PPMC...Part Two.

PPMC - "Before we get going again just a couple of questions"

1.  You mentioned that studies show a little over 10% of those living in Muslim Countries are Islamic Terrorists or those who are very sympathetic to their aims. Does that mean we can expect a comparable number present in today's Muslim Migration? and,

2.  If Islamist Terrorists are successful in entering our country, can you assure me that your Agencies can successfully keep them under surveillance?

Agencies- "Let's answer your second question first, the short answer is No.  We do not have the manpower to put in effect 24 hour... 7 days a week surveillance. We are though quite effective at electronic surveillance but even with that we cannot be successful 100 times out of a 100."

"Now to your first question.  We do not believe the number 10% or 11% is indicative of the number of Terrorists hiding among legitimate refugees. We say that since most migrants are women / children and the elderly while Islamists tend to be younger men. That said, Security agencies in Europe have found proof that these masses are being used as a cover for Terrorist entry into Western Countries. 

 PPMC - "Thank you for that.  Now back to your briefing, I understand that you have another issue you deem relevant on this subject."

Agencies - "Thank you PPMC...this issue touches on security and specifically has to do with Sharia Law. Studies confirm that slightly over half of Muslims living in Western Countries support Sharia Law (i.e. 51%) and for those living in Muslim nations they comprise the vast majority."

Simply stated, Sharia Law is not compatible with the values and beliefs of Western Democracies. Primarily because both women and homosexuals are treated as second class citizens.

Here is a list of some of the main provisions of Sharia Law followed by a Chart of Countries where Sharia is practiced:

According to Sharia law:


• Theft is punishable by amputation of the right hand.
• Criticizing or denying any part of the Quran is punishable by death.
• Criticizing Muhammad or denying that he is a prophet is punishable by death.
• Criticizing or denying Allah is punishable by death.
• A Muslim who becomes a non-Muslim is punishable by death .
• A non-Muslim who leads a Muslim away from Islam is punishable by death.
• A non-Muslim man who marries a Muslim woman is punishable by death.
• A man can marry an infant girl and consummate the marriage when she is 9 years old.
• Girls' clitoris should be cut.
• A woman can have 1 husband, who can have up to 4 wives.
• A man can beat his wife for insubordination.
• A man can unilaterally divorce his wife; a woman needs her husband's consent to divorce.
• A divorced wife loses custody of all children over 6 years of age.
• Testimonies of four male witnesses are required to prove rape against a woman.
• A woman who has been raped cannot testify in court against her rapist.
• A woman's testimony in court, allowed in property cases, carries ½ the weight of a man's.
• A female heir inherits half of what a male heir inherits.
• A woman cannot drive a car, as it leads to fitnah (upheaval).
. A woman cannot speak alone to a man who is not her husband or relative.
. Sharia supports Honour Killings.
.It supports forced dress on Females - e.g the Burka and the Niqab.
.Sharia teaches that homosexuality is a vile form of fornication, punishable by death.

Sharia Chart By The Economist

A new study reveals what Islam means in different countries

Agencies - "That concludes our presentation PPMC.  Do either you or your Chief of Staff have any more questions for us before we take our leave?"

PPMC - "I think not, you have given me plenty to think about and I thank you for taking the time to bring me up to date.

(Agencies leave the room)

PPMC - (To His Chief of Staff) ..."Okay let's take a few minutes to review what we've heard and see what options are open to me.  Our goal must be to be as humanitarian as possible in the face of such and international tragedy."

So I guess there is more to come... Stay Tuned For The Final...Part III.

As I see it...

'K.D. Galagher'

MUSLIM MIGRATION ....and YOU.

I have been promising this Blog for awhile now....

This Issue is wrecking havoc, not just in the United States ... Prime Minister David Cameron was forced to resign, French President Francois Hollande limits his time in office to one term, and next on the chopping block is Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel...all felled by the way in which they mishandled the issue of Muslim Migration into their respective countries. 

Millions upon Millions of Muslims are on the move .... fleeing from wars which have torn apart their countries in the Middle East and in Northern Africa. It is the worst migration of the world's peoples in our time and most likely since time began. 

I am not going to get into how this tragic situation came about ... I have already dealt with this in previous Blogs and at this point it really does not matter anymore.  Simply put, the damage has been done and the Western World is now dealing with the fallout.

Nor am I going to deal with President Trump and his actions on this file to date other than to say, his initial foray left much to be desired and besides the courts currently have him checkmated. 

What I am going to do though is elect YOU President/Prime Minister/Chancellor (PPMC)...or whatever YOU wish your title to be and let you decide the course of action or non-action, you would take on behalf of 'Your Nation'.  Note: You are not to worry about trying to find a worldwide solution to the problem - Your roll is limited to providing... or not providing... initiatives that will help Your Own Country deal effectively with this phenomenon. 

We'll start with YOUR First Briefing given by your Security Agencies:

Agencies, "PPMC upon Your Election we wanted to bring you first hand information on the unprecedented migration from Muslim Countries that continues to plague that part of the world". 

PPMC, "Well we'll simply have to do the humane thing and up our quotas to bring in more."

Agencies, "That is certainly within your prerogative but bear in mind your first duty as PPMC is to ensure the safety and welfare of your citizens.  In that regard PPMC you will have to realize that a significant number of murderous extremists will be hiding among those you let in."

PPMC, "Well surely the number of such extremists must be very low?"

Agencies, "In one respect you are correct, estimates peg the per centage of Radicals at about only 11% but when you are dealing with millions on the go, that means the gross number of potential Terrorists on go number in the 100,000s."

PPMC, "I had no idea. Who exactly are these Terrorists?"

The Agencies hand the PPMC the following list:

Abdullah Azzam Brigades; Abu Nidal Organization; Abu Sayyaf; Aden-Abyan Islamic Army; Ainad Misr; Akhil Bharat; Nepalie Ekta Samai; al-Aqsa Foundation; al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades; Al-Badr; al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya; Al Ghurabaa; al-Haramain Foundation; Al-Itihaad al Islamiya; Al-Mourabitoun; Al-Nusra Front; al-Qaeda; al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula; al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent; al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb; Al-Shabaab; Takfir wal-Hiijra; Al-Umar-Mujahideen; All Tripura Tiger Force; Ansar al-Sharia (Libya); Ansar al-Sharia (Tunisia); Ansar al-Islam; Jamaat Ansar al-Sunna; Ansar Bait al-Maqdis; Ansar Dine; Ansaru; Armed Islamic Group of Algeria; Army of Islam; Army of the Men of the Naqshbandi Order; Osbat al-Ansar; Aum Babbar Khalsa International; Balochistan Liberation Army; Boko Haram; Caucasus Emirate; East Turkestan Liberation Organization; East Turkestan Islamic Party; Egyptian Islamci Jihad; Ergenekon; ETA; Great Eastern Islamic Raiders Front; Hamas; Izz ad-Din al Qassam Brigades; Haqqani network; Harkat-ul-Jihad al Islami; Harkat-al-Jihad al-Islami in Bangladesh; Harket-ul-Mujahideen; Harakat-Ul-Mujahideen / Alami; Harakat Sham al-Islam; Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin; Hezbollah; Kurdish Hezbollah; Hezbollah Al-Hejaz; Hilafet Devleti; Hizb ut-Tahrir; Hizbul Majahideen; Hofstad Network; Houthis; Islamic Jihad; Jamaat Mujahideen; Islamic Jihad Union; Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan; Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant; Jaish-e-Mohammed; Jaish al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar; Jamaat el Dawa al Quran; Jamaat UL-Furquan; Jamaat-ul-Ahar; Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh; Jamiat al-Islah al-Idzhtimai; Jamiat ul-Ansar; Jamiat-e Islami; Jemaah Islamiyah; Jamaah Ansharut; Tauhid; Jund al-Aqsa; Jund al-Sham; Jund al-Khilafah; Jundallah; Kata'ib Hezbollah; Khalistan Commando Force; Khalistan Zindabad Force; Khuddam ul-Islam; Komala; Lashka-e-Taiba; Lashkar-e-Jhangvi; Liberation Tigers; Libyan Islamic Fighting Group;  Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group; Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa; Mujahidin Indonesia Timur; Muslim Brotherhood; Palestine al-muslima; Palestine Liberation Front; Palestinian Islamic Jihad; People's Liberation Army of Manipur; Popular Front fo the Liberation of Palestine; Tevhid-Selam (Al-Quds Army); Sipah-e Sahaba Pakistan; Stichting Al Aqsa; Taliban; Tehreek-e Nafaz-e Shariat-e Mohammadi; Tehrik-i- Taliban Pakistan; Tanzim; United Liberation Front of Assam.

PPMC - "Holy Cow...I had no idea there are so many." Agencies- "And there are many small Islamic Extremist Groups we have not even listed here." PPMC - "No wonder hardly a day goes by without one or more terror attacks occurring.  Are they all committed by Islamic Extremists?" Agencies - "No they are not all committed by Islamic Extremists but they are the most numerous...and would average 9 out of every 10 attacks.  The other attacks are being committed by Right Wing Extremist Groups which have always been present but poorly organized and as such have not been a major factor for our agencies. That said, in the face of the mass migration from the Middle East and Africa the Right Wing Fanatics are becoming more and more active; and I think it is safe to say, a powder keg is beginning to develop where both innocent citizens and innocent refugees will be the victims of these diametrically opposed Terrorist Groups.   PPMC - "What a mess, is there anything else I should know?" Agencies - "Yes there is" PPMC's Chief of Staff - intervenes and requests a break in the presentation. (this had been worked out between PPMC and the Chief of Staff in advance of today's briefing). Stay Tuned For Part 2 As I see it... 'K.D. Galagher'

  

THE LEFT WAS RIGHT...THERE IS RIOTING IN THE STREETS.

In the lead-up to November's Election the Left / Progressives said that post election there would be rioting in the streets...and boy were they right.

But as we all recall, they qualified their prediction somewhat by saying that the rioting would only take place if Donald Trump Lost the Election.

Of course Trump won the election...so why the Rioting?

And for those of you who say it began with his most recent order to put a moritorium on Muslim Immigration ...you'd be wrong of course since the civil disobedience occurred even before Trump was inaugurated.

So what gives?

When I heard the Progressives first talk about rioting in the streets if Trump lost - I knew they were wrong - ordinary folks are too busy raising their families to have either the time or inclination for such antics. Put simply they are decent, law abiding folks.   Indeed, if there was any inclination toward such juvenile delinquency we would have seen it when the Tea Partyers were peacefully protesting Obama during his first term in office.

So what, Dear Reader, are the Elites and Professional Rioters going on about?  

Is Trump, as they say, blundering on all fronts?

Let's look at his record:

January 20th

Obamacare: 

Within hours of his inauguration, Trump took his first step toward appealing the Affordable Care Act, signing an

executive order calling on government agencies to "ease the burden" of the policy.

Trump's order asked federal agencies to "prepare to afford the states more flexibility and control to create a more free and open healthcare market."   

My Note:  Obamacare was a disaster from start to finish, it cost jobs, reduced choice and dramatically increased premiums.  There was and still is a need to provide care for the 20 or so % that do not have it - but that needs to be done by directing all efforts to incorporate that relatively small number rather than interfere with the vast majority who had been happy with their coverage.

Federal regulations: 

Trump also ordered a freeze on all new federal regulations that had not been finalized.  My Note: Governments love to grow and one thing modern administrations are good at is regulating us to death.  It is about time this nonsense was stopped. 

23rd.

Abortion:

Trump signed a presidential memorandum reviving a rule that prevents US funds from going to certain health charities around the world that counsel on abortions. Known as the Mexico City policy, it was first instituted by former President Ronald Reagan in 1984 and has been on and off the books ever since.

My Note:  Why would the US fund abortions especially those performed outside their country?  If it has that much freed-up money - spend it on providing the world with clean drinking water.

Federal workforce: Trump ordered a temporary hiring freeze for federal workers, except for the military and certain security positions.  My Note:  In the face of a $20 Trillion Dollar Debt this makes imminent sense.

24th

Oil pipelines:

Trump signed executive orders that would make it possible to complete the Dakota Access and restart the process for the construction of theKeystone XL oil pipeline from Canada.  

Note: Another good move.  Not only will it create thousands of jobs it will cement America's goal of being Energy Self-sufficient.   I have said on many occasions that the tumult in the Middle East was caused by George W. Bush's reckless incursion into Iraq followed by Obama's inaction over 2 terms.  But the real cause of trouble in the Middle East goes backs to the $Trillions and Trillions of Dollars the West paid to Arab States for their Oil.  Without the money - there'd be no present day wars / violence.

25th

Border security: 

Trump signed an executive action directing federal agencies to prepare for immediate construction of a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border -- a controversial project that was at the center of his presidential campaign.  My Note:  Another good move.  The fact is the US did not have a southern border.  If you believe countries can retain their independence while losing their ability to control who enters their country...there is nothing I can say which will change your mind.

Immigration enforcement:

The president signed an executive order to strip federal grant money from so-called "sanctuary cities" -- U.S. municipalities that protect undocumented immigrants from federal prosecution. 

Note:  another good move.  These so-called sanctuary cities are protecting out and out criminals who hide amongst legitimate refugees. They need to be rooted out for two reasons -first  to protect society in general and second to enable true refugees to receive help.  

27th

Military strength: 

Trump signed an executive order to provide new resources and equipment to strengthen the U.S. military. The order promises to "rebuild" American armed forces and upgrade national and global security as part of a strategy that dictates "peace through strength." The order directs Defense Secretary James Mattis to assess the country's military and nuclear capabilities.  Note:  The Military had been allowed to deteriorate under Obama.  For instance the Navy had 900 warships at the beginning of Obama's first term.  That number dwindled to 600 today and was headed to 300 had Obama been allowed to run again.  No wonder countries like Russia and China have started to flew their muscles. 

Visa vetting:

Trump signed an executive order that calls for more intensive security checks for foreign nationals seeking U.S. travel visas. The action stems from a controversial proposal Trump made during his campaign -- to prevent certain refugees from nations of concern, like Iraq and Syria, from reaching U.S. shores until they can be cleared.  Note:  I am not going to deal with this one now since I have promised to do a full Blog on this important subject next. 

30th

Federal regulations:

Trump signed an executive order requiring that for every new federal regulation on small and large businesses, two existing regulations must be removed. He signed the document after a meeting with small business leaders. Trump said he wants to end regulatory discrepancy between big and small business.  Note:  I have already dealt with this generally above but again anything to get us out from under the avalanche of regulations will be most helpful to business both big and small and in-between. We have seen the Stock Market go beyond 20,000 which is amazing and with other measures promised such as reducing Corporate Tax Rates from 35 to 20 or even 15% will spur the markets even higher.  At the same time it will create massive more full-time employment.

So if the above confirms that Trump is blundering on all fronts...bring it on. 

Rather what I see is that finally someone is in charge who is doing the right things.  

And as for the rioting I attribute it to poor losers and to professional shxx disturbers which we always seem to have in our midst.

As I see it...

'K.D. Galagher' 

MY UNCLE FRED....Tragedy Continued To Follow Him Even Into Death.

Before I get started on today's Blog concerning my late Uncle, I just wanted to mention the Trump Moratorium on Travel to the USA from 7 Select Arab Countries.

I indicated at the end of my most recent Blog that I would be dealing with this subject 'soon' but have decided to delay that somewhat due to the hysteria and untruths surrounding this subject.  ...Stay Tuned.

Now Back to Uncle Fred:

My Uncle Fred was the kindest most gentle chap you could ever imagine but... like the lovers in Romeo and Juliet, he was star-crossed.

Uncle Fred was a farmer from a long line of farmers.  He was my grandmother's brother from a family of 6 girls and 2 boys.

Uncle Fred and his brother - Uncle Percy, purchased a farm a few concessions below their father's farm in the early 1920s.  It was there when the first tragedy occurred. One of his young nieces, who was visiting their farm, was hit on the back of the head by a heavy wooden swing and died.  Uncle Fred personally felt responsible for this poor child's death.  

He married the local school marm - Annie-Mae and was soon blessed with a daughter Helen.  Tragedy 2 occurred when his wife passed away in her early 40s leaving him alone to raise his young daughter.

He then married Ella also a widow and retired into a small rural town nearby. My mother and father, for a short time, lived in that small town and my mother recalled tutoring Helen who was now in her teens and attending high-school.  She was helping Helen with her math ...(it's a good thing she did not come to me for help since Math was by far my worst subject).

(As a note here - Aunt Ella had also lost a young son to a swollen creek during an early Spring run-off.  A search over the course of several days failed to find the young boy's body however in a dream, a local farmer saw where he lay. Early next morning, the farmer went to the spot shown him in his dream and there was Ella's son). 

It was around this point that I vividly recall visiting Uncle Fred and Aunt Ella.  Two things always struck me on my visits the first was Uncle Fred's profound deafness and the second was the source of water to the house - an olde hand pump found in the kitchen. 

One other thing stuck out for me and that was playing checkers with my Uncle.  He always won and I seldom even got passed the first few moves.  I can still remember the infectious twinkle in his eyes. 

My parents told me that Uncle Fred was a proficient fiddle player prior to going deaf and I can picture in my mind his playing at the numerous barn dances that likely took place in the rural countryside.

But back to tragedy.  In due course Helen left home, got married and had three children of her own...all boys.  Her oldest was named Gregory...Greggie for short and was the apple of Uncle Fred's eye. Looking back I believe Greggie had what we would now call some developmental challenges but save for that, he was a regular kid and along with his two brothers no doubt kept their parents busy.

When Greggie was about 8 years old, Uncle Fred passed away. During the last few days of his life, my mother - a Registered Nurse - was at Uncle Fred's bedside.  She recalled that near the end he had tried to 'blow out' his bedside lamp mistaking it for a candle. His mind at that point was clearly back to an earlier and possibly much happier time for him.

Soon after Uncle Fred's passing...Young Greggie drowned in the nearby River. The river was mostly shallow and one had to walk out a great distance to reach deep water. The strong suspicion, among the family, was that Greggie had deliberately drowned himself in order to be with his Grandpa - our Uncle Fred - in Heaven. Tragedy 3

My cousins and I acted as pallbearers at his very sad funeral.

The next tragedy was not long in coming.

Helen, her husband and her remaining 2 boys found themselves in a winter blizzard and were soon engulfed in a major car pile-up. Helen was killed instantly.  Tragedy 4

Her two young sons were both seriously injured in the crash and within weeks, one of her injured boys succumbed to his injuries.  Tragedy 5

Again my cousins and I found ourselves carrying his casket to the nearby cemetery. 

One of those pallbearers - Aunt Ella's grandson, was killed a few years later when the transport truck he was driving went off the road.  Tragedy 6

Then Aunt Ella's son - also a farmer, got his leg caught in a threshing machine and if it was not for the quick thinking of a neighbour farmer working with him that day, he too would have perished.  As it was, he lost his leg up to his hip.  Tragedy 7

Many years later my parents received a letter from Helen's surviving husband saying that in his early 30s the final grandson of Uncle Fred had also passed away.  Doctors tending the young man at his death laid the responsibility for his death on that terrible Winter Car Crash of many years back.  Tragedy 8

Uncle Fred's Lineage was no more. 

When I am having days when things just seem not to go right, I think of my Uncle Fred and remember the twinkle in his eyes and realize just how lucky I really am.

As I see it...

'K.D. Galagher'

TRUMP'S BARK WORSE THAN ...HIS BITE

In seeing Donald Trump Elected I was hopeful that he would back-off on some his dumber positions.

The three major ones for me were his classing NATO as obsolete; FREE TRADE as not working...at least for Americans; and the third being his open support for TORTURING captured combatants.

Thankfully, barely a week into his Presidency he has already changed his position on two of the three - NATO & TORTURE.

Regarding NATO, I have made the pitch that it is needed more than ever with aggressive Russia determined to extend its reach in Europe and the Middle East and with wealthy China spending more and more on its military. In the face of this, rather than idle chatter about closing shop, NATO should be looking to expand its membership to countries in all parts of the world most notably to include India and Japan.

Trump though was correct when he criticized NATO Countries which do not spend 2%* of their annual GDP on their respective militaries. Indeed, only 4 of its 28 country membership meet that target. Canada for instance spends a paltry .9%.  
                                *2% GDP spending on its members military is the target set by NATO.

It may end up that those who do not meet the 2% target are kicked out of the Organization.  But, if it was up to me I would reorganize NATO into full and associate membership with those countries meeting the 2% levy being given the exclusive right to vote. 

As for Torture and assuming the West ever again decided to use it, it would come down once again to the question of who is more bad. Both the Terrorist and the White Knight West would find themselves on the same Spectrum of Evil with the Terrorists at a point of greater evil than the West and yet both still classed Evil.

So barely a week into his Presidency and Donald Trump looks far less worrisome. 

That said, the above two changes of heart leaves outstanding Trump's flawed understanding of the dynamics between Free Trade and Isolationism.  The Dirty Thirties showed that Isolationism only ensured that all countries beggared themselves individually. If Isolationism really worked, so to would State Run Economies such as those found within Communism. Why we'd all be driving Ladas - expensive non-workable junk. 

The last 50 years have seen the world move to a more Global Economy - read Free Trade, with the effect that fewer and fewer find themselves in poverty.  The US Agency for International Development reported recently that over the last 30 years extreme poverty has been cut in half..by over 1Billion People.  Their findings are supported by a host of other reputable world organizations.  For instance, the UN calls the rise out of poverty 'epochal' and believes that by 2030 poverty will be eradicated in it's entirety. 


Thankfully, Republicans are generally speaking, Free Traders and I am betting that they will be able to bring President Trump over to their way of thinking.


And speaking of changes in approach, I am thinking that Mssrs. Putin and Company will very shortly find themselves in for a rude awakening. 

What is clear for me through all of this is that even though Trump is all puffery, his instinct for reading the will of the common man and for eventually doing what is right ... is spot on.

As I write today's Blog the latest anti-Trump Protests are centered around his temporary ban on certain Muslim migration to the United States.  I will do a Blog on this controversial subject shortly.

As I see it...

'K.D. Galagher'

CUTE KITTEN CAPS

I am speaking of course of some of the Feminists who this past Saturday marched in Washington and the few other places around the world where they are legally permitted to do so.

As an aside, one of the Themes running through many of my Blogs is my theory that over the course of the last 60 years or so most everything has changed in society for both good and bad.. as I have said: 'What was up ...Is now Down; What was Inside...Is now out; and Everything Else is now Backward.

One area in this theme that I have not spent much time on is with respect to modern Feminism or more to the point - Radical Feminism.  I do not believe the latter has proven to be a boon for Women and it sure as Hell has done nothing useful for us men.

From the extensive reading I have done I get the feeling that if I asked 10 different women what exactly they were marching for on Saturday past...I could expect to receive 10 entirely different answers.

I can hear you now saying they were marching against the Donald Trump Candidacy and you'd be partially right.  But Extreme Feminism has been around a lot longer than Trump has been in the news.  So there is more to it...much more.

The cute little hats in today's title of course refer to the off colour statements by Trump but the language I heard emanate from the mouths of the Feminist Leadership would make the most red-necker blush. If I had a vote in this past November's Election I would not have voted for Trump precisely because of his most boorish comments and I made that perfectly clear in my blogs leading up to November 8.  I am equally dismissive of those on Saturday whose antics exceeded even his own.

For me, I believe that radical feminism is all about hating men...it is about destroying and not building up...about dividing and not uniting.  

Men - especially White Men are easy targets.  We are branded neanderthals, sexual perverts, racists...whatever pejorative name that comes easily to mind. But you know as well as I do, that is not true.

Simply stated, Radical Feminists are using men as scapegoats in an effort to make themselves seem more important than they are.

They are not more important...they are our equals.

But like all who point the blame, for their own perceived shortcomings, on others they are destined to fail and society will continue to be the poorer for it.   

As I see it...

'K.D. Galagher' 

HOW THE OLDE TOWNE HALL ESCAPED THE WRECKER'S BALL.

Built in 1884, the Olde Towne Hall was positioned right in the centre of our quaint town, along King's Highway 2, then the main thoroughfare between the mega cities of Toronto and Montreal.  

It was a monster of a red brick structure...at least for a village the size of Brighton, situate in close proximity to picturesque

Presqu'ile Park on the sandy shores of Lake Ontario.

The following services called it home:

1. Police & Jail
2. Fire
3. Provincial Court House
4. Town Council 
5. Town Maintenance 

It also provided a handy meeting spot for our cub scouts in the days well before beavers.

In earlier years, it was used for travelling opera, live theatre, and other special events such as Christmas, Easter and Halloween Parties.

By the time I came in contact with the 'Hall' it was in poor repair but nonetheless still well and truly utilized. 

In this Blog, I am going to deal more with its uses during my youth in - the 1950s and 60s, but first want to get back to how the Olde Towne Hall escaped the Wrecker.

By the early 1970s, the Town Hall was virtually a vacant, run-down mass. The tenants had fled to a new Town Hall, new Fire Station, new Court House and so on.

It really was not worth saving and talk had matured to the point where general agreement was coalescing around the need to tear the nearly 90 year olde structure down.

But as today's title suggest, the Hall escaped that fate ...at least sort of.  In the summer of 1973, as providence would have it, one of Ontario's first tornadoes ripped through Brighton and in so doing took with it our beloved Town Hall. It was the only complete structure totally destroyed by the storm. My parents home, just a minute walk north of the Hall, lost its chimney along with our very productive and much missed pear tree.

Of greater loss were the 100 year old maples that lined both sides of Brighton's main drag ... they were torn out by their roots like flimsy pieces of dead grass.

So no Wrecking Ball but... reduced to dust and rubble nonetheless. 

So let's review for a minute its uses during my formative years:

It provided a small office for our police force which usually consisted of one officer.  I believe in an earlier Blog I had mentioned that Dido Simpson was our sole police force during the 40s,50s and 60s.  I never met Dido since he spent all of his time driving around town in his relic of a car --- an olde Studebaker. He was so short, all you could see of Dido, when he drove by, was his well worn grey fedora.  But like the RCMP, Dido 'always seemed to get his man' !

In looking back ...with all the driving he did, I cannot help but wonder if his main source of income came from mileage claims? 

And the Hall included a jail cell.  Its inhabitants usually limited to our town's drunks (all two of them - usually one at a time) and as you walked outside on the path beside the open barred window, you could often hear a drunk inside swearing it off. 

Our village's almost antique fire truck also called the Hall home.  It was located beside the jail, in the north end of the building.  Our's was a volunteer fire department and boy could those guys get to the fire truck in jig time. I have mentioned in previous blogs that winter was one of their busiest times since they were called upon weekly to put out fires in the town's garbage truck caused by the townsfolk throwing live coal embers into the trash.

I remember one day walking along the main street when the fire truck came wheeling around the bend in highway 2 when one of our firefighters - Ed Boes, lost his footing and fell hitting his head on the pavement.  Ed was one tough dude and was soon back to fire-fighting but for that particular day, the fire truck was obliged to leave him behind. 

It was also used as a Provincial Court Room - where most charges dealt with such issues as drunk driving, theft and assault. A circuit court judge came round on Wednesday's to hear and adjudicate these cases. One of the main judges hailed from Brockville - a city some 100 miles east of Brighton.  I got to know Judge Runciman quite well in the 1970/80s and even then he was still complaining bitterly about the inhuman working conditions he was forced to endure in the bowels of the olde Hall.  

Our town council too held its monthly meetings in the Hall's downstairs chambers.  This was one group that surprisingly did not complain about their spartan surroundings.  I attribute that to the fact that in those days being a member of the town council was more an honourary position accompanied by very low pay.  Their main focus was to keep realty taxes low, so being housed in depression era conditions was bearable for them. 

The other group that seemed to be okay with their lot was our hardworking maintenance crew under the able supervision of foreman Bud Simpson.  I remember he once trapped a beaver that had suddenly appeared one day in the little creek that flowed beside my parents' home.  You had an issue... Bud and his Boys would come to your aid. 

As an aside, I remember I had a trip coming up to Kitchener and since I was working at that time at Brintnell's Mens' Wear I decided to drop into Kitchener's Greb Shoe Plant.  One our our customers was one of Bud's Crew by the surname of Dusenbury. Mr. Dusenbury took an extra wide work boot, a size we did not carry. I returned to Brighton with a proper fitting pair and felt pretty good for my effort.  Mr. Dusenbury too was quite impressed saying he never before had such a good fitting boot.

Next time I saw him I naturally asked how he was enjoying the new boots. "Don't wear them" he caustically replied. Turned out his fellow workers had teased him for wearing less than manly boots. I guess Greb Shoes were just too advanguard. 

My greatest memory though concerns the Cub Scouts - ages 8 to 11.  Our meetings took place on the top floor where in the past live travelling theatre entertained the local denizens. My good friend Johnny who like me lived on Sanford Street close to the Town Hall and I were often the first to arrive - even before our two women leaders.  The doors never seemed to be locked and indeed in those days most doors were left open throughout the village with the obvious exception being the Town Jail. (Although I expect Jesse James would have had little difficulty in picking its lock).  

But even though the Hall's doors were unlocked - the lights were not on.  The only lights on in the Upper Hall were exit lights with their dim presence.  But even with such reduced lighting we were able to see the numerous paintings affixed to the walls of Brighton's illustrious forefathers with their sinister faces and beady eyes watching our every move.  

It scared the bejeebers out of us!!

Finally, the Olde Hall was not without a tragedy.

In earlier years and before my time, a Halloween Party was held on the infamous second floor and one young girl, I think her name was Flindall, came in contact with a candle.  Her costume was made out of highly inflammable material and she quickly perished in the ensuing fire.

Some 70 years on, I still think of that unfortunate little girl when my mind takes me back to the Olde Brighton Town Hall.

As I see it...

'K.D. Galagher'