the St. Louis, packed with 937 European refugees, mostly Jews, was turned away from the Port of Miami in 1939 after being similarly denied entry in Cuba and Canada. The ship had no choice but to return to Europe, and many of those on-board were subsequently murdered in the Holocaust. This story loomed large in my upbringing, as the phrase "One was too many" echoed through my home every time my parents saw a news report of another country saying no to those in need.

It sickens me to no end to think of what might have been had xenophobia and self-serving silence not prevailed during that era. Of the lives that could have been saved. Of the entire family trees whose branches would have continued to spawn new branches. Instead, they were amputated right then and there, by leaders lacking humanity. And by everyone else who stood by in rapt inaction and let it happen.

Now, it's 2017 and those echoes reverberate more strongly than ever. In the actions of a man who dwells more on the size of the crowds at his inauguration than the profound needs of the country he now leads. The question we must ask ourselves is whether we're willing to stand by in silence. Or do something about it.

One was too many then. And while it may be too many for a certain leader of the free world, it shouldn't be for those of us standing by and watching this seems-like-fiction circus play out in front of our disbelieving eyes. Unfortunately, this time it isn't fiction. And this time we're a little better equipped to get off the sidelines and actually put a stop to this nonsense.

My ancestors weren't slaughtered so that a couple of generations later we could forget they were ever victimized and allow the entire episode to be repeated. When we say Never Again, we mean it.

On being more like Icarus, sun be damned

"There is freedom waiting for you, on the breezes of the sky, and you ask, 'What if I fall?' Oh but my darling, what if you fly?"
Erin Hanson

On remembering to be kind

"If you work really hard, and you're kind, amazing things will happen."
Conan O'Brien

 I like the "and you're kind" part. Most people seem to forget about being kind. Which is kinda sad.

Footsteps in the snow

Evidence of civilization
London, ON
January 2017
For more footwear-themed Thematic, head here

When I was a kid, I'd often seek out the most challenging route between where I was and where I wanted to go. Never mind that the path had been meticulously cleared with a shovel and hours of sweat and profanity: It was a lot more fun to point myself toward the deepest snow and dive in. I didn't much care how messy I got in the process. Life was short, and snow was awesome.

Adulthood seems to have tempered that feeling somewhat, which is likely why I couldn't understand why an unknown person had walked up the hill through the snow instead of just using the door literally inches to the left of this scene.

This time out, I stuck to the easy route to avoid getting snow all over my boots. But on reflection, maybe I should have been carving my own path through the fresh powder. Adulthood can be such a killjoy.

On laughter and relationships

"My mother is an incredibly beautiful woman who has laughed at every single thing my father's ever said. At a young age, my brother and I understood that if you can make girls laugh, you can punch well above your weight class."
Seth Meyers

Yes. This. Because a sense of humor is a wonderful thing.

It's #BellLetsTalk day. So let's talk.

I work for a giant media company, Bell Media, which is in turn owned by an even more giant telecommunications company, BCE Inc., and today's the day of our annual multiplatform campaign to raise awareness of mental health issues.

It's called Bell Let's Talk, and the company donates 5 cents (Canadian) to mental health initiatives for every text, call, tweet, and Instagram post that uses the #BellLetsTalk hashtag. If you watch the video on Facebook or use the Snapchat geofilter, Bell will donate, too. For even more background, here's the website: Bell.ca/LetsTalk.

Whatever tools you use, have at it and please get my employer to spend as much as possible today. Trust me: They're happy to do so.

I grew up in a family and in an era when mental health wasn't talked about. People suffering from mental illness were deemed "psycho" or "crazy". They were shunned, criticized for not just shaking it off or sucking it up. They were lumped into their own lonely category. Even feared. Anyone who sought help was derisively referred to as "seeing a shrink." as if that was an admission of weakness. In my world, you bravely fought cancer or heart disease. Yet somehow mental illness - a disease of the brain - was never accorded the same level of respect.

Which, of course, drove it underground. And continues to do so to this day. Because in a world where we wrap ourselves in colors for every disease under the sun, we somehow fail to do the same for those who suffer from mental illness. I'm not sure why that is, and maybe that's a reasonable place to start the conversation. And to move the process forward.

I've seen some chatter online that this makes for great PR for a huge, profit-seeking corporation. I couldn't disagree more. All of us have different views of how different companies operate - how they price their products and services, treat their employees and customers or interact with the government. And sometimes, to be fair, some folks may not be their biggest fans. Fair enough.

But no matter how cynical you may feel about any given company, mental health isn't a hashtag. And there's nothing wrong with large companies using their largeness, brand and resources to focus corporate social responsibility on an issue that touches us all. And as much as some of us may see a dedicated day as a manufactured and packaged strategy to smooth out the old corporate image, for the rest of us it remains a prime opportunity to kickstart a process that should already be well underway, but for too many maddening and misunderstood reasons, still is not. If not them, then who? If not today, then when?

Tomorrow, of course, all of this will matter just as much as - if not more than - it does today. So don't just talk. Listen. Empathize. Act. Look inward at your own responses to those around you in need. Share this. Talk about it. Do something good for those around you. Question your own responses and ask yourself if you're doing enough, either for yourself or for others. And when today turns into tomorrow, do the same thing.

I'm under no illusions: A day of hashtag-driven awareness won't magically fix society's apparent inability to deal with this type of illness. When the sun rises tomorrow, too many among us will still wake up afraid to share their truth with others. They'll worry about losing their jobs. Their families. Themselves. Similarly, too many among us will be afraid to ask, afraid to have the conversation.

But as we've learned from the stories of true Canadian heroes like Clara Hughes, Michael Landsberg and Howie Mandel, silence isn't the answer. And from another Canadian hero, CJAD morning host Andrew Carter, who shared his story this morning, we've learned the dangers of silence. And as I learned from CJBK morning show hosts Lisa Brandt and Ken Eastwood today, there are two sides to the story.

So if you need to talk, then talk. And if you're on the other side of that conversation, take the time to listen. And to reframe how you feel about mental health, and what you're willing and able to do to help those closest to you.

Because silence is no longer the right answer.

Your turn: What's the first thing you'll do to #EndTheStigma?

On learning from unsuspecting teachers

"I have learned silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet, strange, I am ungrateful to those teachers."
Khalil Gibran

On making, not following, the rules

"Don't just play on your phone - program it."
Barack Obama

Thematic Photographic 398 - Footwear

Hey now, you're an all-star
London, ON
December 2016

Some designs are timeless, and I'm going to go out on a limb and conclude that the Converse All-Stars fit the  bill. These are the running shoes - sorry, sneakers - we all wore before athletic shoes became a multibillion-dollar business, before triple-digit prices for the latest superstar-endorsed Nikes became the norm.

But here's the thing: Those old shoes never quite went away. And while I'd never consider pairing up some LeBron-themed kicks with a suit, I did come [this close] to wearing red All-Star hi-tops - like the shoe on the right - to my wedding. Somewhere in our album, there's even a picture of me wearing them. My wife wisely suggested I change out of them before the actual ceremony.

So, back to this week's Thematic theme, footwear. Shoes don't just protect us from stepping on icky stuff on the streets. They tell stories about us. They evoke powerful memories. They make us smile. And for the next week, I hope we'll be able to return the favor with a few pictures.

Your turn: Take a picture that supports this week's footwear theme, then share it on your blog, website or social media account (or simply point to something you may have already posted.) Leave a comment here letting everyone know where to find it. Repeat through the week, and pop in on other participants to spread the photographic joy. Click here if you're new to Thematic. Otherwise, have at it. And have fun!

On the power of the gentle word

"A gentle word, a kind look, a good-natured smile can work wonders and accomplish miracles."
William Hazlitt

Something to keep in mind as this rather notable workweek gets underway. Despite it all, it all starts with us, with simplicity, with kindness.

Have I got a deal for you

Sleepy retail
London, ON
December 2016

On Christmas Day, my daughter and I wandered around Dundas Street for a bit. The light was iffy, and between icy sidewalks, marauding drug dealers and suspected prostitutes, we didn't hang around any longer than we needed once we were happy we had enough on our memory cards. I posted my first image here.

The experience left me ambivalent. On the one hand, this once-bustling retail street has struggled mightily to rise from the ashes as new business owners have moved in and tried to lay down substantial roots. There's an energy in the pockets of investment that dot this landscape, from the pub owned by the twentysomethings who enthusiastically greeted us on the sidewalk, to the food hub a block away that's redefining how communities are built and served.

On the other hand, the pub and the food hub are only two bright spots in a landscape that's been overwhelmingly ground down by decades of neglect and mismanagement. There's Just So Much Decay that a couple of examples of goodness can't be expected to repaint the entire neighborhood with a similar brush. At least not yet. Renewal takes time, and there's going to be a lot of messiness along the way.

Which brings me to this picture, a deliberately dead-on shot of the streetscape. It's obviously seen better days, but it also contains flashes of life that simply don't exist in a newer, tonier environment. I doubt I'd be pondering the history of a strip mall in a more conventional suburb - at least not to the same degree.

I want to come back here to see what else I can see. And feel. And what other flashes of life I can find along the way.

Your turn: Would you come here? Why? Why not?

On passion and possibility

"From passion, all is possible."
Tory Lanez

I think I'm going to rubber-stamp this one onto every visible surface in my home and office. Definitely words to live by.

Your turn: What's your passion?

The Kids in the Hall would be proud

Hand signals
London, ON
December 2016

Sometimes I get bored when I'm sitting in the stands, surrounded by masses of hockey fans who may or may not have had too much to drink, and may or may not be screaming advice to their favorite players in the futile belief that a) they can actually hear them and b) they actually care.

Don't get me wrong: I love the game. I'm Canadian, after all. But the culture that surrounds it can often be, shall we say, disquieting to those of us who don't drink, don't offer unsolicited advice to players, and just want to watch the game in relative peace.

Nope. Not here. So sometimes I play with my camera to pass the time. Any guesses what I'm doing here?

On Bryan Adams & social media

"Social media is a giant distraction to the ultimate aim, which is honing your craft as a songwriter. There are people who are exceptional at it, however, and if you can do both things, then that's fantastic, but if you are a writer, the time is better spent on a clever lyric than a clever tweet."
Bryan Adams

I've always admired Mr. Adams for his quintessentially Canadian approach to songwriting, and his kindness in supporting the music community from which he grew. He never forgot where he came from, and given his global success, that speaks volumes about his character.

I kinda like his perspective on social media, too.

May I please have some mayo?

Loopy
London, ON
January 2017

There are times when a jiggly mess of mayonnaise on a paper plate (don't worry, I cleaned and recycled it afterward) just begs to have its picture taken. So please allow me to submit that last night, 7:06 p.m., was just such a time.

Perhaps when we shot with film and had to haul out the big camera bag, weird and inexplicable photos like this one would have never been taken. But we live in the age of digital, and the cost - in processing, time and overall energy - has drifted close to that magical zero mark. Now, a flash of an idea quickly becomes pixellated reality thanks to the camera-equipped smartphone that's almost never out of arm's reach. And an understanding wife who appreciates the fact that I have a creative addiction.

We were (obviously) eating dinner. I probably could have taken the time to fetch the "good" camera, but in addition to being disruptive to my ever-patient family, it would have also defeated the purpose of the thing. Simple, fast scenes with virtually no rationale behind them - that's what the world needs more of. I've got to do more of that. Because it tickles the soul and hopefully makes everyone else smile and think when otherwise they might not be smiling or thinking. Who's with me?

P.S. No, I won't post anything about the Trump inauguration. Everyone else is talking about it, and I doubt I'll add much to the discussion. Our souls need more moments with jiggly messes of mayo, and not bigly moments of brag-filled narcissism. 

On one particular presidential nightmare

"Sometimes I wake at night in the White House and rub my eyes and wonder if it is not all a dream."
Grover Cleveland

Or, you know, a nightmare. Here we go, folks...