I have read and excellent article on the dynamics of voter groups. Through our digestion of media insight and intellectual speculation, we are told that white men are the problem in economics, politics, academia, and the list goes on (just go read Paul Krugman). Well this article paints a more moderate tone. White males are the swing vote in the Democrat primaries and the bigoted stereotype of 'white' or 'male' does not play to the aforementioned media and intellectual assumptions about white men.
But, I don't think white men will avoid the blame in the primary outcome. If Barack wins, then they are chauvinists, or if Hillary wins, they are racists. Because of Barack's huge momentum, if the nod goes to Hillary, the pundits will say something along the lines of, "Well the white male just could not stomach the thought of a Black president."
This is the moral cesspool of identity politics. Never mind that women vote for Hillary or African Americans vote for Barack. The media narrative is whether or not the white man stops voting along race and gender lines regardless of evidence to the contrary (like they vote for issues). So, If McCain wins the presidency, expect 4 years of race (or gender) baiting from pundits and politicians.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
What is Shibboleth?
An interesting question, this is, on how to understand why tyrants, racists, and all around bad people are coddled and given moral approval. Shibboleth is a password that comes from the Old Testament. It involved the half tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh (now Gilead). Ephraim was mad at Gilead for not helping his brother battle the Ammonites. So, Ephraim comes to attack Gilead loses and retreats. Trying to cross the Jourdan, Gilead holds the pass and kills all Ephraimites it discovers. The discovery of Ephraimites gives us 'Shibboleth.' Ephraim cannot pronounce the word and is thus identified as the enemy and killed.
Today, Shibboleth as password still exists. Whole political narratives are formed around these ideas and strange bed-fellows come to pass as a result. For example, Walter Duranty (NYT reporter) won a Pulitzer Prize for his glowing stories out of Moscow on Uncle Joe's 5 year plan. Because Stalin was creating a 'worker's paradise', the designed killing of 17 million Ukrainian farmers did not call into question the morality of this tyrant. Likewise, Fidel Castro is mollycoddled because he has 'free health care' while giving his political opponents free housing (in gulags).
One of the most unquestioned Shibboleths is 'Peace.' Just say you want peace and you are guaranteed to get a large number of people on your side immediately. This is how Jimmy Carter was duped. Russia wanted peace so Jimmy said 'Amen' and signed 'peace treaties'. Gerald Ford did the same thing by declaring Eastern Europe under Soviet influence (read control) understanding that the USSR would tone down its aggressive stance and militarization of East Europe. Both were proven naive when USSR invaded Afghanistan and placed short range nuclear missiles in East Europe. It was not until Reagan rightly called the USSR the Evil Empire that the moral equivalence of the Soviet Block fell to the background, much to the howls of the leftist intellectual and media elites. Appeasement gave us the Taliban and Osama in Afghanistan. Moral clarity tore down the Berlin Wall.
Because of the word 'Trade', few stand up to China. Because of the word 'Choice', unborn children are dehumanized. Because of the word 'oppression', we are told to hate the West. Because of the words 'oil and ally', Saudi Arabia is given a pass.
If you say the right word to the decision makers, you are allowed to pass. There must be a ontic moral referent (God) that outweighs idealism, lest we get lost in our own perceptions of right and wrong.
Today, Shibboleth as password still exists. Whole political narratives are formed around these ideas and strange bed-fellows come to pass as a result. For example, Walter Duranty (NYT reporter) won a Pulitzer Prize for his glowing stories out of Moscow on Uncle Joe's 5 year plan. Because Stalin was creating a 'worker's paradise', the designed killing of 17 million Ukrainian farmers did not call into question the morality of this tyrant. Likewise, Fidel Castro is mollycoddled because he has 'free health care' while giving his political opponents free housing (in gulags).
One of the most unquestioned Shibboleths is 'Peace.' Just say you want peace and you are guaranteed to get a large number of people on your side immediately. This is how Jimmy Carter was duped. Russia wanted peace so Jimmy said 'Amen' and signed 'peace treaties'. Gerald Ford did the same thing by declaring Eastern Europe under Soviet influence (read control) understanding that the USSR would tone down its aggressive stance and militarization of East Europe. Both were proven naive when USSR invaded Afghanistan and placed short range nuclear missiles in East Europe. It was not until Reagan rightly called the USSR the Evil Empire that the moral equivalence of the Soviet Block fell to the background, much to the howls of the leftist intellectual and media elites. Appeasement gave us the Taliban and Osama in Afghanistan. Moral clarity tore down the Berlin Wall.
Because of the word 'Trade', few stand up to China. Because of the word 'Choice', unborn children are dehumanized. Because of the word 'oppression', we are told to hate the West. Because of the words 'oil and ally', Saudi Arabia is given a pass.
If you say the right word to the decision makers, you are allowed to pass. There must be a ontic moral referent (God) that outweighs idealism, lest we get lost in our own perceptions of right and wrong.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
The Definition of Redundancy -- Applying for an American Visa (an update)
If there is anything that should have its picture taken and put beside the word "redundancy" in the dictionary it is the Immigrant Visa process in the States.
Yesterday I received the next step in my application to be given status to live and work legally in the States. I was surprised and encouraged by its arrival, as I did not expect to see it until mid-March. With any luck I will have it completed and in the mail within a week. (The paper work part isn't long, its the documents that I need to assemble before I send it that will take time).
Here's the thing, the reason this document is so easy to fill out..... it requires almost the EXACT SAME information as what I had to fill out before for my biographical forms. The form has a different layout, but the required info is THE SAME!! With one small difference, I may need to make a list of every time I visited the States in my life. For some people that's no big deal -- a trip or two to Florida, maybe one to see the Grand Canyon and you're done. Me? Well my family is very blessed with some wonderful cousins in the States. So most March breaks found us visiting cousins in Pennsylvania (usually) or Michigan. Sometimes we went down in the summer. And does the odd day-trip across the boarder count? B/c I had a number of those in Seminary. Not to mention the number of times Mac and I have been back and forth to Virginia since we finished school. My list could be quite long.....
The other redundant part of the application... I have a list of documents that I have to assemble -- most I already have and they have already seen and have at least 2 photocopies of (we had to send one copy initially and a second copy was made at our appointment on February 1). Now I don't think its a problem for me to bring this documents again to the next interview. But do they really need another set of photocopies??? Really??? Now I like paper. I don't like having things just in my computer, I don't find I read them well. And I love post-it notes, i write on them all the time. But I hate having multiple copies of the same thing! It generally makes little sense to me. I have a feeling that there are some significant areas in which the US Immigration Process can be streamlined to be more efficient and less wasteful of paper.
Ah well. We are excited that the "next step" is here. We are going to turn this around as quickly as possible and hope that we get an interview quickly... though the average wait time for a visa at this point is 4-6 months. (But considering it was 6-9 months on Feb 1st, we're doing good!).
We will keep you updated.
Yesterday I received the next step in my application to be given status to live and work legally in the States. I was surprised and encouraged by its arrival, as I did not expect to see it until mid-March. With any luck I will have it completed and in the mail within a week. (The paper work part isn't long, its the documents that I need to assemble before I send it that will take time).
Here's the thing, the reason this document is so easy to fill out..... it requires almost the EXACT SAME information as what I had to fill out before for my biographical forms. The form has a different layout, but the required info is THE SAME!! With one small difference, I may need to make a list of every time I visited the States in my life. For some people that's no big deal -- a trip or two to Florida, maybe one to see the Grand Canyon and you're done. Me? Well my family is very blessed with some wonderful cousins in the States. So most March breaks found us visiting cousins in Pennsylvania (usually) or Michigan. Sometimes we went down in the summer. And does the odd day-trip across the boarder count? B/c I had a number of those in Seminary. Not to mention the number of times Mac and I have been back and forth to Virginia since we finished school. My list could be quite long.....
The other redundant part of the application... I have a list of documents that I have to assemble -- most I already have and they have already seen and have at least 2 photocopies of (we had to send one copy initially and a second copy was made at our appointment on February 1). Now I don't think its a problem for me to bring this documents again to the next interview. But do they really need another set of photocopies??? Really??? Now I like paper. I don't like having things just in my computer, I don't find I read them well. And I love post-it notes, i write on them all the time. But I hate having multiple copies of the same thing! It generally makes little sense to me. I have a feeling that there are some significant areas in which the US Immigration Process can be streamlined to be more efficient and less wasteful of paper.
Ah well. We are excited that the "next step" is here. We are going to turn this around as quickly as possible and hope that we get an interview quickly... though the average wait time for a visa at this point is 4-6 months. (But considering it was 6-9 months on Feb 1st, we're doing good!).
We will keep you updated.
Very Basic Economics
I have been frustrated by the lack of understanding concerning economics. I am no economist, but I try to understand that which feeds me. Because we have an election in the US soon, we hear lots of talk about the economy. We live in a free market (good thing) capitalist society. I say it is a good thing because once the negatives are weighed against the positives, the vast majority of people are allowed to participate in the system with opportunity to earn decent money. So why the post? To discuss what the alternatives are.
When you boil it all down, economic systems define how money is pooled for the purposes of economic development. Capitalism allows the private sector to come up with economic ideas and raise the money (capital) to complete said project. Communism/Socialism has the central gov't plan the ideas and raise the money (taxes) to complete said project. Basically, it comes down to power. Do you want power centralized in one entity, or do you want power devolved to the people?
Both side argue that their system gives power to the people. Communist/Socialists believe that the government is the people and has the peoples interest in mind when making decisions. Capitalists believe the markets give power to the people because power is taken away from the government when individuals have economic freedoms.
I am an avowed free marketeer. The basic reason is power and how it can be concentrated. When a government is formed, it is endowed with the intrinsic right to enforce the law at the point of a gun. Thus, the people must conform to the government's idea of economic planning or face the gulag. Philosophically, I believe the community knows best its needs and will better generate ideas on how to fill those needs compared to a faceless central gov't with guns.
When you boil it all down, economic systems define how money is pooled for the purposes of economic development. Capitalism allows the private sector to come up with economic ideas and raise the money (capital) to complete said project. Communism/Socialism has the central gov't plan the ideas and raise the money (taxes) to complete said project. Basically, it comes down to power. Do you want power centralized in one entity, or do you want power devolved to the people?
Both side argue that their system gives power to the people. Communist/Socialists believe that the government is the people and has the peoples interest in mind when making decisions. Capitalists believe the markets give power to the people because power is taken away from the government when individuals have economic freedoms.
I am an avowed free marketeer. The basic reason is power and how it can be concentrated. When a government is formed, it is endowed with the intrinsic right to enforce the law at the point of a gun. Thus, the people must conform to the government's idea of economic planning or face the gulag. Philosophically, I believe the community knows best its needs and will better generate ideas on how to fill those needs compared to a faceless central gov't with guns.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Today's News Headlines
AT&T wireless announced that they are introducing more bars in more places...Homer Simpson could be heard saying, "Woo Hoo!!"
Michael Moore wants to invite Fidel Castro to the Academy awards...I guess Mike wants to give Fidel a refresher in human rights violations as Fidel got a little soft on those librarians he gave life sentences to. The awards show plus private screenings of Moore's movies should do the trick.
Barack Obama has been making people faint at his rallies...nobody says nothing better than Barack.
China wants details on the shootdown of that disabled spy satellite...just wait guys, Hillary will be back in office soon enough, then you will have all the access to top secret info once again.
China also had some choice words for Steven Spielberg withdrawing from the Olympics...Steven can say goodbye to that Cultural Revolution scrapbook signed by Chairman Mao.
Another of Putin's enemies is dead in the UK...nothing to see here!
Ahmadinejad called Israelis bacteria or viruses to be eliminated...he's just a lovable fellow who means no harm to anyone. Didn't you see his 60 minutes interview?
The Sun is not cooperating with the Global Warming Apocalypse crowd. It has yet to start its next solar cycle...the northern hemisphere is experiencing a colder winter, go figure!!
Fortis Bank, in Holland, has stopped giving away piggy-banks so as not to offend Muslims...a resounding 'Amen' could be heard from the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Bob Geldolf praised President Bush and his unprecedented support for Africa...Kanye West reminded Mr. Geldolf that Bush does not care about black people.
Michael Moore wants to invite Fidel Castro to the Academy awards...I guess Mike wants to give Fidel a refresher in human rights violations as Fidel got a little soft on those librarians he gave life sentences to. The awards show plus private screenings of Moore's movies should do the trick.
Barack Obama has been making people faint at his rallies...nobody says nothing better than Barack.
China wants details on the shootdown of that disabled spy satellite...just wait guys, Hillary will be back in office soon enough, then you will have all the access to top secret info once again.
China also had some choice words for Steven Spielberg withdrawing from the Olympics...Steven can say goodbye to that Cultural Revolution scrapbook signed by Chairman Mao.
Another of Putin's enemies is dead in the UK...nothing to see here!
Ahmadinejad called Israelis bacteria or viruses to be eliminated...he's just a lovable fellow who means no harm to anyone. Didn't you see his 60 minutes interview?
The Sun is not cooperating with the Global Warming Apocalypse crowd. It has yet to start its next solar cycle...the northern hemisphere is experiencing a colder winter, go figure!!
Fortis Bank, in Holland, has stopped giving away piggy-banks so as not to offend Muslims...a resounding 'Amen' could be heard from the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Bob Geldolf praised President Bush and his unprecedented support for Africa...Kanye West reminded Mr. Geldolf that Bush does not care about black people.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Defining the Republican Party for Canadians
This post has been stewing in my (Mac's) brain for many years now. It started when I moved to Canada and heard the terms Religious Right and Republicans used interchangeably. How facile! Okay, I will give a break as the media has been the filter for most Canadians, and the the media think Republicans are meanies and Christians are stupid for believing what they believe. When you combine the two, Republican politics = stupid meanies. Hence the bumperstickers, "Mean people suck" "Hate is not a family value" "George Bush is mean and stupid". Just watch Keith Olberman's show and you will get a good idea of how the left wing media thinks. I find most Canadians buy into this stereotype of Republicans. My wife was asked just how 'American' I was, meaning, "is he one of those stupid meanies?"
There are two distinct wings of the Republican party: the establishment blue-bloods and the conservatives. The conservatives breakdown into social conservatives and fiscal conservatives. There is mixing of all three groups and the distinctions represent the most important issues.
The blue-bloods are the paternalistic status quo types who represent business interest and old money. This group instinctively believes that the average American needs the intervention and oversight of the government. They don't take hard stands on issues and always seek the compromise. They are afraid of unpopular action that may be the right course to take because it may mean them losing power, which is the worst outcome. Like the Democrats, the establishment Republicans believe that a well run country involves control from Washington. This group does not care for the conservatives and especially the religious conservatives. This group is probably 45-55% of the Republican party.
The fiscal conservatives are budget hawks. They are the low tax low spending crowd. Balancing the budget is their MO and devolving power is the way to do that. This group calls for the removal of cabinet positions and the closing of government departments. They believe too much power is concentrated in Washington and the tax code is used as political payback and punishment. This group does not like the blue-bloods and has an easy truce with the social conservatives. This is probably 30-35% of the party.
The social conservatives want to stem the slouching of American morals. This group can be called the religious right but they are not monolithic. This group fights against the injustice that low morals perpetrate on a society. They see a more violent and inhumane culture as morality is eschewed for a more 'tolerant' position on community standards. They were given a seat at the table under Reagan because they rightly saw communism as a moral evil that must be stopped. This group does not get along with the blue-bloods at all. Indeed the blue-bloods want this religious right out of the party power structure. This group is 10-25% of the party.
How do the candidates line up:
McCain - Blue-blood and somewhat fiscal conservative (He is the elites man)
Huckabee - Social/fiscal conservative (fair tax guy) hated by the blue-bloods and fiscal conservatives because his social conservatism sometimes calls for gov't spending
Romney - Fiscal conservative well related to the blue-bloods
Giuliani - Blue-blood all the way
Paul - Fiscal conservative but really a libertarian
Thompson - Social conservative with some fiscal conservatism
There are two distinct wings of the Republican party: the establishment blue-bloods and the conservatives. The conservatives breakdown into social conservatives and fiscal conservatives. There is mixing of all three groups and the distinctions represent the most important issues.
The blue-bloods are the paternalistic status quo types who represent business interest and old money. This group instinctively believes that the average American needs the intervention and oversight of the government. They don't take hard stands on issues and always seek the compromise. They are afraid of unpopular action that may be the right course to take because it may mean them losing power, which is the worst outcome. Like the Democrats, the establishment Republicans believe that a well run country involves control from Washington. This group does not care for the conservatives and especially the religious conservatives. This group is probably 45-55% of the Republican party.
The fiscal conservatives are budget hawks. They are the low tax low spending crowd. Balancing the budget is their MO and devolving power is the way to do that. This group calls for the removal of cabinet positions and the closing of government departments. They believe too much power is concentrated in Washington and the tax code is used as political payback and punishment. This group does not like the blue-bloods and has an easy truce with the social conservatives. This is probably 30-35% of the party.
The social conservatives want to stem the slouching of American morals. This group can be called the religious right but they are not monolithic. This group fights against the injustice that low morals perpetrate on a society. They see a more violent and inhumane culture as morality is eschewed for a more 'tolerant' position on community standards. They were given a seat at the table under Reagan because they rightly saw communism as a moral evil that must be stopped. This group does not get along with the blue-bloods at all. Indeed the blue-bloods want this religious right out of the party power structure. This group is 10-25% of the party.
How do the candidates line up:
McCain - Blue-blood and somewhat fiscal conservative (He is the elites man)
Huckabee - Social/fiscal conservative (fair tax guy) hated by the blue-bloods and fiscal conservatives because his social conservatism sometimes calls for gov't spending
Romney - Fiscal conservative well related to the blue-bloods
Giuliani - Blue-blood all the way
Paul - Fiscal conservative but really a libertarian
Thompson - Social conservative with some fiscal conservatism
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Oh Boy Obama!
Being disturbed to his core by the message a lapel pin of the American Flag represented, Senator Barack Obama has refused to wear one, bucking the senatorial trend. Many of his volunteers have bought into that revolutionary ethos and decided that paying tribute to Fidel Castro and Che Geuvara was on the up and up. Of course many North Americans love these two mass murderers, just go to a peace rally and count the Che shirts for yourself. I hope the irony is not lost on you. The pictures are from Obama's Houston campaign office.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Thunder Snow
Tonight was a first for me. I saw lightning and heard thunder for the first time ever in a snow storm. Toronto is being socked with its second 20cm storm in 5 days. This time the front had so much warm air energy that it produced lightning and thunder. Crazy!
I must admit, and I am sure this is to the frustration of my Toronto friends, that I love the snow. This is the first time since I lived in Washington, DC (25 years ago) that I have experienced such snow events. But it's not over; this coming weekend there will be even more snow falling. As much as I like the snow, this same weather system produced 80 degree temperatures in Virginia Beach today. Sounds like a good day to wash the car.
I must admit, and I am sure this is to the frustration of my Toronto friends, that I love the snow. This is the first time since I lived in Washington, DC (25 years ago) that I have experienced such snow events. But it's not over; this coming weekend there will be even more snow falling. As much as I like the snow, this same weather system produced 80 degree temperatures in Virginia Beach today. Sounds like a good day to wash the car.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Shine Up Your Jackboots!!
I (Mac) am no fan of David Suzuki. I consider him a bit of a megalomaniac but harmless. However, after hearing him verbally abuse someone who questioned his stance on certain environmental matters (basically he dismissed the interviewer using the standard bully narrative of 'you are a shill for big business'), I knew this guy was out for control. So now, Suzuki is proposing politically based incarceration for people who do not tow the party line, "He urged today’s youth to speak out against politicians complicit in climate change, even suggesting they look for a legal way to throw our current political leaders in jail for ignoring science – drawing rounds of cheering and applause. Suzuki said that politicians, who never see beyond the next election, are committing a criminal act by ignoring science."
Sadly, the students saw no problem with this line of thought. Sheesh!! Talk about mind-numbed robots. How are these students being propagandized...I mean taught? Suzuki is not being honest in his description of economics (or he is displaying terrible ignorance). A growing economy is not a crime. It guards against scarcity which leads to famine and disease, and it is the result of a growing population base (which many environmentalist see as a crime). The world's top economies will stop growing in 30-50 years when the population stabilizes. In Europe and Japan and possibly Canada, it will decline in the next decades if immigration falls off. Developing countries will continue to grow economically as they build infrastructure and learn how to provide basic goods for all of their populations. Now there is room to criticize hoarding! But, hoarding is exacerbated by scarcity, so a growing economic base militates against famine and want.
Question to Suzuki, should we throw you in jail because you ignore the science of DDT? You parrot the obsolete findings of Rachel Carson, whereas your beloved WHO has found DDT safe and effective when used properly.
I guess we can call this the lecture-hall putsch. Where do I get my green shirt?
Sadly, the students saw no problem with this line of thought. Sheesh!! Talk about mind-numbed robots. How are these students being propagandized...I mean taught? Suzuki is not being honest in his description of economics (or he is displaying terrible ignorance). A growing economy is not a crime. It guards against scarcity which leads to famine and disease, and it is the result of a growing population base (which many environmentalist see as a crime). The world's top economies will stop growing in 30-50 years when the population stabilizes. In Europe and Japan and possibly Canada, it will decline in the next decades if immigration falls off. Developing countries will continue to grow economically as they build infrastructure and learn how to provide basic goods for all of their populations. Now there is room to criticize hoarding! But, hoarding is exacerbated by scarcity, so a growing economic base militates against famine and want.
Question to Suzuki, should we throw you in jail because you ignore the science of DDT? You parrot the obsolete findings of Rachel Carson, whereas your beloved WHO has found DDT safe and effective when used properly.
I guess we can call this the lecture-hall putsch. Where do I get my green shirt?
Friday, February 1, 2008
And the visa process continues
Today, on a cold and snowy morning, Mac and I headed downtown to have "an interview" at the US Consulate office.
The trip started slowly -- for some reason the Queen Car wasn't working. (It ran during the last big snow storm here, which brought more snow than we've had thus far today!) So instead of taking the street car straight across the city (where we were going was just off queen so it made the most sense), we ran down the street, grabbed the bus that was waiting at the stop (Thank you Lord for the timing there!) and took that north to the subway, the subway across the city, then another subway south and walked as quickly as non-shoveled sidewalks would allow.
Anyways, we got there. They took all our original documents and photocopied them AGAIN (they could have just signed off on the copies we sent to say they were legit, but instead felt the need to add more paper to our file). We were asked how we met, why we want to go to the states and one other question that i don't remember at the moment. It was interesting -- we were just in a room with these kiosks. The Consulate staff sat on one side of bullet proof (i presume) glass and spoke to the couple they were addressing on the other through an intercom. So everyone in the room hears what you say -- not that they asked super personal questions.
So here's the "next steps" in about 6 weeks, after the Department of Homeland Securities does a background check on us/me and the US Consulate office in Montreal goes over the file I will get a package in the mail. I will have to fill out the paperwork included within, and provide whatever other documentation they need. I'm going to be checking with a girlfriend who went through this not long ago to find out what sort of stuff they need (i.e. photos of us, reference letters etc) so that I can have most of that together when the package comes. So we'll get that off as quickly as we can.
Then we wait. At some point I will probably be summoned to Montreal for an interview. Mac's part in this is done, he's been accepted as the sponsor. Now I have to prove that i'm worth sponsoring. So we don't know how long it will take to get to the interview in Montreal. But we were told officially that its another 6-9 months until we're done.
I expressed some disappointment to Mac about there still being 6-9 months and he said that its good that we're not in control of this. God will set things in motion, and make things work and at some point, maybe in November (hopefully a whole lot sooner) we'll be in the states. I don't know that i want to say it "good" we're not in control, but i will say its acceptable. So until then, we pray for patience on our/my part and God's speed on the governments and hope we meet quickly in the middle. (Did I mention my need for patience?)
The trip started slowly -- for some reason the Queen Car wasn't working. (It ran during the last big snow storm here, which brought more snow than we've had thus far today!) So instead of taking the street car straight across the city (where we were going was just off queen so it made the most sense), we ran down the street, grabbed the bus that was waiting at the stop (Thank you Lord for the timing there!) and took that north to the subway, the subway across the city, then another subway south and walked as quickly as non-shoveled sidewalks would allow.
Anyways, we got there. They took all our original documents and photocopied them AGAIN (they could have just signed off on the copies we sent to say they were legit, but instead felt the need to add more paper to our file). We were asked how we met, why we want to go to the states and one other question that i don't remember at the moment. It was interesting -- we were just in a room with these kiosks. The Consulate staff sat on one side of bullet proof (i presume) glass and spoke to the couple they were addressing on the other through an intercom. So everyone in the room hears what you say -- not that they asked super personal questions.
So here's the "next steps" in about 6 weeks, after the Department of Homeland Securities does a background check on us/me and the US Consulate office in Montreal goes over the file I will get a package in the mail. I will have to fill out the paperwork included within, and provide whatever other documentation they need. I'm going to be checking with a girlfriend who went through this not long ago to find out what sort of stuff they need (i.e. photos of us, reference letters etc) so that I can have most of that together when the package comes. So we'll get that off as quickly as we can.
Then we wait. At some point I will probably be summoned to Montreal for an interview. Mac's part in this is done, he's been accepted as the sponsor. Now I have to prove that i'm worth sponsoring. So we don't know how long it will take to get to the interview in Montreal. But we were told officially that its another 6-9 months until we're done.
I expressed some disappointment to Mac about there still being 6-9 months and he said that its good that we're not in control of this. God will set things in motion, and make things work and at some point, maybe in November (hopefully a whole lot sooner) we'll be in the states. I don't know that i want to say it "good" we're not in control, but i will say its acceptable. So until then, we pray for patience on our/my part and God's speed on the governments and hope we meet quickly in the middle. (Did I mention my need for patience?)
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