By Judi McLeod ——Bio and Archives--November 4, 2014
Cover Story | CFP Comments | Reader Friendly | Subscribe | Email Us
“Next fall when you see geese heading south for the winter... flying along in V formation...you might consider what science has discovered as to why they fly that way: (Buffalo.edu) “As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in V formation the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range, than if each bird flew on its own. “People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going more quickly and easily because they are traveling on the thrust of one another. “When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone... and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front. If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who are headed the same way we are.
“When the head goose gets tired it rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point. It is sensible to take turns doing demanding jobs...with people or with geese flying south. “Geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. What do we say when we honk from behind? “Finally...and this is important...when a goose gets sick or is wounded by gunshots, and falls out of formation, two other geese fall out with that goose and follow it down to lend help and protection. They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly or until it dies, and only then do they launch out on their own, or with another formation to catch up with their group. “If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other like that. (Reprinted from materials provided by Bonnie J. Collins, EdM, LCSW ‐R)”I relate the honking of the geese this fall to two elections, the town and city hall ones that took place just one week ago, and tomorrow’s American midterms. All day long on last week’s Election Day, I heard the geese flying over. They sounded so full of promise on their annual trip for better days ahead, while I remained earthbound, worrying that all incumbents in the small towns of Ontario and elsewhere would be returned to power as they always are. But somewhat incredibly, for once and for all, this time all niggling worry was for naught. As Election results proved, in some of those small towns, long term incumbents, standing in the way of anything good coming to those towns, were replaced by ordinary citizens who had had enough of them. Small bands of citizens on civic duty missions came along to wipe out the apathy that has long dogged municipal/civic elections, and it’s a trend that will follow future town and city elections. Along with the smug fat cat politicians we call ‘mayors’, the mainstream media, of course, never saw it coming In Toronto, the incredibly media-harassed Mayor Rob Ford, forced to give up on the mayoral race when he was stricken by cancer at the beginning of the campaign, ran for his old council seat in Etobicoke and handily reclaimed it. His brother Doug, who ran in his place as mayor, almost eased out Liberal dressed in small c-conservative sheep’s clothing John Tory--even though Ford with all local media against him only joined the race one month before Election Day.
Support Canada Free Press
View Comments