WORDS FROM TWO NEWSPAPERS THAT MADE ME THINK . . .

This is from The Toronto Sun.  The caption reads: Rob Ford's desk sits empty in Toronto City Hall Council Chambers hours after the announcement of his death yesterday.

Does The Toronto Sun have to explain why Rob Ford's seat is empty?  Shouldn't Rob Ford's seat be empty hours after the announcement of his death?  The Sun would have quite a story if the picture showed Rob Ford sitting at his desk after he died.

Reporting on the Liberal's Federal budget, The Toronto Star talked to people in different circumstances to show how the budget will affect Canadians in general.  The Star talked to real Canadians . . .  

Are there unreal Canadians?  Did The Star choose to talk to real Canadians because unreal Canadians are harder to find?  Does the Citizenship and Immigration Department ask immigrants, "Would you like to be a real or unreal Canadian?"

THE CAUSE OF CRIME?

In a recent column, Toronto Sun  writer Lorrie Goldstein states a worn-out premise.  He writes that the biggest cause of gang crime and violence, in Toronto's black community, is "the breakdown of the black nuclear family and the reality of absentee black fathers."   Really?  A breakdown of the nuclear family and absent fathers is the biggest cause of crime?

How does Lorrie Goldstein, and other followers of this premise, explain the Mafia?  The Mafia is made up of nuclear families with strong family values.  These families attend church.  The children grow up not only knowing who their fathers are, but also knowing who their godfathers are.  Why is the Mafia involved in crime and violence?  Is it because of their strong family values and churchgoing?  Is it a lack of drop-in centres and community programs for mobsters?  Is it because the Mafia has been led astray by bad black street gangs? 

The cause of crime?  Whatever happened to people being responsible for the choices they make?