Thursday, December 20, 2007

MERRY CHRISTMAS
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JOYEUX NOEL.
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Normally, this would be my most favourite time of the year. Sadly, I can no longer say that. Oh sure, we still live in the greatest country on earth, but in my opinion, we have done a terrible job of looking after it. As a matter of fact, it can be argued that we are victims of our own stupidity.
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Canada is a special land. Let us project it as a giant book shelf of some eight thousand kilometres, claiming British Columbia and Newfoundland as the book-ends. We are so huge that it takes three oceans to wrap around three of our boundaries.
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The make-up of the people of Canada are as diverse as the terrain itself. Canada is made up of big cities and little cities, big towns and little towns, with a generous sampling of every flavour of rural community imaginable. These are all elements that make us uniquely Canadian.
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I have travelled to a few places in this old world and I can tell you, we may not be perfect, no place ever is, but the bottom line is simply that on our very worst day, we are still miles ahead of most other places on their best day. Why do you think that the United Nations have voted us the number one place to live on the planet? They have given us that distinction twice in the past few years. Little wonder that we are attractive when deciding a country to emigrate to. Before you jump to conclusions, no I am not against immigration. We need immigration, but we also need to respect our own traditions and fundamentals.
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Canada is fast falling prey to special interest groups. You don't believe me? Then I suggest that you take a look around. Since the year is now winding down, let us focus on Christmas. Be careful though because we have allowed that to become a bad word at this time of year in many circles.
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Let us look at a few examples. A couple of weeks back I entered a large store in Vancouver to purchase some greeting cards. Specifically, I wanted Christmas cards. I was emphatic, it is Christmas so I wanted my cards to say "Merry Christmas." The selection was deplorable. I spoke to the sales manager of the department. His statement was that "with the exception of a few, their cards reflect "Seasons Greetings." I asked him why. He stated "that was now the trend, something to do with political correctness" he said.
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Purchasing a tree is another matter. You do not purchase a "Christmas Tree." You now purchase a "Gifting Tree." If you are in the mall at lunch time, you may want to listen to one of the choirs that travel around this time of year. Don't expect to hear any old time favourite Christmas Carols, because simply, you won't. I am told that many new comers to our shores could be offended, so the selections offered no longer reflect Christmas as we have known it for so many years.
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The manger scenes have all but disappeared from public areas. Again, perish the thought, but we might get someones knickers in a knot. School concerts are totally watered down to rid us of traditional values. The agenda is obvious. All reference to Christianity is slowly being removed from this season of the year. I do not like that. I am within my rights to not like it, and I shall voice my opinion accordingly.
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I suspect there may be many here who would be quick to jump up and down and tell me that I am biased in favour of Christianity. Well guess what, I am. Again, I am justified in my thoughts and opinions. I am entitled to them, and I have a right to express mine, just the same as you have yours. I do not though have the right to toss out your ideas and opinions, just because I may not approve of them. At the same time, you do not have the right to tamper with and force me to alter my thoughts and beliefs. We share the right to co-exist within our boundaries, as long as we are carrying on in a legalized fashion.
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Occasionally over the years when I discuss this topic, I get branded a variety of things. I get asked often if I would admit to a belief in God. Quick answer, yes I do. Am I trying to ram my belief down your throat? Not at all. In simple terms, I couldn't care less if you choose to worship the south goal post in B C Place Stadium. Just don't try to shovel it in my direction. The bottom line here is simple. As my fundamental and traditional beliefs and customs are allowed to erode by special interest groups, it is being shoved down my throat and I do not approve of it, nor will I sit back on my butt and keep my mouth shut.
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As a Canadian citizen, you should be aware of the date April 17, 1982. Not that many years ago huh? You see it was on this date in Canadian history that the rights and freedoms of Canadian citizens from coast to coast were enshrined into our "Canadian Charter Of Rights And Freedoms." True, our confederation was formed in 1867, but it was this late date in April, 1982 that we truly gained our independence from Great Britain. It granted us, as an independent nation, the right to adopt and enact our own laws, and as well, preserve our fundemental and traditional customs and beliefs as we see fit.
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If you have never had the opportunity to read the Canadian Charter Of Rights And Freedoms, I would encourage you to do so. You can obtain a free copy by sending your federal member of parliament a note requesting it. You can find the members e-mail address by clicking on the link on the "Stoddard Online" web site.
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With reference to what I say about Christianity, God, and our country, you may find the first line in the preamble of our Charter quite interesting. It says, and I quote "Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognizes the supremacy of God, and the rule of law."
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In fairness to all concerned, the time has arrived when we must learn what is happening. I do not believe for a moment that the erosion of Christmas was created by the new immigrants on a personal basis. It goes much deeper. On a daily basis I am in contact with new Canadians, and I have yet to hear one utter words speaking out against Christmas. As a matter of fact, as recently as yesterday I had the opportunity to speak at length to a middle aged taxi driver as he transported me across the city. This gentleman was from Durban, South Africa. Within two minutes of entering his taxi, he was expressing to me his disappointment at the diminishing sights of Christmas in downtown Vancouver.
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In summation, who are these special interest groups? Are they the politicians themselves? Are they our new immigrants? I suggest that our merchants, especially the large ones, are a chief factor in the equation. After all, the two weeks preceeding Christmas Day is the period that spells success or failure for the rest of the year. Perhaps we need to put some pressure on. Perhaps a boycott of shopping at these stores on the last shopping day before Christmas just might encourage some of these "Big Box" operations to get back to basics.
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In closing, I want to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very "Merry Christmas" and I encourage each and everyone to take a moment over the holiday time and pick up the telephone and call someone and tell them the same thing. It is also fitting at this time of year to let the members of our armed forces, police, and other emergency agencies know that we are behind them and thinking of them as they perform duties that most of us, thankfully will never get to see first hand.
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As usual, feel free to leave your comments on the web site, and as well, feel free to send a short Christmas greeting to others who read the site. I will be back immediately after Christmas with a further update on the Wilbert Coffin case.
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Lew Stoddard

33 comments:

Anonymous said...

Strong words that write here but I do agree with you, especially with this Christmas thing. I am not certain where it all started but the so called bleeding hearts have always been around. It is the same thing here in Halifax.

Good work on the Coffin case to you and Mrs. Mitchell. It sure showed throughout the past year.

Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Roger Theberge
Halifax, N S

Anonymous said...

You are obviously one who comes from the old school of thought on Christmas. I am as well and do hate to see it go this way.

Merry Christmas to you Lew and all your many readers.

Mary Hunter
Perth Andover, N B

Anonymous said...

To prove what you are saying just tune your radio into almost any radio station this time of year and the airwaves were full of old time stirring Christmas carols. Not this year though.

Merry Christmas to all your followers on your site and especially to you for all your hard work.

Jean and Raymond W.
Kingston, Ontario

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas everyone.

George J
Fort McMurray

Anonymous said...

Hey Buddy,

Couldn't let you get away without saying a big Merry Christmas to you from the cold prairies.

They better not try spreading that new age Christmas stuff around the prairies, because they may find out what it is like standing on their heads in a snow bank at -40

Old Shorty The Long Haul Driver

Anonymous said...

Sir this serves as an excellent survey. My wife and I also support what you are saying about the downgrading of Christmas.

Merry Christmas to you, and have thoroughly enjoyed your work on the Coffin case. You and Mrs. Mitchell are to be commended.

Bruce and Judy
Timmins, Ontario

Anonymous said...

Good posting Sir. I also enjoyed the most recent past one. That was the one where you set that nit wit straight.

Merry Christmas to you as I am listening to Silent Night on the radio as I type this.

Kerry MacPherson
Fredericton, N B

Anonymous said...

Political Correctness “BAH HUMBUG”

You are so right Lew this has gone on long enough and has gone far enough. We need to take back our Christmas from the merchants, the sellers of goods (that seem to break before they even get wrapped up or shortly after) for this is really where all this correctness is coming from.
I had the opportunity just last night to experience this again first hand in one of our shops here in little old Gaspé. After I had passed through the check out counter with my purchases the cashier had said to me and I will quote her, “Happy Holliday’s”. Been that this was the 21st day of December I believe that Merry Christmas was the order of the day and not happy you know what.

Now this kind of thing really bothers me and I refuse to give up any of my beliefs or traditions from my childhood. So with no further a due I politely replied to her that I AM NOT Political Correct and do not care to be, Merry Christmas to you and all of you family. She had this down cast look on her face and I believe she had been instructed by management to say happy holidays and not to say Merry Christmas out loud, in parting she looked up to me and replied in a low soft voice Merry Christmas.

As for my beliefs this time of the year “Merry Christmas” is the order of the day up to and including December the 25th, from than till December the 31st it is “Season Greetings”, from midnight on it is “HAPPY NEW YEAR”.

If we as Canadians just set back on our rear ends and say nothing than you can kiss Christmas good bye. Don’t get me wrong it will still be here for the big merchants to rape us but the Christ will have been successfully removed from Christmas. The true celebration is the birth of Christ our savior and not the large amounts of money spent on gifts on others only to have them packed away in the back cupboards never to be seen again by the light of day or returned to the shops for what ever reason. Just look at the shops the day after Christmas, look at the returns.

So with this I shall say to you all:

Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year


Wendall Stanley
Gaspe Quebec


PS When we are out and about in the shops, on the streets, where ever just up and SHOUT it out I am Political Correct Merry Christmas

Anonymous said...

Greetings _ Has it come to this?

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, our best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you all a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2008, but not without due respect for the
calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make Canada great. Not to imply that Canada is necessarily greater than any other
country nor the only free country in the Western Hemisphere. Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual
preference of the wished.

Seasons Greetings

OH CRAP! - Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all

Gus and Lani Mitchell

Anonymous said...

I am going to borrow some words that I recall someone else writing to your page last year, and I might add, I agree with the person all the way.

This person had stated that writing to this page was much better than writing a letter to the editor of a paper as this way one is guaranteed of getting their thoughts published and by publishing here the whole letter gets published without some editor chopping it up to where it suits the agenda of the paper on that particular day.

You have built up a good audience and I congratulate you, so many hours and hard work, displayed by your writing and investigation of the plight of Wilbert Coffin.

Merry Christmas Lew Stoddard, and look after your health. In closing I just wish that all kids today could experience an old time country Christmas like the ones when I was a kid.

Bertha Lemaire in Hull, Quebec

Anonymous said...

Message to Gus and Lani Mitchell

You are very correct Sir in what you say here. You make one realize as to how far this whole thing has slid down hill. It is at the point where our country could be branded as laughing stock.

Mr. Mitchell I see your name periodically and it has been pointed out that Mrs. Lani Mitchell is your wife. She has done an incredible job of assisting on that case that affects so many of us across the country, especially in Quebec. My wife and I live in Regina and our friends living in Lloydminster are distant relatives of Wilbert Coffin. I say this because I want to point out the far reaching appreciation by many people in far away places of the dedication of Lani and Lew Stoddard in working so hard to bring this to closure.

Merry Christmas Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell and as well to you Mr. Stoddard.

Gilles Beaulieu
Regina

Anonymous said...

Ho Ho Ho! Mr. Stoddard. You may have helped save my job with this recent posting.

Things have gotten so bad that the call for the small shiny wind up toys has dropped so much. Seems such massive advertizing has encouraged the kids now to seek the four and five hundred dollar stuff. . stuff that we are not set up to handle here in our northern factory. This has meant that we have had to chop. Elves have been let go. Not a lot of work up here for an unemployed elf.

Keep up the good work Mr. Stoddard. I see you made the list so you will be ok for this year. Merry Christmas to one and all.

Santa Claus
North Pole

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas Lew. We will give you a call over the holidays. Hope you are feeling better now.

The Taggert family
Kamloops, B C

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas across the world to all who are reading this right now. May peace and joy be with you, and to the Coffin family we are thinking of you.

Marlene and Ben
Courtenay, B C

Anonymous said...

A quick message to Marie Coffin Stewart and family. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and Marie, I hope your health and that of your hubby is steadily improving.

Greta Viner (Lepreau)
Saint John, Formerly from Matane

Anonymous said...

Lew you are correct when you say that we are living in the greatest country on earth. We need to preserve, not tear apart what we already have.

Merry Christmas to everyone here and beyond our borders.

Bill St. Germaine
Edmonton, Alberta

Anonymous said...

It gives me great pleasure to write to you again from my country. My husband and I live in Belgium, and have visited Canada several times due to my husbands employment. We have been to the Gaspe peninsula area, so are quite familiar with the general area. A very beautiful area too I might add.

We followed your story from beginning to end, and am sure this will turn out to your satisfaction in the end.

That is unfortunate what you are saying about Christmas. It is a beautiful time of year in our country and would never want to sacrifice so we do understand your thoughts.

We wish to take this opportunity to extend Merry Christmas to all of Canada and especially to you Mr. Stoddard for your many contributions.

We are 10 hours ahead of you so I guess it is about 1:30 AM in Vancouver. It is 11:30 AM here. The internet for certain shortens distances and draws the world together. It would be so nice if all the people could get along equally as well.

Hannelore Vanhoort
Schaerbeek, Belgium

Anonymous said...

Lew,
You are right on. Our Charter of Rights and Freedoms is menant to apply to every resident of Canada.
We allow some people to wear their traditional (religous) clothing in public but we are frowned upon if we wish to sing our traditional Christmas carols in public.
We have been brainwashed to not push our religous ideals on others, while at the same time others are pushing theirs with hardly a wimper about it from the powers that be.
Ivan J. Coffin

Anonymous said...

It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air. ~W.T. Ellis
Joyeux Noël! Merry Christmas everyone!
Lani

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas to everyone out there. Mr. Stoddard I have ebjoyed all your work on the Coffin story. Don't pay any attention to these hair brains that try to give you a rough time, and then hide behind the old "Anonymous" routine. Definitely their ignorance is over shadowed by their stupidity.

Merry Christmas to you and Mrs. Mitchell who has done a great job of working to conclusion as well on this.

Wilf McLean
Moncton, N B

Anonymous said...

Hey man, the fact that you draw some of your audience from countries outside Canada's borders tells me that you are doing a great job on this. You are articulate and that is good. If it takes a bit longer this way well so be it. At least the picture is much brighter and much more accurate.

Merry Christmas to all!

Barb Cummings
Truro

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas everyone.

Anonymous said...

merry christmas from the Coffin family

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas to everyone, keep up the good work you have been doing on this case, there are alot of things finally comming to light and its about time. I certainly hope that the coffin family gets what they deserve to clear Wilbert,s name, it should have been done a long time ago.

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year everyone.

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year to you all from New Zealand

Anonymous said...

.. And another Very Happy New Year from New Zealand; at 1.11 am 1/1/2008

Anonymous said...

3 -2 -1 H A P P Y N E W Y E A R good health and lots of happiness to everyone and
may 2008 be the year we have all waited so long for

Anonymous said...

Just dropping by to wish you all a very Happy New Year. God bless all of you .
Diane Peter
Uncle Bill's niece

Anonymous said...

No writings on this site lately. Hope you are feeling in good health Mr. Stoddard. you are doing a wonderful job on this case.
I was recalling on one posting you had said there was a woman involved in this case, and you were going to post how she was involved and her name?? I did not see it on any postings.
Did Mr. Soucy or Mr. curly Richardson have names other then (curly and soucy)?
What happen to the mine claims after Mr. Coffin was hanged, who had Mr. Coffins shares, or what happen with the mining claims?
You did write in a posting of Nov 19th, that” pure and simple, Mr. Soucy was a thief”.
Although on another posting it is said that being a thief does not mean being a murderer.

We also know that Angus McDonald did not know his way around the forest.
Also there is the handgun you wrote about, this was hid at the home of a local man from Gaspe, not from New Brunswick.
Then there is officer sinnett? Any good police officer would never have let two occupants, covered in blood go without taking names or license plates number. I don’t believe he was in a great rush because he did take his precious time to pull over that vehicle. What was the reason? Was the car he pulled over on the Murdoch Ville road leading to ste. Anne de monts, or was it in the forest, as he said? Mr. Sinnet was from Gaspe and knew very well shooting a moose would not leave one covered in blood.
I believe if those 3 men were involved in the murdering of the American hunters, they were not on their own, and most certainly there were local Gaspe men involved.
So many questions I believe will never be answered in this case.

Anonymous said...

hi everyone just letting everybody know Lew is having a very bad time of it right now time for all of us to say a few prayers for him I have so many things to thank him for as well he was the main reason i got back in touch with all the family and have taken and come out to the media my mother had always wanted me to stay out of the way of reporters she had a very bad time with them at one time but there is so many real good reporters out there now that have taken the time to report our side of the story and with the help of Aidwyc we now have it before the CCRG in Ottawa we are still waiting for them to finish there review of the case too help bring out our story too the many that have no idea what is going on I will be walking to Ottawa from my home in Gibsons British Columbia starting on June 15 2008 which is father's day and ending in Ottawa on Sept 23 2008 hope you all can make it for the rally on the hill along the way everyone is welcome to walk along with me too i hope to be able to raise funds for Aidwyc and all the cases that need funds for we will never be able to bring dad back but we are hoping and praying that Aidwyc can get my dad's name cleared once and for all as Lew has been able to point out there was a lot of other answers to who could have done the killings they may never be caugh but we just want justice in clearing my dad's name

Anonymous said...

Hello Mr. Stoddard,

Just a quick note to you to let you know that you are missed tremendously on this site. I do know that you are battling some severe health issues and we wish you well.

Thelma Beaulieu
Amherst, Nova Scotia

Anonymous said...

My thoughts are with Mr. Stoddard, and the Coffins. I was up late doing a search on the "old family name" and found this blog most informative!

There was a lot my grandmother didn't get to tell me, so much I did not get to ask.. I am so glad I stumbled on this page.

Hope everyone reading has had a good year thus far!