Gavin Francisco's blog

An AutoBiographical poem ... et Urbi and Orbi ...

    I send to you my response to the City and the world ... Urbi et Orbi ...You treated me like a strangerand you were mean.You said I was full of egoand I was unclean.You laid down rules and regulations and I asked to see the Dean.You looked around confusedand know not what I mean.You see a veil covering the mirrorand mistake it for sheen.You see one thing moving among manyand talk of the in-between. You come to conclusions but never consider the unseen.Confusion, Darkness, Mediocrityreigns like a Queen.You cannot judge me,You cannot touch me,I rein Supreme!Gavin FranciscoI am ......

via gavinfrancisco.typepad.com

An AutoBiographal poem ... et Urbi and Orbi ...

    I send to you my response to the City and the world ... Urbi et Orbi ...

You treated me like a stranger
and you were mean.
You said I was full of ego
and I was unclean.
You laid down rules and regulations
and I asked to see the Dean.
You looked around confused
and know not what I mean.
You see a veil covering the mirror
and mistake it for sheen.
You see one thing moving among many
and talk of the in-between.
You come to conclusions
but never consider the unseen.
Confusion, Darkness, Mediocrity
reigns like a Queen.
You cannot judge me,
You cannot touch me,
I rein Supreme!

Gavin Francisco
I am ......

Toronto .... Cool and Sexy!

The Huffington Post on it's web site declared Toronto the new capital of cool. Flying below radar for so long, Toronto has emerged from the shadows of New York, Paris, London and Monte Carlo to become the darling of the beautiful, the cool and the sexy.
Lauri Lyons who penned the article; noted that Toronto boasts a population of 3 million including 200 ethnic groups and 130 languages. Absorbing 50,000 new immigrants every year has made the Tdot, the most culturally diverse city in the World.
With every victory at soccer's World Cup, there was a celebration in one of T.O's diverse neighbourhoods. In the summer; festivals abound. From the biggest street party in North America; The LakeShore absorbs Caribana's  1 1/2 million people in fabulous costumes and rhythmic abandon  to Salsa on College; Pride on Church; Hindus on Yonge; Greeks on the Danforth .... there's a diversity that astounds.
With a picturesque waterfront hosting concerts in an amphitheater, boaters soak up cultural extravaganza from the comfort of their decks.
From the Phantom of the Opera to Rent, Cats, Miss Saigon; only London and New York have a richer Theater culture!
....... and then there's  TIFF ... that magnificent jewel .... surpassed only by the Cannes film festival. We are bigger than New York, Sundance, Berlin and all others. More premieres are released here and 300 films in 10 days is a movie buff's paradise.
Oh, did I mention LuminaTO and Nuit Blanche? Well, don't leave home until late at night, for these festivals go until sunrise .... the City does not sleep!
All this; without the violence, intolerance and refuse that litter the streets of any Metropolis.
The "Big Smoke" has a big heart! Charities are ubiquitous, with only Palm Beach raising more money. From Toronto's United Way chapter breaking records in North America to  Burton Cummings playing in a backyard to a thousand for the Bridle Bash foundraiser.
.... and while it's on the outskirts of Toronto, I would be remiss if I did not mention "Polo for Heart" in Gormley!
From Toronto the "Good" to Toronto .... sexy and cool!
I love it!

A little bit of this ....

I found this gem.

“The man who follows the crowd will usually get no further than the crowd. The man who walks alone, is likely to find himself in places, no one has ever been before…

You have two choices: you can dissolve into the mainstream or you can be distinct. To be distinct you must be different. To be different, you must strive to be what no one else ... but you; can be”.

An Addendum ....
"Follow the crowd .... and you'll never be followed by a crowd ...."

I am

The GENESIS of All .........

Reconciling State Sovereignty with the Global Responsibility to Protect!

The Law Society of Upper Canada recently hosted a symposium on this topic in association with several other Human Rights Monitoring Groups, including, Amnesty Int'l Canada, Canadians Lawyers Abroad, Canadian Lawyers for Int'l Human Rights, Human Rights Watch and Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada. The issue of the "right of humanitarian intervention" questions when it is appropriate for states to take action against another state for the purpose of protecting people from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against Humanity. After being debated by the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty, this and other challenging questions produced a doctrine known as "The Responsibility to Protect(R2P)". The panel addressed and articulated a wide spectrum that included legal, moral and political perspectives. With the stain and stench of Rwanda, the Baltic states and as we speak, Sri Lanka it appears the Security Council of the United Nations is impotent and is unable or unwilling to fulfill its' responsibility to intervene in affairs of this nature I was invited by the Human Rights Watch and am intrigued by Justice Harry S. LaForme's view of 'Cultural Genocide' as he put it with respect to the treatment of the First Nations. Justice LaForme, the 1st Aboriginal to sit on the Appellate court in Canada; lamented the injustices suffered by his people and wondered through whose 'Lenses' will the determination be made to intervene. He went on to cite high levels of incarceration, alcoholism and other ills that afflict his people after a Generation were forcibly taken from their homes and sent to Catholic schools to "Canadianise" them! This is a little more subtle and may not be as blood letting as the ethnic cleansing of the Baltics, the Genocide of Rwanda or the Killing fields of Cambodia ... but, is the result not the same? Entire Generations lost! Entire Generations who have had their Roots and Culture hijacked. Entire Generations with no playing field, much less a balanced one! An inscription on an exhibit in our venerable Royal Ontario Museum declares "Thutmose III sent his armies from Egypt to Asia and Africa"! Is this a surreptitious attempt to obfuscate its African origins?. Ass't Professor Pacifique Maniirakiza of the faculty of law, University of Ottawa approached the issue from a legal perspective and observed that the Security Council of the United Nations is too often paralyzed by politics with certain countries having veto power over any resolution. With the West losing its' moral cache after Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay, its even more imperative we as individuals lend support to these non political, non aligned and borderless Human Rights groups. These Human Rights Monitoring Groups are doing a Herculean job and need your support here and now! Support in so many ways, financial donations, keeping the profile high in the media and our own consciousness and more importantly, what moral cache we as Human Beings bring to these issues! If Tolerance and compassion is not found in the individual ... how can it be found in Nations? If we cannot get along with our neighbour, how can we expect it of tribes? ... of Religions? If it is not found here, do not look for it there, for it begins with the Individual. With Justice and Love lying comatose on the blood flowing streets of our Nations, we must find new ways to deal with differences. We must transform this wailing global elegy into a symphony of brotherhood and maybe postpone the Spiral down to thermoNuclear annihilation and it must start with the Individual! We must refuse to accept the cynical notion that Man's inhumanity to Man will continue unabated! .... and it must begin here and now! "The Lion and the Lamb shall indeed lie together and every Man shall sit under his own vine and fig tree and None shall be afraid" It was none other than Adam Smith who said that there should be the existence in the nature of every man of a part which “interest him in the fortune of others, and render their happiness necessary to him, though he derives nothing from it except the pleasure of seeing it” (Smith, 1759) . Click on Official links in right column to begin your personal contribution to healing a fractured World! Tikkun Olam! Image by FlamingText.com

Tempus Neminem Non Manet. Carpe Diem!

Speaking from the plateau of a devastated portfolio, I never-the-less bring glad tidings and evidence of a blissful tomorrow. With the money market meltdown, wars and rumours of war the World over, Global warming and such, it appears 2008 was unkind to many and the future seems bleak. However nothing could be further from the truth for we are sitting on the dawn of a glorious age!

Tempus Neminem non Manet! Carpe Diem! This from Horace's Odes, book 1, ode 11 says in essence: "Know this above all. This Life is the only one you have. Till you are living, exploit every instant, every moment, every hour you have. Time waits for no-one. Don't wait for time. Sieze the day"!

With the rising of Man's consciousness, his(her) awareness of the human condition, his(her) relationship to the health of Planet and concern for Human Rights, it is the "Time" for turning his(her) attention to the recognition of the "Spirit".

If all the ills of 2008 has propelled us to re evaluate and re prioritize what's truly meaningful; then it's a good thing.

We have before us an opportunity to realise our Divinity and thus transform our Universe!

We must find that Sanctum Sanctorum, that quiet place in every one of us where the Flesh gives way to the Spirit! It is our "Holy of Holies" where the noise of our existence is absorbed by an all-pervading  Silence! A Silence in which all potentialities exist, all combinations are accounted for and all possibilities lay dormant!

Find a quiet time, a clean place, seat yourself on a level surface, close your eyes and start by simply following the breath! Watch your thoughts rise and fall without identifying with any of them! With diligence and continued effort, you shall come to simply BE, you shall indeed know Silence and nothing of Man's doings shall disturb you!

Time waits for no Man, but I speak to you of the TimeLess, I speak to you of the cornucopia of plenty, I speak to you of you!

So have no fear, but boldly go forth and Live .... Here .... Now .... Forever! I wish you well!

Carpe Diem!

L'Shana Tova

Happy New Year to you! The last time I wished you a happy New Year was according to the Gregorian calender(Pope Gregory XIII 1582). Now I bring you the same Greetings for 5769 based on Hillel II standardising a fixed calender in the 4th century! It is a time of reflection and study, a time to be Judged; but also a time to look forward to a joyous, sweet, healthy and prosperous New year!

I indicated in my previous Post that according to certain coordinates the preceding year was supposed to be auspicious and with respect to the little problem happening with Capitalism; that prognostication may appear to be invalid! It actually brings it alive and I shall show you how and why!

This money market meltdown is a natural consequence of Capitalism that occurred before; as with the Savings and Loans fiasco of the 80s and the Tech bubble burst of the 90s. It reflects the unbridled greed and complete lack of oversight and foresight that has intoxicated Wall street.

Everything was going to be fine as long as there was growth in the market place! When the Market faltered as it must; the principle of leverage with its' complications of derivatives, credit default swaps and hedge funds and such could not be sustained and banks lost ther value not only in the US, but in Germany, Belgium, London, Russia ... with more to come! 

That George W Bush is at the helm is no coincidence, for it was also on his watch that  the decimation of the huge surplus left by the Clinton administration went almost un noticed by the American media!

That George W Bush would propose Nationlisation(the word: "bailout" is propaganda) of a business is akin to Socialism and destroys all pretense of a "FreeMarket"!

The Reagan/Thatcher trickle down ecnomics and George Bush's de regulation, decimation of the middle class were all contributions to this mess along with other influences!

It is curious to note that both Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan ended up with dementia and lost their minds!

Now we have George Dubya proposing welfare for Corporations and Socialism replacing Capitialism with a $700 Billion lifejacket for the most corrupt and greed driven demagogues! The question remains as to how the Americans will react with respect to policy and this Global crisis? Will they suppress freedom to encourage markets a la China(Authoritarian) or follow the Swedish model of Social Capitalism by supressing markets to encourage freedom?

This is indeed the Time and opportunity to reflect and ask ourselves the question; if we have been worshipping Idols and forgot what Abraham and Moses said, perhaps we replaced refuge in Torah and Morality for refuge in Profit and unsatiated greed? Perhaps if All this brings about more reflection and re establishing that "Covenant"; then, it has been and it shall be an auspicious and sweet year!

Happy New Year!

2008

2008(Hebrew 5768), the Chinese year of the rat, has all the coordinates for being an auspicious year! The combination of numbers add up to a "10" ... the Alpha and the Omega! The Beginning and the End ... where all combinations exist and all possibilities are manifest!

This is indeed the time when the Stars are most favourably aligned for the boldest of strokes!

I urge you all to take advantage of this opportunity and do what is most passionate in your heart! 

Love like you have never been hurt. 

Dance like no one's watching.

Laugh as if you have never cried!

Yesterday is dead and gone ... Now is where the cornucopia of plenty exists and Carpe Diem is catch phrase of the Year! Throw off all old encumberances and exult in a new found freedom; for truly ... there are no ties that bind!

On a more personal note ... to all those who constantly ask ... Who are you? .... What do you do? .... How rich are you? ... Where do you live?

Let me take this opportunity to answer you all  .. once and for all!

I am a Black Hole that has swallowed up the Universe! It is indeed my Baby to nurture or to abort!

I am Vast empty Space that gives rise to All! 

I am the Eternal flame that gives Light to the Sun!

I am Nothing!

I hope that answers all your questions and cleared up any confusion!

G*D Bless you all and Keep Smiling, whatever Happens!

Sieze the moment!

The Complex, the Carlyle and Catastrophe

The Greatest threat to World Peace and Stability is not Terrorism nor is it Global Warming .... it is the Military Indutrial Complex!!!! The Catastrophe of War and conflict, are their playing fields and are indeed where they reap the most bountiful harvest!

Dwight Eisenhower warned

"In the councils of Government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the Military Industrial Complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. "

He went on to say,

"We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our Liberties or Democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable Citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge Industrial and Military machinery of defense with our Peaceful methods and goals, so that Security and Liberty may prosper together."

Literally hundreds of Billions have been spent on the ill advised War in Iraq! I suggest to you the bulk has gone to the Military Industrial Complex! Their Power, Influence and War Chest has grown immeasurably and to them ... that's not ill advised!

The Military-Industrial Complex is generally defined as a "coalition consisting of the Military and Industrialists who profit by manufacturing arms and selling them to the Government."

The American President aforementioned went on to say in his farewell address in 1961

"We now stand ten years past the midpoint of a century that has witnessed four major wars among great nations. Three of these involved our own country. Despite these holocausts America is today the strongest, the most influential and most productive nation in the world. Understandably proud of this pre-eminence, we yet realize that America's leadership and prestige depend, not merely upon our unmatched material progress, riches and military strength, but on how we use our power in the interests of World Peace and Human betterment."

Some where it was said "We do not inherit this World from our Parents we BORROW it from our Children"! .....  and thus it is incumbent upon us to keep it in good repair! To fulfill our Duty, we must focus on the MOST influential of Forces that shape what was coined as the "New World Order". That which shall make us live in Fear and Trepidation of Heart or in an Envirnoment conducive to raising our Families and the Children with unlimited potentialities and Love and Peace!!!

One those "Industrialists" that comprises this "Complex" is the Carlyle Group! Its' High profile members include (former C.I.A. Director and U.S. President George H.W. Bush, former Secretary of Defense Frank Carlucci, former Secretary of State James Baker, former British Prime Minister John Majors and former World Bank Treasurer Afsanch Masheyekhi as were members of the Bin-Laden family until immediately following 9-11)! Their main thrust was to generate  huge profits in a myriad of businesses most notably aerospace and defense, automotive, energy, telecommunications and media, healthcare and real estate and according to their Site have been fabulously successful!

Truly!, .... They take no sides as long as their Product is being peddled! To the "Complex" and the "Carlyle"; Catastrophe is viewed with glee!

Mortal Enemies, Imagined and Percieved, ALL are armed with their Product!

To give you an idea of the type of coin I'm talking about, let's examine the figures going back 5 years to 2002!

The United States Government spent more on the military in fiscal year 2003, than all the rest of the countries on Earth combined. The expenditures projected for 2003 were 437 billion and their past obligations were 339 billion. Almost 46% of American Taxes go to the Military Industrial Complex.

That was 2003! In the 5 years since the costs has gone up astronomically and Now is the time to realise the Absurdity of it all!

We could have eliminated Poverty, Homelessness, countless diseases, (with the adequate funding for research), Illiteracy, and so much else with a percentage of that kind of expendititure!

In the latest clash in Gaza, it was astonishing to learn that Fatah was being armed and financed by American "Interests", among others! This despite Hamas being the apparent elected "government". Despite the fact they fail to recognise Israel, which of course cannot be entertained, they are who the People want to represent them!. Although Fatah is recognised as the non-elected "government" by the "International" community; it was they who kidnapped the British journalist Alan Johnston and it was Hamas that freed him! What a mess! Talk about complications and confusion run amok! There are so many hidden "Players" whose only purpose is self aggandisment, self enrichment and trying to quench their insatiable thirst for Power and Influence ... "Collateral damage and All"!

Even with respect to Global warming ... the testing of Nuclear weapons are unlike any other pollutant!

Maybe enabling all people to live with Dignity, Freedom and Opportunity is really the only way to Security and an enduring Peace!

"The Man who trades "Liberty for Security deserves neither and SHALL receive neither"!!!

So the fires and Passions of all these Tribal and Sectarian Wars the World over are being stoked by behind the scene Fire Marshalls!

Be! unavailable for seduction by false Prophets! Fear Not!

Martin Luther King said

"Sooner or Later, all the People of the World will have to discover and implement a way to live together in PEACE and thereby TRANSFORM this wailing COSMIC ELEGY into a creative PSALM of BROTHERHOOD!!!

If this is to be achieved .... Man must evolve for all Human conflict .... a Method, which REJECTS revenge, intolerance and aggression".

Nietzsche said,

"In individuals, Insanity is rare; but in Groups, Parties, Nations and Epochs, it is the rule".

Man!  .....

Know ThySelf remains the Invocation!!