Dancing Tonto is silver spoon fed by Goverment Grants? Why?

Life on the road is tiring, one is always on,  listening to people is like a constant barrage of feedback, and it starts to sound like @$#^#%@%@&#, after awhile.  It's one of the best things to hear from a person that got up on stage for the first time and said "your performance helped give me the confidence to do that"! It's not the seasoned local poets that come out to see who is in cringing on there turf, and they are the tough critics, but last night was the opposite. They could not relate to the Poverty, the homelessness poems, the gay poems, the debauchery drunken poems.  This spot here in Canmore, AB was not fully aware of who I was I think? They looked shocked, stunned, and the young man kept his distance from me after the show, After he yelled  "Government Poet Sellout" was that a Shaming thing? or just young anarchist blindness? That's not for me to say, or care about, I was young once, and had "ideals" of how I thought I would like to live, but reality slaps you in the face and says" WAKE THE FUCK UP! I have been on the road long enough to know that one has to take feedback with a grain of salt. I am relieved that the tour dates are done. I can relax and sit in the mountains for the last few day and write, read, and just be. Gone are the Antichrists, the crazy-makers (energy suckers), the day unfolds, and Sam Bailey is the reason maturing Government poets travel to high schools to empower the voiceless.

Loss Is Part Of Life.. For Every Parting is a Teaching.

After a break up a sense of fog shrouds ones mind, like walking numb, eating has no taste, conversations all sound like that teacher from the peanuts cartoon $&^$@%$%#&%.. When I was in my 20's, living in East Vancouver with a house full of butch dykes. It was the early 90's cocaine was the medicine of choice, a joint was a cigarette one had on a break at work, and nobody thought different.
This house was shared  with seven Queers, not close , put together by circumstances.  I walked in one morning into the bathroom to find Jodie still in the tub, after taking a piss, I looked over, she was dead of an overdoes.  I was not surprised.  Went to work. left it to one of the other dyke's to deal with, since I didn't really know her, she was a "roommate" of circumstance.

This was later in life I experienced the loss of a cat named Grace(the most clumsy cat on earth all left feet.) I remember our last day together in Whitehorse, YT before she wandered off into the bush to die "Gracefully". we walked the cliffs above the house , sat on the bluffs looking over the city, then as time came to go down, she just stood there. Looking in a different directions. I said  "You got to go". I picked her up, kissed her, and let her go wander off into the bush to die. Grace had a feline cancer, she came to me tthe way she went.. a stray.  In the north they gave me the injection to administer when I felt the time was right. I never had to make that decision. A few weeks later on my walk up the bluffs I came across graces eaten body, ravens chowing on her.  I thought "what a beautiful way to go." Now she is flying high, where she used to spend hours on top of the house watching the skies and birds. now she was in the belly's of them. beautiful.

The late 80's early 90's saw myself land in the middle of the Aids crisis in Vancouver. I remember dropping off food baskets to dying men, sitting with men that's families have shunned them, and I was a stranger to them, an  "Angel" as I was named by the men whose faces have become a skeleton, ravaged by the disease. I held the hands of more than sixteen men, as the last gasps of air, saying "Just let go babe", the memory of hollow eyes staring at me haunt me till this day.  It was not until 2008 I would loose my dearest friend Jeniffer to the disease. The planing of her funeral on the beaches of Tofino, BC. She planned it all. She left with Grace and class.

I have seen death, and it's not all bad as people think. It's humans "ownership", "attachment" that makes it hard to let go.... Let go... So long Ms. Vivian thanks for the time you spent with me. Your teachings are to many here in this shelter of lost souls whom remember you and you provided comfort to many. Bye.

Ms. Vivian
2007-2010

When the local economy is poor. Bring on the Clowns!

To keep the slaves from freaking the city rolls out the propaganda to keep them sedated and happy, in reality the pockets are empty, "Keep the poor happy" put out the best immigrants performers Brandon has to appease the poor. in reality the poor should fucking turn over a few cop cars, smash a few windows, get that frustration out! Don't be brainwashed into all this "We are family" shit. We all come from a clan that fought, hated one another, now we live in a society that forces us to get along, in reality we grin and bare out teeth at one another, forced to work together, for a few bucks in the pockets. For what? To pay Brandon slum landlords rents, the cycle of keeping the immigrants working

Migrant workers are seeking a new life here in Brandon often to find themselves in a new form of post nine eleven sanctioned slavery. On a local level, our city has grown economically. As part of the very first pilot program group in January 2002, one sees Brandon changing suddenly, and witness the fast emotional decline of hundreds of Mexicans, Salvadorians, Hondurans, Colombians, Chinese, Ukrainians, Nigerians, Ethiopians, Ugandans. One sees the physical and emotional breakdown. From my own personal observations, I see a deep local crisis. Shortage of housing, lack of quality health care, increasing of criminal/ activities, racial discrimination and cultural isolation are only some of the conflicts I perceive.

At what cost to Brandon’s future? A virus of apathy is at the doors of this city. Severe social problems such as homelessness, drugs, gangs, murders and prostitution, will become common place, symptomatic of a community growing too fast for local resources to get funding to service the needs of the many that fall by the roadside. Our City’s major export may be pork, and the legal trafficking of human slaves is its greatest import.

I say YOU go dance you politically correct slaves, eat your taco's, and observe, WTF UP!

Factotum: My life as a Working Poor Observer.

You’re leaving your current place of work and moving on. Whether you're resigning or just finishing a contract, or fired because you are too good at being "You" there’s an art to walking out the door with class – and with all of your ducks in a row. 

I write words on paper. I am educated with degrees, diplomas, but when your of color, it's the affirmative action door that gets you into 99.9% of white owned employers interviews. Under the affirmative action clause, employers look good to the politically correct of society. "Token".  I'm at the point in my life where the body now dictates what jobs I can do. I no longer care to wash toilets, floors, for the emotional demeaning emotional stress on my health. BUT, I have done it to get into the psych of the working poor. It's a place where no trust exists and women talk like drunken sailors. As I leave on a small tour of Alberta, thought of performing to hippies, whom like my words, BRAVO.. It comes to mind how I will invent myself after this. Brandon is birth place, memories of family trials/death, my own failures as a slave, being educated in Brandon MB is not for this Brown guy. I plan to leave the country in two years. Never to return but in a box. Buried with all the other family that I did not choose. Writing hours per day of my life adn those I listen too, in this homeless shelter, has enriched me and fullfilled me with sorrow at times, but has weakened my spirit. Humanity in Brandon is a show for the outsiders to watch on a screen. 

Part Two: To Be Politically Correct / In Correct. An Undomesticated A Nobel Savages P.O.V

The world is heading into a new era. Hunger, increased urbanization, global pollution, natural disasters, decline of arable land. Meanwhile, the population can only be an estimate of 6,602,224,175 human beings. The UN World Food Program estimates food price raises will directly affect the increasing of the poor up to 20%. This could push 100 million people into poverty.

Many questions are becoming a major concern on how we feed the world. The severe food scare of 2008 is a symptom of a broader crisis. Daily food riots in developing countries and shortages in countries that never had such problems are becoming more common. This global hit, reached Canada with the lack of gasoline. Is this a sign for major chaos?

Migrant workers are seeking a new life here in Brandon often to find themselves in a new form of post nine eleven sanctioned slavery. On a local level, our city has grown economically. As part of the very first pilot program group in January 2002, witnessing the fast emotional decline of hundreds of Mexicans, Salvadorians, Hondurans, Colombians, Chinese, Ukrainians, Nigerians, Ethiopians, Ugandans; counting of course ones own physical and emotional breakdown. From his own personal observations, he has witnessed a deep local crisis. Shortage of housing, lack of quality health care, increasing of criminal/ activities, racial discrimination and cultural isolation are only some of the conflicts.

At what cost to Brandon’s future? A virus of apathy is at the doors of this city. Severe social problems such as homelessness, drugs, gangs, murders and prostitution, will become common place, symptomatic of a community growing too fast for local resources to get funding to service the needs of the many that fall by the roadside. Our City’s major export may be pork, and the legal trafficking of human slaves is its greatest import.

R. Vincent Harris Owner/Curator/Steward.

Part Two: To Be Politically Correct / In Correct. An Undomesticated A Nobel Savages P.O.V

To Politically In/Correct, That is the question?

By R. Vincent Harris

What classifies as “ignore/rant, un/educated opinions? One mans truth.  Some would say James O’Connor’s comments are thought provoking, conservative truths or white-middle classicism stereo-typical white man, rants that was raised in a middle class family. Does that make him a racist, homophobic, for his philosophical Platonism's / Machiavellisims what will the cave behold for our moral policed society?  Privileged ignorant? No. He’s a man speaking “his” truth and the “truth” of our city hall forefathers, who were ALL white men, but the winds of change will blow in rainbow seeds of many nationalities on the doorstep of our city hall, change, progress, HOPE for a more racially represented city hall is coming.  When the faces of our councilmen/women are racially represented will our city be about inclusively not exclusivity. Vote for Change on October 27, 2010.

I’m wondering if James has said anything about the involvement of the Church’s participation in city hall, “Pray for Councilors day 2009”. The church seems to have invaded council chambers and councilors hearts; the church first of all has no place in the council’s chambers or the mayor’s chambers and the peoples building.  I find that mayor Burgess has done few or anything that will keep his name in favor for our next civic election. Sure he brought in hundred of migrant workers to a city that has a growing cocaine issue, all the city needs now is a brothel and we will be set. All these single men do need some release. The winds of CHANGE will be blowing in through the west and it’s my HOPE the racial representations of a growing Brandon will be represented on council. The mayor is a Christian and being devoted to this form of dogmatic religion and it’s teachings some of which would be considered homophobic by which the mayor is not sitting in objective manner to serve to his unbiased opinion for the greater good of a changing civil society of Brandon. 

The Next Civil Election the people of Generation X, Y, and now the R (Recession) whose open mindedness will have a changing effect on the diversity of the city in the future. CHANGE is coming.  I say BELIEVE, have HOPE that PROGRESS will not come at the cost of post-Nine – Eleven slaves.   Maple Leaf workers who come here seeking new lives, but find despair of isolation from the old guard of systemic racial divisions.  CHANGE is coming for DAKOTA First Nations people to be counted and valued as a economic member of the larger community for a stable growth of the city, 40 Million worth of votes. Urban First Nations votes matter in this next election; it’s time to find the voice within to speak up for inclusion in city hall.  Gay & Lesbians will be valued for there diversity and find a margin of equality, it’s only been forty years since the stonewall riots, have patience; your votes do matter in the next election.

Councilors have to be held accountable for their votes on laws; attendance has to be measured with public/constituency feedback.

City hall needs a “youth representation” on council, a woman’s advocacy on council, a gay and Lesbian representation, Immigrants advocacy, and First Nations representation from each sector of the region, lets make city hall about inclusively not exclusivity on October 27, 2010.

And Let The Race Begin!

Reading the paper of yesterdays "Aboriginal Summit" for the new Mayor, Burgess SUCKED! "I promised 40% of jobs for First Natiuons People," well yes. Retention of Maple Leaf's Canada's First Nations people, is few now years later. The Mayor did hold up his end, he brought in Indians from other countries? Your legacy is set in Brandon's immigrant population sir. Good Christan way of you. The important facts in this election will not be addressed, but here is some facts for you all.

The world is heading into a new era. Hunger, increased urbanization, global pollution, natural disasters, decline of arable land. Meanwhile, the population can only be an estimate of 6,602,224,175 human beings. The UN World Food Program estimates food price raises will directly affect the increasing of the poor up to 20%. This could push 100 million people into poverty.

Many questions are becoming a major concern on how we feed the world. The severe food scare of 2008 is a symptom of a broader crisis. Daily food riots in developing countries and shortages in countries that never had such problems are becoming more common. This global hit, reached Canada with the lack of gasoline. Is this a sign for major chaos?

Migrant workers are seeking a new life here in Brandon often to find themselves in a new form of post nine eleven sanctioned slavery. On a local level, our city has grown economically. As part of the very first pilot program group in January 2002, Zavaleta saw his new home town changing suddenly, and witnessed the fast emotional decline of hundreds of Mexicans, Salvadorians, Hondurans, Colombians, Chinese, Ukrainians, Nigerians, Ethiopians, Ugandans, etcetera; counting of course his own physical and emotional breakdown. From his own personal observations, he has witnessed a deep local crisis. Shortage of housing, lack of quality health care, increasing of criminal/ activities, racial discrimination and cultural isolation are only some of the conflicts he perceives.

At what cost to Brandon’s future? A virus of apathy is at the doors of this city. Severe social problems such as homelessness, drugs, gangs, murders and prostitution, will become common place, symptomatic of a community growing too fast for local resources to get funding to service the needs of the many that fall by the roadside. Our City’s major export may be pork, and the legal trafficking of human slaves is its greatest import.

R. Vincent Harris Owner/Curator/Steward.