Why is Canada at war; The politics of fear; Listener mail; School of gospel; The sinking of the Lusitania
Why is Canada at war? - Michael's essay: (00:00:26)
With the extension of Canada's military mission in Iraq to Syria, questions must be asked. Here's an excerpt: "Our Foreign Affairs Minister Rob Nicholson recently told a group of diplomats that the Iraq, now Syria, mission was a matter of moral clarity. But before you can have moral clarity, shouldn't you have intellectual clarity? For example, no one has explained to me in any satisfactory way, how bombing IS warriors in Iraq or Syria will prevent a terrorist from attacking the West Edmonton Mall."
The politics of fear: (00:04:42) Here's what North Americans are afraid of; ebola, vaccines, inadequate pensions, unemployment, gluten, climate change, zombies, genetically modified food, the niqab, cancer, debt, young black men wearing hoodies, exorbitant house prices, aggressive panhandlers, and, especially, terrorism. Shrewd politicians are often savvy brokers of fear; hence the extended military mission to Syria, and the controversial measures of Bill C-51. Michael speaks with Dr. Penelope Ironstone of Wilfrid Laurier University about the politics of fear.
Listener mail: (00:30:56) Listeners respond to Michael's essay from two weeks ago called Elegy for a tree. Mark Hopkins, director of Wind Music Studies at Acadia University in Nova Scotia, sent an e-mail with a sound-track; a piece of music for wind orchestra called City Trees by Michael Markowski. We also hear from listeners about medical marijuana, and about Michael's interview with controversial Haaretz columnist, Gideon Levy.
School of gospel: (00:46:28) A few weeks ago, crowds of people came to an event called Power Up, consisting of forty classes in singing, writing and making the very best of gospel sound. Get ready to have your blood stirred and your soul fed. A Frank Faulk documentary.
The sinking of the Lusitania: (01:03:52) Best-selling author Erik Larson tells the story of the doomed passenger ship, the Lusitania. Its sinking by a German U-boat is popularly believed to have spurred the United States into World War One. Larson tackles this and other myths about the great luxury liner in his fascinating new book, Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania.