Just when we thought things were getting better.....

I came across this news article on the weekend and thought I would share it with everyone:

Hundreds March To Protest Homophobic Attack In Small Canadian Town
by The Canadian Press

February 17, 2006 - 9:00 pm ET

(Antigonish, Nova Scotia) About 200 people turned out for a rally in Antigonish on Friday to protest a recent homophobic attack in the town.
Chris Frazer, a professor at Francis Xavier University who organized the rally, said the attack on a man earlier this month was disturbing.
``It's hard to make any sense of an incident like this,'' Frazer said Friday. ``It can only come from hate ... This is an institution of higher learning, of education. We need to teach tolerance.''
On Feb. 2, a man was walking late at night when he was assaulted from behind by two other males. He was knocked to the ground and suffered minor facial injuries.
The attackers told the man they were beating him because he was gay.
The event attracted area residents, students, faculty and representatives of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community.

On Sunday, my Minister focused his sermon on the issue. If you would like to listen to the sermon then click here. This sort of news is always disheartening to me. The only reason individuals practise this violence is because they are brought up in a society that allows it. Canada has become divided into two camps: those that support homosexuals or could care less and those that vehemently oppose it. Because we have members of society that actively spread their message of hate, we have children that believe it is okay to violently show their hate. This must stop! Hopefully our leaders will begin to show leadership on this issue.

On Saturday night, after presenting at the 2nd Annual Graduate Student Symposium in the afternoon, I actually took some relaxation time. A professor friend of mine from Mount Allison University came down and we went out to dinner and then for a drink. It was nice to take in some of Saint John’s ambiance night life. I definitely do not get to do it enough!

Tonight, I have a FUSION Government Relations committee meeting at 6:30 at St. Joseph’s Community Health Centre. We will be brainstorming around what initiatives we will be taking on this year. I welcome anyone to come out and join the committee or to just email (dannyj@nbnet.nb.ca) their input. In fact, please let me know your input on anything I write in this blog. I am doing it because I enjoy sharing community events with everyone, but I also welcome discussion on these events.

Have a great week!