“Let us in the name of radical pragmatism not forget that in our system with all its repressions we can still speak out and denounce the administration, attack its policies, work to build an opposition political base. True, there is government harassment, but there still is that relative freedom to fight. I can attack my government, try to organize to change it. That's more than I can do in Moscow, Peking, or Havana. Remember the reaction of the Red Guard to the ‘cultural revolution’ and the fate of the Chinese college students. Just a few of the violent episodes of bombings or a courtroom shootout that we have experienced here would have resulted in a sweeping purge and mass executions in Russia, China, or Cuba. Let's keep some perspective.”

“Prologue” in Saul Alinsky Rules for Radicals [imagine quoting Alinksy to rein in modern radicals not encourage them... but I do]

“Je préfère les bandits aux imbéciles parce qu’ils se reposent, eux.”

Some version of this line (which was emailed to me) is widely attributed to Alexandre Dumas online, but I cannot find any actual place he allegedly said it which makes me think he did not. I pass it on anyway because if he did not say it, he should have. [Of course if you can cite its origin, with him or anyone else, please let me know.]

“As my Dad used to say, ‘you don’t plant cabbages and pick roses.’”

Reform Party of Canada’s Victoria candidate, Christian Arla Taylor, on why Christians must not expect non-Christians to represent their views, quoted in British Columbia Report June 2, 1997

“Lest we forget an at least over-the-shoulder acknowledgement to the very first radical: from all our legends, mythology, and history (and who is to know where mythology lives off and leaves off and history begins – or which is which), the first radical known to man who rebelled against the establishment and did it so effectively that he at least won his own kingdom – Lucifer.”

“Saul Alinksy” quoted as 3rd of 3 header quotations in Saul Alinsky Rules for Radicals [from the “so you admit it” file]

“I am a vegetarian between meals.”

G.K. Chesterton quoted without further attribution in “News with Views” “Compiled by Mark Pilon” in Gilbert: the Magazine of the Society of G.K. Chesterton Vol. 28 #2 (Nov./Dec. 2024)

This week on Forum Daily News with Hal Roberts, I discussed the JCCF petition against Bill C22 that I personally delivered to the Prime Minister’s Office in the admittedly remote hope that they’ll reconsider this Draconian and mistargeted bill.

In my latest Loonie Politics column I deplore the prideful inability of people in public life to admit an error and apologize even though, weirdly, it would be better PR than their flailing efforts at spin control, as well as better statecraft and soulcraft.

“What the present generation wants is what all generations have always wanted – a meaning, a sense of what the world and life are – a chance to strive for some sort of order.”

“Prologue” in Saul Alinsky Rules for Radicals