Monday, June 27, 2005

FAN of TIM STEVENSON RISES to his DEFENSE

Underbelly News
Downtown Eastside

FAN of TIM STEVENSON"S RISES to his DEFENSE

Hi All

Here is a post from a friend/supporter of Tim Stevenson's. I have replied to him. My response is on top of course. Enjoy!!!-- Jamie Lee

Hi Rick!

While I appreciate your spirited defence of Tim Stevenson on my blog, Your post though misses my point.

If Lorne Mayencourt was ahead by 1000 votes, would you still support the call for a new election?

And further you say I'm championing some Liberal line. Do you think I'm mindless and can't form and than articulate my own opinions?

Further you say I attack the poor even when my actions consistantly prove otherwise?

Have you become a mind reader that you can say with absolute certainty that those sealed voters were made by a poor person? Are you not attacking poor people by your wayward claim? You are saying essentially that those votes were made by poor people becuz who else could they have been made by?

You are wrong Rick and while you support Tim and want to rise to his defense please refrain from attacking me in the process. I am NOT a Poor Basher. But while I'm at it how many times have stalwart NDP'rs poor bashed? If you need a history lesson, just ask Jean Swanson. I'm sure she will gladly oblige you.

Just for your information Rick, I have many friends who live in the West End who voted for Tim. I asked them how they felt about Tim's call for a new election. Guess what Rick they are opposed to this. I'm not alone in my opinions.

Rick, keep in mind that elections often are not Fair. Mistakes can happen. Unfortunately, the system we have is the only one I have lived under and I continue to support it even though I would prefer to have electoral reform (STV).

But for you to brand anyone you dis-agree with as a BC Liberal is mindless thinking at its best. I'll stick to reasoned well thought out arguments instead. I think the general public may even be behind me on this.

Cheers -- JLH



Dear Jamie,

It would appear you have bought the BC Liberal line that because there is a cost to an election, it should not happen.

I am amazed you could support such a line of defense. Further your points about unregistered people voting suggest people with no fixed address would and do lie.

60 people in one polling station and 11 more in the riding, lost their vote because Elections BC did not do their job.

These are people that actually went out to vote. These are not spoiled ballots or disputed ballots. These are votes that were cast that have not even been looked at.

Elections BC admits they screwed up. They can not fix it themselves, these votes can not be counted.

The only remedy is a new election. Your questions of whether Stevenson would do this if the votes were in a Yaletown poll is a red herring.

Votes were cast, they were not counted. You can't count them so you need another election.

SEX TRADE, JUSTICE and MISAPPROPRIATION

Underbelly News
Downtown Eastside

SEX TRADE, JUSTICE and MISAPPROPRIATION


Once again, there appears to be more untruths being spread about the Sex Trade. Usually these distortion of facts originate from social disservice agencies and feminist based groups with an agenda or attempt to subsume historical movements. Rape Relief and PEERS Vancouver are two groups of many which are guilty of this misappropriation.

OK I know there are some good social service agencies out there but when it boils down to it, many of these groups become indistinguishable from one another due to their silence on Equality and Justice Issues. Often they do not report all the facts or present the whole picture because their funders are only concerned with the outcomes of contractual funding of certain projects.

Many of these groups create band-aid responses and then champion them as solutions. This is wrong!

One recent glaring example of distortion is particularly galling to me since it involves the issue of Equality, Justice and the SEX WORKER MOVEMENT.

A number of groups which purport to work with sex workers and are increasingly jumping on the bandwagon of sex worker issues are now claiming that 70% of sex workers are sexually abused as children.

This stat is misleading on a couple of fronts. Mostly because those reporting this abuse are those who access these social service groups for hand-outs. They may say whatever it is that they know these social control groups in the DTES want to hear.

However, it also needs to be pointed out that this stat if in fact correct it represents less than 1% of a million sex workers worldwide who do not access these groups for services or hand-outs.

As many of my readers know, I have become somewhat critical of social agencies/charities in the DTES. I base my opinions on lived experience. As one of the longest residing residents of the Downtown Eastside, I see what many others may not. I bear witness to the fact of the proliferation of far too many of these agencies.

I happen to be of the belief that if there is Justice in this world, there wouldn't be the need for charity.

And in relation to the Sex Trade and other progressive movements, I hope my readers understand there is always those who desire to destroy individuals and movements in order to have power over, take advantage of or control others in society. It is in their personal interest to do so. It may be to secure employment or create opportunities of which they may personally benefit.

However, whether it is in the public interest or for the greater good doesn't usually factor in to their expressed views or actions. Often, these groups paint sex workers as Victims. Its advantageous for them to address the issue from a Victim and Victimizer stance. There is a whole lot more money involved if you articulate this perspective.

An example I sometimes use in this blog is Councillor Jim Green. He has value to me in that I can teach others what happens when someone meta-morphs from being a supposed community leader to someone who disrespects human values or a progressive movement. I use Mr Green because he makes it so easy.

I always remember his words recently in the Vancouver Sun when he stated "how he lived next door to a prostitute and how uncomfortble it made him". Yet 15 years previously, he stood side by side with one to fight the Expo evictions. He even secured one a living arrangement, was very generous and brought many gifts. He drank, played and went to many social events with one. Flaming isn't it? But uncomfortable--really?

So I guess the point I'm making here folks is this. Don't just trust someone based on a reputation they may have gleaned. Investigate and see whether their actions have caused harm. Be Questioning. Ask whether they are truly worthy. Can they champion human values if their starting place is based on inequality, mistrust, deceit or fraudulent means.

In the end, kindness matters. A Just society is about Equality and Justice. Statistics should never be used as the sole tool for measuring successful outcomes. They too easily can be manipulated, mis-used and re-tooled to fit or serve any purpose.

I ask you once again to please re-consider your support of the Sex Worker Movement. Sex Workers have provided a useful purpose in Society. Always have and Always will.

Yet Sex Workers have no Protection under our Law.

Dear readers, I ask you to keep in mind that if One Group is left behind in Society, we all Lose.

Jamie Lee Hamilton
tricia_foxx@yahoo.com