By the way, shopping for certain items is actually considered to be suspicious, such as bomb-making materials. Can those same items be used for something other than that…of course. But, sometimes, if we just wait around to see what they are used for, it’ll be too late. I just think we should all look at the bigger picture.

Public photography is not a crime. If he were planting bombs or acting in a suspicious manner, then the police shoudl absolutely get involved.

Would you think differently, if somehow terrorism was connected to shopping and every time you walked into a store, you were detained by police and needed to show proof of identification?

Leaving is the only feasible way to turn your “no win” situation into a “win-lose” situation. You win by leaving. They lose your contribution to society, as relatively small as it might be, it is still their loss. It doesn’t matter that they don’t care about losing you. What matters is that you care enough about yourself and your loved ones to leave.

As for protest marches – absolutely useless in a police state. Unless the group is large enough to storm and take the bastille you will be ignored.

today I was contacted by the police regarding a facebook group I am a member of. The page is in regards to a Joshua Bacon who was convicted of manslaughter. The details were that he shook his 7 week old baby daughter, Caitlyn Smith, to death in a hospital. I among others are disgusted that he only got a 30 month prison sentence.

I was contacted by the police and told to not post any more comments on the group.

the reason for the ban was that a few days ago, while a discussion was in progress regarding the judge, we decided that someone should write to the judge asking for an explanation of the sentencing. The guy who set up the group said ” I will sort it”.

somebody reported this to the high courts in London as a “veiled threat” towards the judge or Joshua bacon. The result was that they have increased security at the high courts and the prison that Joshua bacon is serving his sentence in…

the end result, the high courts are applying for a removal of the facebook group and I have been told by the police to not make any further posts on the group.

My problem is that I agree with the group and that the sentence was ridiculous, I also hate the fact that the police with no authority have told me to not exercise my right to freedom of speech. On the other hand, I have a busy life and can do without having the police and/or the high courts on my back. Its a no win situation… do I stand and fight and put my own liberty and family at risk, or get on with my life?

well I will be at the life for a life protest march and rally in London 3rd May 2010 in support of justice for families…

Yes… I guess I resent the HUGE changes that have come upon my country. I like to VISIT the new and unfamiliar and different. I enjoy new experiences. I’ve travelled the world – Australia, Philippines, China, Japan… and more. But that doesn’t mean it’s my desire to be immersed in changes not of my making or understanding.

So I left Toronto for Vancouver. And until those in authority in that city decided to remake Vancouver into a “World Class City” with Expo 86, it was a wonderful place to live. Now, in 2010, it is known as “Hongcouver”- hundreds of thousands of Oriental, non-English speaking people have moved there and changed MY CITY into something I didn’t recognize, or want, or feel comfortable in.

So it’s happened to me twice. So now I live 70km from any city on an acreage. I figure that at my age (retired) there’s a pretty good chance that I’ll be dead by the time some foreigners decide to buy up all the land around me and bring their country and customs once again into mine. But I don’t think it’s fair that I should be the one that always must move to regain my “comfort zone.”

As you said… exploring beyond our comfort zones makes us all better off. I mostly agree but such drastic change cannot be forced upon anyone without serious repercussions. I think I have a right NOT to change or accommodate change IN MY OWN COUNTRY if I so wish. If I moved to Mecca I would expect to change MY ways to meet local expectations. This includes my behavior, my dress, my food, my language and perhaps even my religion (if I had any). But the millions who’ve moved to Canada bring their country with them and it seems to me they expect Canada to change to meet their expections.

But anyway… if you find “beauty” in Toronto… or anywhere else… great! It’s all yours now.

Girls in hijabs are a pretty common sight on Toronto streets these days. So I don’t think it’s my hijab that makes me stand out (such is the beauty of Toronto with its hordes of different faces), but I just feel a little awkward when I am trying to photograph in a busy spot.

Appreciation for beauty around us and the desire to capture it in our minds or in pictures is a universal concept. I don’t think it requires any one to overhaul their culture or anything else. With so much variety, diversity and beauty in the world, I think we would all be better off if we explored beyond our comfort zones.

Cheers

And until 911 Muslims were people “over there” and I had no reason whatever to interact with them. There may have been Muslims in Toronto, where I grew up, but I never saw or spoke to one that I know of.

I think most who were raised as I was are still ignorant about your culture. We don’t understand some of your ways and beliefs – they are foreign to us. And as with all other cultures, a few of the “other” people around is a curiosity and interesting – certainly not a threat. But when hundreds, then thousands, then tens of thousands “invade” your space, FEAR raises it’s ugly head and the trouble begins.

I mean… just imagine if a few hundred thousand WASPs (English, Irish, American… whatever) arrived as RESIDENTS in Mecca and started up nightclubs and bars, with the women in miniskirts, etc. There would be hell to pay!

So you, standing on a WASP street, in a hijab, stand out like a flashing red light. It’s going to take many generations to sort this out, I’m afraid.

Bye for now, zaaviyah (sorry, I can even pronounce your name). (We have several non-WASP news broadcasters on Canadian radio and TV – and when they say their non-WASP names, I have no idea how to spell them or pronounce them. As the saying goes – It’s Greek To Me! I’m sorry, I’m not about to overhaul my culture to accommodate yours any more than the Muslims in Mecca would allow us to set up shop with our sacreligious, infidel ways. Isn’t it just a lot easier on everyone if we all just stayed where we belong?)

I’ve never been hindered by anyone though I admit I feel a little awkward walking around with my modest Nikon D60 with a kit lens and a telephoto zoom lens…reason is I wear the hijab (the Muslim headscarf). So even though I take pictures just because it makes me happy, a hesitation creeps in when I am in a very busy area because I assume that people might feel a little disturbed seeing a girl in a hijab photographing this building and that building

I’d be pretty sad if I am told some day not to take pictures / delete pictures I have taken of any regular old building or plant.