The Makings of a Movie: FBI’s Framing of an Innocent Man

James Comey, former FBI Director

What makes for a good criminal investigative type of movie or TV series? Something sinister…real sinister. Stuff this sinister is hard to dream up for any creative mind. No need to dream anything up because we have one in the making and it’s coming out soon.

Stuff like this happens only in politics, in business and in the workplace. In real life, I would never want to be a part of dirty politics. As for me personally, I try to stay away from “politics” (in the negative sense of the word). But I am interested in what goes on in politics and public policy. (Before going to seminary, I studied public policy; thus, my interest in stuff like this.)

As I blogged in an earlier on FBI’s Flynn Outrage, this whole issue about Gen. Mike Flynn being framed for a crime he did not commit is all tied together with what liberals want. It also shows the level of desperation in how they want to impeach President Trump. The sinister-level of this whole ordeal might be at the level of Watergate. Thus, my comparison to the making of a good movie or TV series. Creative writers for Hollywood, wake up.

Former FBI Director, James Comey, said Michael Flynn did NOT lie (Video)
General Michael Flynn, former W.H. National Security Advisor

What would drive a person or a group to want to frame an innocent person for a crime he did not commit. The crime would have to be hideous enough to want to cover up a real crime. In this case of the FBI and James Comey, there is a real crime beneath the faked crime. Politics can get nasty and this story is it. There will certainly have to be consequences and repercussions.

There’s lots of details in this complex story. Too much for me to understand, and more than most people can absorb. Uncover more and you might get more truth on why the Roger Stone story also had a coverup. Andrew McCarthy at the National Review has written a great article that goes into detail about this whole complex ordeal of the FBI cover up. He writes:

“…. Why was Flynn set up? The answer to the what question has been clear for a long time: The FBI set a perjury trap for Flynn, hoping to lure him into misstatements that the bureau could portray as lies. In the frenzied political climate of the time, that would have been enough to get him removed from his new position as national security adviser (NSA), perhaps even to prosecute him. On that score, the new disclosures, startling as they are to read, just elucidate what was already obvious.

But why did they do it? That has been the baffling question. Oh, there have been plenty of indications that the Obama administration could not abide Flynn. The White House and the intelligence agencies had their reasons, mostly vindictive. But while that may explain their gleefulness over his fall from grace, it has never been a satisfying explanation for the extraordinary measures the FBI took to orchestrate that fall.

…. (continued)

[ Flynn,] The former head of the Defense Intelligence Agency knew how the spy agencies worked. He knew where and how they kept secrets. He had enough scars from tangles with the intelligence bureaucracy that he knew how the game was played — how intelligence officials exploited information, or selectively withheld it.

The objective of the Obama administration and its FBI hierarchy was to continue the Trump–Russia investigation, even after President Trump took office, and even though President Trump was the quarry. The investigation would hamstring Trump’s capacity to govern and reverse Obama policies. Continuing it would allow the FBI to keep digging until it finally came up with a crime or impeachable offense that they were then confident they would find. Remember, even then, the bureau was telling the FISA court that Trump’s campaign was suspected of collaborating in Russia’s election interference. FBI brass had also pushed for the intelligence community to include the Steele dossier — the bogus compendium of Trump–Russia collusion allegations — in its report assessing Russia’s meddling in the campaign.

But how could the FBI sustain an investigation targeting the president when the president would have the power to shut the investigation down?

The only way the bureau could pull that off would be to conceal from the president the fullness of the Russia investigation — in particular, the fact that Trump was the target.

That is why Flynn had to go.”

read full National Review article here

Talking could transmit coronavirus

Woman wears facemask outdoors

When someone exhales a big sneeze, they’ve found that viruses can travel up to 8 metres (or 26 feet). Talking can also transmit tiny molecules. Sounds scary? The only thing that can prevent tiny molecules from traveling through the air is a facemask, and an N95 is even more effective.

Early research by scientists at the National Institutes of Health suggests that droplets expelled while talking may transmit the virus that causes COVID-19. Findings show that a facemask is very helpful in preventing particles from traveling through the air (videos below).

As I blogged about this before here, and here. I still believe the public is not being rightly and properly informed that facemasks are helpful in this area of coronavirus prevention.

man in black coat holding book

When I’m shopping for groceries and observe how people react to others with facemasks, I get the impression they feel that they’re the ones who are sick. The irony is that those who do wear facemasks are most likely safer than those who don’t.

Our public attitude toward this needs to change. Personally, I’ve already started using a facemask in public and I still don’t feel comfortable with something sitting on my face. I’m finding that I’m subconsciously keeping my distance from others who do not wear a facemask. A change in my own attitude is gradually happening. In Canada, we have been extremely slow in making this change. I’m glad the Trump Administration has already encouraged wearing facemasks in the United States.

In Asia, even before coronavirus pandemic, they’ve been wearing facemasks habitually in order to prevent catching the flu. They’ve already gone through the cultural change due to lessons learned during SARS in early 2000s.

The FBI’s Flynn Outrage: a falsified crime

Gen. Mike Flynn is and has always been innocent. The Department of Justice is currently uncovering facts intentionally hidden by the FBI. It is now known that the FBI had the intent of framing him for a crime he did not commit, then laying a trap for him to admit to a crime created by the FBI.

Sounds complex? For regular people like myself, stories like this have never been easy to understand. The FBI and the left know this. They muddy-up the story using legal means and secrecy, making it too complicated for most people to understand.

Kimberley Strassel of the Wall Street Journal published an article yesterday, “The FBI’s Flynn Outrage: New documents shock the conscience and demonstrate the need for accountability“:

“Mr. Flynn in 2017 pleaded guilty to a single count of lying to FBI agents about conversations he had with Sergey Kislyak, Russia’s ambassador to the U.S. Thanks to new documents the feds belatedly turned over to his attorneys, we know the FBI engineered this “crime.” Handwritten notes from former FBI counterintelligence head Bill Priestap, made before the bureau’s interview of Mr. Flynn, ask the following: “What is our goal? Truth/Admission, or to get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired?”

One of the frustrations of the Trump-Russia “collusion” narrative is that the evidence of law enforcement’s abuse of power keeps emerging in dribs and drabs. To grasp the outrageous conduct fully, the Flynn documents need to be added to what we already know. The overall evidence paints a scandalous picture: Having labored and abysmally failed in 2016 to build a case that Mr. Flynn was an agent of the Russians, the FBI and Justice Department changed gears—rifling through his communications, inventing a fake crime, and entrapping him on a “lying” charge.”

[ WSJ video here. Read full article here and here. ]

Evidence against FBI Director, James Comey is damning. Comey manufactured a lie, and Robert Mueller perpetuated the lie against Gen. Flynn. They intended to jail an innocent and honorable man who faithfully served his country for over 30 years. This is an outrage and injustice.

The left’s debacles are now starting to unreel, one after another. From accusations like fake dossiers, false accusations of Russian collusion, to relentless attempts to impeach President Trump.

The public has been observing these scandalous manoeuvre’s by the left-leaning political operatives, i.e., House Democrats and Obama Administration. Evidence is being gathered and documented.

It is undeniable that they have been out to “get Trump” from the very beginning. They have been cooking up fake dossiers by Clinton, telling lies, using cover-ups and slander to try to get their way.

Furthermore, the liberal mainstream media has enabled this. This is why Trump has labelled the media “fake news” and it will stick. The left-wing still hasn’t succeeded in getting what they want, and yet, they’re still cooking up new schemes to “get Trump” using the Coronavirus angle. Very sad indeed.

People’s faith in politicians on the left is depleting very quickly. The public will see it, and have been seeing this transpire before their eyes. It is becoming more clear by the day. Trust in government institutions is eroding. This is very unhealthy and extremely toxic for a supposedly free and democratic society.

Justice must be served. Restore the people’s trust in government institutions by holding responsible those who are guilty of their criminal misconduct and shameful misdeamenors.

I believe this is also a spiritual battle that Christian believers and spiritual people ought to pray about. The evil one is out to cause confusion and division using hate, lies and slander. In the end, may God’s will be done.

Canadian military helicopter crashed: Sadness ensues the military today

A tragic loss and a deep sadness ensues the Royal Canadian Navy and the entire military family. I can barely imagine the deep loss for their family members. My heart sank when I heard and read about this tragedy in the news last night and this morning. My thoughts and prayers go out for the military members and their families. May God be with you all.

I am still processing this loss. A scripture on the facebook page of SLt A. Cowbrough reads, “If God is for us, who can ever be against us?” Romans 8:31. Reading this on her fb provided some encouragement for me personally. God will always be for us. No death can can ever deter us from standing on guard for thee.

“Stalker, come in. Over.” By: artist Michael de Adder. Deceased sailor, SLt Cowbrough played the bagpipes.

Below are what is already public knowledge from the news media.

__________

1. Four aviators onboard CH-148, along with two sailors from HMCS Fredericton, crashed off the coast of Greece. The helo was doing a routine training exercise yesterday afternoon when it crashed.

2. Facts known. Search and rescue is underway to find the remaining five crew members. Reports say that scattered debris have been found and might be difficult to locate those who are still missing. The flight voice and data recorders have been found. Operational pause in the navy is in place until the military knows more about why it happened.

3. Reason for ship/helo’s presence in the area. The ship and helicopter are a part of a NATO mission Operation REASSURANCE. Rear-Admiral Baines (CO, Maritime Atlantic) announced in the news that the helicopter was returning to the ship when it lost contact and crashed.

4. The helicopter was a brand new Sikorsky-built, CH-148 Cyclone. It is designed and fitted for Halifax-class Canadian frigates. As part of a procurement for the Canadian Armed Forces, these Cyclone helicopters are brand new. They were delivered to the Canadian military and have been deployed on board some of the frigates within the last 1.5 years.

Photos above are the six members onboard the helicopter.
Sub-Lieutenant Abbigail Cowbrough (deceased)
Sub-Lieutenant Matthew Pyke (missing)
Master Corporal Matthew Cousins (missing)
Captain Brenden Ian MacDonald (missing)
Captain Kevin Hagen (missing)
Captain Maxime Miron-Morin (missing)

A reason behind Nova Scotia killer’s rampage

This week, the massacre in Portapique, Nova Scotia, left a string of at least 22 dead along the killer’s route on Highway 102 / Rte. 2. It will leave a negative impact on the surrounding community for a very long time. The motive is yet to be determined.

A recent article in the Epoch Times points to a common factor that runs across numerous mass killings in recent past. There was a lack of a father in the family.

“Whether they were Adam Lanza who committed the Sandy Hook killings, Elliot Rodger at UC Santa Barbara, Dylann Roof in Charleston, Nikolas Cruz in Parkland, Stephen Paddock in Las Vegas, and on and on, they were all dad-deprived kids,” Warren Farrell, an American academic and author of “The Boy Crisis,” said in an interview.

Farrell, head of a White House commission to create a Council on Boys and Men during the Obama administration, says Wortman fits the same profile. “[Mass shooters] are almost always males as opposed to females, and they’re usually white, and there is dad-deprivation, which of course Gabriel Wortman’s father was absent for most of his life. He fits that category.”

Jason Unrau, April 23/20, Epoch Times article here

This is an interesting discovery. With the breakdown of marriage in the late 1970s to the present, we have created a Dad-deprived society where boys desperately lack a male role model.

In recent decades where liberal feminism has been on the rise, we notice that men have increasingly been feeling marginalized.

The role of the father is less appreciated. Have we lost the male role model in society?

The position in being a man has been tainted as “patriarchal” in a negative sense.

The tone espoused by radical and militant feminists feel accusatory when it comes to a man taking on the male leadership in the traditional family/household.

Is there still a place to restore a traditional male role model in a non-traditional society?

True cost of Covid-19 for the CCP

At least one class action lawsuit against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) government has come forward. One U.S. law firm has led the charge to sue China for six trillion dollars (here). The CCP government is legally negligent and guilty of cover ups and lies that have caused this human, social and economic disaster around the world. Criticism has been mounting fast. The CCP has lost all credibility in the eyes of the western world and the entire world. There will be a huge loss for China. The real loss is not only economic. What’s worse is a loss of trust by people and nations around the world. The true loss due to Covid-19 will be immeasurable.

Can we put a figure to the loss in this worldwide pandemic? I think we all know the true financial cost will be impossible to determine. Individuals, families, businesses, and governments cannot even begin to count the cost. It will be interesting to see what comes out of this.

Burying the truth and face-saving measure in Chinese culture is incompatible with the western world. After Covid-19 subsides, the anger and fury of people and families who lost family members due to the CCP’s negligence and deception will rise like a tidal wave. We have not even begun to count the loss by businesses. Many smaller businesses will never start up again.

In my opinion, the only way out of this impossible trap will be true confession. The CCP government needs to come clean and confess. A possibility? Unlikely in my personal opinion. Chinese culture is shame-based and it’s a face-saving culture. Shame will be too powerful for the CCP government to overcome in their human strength. It would take the power of God to change them. The Chinese government will need to disclose everything if there can be any forgiveness by people, institutions and governments. May God help them.

A prayer for Portapique NS: 18 victims in killing rampage

My heart goes out to the innocent victims of a senseless and random shooting on Sunday that has killed at least 18 people in rural Nova Scotia, located in Atlantic Canada.  People are saddened, confused and shocked by this horrific incident.  Their lives have been trampled by senseless violence. My prayers go out to the people of Portapique, and to Nova Scotia:

“Dear God, be with the residents of Portapique, Nova Scotia.  Holy Spirit, sooth their hearts, old and young, men, women and children.  Calm their fears.  Give them healing from this horrific tragedy.  This I pray in your holy name.”

The gunman, Mr. Gabriel Wortman, was shot dead by the RCMP police at a gas station in Enfield, NS, along Highway 102. I have personally driven along Hwy 102 and perhaps have even made a pit stop at the local Irving gas station years ago, which makes it a little eerie. 

What makes this killing rampage so horrifying is that he was not killing his enemies but his friends.  News reports say he was knocking on people’s doors with a rifle in hand.  A family inside a home was horrified as the gunman was pounding on their front door to get in. Undoubtedly, the people of community in Portapique will be reeling in shock.

How does this happen to a small community?  Stuff like this isn’t supposed to happen.  It makes me wonder if something in the killer had snapped.  Did he have mental illness? He is known to have run a local denture clinic.  He was also known to have given away dentures to people who needed it.  

Mr Wortman was also into police memorabilia.  He drove in a fake police cruiser and was wearing an RCMP uniform at the time of his killing rampage.  In his high school year book, he had written, “Gabe’s future may include being an RCMP officer.”

I will be very interested in knowing what happened in this man that would cause him to go on a killing rampage.

Victim: Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer Heidi Stevenson, a 23-year member of the force and a mother-of-two was shot dead
Victim: Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer Heidi Stevenson, a 23-year member of the force and a mother-of-two was shot dead 

Easter Sunday: Jesus rose victorious

The Resurrection of Christ, 1700 (oil on canvas) by Noel Coypel (1628-1707)

We have good news today. Jesus came out of the empty tomb.  He was resurrected in bodily form on the Third Day, and rose to live again in the flesh.  He is victorious over death. This is huge. 

Coronavirus or no coronavirus. If death could not hold Jesus in the tomb, then death will not be able to hold us down in the grave either. 

Death is one of the biggest fears of humankind, especially now when COVID-19 is happening before us.  If God in Christ Jesus defeated death on Easter, we also have hope of eternal life with God forever. We have something to celebrate on Easter this Sunday.

I’m super stoked to recite the Apostles Creed out loud (even if I’m in isolation):

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

Peace overcomes pain

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night, but find no rest.

Psalm 22:1-2, Bible

This psalm from chapter 22 is often read on Good Friday. Christians have associated this text to the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus on the cross. Jesus quoted this in part while on hung on the cross to die.

The Book of Psalm contains many complaints. For this reason, it wasn’t one of my favorite books of the bible. There are many joyful psalms of praise and celebration which I prefer; and then there are many sad and depressing psalms of lament, which I dislike (especially if I’m not in the mood to read it).

The good bishop, N.T. Wright, recently wrote in Time:

“Yes, these poems often come out into the light by the end, with a fresh sense of God’s presence and hope, not to explain the trouble but to provide reassurance within it.”…. “It is no part of the Christian vocation, then, to be able to explain what’s happening and why. In fact, it is part of the Christian vocation not to be able to explain—and to lament instead. As the Spirit laments within us, so we become, even in our self-isolation, small shrines where the presence and healing love of God can dwell.”

https://time.com/5808495/coronavirus-christianity/

When the psalmist could not see any relief in sight, all he had was pain. He doubted God. If you haven’t read from the bible of the numerous chapters of people feeling sorry for themselves, open up to the book of Psalm. It’s full of it. This is why so many people can relate to the psalms. These writers complained about their pain and they accused God of forgetting and for not caring. Job’s friends came up with invalid reasons for his extreme sufferings (read about it in depressing book of Job). They blamed his sufferings on his past sins. How inconsiderate. If I had friends like Job, I’d tell them where to go.

If one were to contract COVID-19 (or any other sickness for that matter), we might want a spiritual explanation as to why we contracted the disease. There is no good “spiritual” reason why a person contracted COVID-19 or any other disease. No, I’m not talking about a clinical reason, but rather, a spiritual reason. Spiritualizing it doesn’t improve a person’s emotional agony or discomfort. It doesn’t do a person any good.

God wants us to put ourselves in a proper place and be subordinate to the will of God. That is to humble ourselves. It gives room for God to come into our lives and give us peace–a true peace that is beyond all human understanding.

This is the same realization Jesus might have had on the cross as he suffered in pain. He experienced the love and peace of the Holy Spirit while he writhed in pain at Golgotha. I know. Sounds wierd and ironic that peace and pain can go together. Peace and pain can co-exist. This is the irony that so many people find so difficult to understand.

As Christians, and as non-religious folks, we all want answers to our problems, and we want them now. Our natural human desire is to alleviate our pain. We hate pain. We want it to disappear.

One direction people take is to doubt the existence of God. When we witness or hear of so much pain in the world, we begin to rationalize: “How can there be such a cruel God? Who would allow human beings to be put into cruel and painful circumstances? Such an inhumane or merciless God simply cannot exist!”

Another way our mind can wander is to wrongly attribute cruelty toward a loving and merciful God. We begin to doubt God’s goodness, and that God is truly good. We lose faith in a good God. We walk away from the Church. Emotionally and intellectually, it easier to doubt that a loving God can allow injustice and suffering. As a result, we push God out of our lives.

Another way our minds will rationalize a seemingly irrantional God of peace and pain is to find reasons why we might be deserving of pain and suffering.

Examples:

“I have done something very bad and sinful, so now it’s payback time… God is getting even with me now and that’s why I’m suffering.”

“I hurt that rotten person years ago, and that’s why God took away my son or daughter, my father or mother.”

“I’m such an evil person. That’s why God gave me cancer,” or “That’s why God sent the Coronavirus… to wipe out this evil world of evil doers.”

When we demand answers for which there isn’t an answer it’s a vain attempt to spiritualize our pain away. Our human capacity to accept uncertainty is limited, so we prefer to limit God by putting Him in a box. We relentlessly search for a rational answer. We set limits on ourselves as humans beings, and we end up pushing God further away.

Why do we do this? We want to put God where it makes more sense to us. We want to set God in his place. We prefer to think, “that if there truly is a God, then this is who God is. This is what God is like; and so this is how I can be stronger.”

We prefer to own our own problems. By setting God in a place where we want him to be, we think we can garner more control over our lives. We come up with our own solutions to our own problems.

Our goal for a human solution is empty and vain. It is not where God is found. God likely has a totally different solution. God’s knowledge is infinite and All-knowing. If we really knew the mind of God, what God already knows might actually surprise us.

It is not our job to rationalize God. God does not want to be included in our human equation. In God’s mind, there is no such thing as a human equation. Our job is not to put God where we think He ought to be. That is to falsify God and take God’s name in vain.

Our place is to be subordinate to God and become willing vessels of God’s will. When God has His rightful place in your life, it is then that you will have peace. When God feels welcomed in your life, it is then that you will have joy and hope.

What God wants more than anything is to wrap his big arms around you and tell you that He loves you. He desires to be with you. His presence surrounds you and protects you like a mother hen who guards her chicks. The love and mercy of God is greater than what we can imagine.

God wants to come to you in the midst of all your suffering… even in the midst of your chaos, your pain, sadness, sickness and disease. The capacity of the love of God is much greater than our human capacity. God’s love is deeper, wider, and higher.

Our own human capacity to love is extremely limited. We do not have the patience, the courage or the kindness to love like God can. That’s why we prefer to push aside a God who allows suffering. But God is much bigger than our vain human imaginations.

If God the Father absorbed all the pain that Jesus suffered on the cross, God can certainly live in us with all our pain and suffering. How so? God is God, and we are not. God can come into your life, filled with pain and chaos, filled with burdens that you cannot bear, and then fill it with God’s own peace.

Millions of Christians in the world today have experienced the overwhelming love and mercy of God. Christians in the world today currently suffering are experiencing God in the midst of their sickness and pain, in their wars and violence, in their persecutions and personal troubles. Millions more will enter into the Compassionate heart of this Triune God. He is calling out to each individual person, and that person might be you today.

I admit, the idea of a suffering God is not popular in Christian circles. The suffering Christ was once nailed to the cross. The crucified Christ was nailed on Friday. Well, we call it Friday but we really don’t know what day it was. We also like to call it “Good Friday”. It was not a good thing that happened but we call it “good” anyway. Behind this, there is an extremely important truth. It is a “Good Friday” because we already know there is hope coming on the third day. Jesus would soon rise again from the dead. We know the ultimate outcome is renewed life–a resurrection from the dead.

When we invite guests to come over to our house, we want to make sure we have it cleaned up, spotless and all tidy. We do this not for their sake, but we do it for our own sake. We take pride in our own perfection.

In God’s economy, God is not like this at all. God’s way is like this. As we welcome God to enter our lives and live within our pain and suffering, the Holy Spirit will fill us with peace, joy and hope. This is why we can invite God to come into our hearts and homes while we are still a mess. Yes, from our human point-of-view, this sounds unconventional and very different to what we think ought to be normal.

The good news of Christ is not that God came to wave a magic wand to banish away all our pain and problems. The good news of Christ Jesus is that God vanished from the empty tomb and resurrected in bodily form on the Third Day, and rose to live again in the flesh. He conquered and defeated death. If death could not hold Jesus in the tomb, then death will not be able to hold us down in the grave. This is why we celebrate Easter this Sunday.

Death is one of the biggest fears of humankind. If God in Christ Jesus defeated death on Easter, we also have hope of eternal life with God forever. May all praise, honor and glory be to God our Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Coronavirus and domestic manufacturing

When we don’t have a need for things, they just sit there on the shelf. When we do need them, everyone is going after them. Hospitals have been asking for medical supplies. Everyone is going after the same supplies and there’s not enough to go around—at least for the present time.

Here in Canada, the Prime Minister just announced that thousands of manufacturers are offering to manufacture medical supplies. What is coming soon are test kits, ventilators, and personal protective equipment, including 30,000 ventilators. Hopefully, there will be a glut of supplies after this whole Covid-19 ordeal is over and done with.

Since President Trump announced that N95 facemasks would not be leaving the United States, we realized that we would be in a hugely weakened position. Canadians just realized that we cannot depend on American manufacturers for supplies. We cannot depend on anyone to supply us when we are in a bind. Same goes for every country in the world.

This crisis has forced us to understand how important a domestic manufacturing industry is to our own country. One huge benefit to any country is to have its own manufacturing industry. We need to be self-dependent. We need to produce what we use, and use what we produce. Self-reliance is good for our country.

We also want to have our own natural resources. In Canada’s case, we have lots of oil, minerals, and natural resources. in a worst-case scenario, we can rely on our own resources.

The downside is that we would have to shut down our borders and not allow anything to come into our country. Doing so would shut off the supply valve from other countries. Then we would be forced to purchase our own Canadian labels. This is a closed-system, which would not be good for the country. A closed economy causes inflation. In the end, it would mean higher prices for everyone. Do we want to pay higher prices? No way.

Another way to get around this would be to slap on huge tariffs on imported goods coming into the country. This is protectionism. This is the way of the Trump Administration. It is a counter-measure to open borders and free trade in order to boost up a country’s manufacturing industry and produce more jobs.

I don’t think Trump is against free trade. He is also for fair trade. Fair trade will produce more Made in U.S.A. labels. Perhaps this is the type of environment our world needs right now. We need to be more self-reliant when there is a crisis.

If there are a few good things that will come out of all this are new manufacturing jobs, plus a greater pride in our country’s products. Made in Canada… and greater patriotism. May God bless our nation’s people with ingenuity, technology, and manufacturing.

Wang Fang spoke the truth relentlessly on Wuhan’s Coronavirus outbreak

Wang Fang, an accomplished author of novels, keeps an online diary and is followed by 4.2 million people in China on Weibo.  During the middle of Wuhan’s coronavirus lockdown, CCP authorities were repeatedly censoring her WeChat account.  As a response, she would repeatedly update her followers to her new accounts every few days.  Now, that’s dedication to speak the truth–true journalism and real news.

Chinese people have found solace in her voice that spoke truth to the devastating situation in Wuhan. Below, she courageously declared who the government is for and who its master is:

“The government is the people’s government; it exists to serve the people,” wrote Wang Fang, a Chinese writer better known by her pen name, Fang Fang, in a social-media post. “Please take back your arrogance and humbly show gratitude to your masters—the millions of Wuhan people.” (quote from WSJ).

Applause and thanks to Wang Fang.  Keep it up.  I pray that you will be safe from the government in Wuhan.  Fang Fang concludes: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”  May God bless you and watch over you as you keep fighting the good fight.

Links to articles: Alice Su, LA Times; and Chun Wong, Wall St Journal (paid).

Transcript of Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronavirus message to UK

Address to UK and the Commonwealth by Queen Elizabeth II (on 5 April 2020)

As I was listening to her Majesty address the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth today (which happens to be Palm Sunday), what rang most true to me was her encouragement to remain strong and meek. By the way, at 94 years of age, she is one who is surely blessed with strong. God bless her Majesty. As members of the Commonwealth nations, we will be remembered for the kindness and a gentle but strong spirit that will characterize us in the decades to come. Here below is my favourite quote from her speech today.

Together we are tackling this disease, and I want to reassure you that if we remain united and resolute, then we will overcome it…. That the attributes of self-discipline, of quiet good-humoured resolve and of fellow-feeling still characterise this country. The pride in who we are is not a part of our past, it defines our present and our future.  

__________________________________
Speech in its entirety below:

I am speaking to you at what I know is an increasingly challenging time. A time of disruption in the life of our country: a disruption that has brought grief to some, financial difficulties to many, and enormous changes to the daily lives of us all.

I want to thank everyone on the NHS front line, as well as care workers and those carrying out essential roles, who selflessly continue their day-to-day duties outside the home in support of us all. I am sure the nation will join me in assuring you that what you do is appreciated and every hour of your hard work brings us closer to a return to more normal times.

I also want to thank those of you who are staying at home, thereby helping to protect the vulnerable and sparing many families the pain already felt by those who have lost loved ones. Together we are tackling this disease, and I want to reassure you that if we remain united and resolute, then we will overcome it.

I hope in the years to come everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge. And those who come after us will say the Britons of this generation were as strong as any. That the attributes of self-discipline, of quiet good-humoured resolve and of fellow-feeling still characterise this country. The pride in who we are is not a part of our past, it defines our present and our future.  

The moments when the United Kingdom has come together to applaud its care and essential workers will be remembered as an expression of our national spirit; and its symbol will be the rainbows drawn by children. 

Across the Commonwealth and around the world, we have seen heart-warming stories of people coming together to help others, be it through delivering food parcels and medicines, checking on neighbours, or converting businesses to help the relief effort.  

And though self-isolating may at times be hard, many people of all faiths, and of none, are discovering that it presents an opportunity to slow down, pause and reflect, in prayer or meditation.

It reminds me of the very first broadcast I made, in 1940, helped by my sister. We, as children, spoke from here at Windsor to children who had been evacuated from their homes and sent away for their own safety. Today, once again, many will feel a painful sense of separation from their loved ones. But now, as then, we know, deep down, that it is the right thing to do. 

While we have faced challenges before, this one is different. This time we join with all nations across the globe in a common endeavour, using the great advances of science and our instinctive compassion to heal. We will succeed – and that success will belong to every one of us. 

We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again.

But for now, I send my thanks and warmest good wishes to you all.  

Have faith and believe in each other – virus is only temporary

This Coronvirus pandemic is taking a toll in the U.S. It’s getting worst everyday. Today, New York reported its highest daily rise in deaths. The Trump administration has now recommended Americans to wear facemasks in public to reduce the community spread of the virus. I had blogged earlier that this would eventually happen and it did on the same week.  Although I hate wearing those darn things, I know that it will be safer for everyone if we wear them.  We can share everything except for viruses.  I’m sure nobody would want my germs. “No thanks” you say!

I was just thinking and feeling grateful that I still had a job.  I could just as easily be jobless right now.  If you are, I pray for those who are, that you’ll be able to get by till the next few months.  Thank God for the financial support through the government’s aid package.  May God be with you all who have lost their job or are worried of losing theirs in the near future. 

Bless the charitable organizations out there who are helping.  I know good hearted people and young people at some churches are volunteering their time to deliver groceries to seniors by dropping them off at their door.  

As a society, we have been humbled.  This virus has brought us to a point of temporary helplessness, at least within my lifetime and possibly yours too.  I don’t remember having ever experienced such low rate of social disengagement.  The positive of this might be this.  I have a friend who told me, now that he has so much more time, he can hear God’s voice more clearly.  Amazing what we can do when we have time–time to pray.  Yay!

 Here in Canada, news headline have announced a massive layoffs of tens of thousands of employees from two of our main airlines.  Major U.S. airlines like Boeing are encouraging early retirement. The U.S. military is at risk. The USS Theodore Roosevelt has over 100 sailors who tested positive and is alongside in Guam.

I pray that all soldiers, sailors and aviators will remain safe.  To our pilots, air stewards, and military service members around the world: you are precious to society.  Hang in there.  Stay healthy because after we get past this virus ordeal, we will travel again.  We will always need our brave men and women in uniform to defend us at all times and in all places. 

In the UK, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Prince Charles, and some well-known icons have tested positive. The wife of Canada’s P.M. Sophie Trudeau also test positive. If they can get it, so can any one of us regular folk. We need to remain vigilant. 

Young people, you all stay safe.  No one is invincible. We need young people more than anyone to stay safe.  Although you might be asymptomatic and have fewer symptoms, when you stay safe, our grandmothers and grandfathers will be safe too.

Some stores and businesses in Canada will be laying off half or even all of their staff. Some say that stores might be permanently affected and never reopen their door. I don’t want to believe that.  Entrepreneurs, you are the backbone of our communities.  You take the risks of opening stores to sell us your products and services.  Without entrepreneurs and small businesses, our nation would not be what it is.  We support you owners of small-businesses. 

See this sign?  It says, “Temporary.”  Temporary means temporary.  I have never seen so much fear around contracting a virus that we have to be holed up in our homes. Yes, what’s happening now and in the near future will be very difficult. It’s almost beyond our human control.  It might be devastating for us fiscally, economically, socially, perhaps even politically and environmentally but not if we can help it.  We all need to believe in each other.  We can make it past the hard road ahead. 

We don’t know how long this will last but hang in there.  Our people will come back into your shops, restaurants and cafes, small and big.  We need our entrepreneurs.

Some of our schools and colleges are considering being called off for the rest of the year. You might be a parent wondering when or if your kids can return to school. Parents and students, this is not forever.  Though you might have classes online, you will return back to class and see your awesome classmates again.  Learning is still learning, whether it’s online or in class.

Yes, it might feel almost like something from post-apocalyptic movies. There is something in the air that is post-Armageddon about this whole thing. But it could be worst.  We must not lose hope.  Despite what some might say, I don’t believe that this will be the new normal.  This is only temporary.

Wearing facemasks in public

In Canada, Global News has just come out with a story for wearing facemasks in public. We will eventually be changing our attitudes and practice of wearing facemasks in the near future. Studies are showing from Asia that this is a factor why Asian nations have a lower infection rate than Europe and North America. We need to start changing our practice soon.

Fwd to 2:55.

Korea’s top expert on Coronavirus/Covid-19

This video is a must watch. Stephen Park, YouTube Vlogger at Asian Boss, did an invaluable interview recently with Dr. Woo-Ju Kim, Professor of Infectious Diseases at Korea University, College of Medicine (one of South Korea’s top experts on the Coronavirus). It’s already gone viral. He’s gone through SARS in 2002, and MERS in 2015.

He’s convinced me about the benefits of wearing a facemask in public. I have decided to wear a facemask in public beginning now (when I can get my hands on some). I’m predicting that Canada, the U.S., Europe, and the world will begin changing our policies and attitudes toward wearing facemasks in public.

Despite what we’ve been told in Europe and North America, I believe we’ve been misinformed due to our ignorance and inexperience in dealing with infectious diseases. The truth is that government-policy stakeholders already know that we do NOT have enough masks for everyone. That is why we are being told to not wear facemasks.

My advice to readers here is to listen to the advice of this South Korean medical expert and start wearing facemasks in public. Do it. It will save lives. You’ll need to read the English subtitles. Very informative.

Note: English subtitles. Language: Korean. Length: 35 minutes. Will require patience to sit through its entirety

Dr. Woo-Ju Kim, Professor of Infectious Diseases at Korea University, College of Medicine (March 27, 2020).

I hope more of us can learn from Dr Kim’s experience and knowledge. If you learned something from this interview, feel free to share it with your friends.