iN DISCUSSION: Middle East war latest in stunning world events

This is where cold hard facts give way to the hottest of takes, mostly mine I suppose. I’m the editor, Marshall Jones.

Want to include yours? Listen, this isn’t the comment section, this isn’t social media. Discussion and debate requires context and a wee bit of bravery — we need your name and where you’re writing from. Include it in your account or email me anytime.

---

Are you getting you’re war news on social media?

I’m still a little stunned with everything going on, particularly in the Middle East. Keeping up with world and local events these days is like a cat chasing a laser pointer: It feels like you got it for just a moment before it’s gone again. 

There’s something very uncanny about flipping through your social media of choice, finding regular folks looking for recipes, your cousin getting engaged and funny memes, interspersed by near-live images and videos taken from the ground of buildings being destroyed, fires in the night and children dying. 

How can that not make us callous to all this suffering? News does not belong on those platforms.

So, I guess, focus on things we can control. The B.C. Conservatives are likely to be the next government in this province but it’s a party in transition.

A leadership race with nine candidates will determine if it’s more ready-fire-aim for this fledgling party. Will it continue to ostracize the centre with a far-right leader and crackpot MLAs? Or will it take up residency where the B.C. Liberals/United left off and find a lane down the middle?

If you wanted to supersize your democratic footprint, this is the time to get involved. Whether it’s the NDP, Conservatives or Greens, getting behind the scenes can do so much more for your causes than simply voting in an election.

Figuring out which way you want to go starts with small steps and small steps beat long paths.

Get involved. It’s better than a Facebook post. Email me at mjones@infonews.ca.

Mj

Marshall Jones

Managing Editor

---

iN RESPONSE

Pierre Poilievre set to give speech in London during first official trip overseas

Meanwhile, Mark Carney is in Australia doing real work engaging in talks with their government instead of playing at being a politician.

— Bonnie Derry via iNFOnews.ca

Kamloops mayor has a budget cut wish list he won’t bring to council

He makes me think of Trump.

— Bonnie Derry via iNFOnews.ca

iN PHOTOS: Rescued animals living their best lives in BC

Dogs and cats you meant to type.
The word animals would mean different types.
I have 6 pets and none of them are a cat or a dog and all were rescued.
Why not give some attention to all the other animals that are abandoned and rescued?
There is actually more of them than cats/dogs.

— Carol Greene via iNFOnews.ca

Kelowna launches overnight security patrol in response to crime complaints

I’m sure someone has pointed it out already but just to be sure. All you’ve done by spending money on patrolling downtown, grants for security etc. is move the problem into residential neighbourhoods. Thus the increase in crime in other areas of the city.
The unhoused and criminal who were/are downtown are now defecating and vomiting in the neighbourhood communities of Kelowna. Pouring money into band aide solutions for one part of the city only moves the problem to another. We need to redirect that money into more permanent housing and legal systems that help the unhoused and lock up the criminals. I realize it’s a complicated issue but what we’re doing is not working and pushing the problem around the city isn’t a solution. What if we moved the problem to the suburbs? I’ll bet if the situation was in your front yard things would be different.
We keep our laneway clean, well lit, security cams in place etc. Since the downtown patrols we are seeing more of this and crimes increase in other parts of the city.

— Gordon Palmer via email

iN RESPONSE to Feb. 25 newsletter opinion-editorial on BC Human Rights Tribunal

I just wanted to give a quick shout out regarding your iN DISCUSSION piece. I follow and read a lot of your comments and find them very well balanced.

Regard the BC Human Rights decision and Barry Neufeld, your column hit the subject right on the nose. When reading your thoughts it is actually exactly how I felt about the decision. Sadly it seems it is getting harder to discuss issues without fearing repercussions or penalty for just sharing your own ideas or thoughts.

Just wanted to say I agree with the piece 100% and hope more reporters continue to ask the same questions, and I also hope the ruling from BC human Rights is overturned not because of Mr. Neufeld but because of all the items you brought up.

Thanks and will continue reading.

— Willard (Bill) Taylor via email

iN RESPONSE to Feb. 27 newsletter opinion-editorial on e-scooter safety

Where do I start, Marshall?

Scooters are visible because they’re new. Cars are normalized because they’re dominant.

Emergency rooms see injuries from bicycles, cars, hockey, and ladders too. We don’t ban those; we regulate and educate. Progress isn’t risk-free. It’s risk-managed.

Scooters may look inconvenient if you don’t need them. For many residents, they’re affordable mobility, as not everyone can own 1 or 3 cars, not everyone drives or can afford parking downtown.

Clutter and safety concerns are valid — but manageable. Scooters are hardly the most significant “eyesore” in the public realm. The bigger question is whether public space is only for cars, or for everyone.

— Glen Cheetham via email

‘It wrecks a person’: Former Vernon man sexually abused in care settles with province

Canadian laws for incestuous, marital, and known and unknown sexual abusers are far too lax, and the absolute lack of adequate consequences serves as neither a punishment nor a distraction. It also desecrates the value of women and children in society and leaves them at great risk.

As this brave man explains how the sexual abuse he experienced as a child has controlled/destroyed his entire life, it quickly becomes clear that rape is murder. The person you were before the attack(s) is completely obliterated.

The person one becomes after the attack(s) experiences residual pain and suffering that lasts a lifetime.

— Karen Klein via email

Tara Armstrong Recall Countdown

Tara Armstrong is currently the MLA for Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream. She rode the coattails of the BC Conservative Party, got elected, then rejected and left the party to serve as an Independent within weeks because the Conservatives were too left wing. Now she gets to spout moronic, hateful rhetoric and claim that her riding supports her.

Elections BC says you can recall an MLA if 40% of eligible voters in the riding sign a recall petition — but not for the first 18 months after an election. Some people started an online petition calling for a byelection once she made a shift to independent, then got herself a raise by forming her own party, but it won’t mean anything until the countdown clock hits zero.

So let the countdown begin!

---

Disclaimer: Any views, thoughts, and opinions expressed on this page are solely those of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of the editor, iNFOnews.ca, iNFOTEL MULTIMEDIA, its partners, principals or advertisers.