For full summary of discussion see: http://www.wednesday-night.com/Wed1221page2.aspes the Canadian media have an anti-American bias, or does it reflect public sentiment (including 55% of Americans) that is anti-Bush? Is there a predominantly leftist/liberal slant to Canadian media? Does our media represent the sentiments of the parts of Canada that are 'red'? As John Moore pointed out in his recent opinion piece in the National Post: The myth of Canadian anti-Americanism hinges on two false premises. The first is that any criticism of the United States is, by definition, an expression of hate.The second is that to compare ourselves favourably to the United States or even to assert something positive about Canada -- say, that we have a more humane health care system, or better gun control laws -- is to denigrate our neighbours by implication. http://www.wednesday-night.com/byJohnMoore.htm us you are against us' political pronouncements, anti-Bush sentiment among Canadians increased. At the international level, the emphasis by the Bush administration on 'religious values' is offensive to many citizens of other countries who are themselves deeply religious, because it is contradictory to the message delivered by the supply by the United States of arms that fuel a number of conflicts. Many Canadians were puzzled by President Bush’s reelection with a majority, wondering how 'right thinking' Americans could have supported the neo cons, but now Canadians take comfort in the dramatic shift of American public opinion against the Bush Administration. The media, it seems, reflects these opinions faithfully, and does not often speak for the 'red' pockets of Canadian opinion. Bank mergers The Canadian government is likely to permit chartered banks to merge http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000082&sid=aoIlgd6W98l8&refer=Canadas-Report.asp#1221[/url] NEAR TERM OUTLOOK: Canadian Dollar: 80¾¢ U.S. - 81¾¢ U.S. Crude: $59.00 U.S. - $ 61.00 U.S. Gold: $424.00 U.S. - $ 426.00 U.S Euro: $1.20 U.S. - $1.21 U.S. Regulation of the airways Regarding renewal of broadcasting licenses, there is agreement on the need for rules governing Canadian content, but disagreement on the role that the C.R.T.C. plays in governing content. Critics maintain that libel laws and hate legislation offer adequate protection, and human rights legislation should not trump freedom of speech. There is a fine line between political correctness and social acceptability, especially as we often use humour to elevate our own self-image by demeaning others. What the individual finds humorous is likely a reflection of that person's culture and, like all matters of taste, is extremely personal. Consequently, some find today's comedy vulgarity without wit. Comedy is the cutting edge and usually treats what is most important to us, or what makes us uncomfortable – in recent years, women and [censored]have successively been the principal subjects of comedy, now it may be Muslims. Violence and [censored]ography on television and the Internet The ubiquity of the Internet, the changing nature of video games and the changes in human mores over the years, have all contributed to concern about what children are watching on television and viewing on the Internet. The obvious solution would be that parents take responsibility for looking after their children, place the computer (and television set) in a public area of the home rather than in a bedroom, and actively supervise the children. However, children spend relatively little time at home, and are subject to the influence of society, peer pressure, possible bullying and taxation in the school yard. In adolescence, children often rebel against their parents' values and become less willing to follow their advice (the consolation being that if you and they survive that trial, they may indeed turn into quite solid, 'respectable' – even conservative - citizens!). Discussion is the best answer, which means making sure that lines of communication are always open and that trust is maintained. The final word: what we must never forget, and must make sure our children understand is that we can have [censored]ography without love, love without [censored]ography, but a true relationship must be based on love. Judith Miller/Karl Rove (continued) The incarceration of Judith Miller, New York Times journalist has, once again, come to our attention. Ms. Miller has been jailed for not naming the source of classified information about which she never wrote. A liberal is going to jail to defend neocon Karl Rove (the leaker).... QUOTES of the EVENING [list:f93ef21e84]Never mistake the callers for the listeners Why can't Canadian banks take a small percentage of their obscene profits and be socially conscious? In other countries, banks actually take risks to invest in the community in which they reside Humor is about what makes us uncomfortable We laugh about what is most important to us as a society I was the oldest person in Kampala; I did not see a single person with white hair. The average life expectancy is 43. The paradox is that although living with death, the society is very vital[/list:u:f93ef21e84]