The world has lost Austin Clarke - a lovely man and a great writer

It was back in the 80's, and I had just completed my first short story. Mr. Clarke was the Writer in Residence at the Toronto Public Library and part of his mandate was to read the works of amateur writers like myself and give us feedback.

Two weeks after I submitted my short to the library I received a call from Mr. Clarke. He had read my short story and asked me to come to his office so the could deliver his feedback in person. I was so nervous I couldn't stop shaking. Upon arrival Mr. Clarke looked me in the eye, smiled, said he liked my short then asked me if I'd like to have lunch with him and his publisher in the University of Toronto's Great Hall - an ornate, walnut paneled, regal dining room reserved for alumni.

R.I.P. Austin Clarke... and thank you for your generosity and kindness. I've read all your books and treasure each one.

If you folks in the blogsphere want to read "a great story, well told" (something Norman Jewison once said in reference to what filmmakers like myself should strive for) then buy a copy of Mr. Clarke's The Polished Hoe

Thank you Daniel Berrigan for your courage and activism

"The Berrigan brothers (Daniel and Philip) entered a draft board in Catonsville, Maryland, on May 17, 1968, with seven other activists and removed records of young men about to be shipped off to Vietnam. The group took the files outside and burned them in garbage cans.

The Catonsville Nine, as they came to be known, were convicted on federal charges accusing them of destroying U.S. property and interfering with the Selective Service Act of 1967. All were sentenced on Nov. 9, 1968 to prison terms ranging from two to 3.5 years.

When asked in 2009 by "America," a national Catholic magazine, whether he had any regrets, Berrigan replied: "I could have done sooner the things I did."

Mr. Berrigan was one of my heroes back in the '60 and remains so today. We need more people like him. People who are willing to fight against war and violence.

Read the story on CTV News

R.I.P. James B. Taylor (Uncle Jimmy)

Died April 26 at the age of 89

R.I.P. Denise Matthews aka Vanity

"Denise Matthews, the former protege of music legend Prince known by her stage name Vanity died today of kidney failure in Fremont, California. She was 57. As Vanity, Matthews enjoyed some success as a pop singer and as an actress in the 1980s, but converted to evangelical Christianity in the 1990s following a public battle with drug addiction, and abandoned her career in entertainment.

Born in Niagara Falls, Canada and largely raised in the greater Toronto area, Vanity began her career in entertainment as a model, moving to New York City when she was 17"

Read the story on Deadline Hollywood

R.I.P. conductor and peace promoter Kurt Masur

"The German government praised Masur for his role in 1989 as the GDR regime was threatened by mass demonstrations.

The conductor was one of the prominent Leipzig citizens to appeal for no violence as tens of thousands took to the streets.

His influence helped prevent a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters - and the Berlin Wall fell, peacefully, within weeks.

"The unified Germany owes him an enormous debt of gratitude as a trailblazer and as guarantor of a peaceful transition to unity," said German Culture Minister Monika Gruetters.

Read the story in the BBC News

Canada should apologise to Dr. David Shugar

R.I. P Dr. David Shugar - Sept. 1915 to Nov. 2015

"Dr. Shugar was one of the most gifted young scientists in the country, with a McGill PhD in his pocket and every expectation that a brilliant career wold lie ahead until, a the age of 30, he was caught in the coils of the bitter ideological rivalries of the 20th century. His name was blackened and career cut short in this country (Canada) when Igor Gouzenko falsely alleged that Dr. Shugar was part of a secret spy ring."

Read the story in the Globe and Mail

Please write to Justin Trudeau, the recently elected Prime Minister of Canada and ask him to apologise to Dr. Shugar's family for the shoddy way Dr. Shugar was treated.

R.I.P. P.F. Sloan - we're still on the "Eve of Destruction"

The Eve of Destruction (1965) was "Seen as inflammatory, the song was condemned by educators and banned by some radio stations. But it remained in the top 20 in the U.S. for two months.
It also was credited with boosting momentum for passage of the 26th Amendment.

Signed into law in 1971, the measure lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. Supporters rallied around a couple of Sloan’s lines:

You're old enough to kill but not for votin'
You don't believe in war but what’s that gun you're totin'?

But “Eve of Destruction” created a powerful backlash. Infuriated by its anti-establishment provocations, right-wing forces orchestrated his downfall, Sloan contended. Billboard magazine was pressured to get his song off the charts and his record label, Dunhill, cheated him out of his royalties, he said.

Read the story in the Los Angeles Times

THE EVE OF DESTRUCTION 

"Think of all the hate there is in Red China
Then take a look around to Selma, Alabama
You may leave here for four days in space
But when you return it's the same old place
The pounding of the drums, the pride and disgrace
You can bury your dead but don't leave a trace
Hate your next door neighbor but don't forget to say grace

And tell me
Over and over and over and over again my friend
You don't believe
We're on the eve of destruction
Mmm, no, no, you don't believe
We're on the eve of destruction"

Check out Barry McGuire singing on YOUTUBE

R.I.P. Romeo Phillion

Romeo Phillion served 31 1/2 years in prison for a murder he confessed to (then recanted) but didn't commit.

"A victim of long-buried police evidence and society's tendency to stereotype the poor and voiceless", writes Lisa Fitterman in the Globe and Mail

R.I.P. Herman Melville

Herman Melville was, of course, the author of that famous sea-faring novel Moby Dick. Mr. Melville died Sept. 28, 1891 in New York City. Moby Dick was published in 1851 and could be purchased for the princely sum of about $1.50. Mr. Melville's story about the now famous whale and captain was a flop and he died a destitute hermit.

It was only when a Canadian professor read that book eight years later and pronounced it "the best sea story ever written" that Moby Dick achieved fame.

Read more about Mr. Melville in the Globe and Mail and on his WEBSITE (yes he has his own website)

R.I.P. Oliver Sacks - brilliant neurologist and writer

"Sacks was the author of several books about unusual medical conditions, including The Man Who Mistook His Wife For a Hat and The Island of the Colourblind. Awakenings was based on his work with patients treated with a drug that woke them up after years in a catatonic state. The 1990 film version, starring Robert De Niro and Robin Williams, was nominated for three Oscars including best picture."

Read the story in the Guardian

R.I.P. Amelia Boynton Robinson - matriarch of voting rights

"Amelia Boynton Robinson, who was called the matriarch of the voting rights movement — and whose photograph, showing her beaten, gassed and left for dead in the epochal civil rights march known as Bloody Sunday, appeared in newspapers and magazines round the world in 1965 — died on Wednesday in Montgomery, Ala. She was 104."

Read the story in the New York Times

R.I.P. Jilian Bond

I met Mr. Bond 50 years ago when I attended an informal speech he gave on the subject of desegregation and civil rights. At the end of his speech he asked me if I had any questions but I was 20 and knew all the answers so I foolishly remained silent. Less than 48 hours later, me and a group of my friends found ourselves being pursued through the streets of Soperton, Georgia by a group of white men armed with baseball bats. Now, as I hit 70, I am full of questions and regrettably short of answers.

Mr. Bond was great speaker, brilliant mind, brave crusader, and lovely man.... he will be missed.

Read about Mr. Bond on Yahoo News

R.I.P. Omar Sharif

"Actor Omar Sharif, best known for his roles in classic films Lawrence of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago, has died aged 83.

Egypt-born Sharif won two Golden Globe awards and an Oscar nomination for his role as Sherif Ali in David Lean's 1962 epic Lawrence of Arabia.

He won a further Golden Globe three years later for Doctor Zhivago.

Earlier this year, his agent confirmed that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
His agent Steve Kenis said: "He suffered a heart attack this afternoon in a hospital in Cairo."

Read the story on BBC News

R.I.P. Archie Alleyne - Jazz great

Archie hired me to work in his soul food restaurant back in the late 60's. And although I was probably the worst waiter in the world, I remember that he was very kind and nurturing with all his staff.

Archie was a legend in the jazz world and he will be missed.

Read about Archie on CBC News

R.I.P. B.B. King

"We all have idols. Play like anyone you care about but try to be yourself while you're doing so."

.... B.B. King

R.I.P. Alan Borovoy - Champion of civil liberty

Read the story in the Toronto Star

R.I.P. Margaret Harrison - peace activist

Ms Harrison and her husband founded Britian's longest running anti-nuclear protest. The Fasland Peace Camp - a bunch of tents at the time - was established in the 60's and still remains - occupied by  souls who remain committed to peace even as this world spirals closer and closer to all-out war.

R.I.P. Percy Sledge

"When a man loves a woman, he can do her no wrong
He can never own some other girl
Yes, when a man loves a woman I know exactly how he feels
'Cause baby, baby, baby, you're my world

When a man loves a woman I know exactly how he feels
'Baby, baby, baby, you're my world"

(Songwriters WRIGHT, ANDREW JAMES / LEWIS, CALVIN HOUSTON)

The world needs more gutsy people like Deanna Smith

"Against the advice of doctors, Deanna Smith put her treatments for breast cancer on hold to travel across Canada in a fight for public recognition of decades of physical, sexual and psychological abuse alleged to have taken place in the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children."

... Obit by Allison Lawlor, Globe and Mail

Shame on Canada!

R.I.P. Emily DeBrayda Phillips

Ms. Phillips sounded like a wise and lovely person and the world will be worse off without her.

"It pains me to admit it, but apparently, I have passed away," Phillips wrote in her obituary. "I was born; I blinked; and it was over."

Read the story on CTV News