One official told me - What make you say that we have to find you work?
I quickly told them the Government through those racists members of the new Brunswick Human Rights Commission made a decision behind close door that people with ADHD are close to mental Retardation and should be ignore at any cost!
You people are going to prove that I can be a benefit to society beside to being a menace!
They totally ignored me so therefore on June 17th, 2003.
I told my friend Pat that I would be gone for two weeks. She wasn’t happy that I was leaving but I had to do what I had to do!!
I never expected to be gone for six months!!!
I decided to pitch a tent in front of the Legislature and the many thanks goes to Dorothy Dawson.
If it wasn’t for her? This would have been an impossible task!
She gave me a tent and a nice beach chair!
I didn’t know what to expect once I arrived at the Capital. Her son David droved me to Fredericton and he gave me some good pointers of how to be stern with the Government. David has ADHD big times because he never shut up from Saint John to the Capital. This was a good thing!!!
This was my second try in a tent in front of the Legislature. The year before, the Sergeant at Arms Dan Bussieres forced me out from the lawn after 12 days.
It was a beautiful day < better than today > I didn’t know anyone in this City so therefore I knew that it would be a little difficult but I was there to battle those racist members of the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission and the Government on the over prescription use of Ritalin in this Province!
You see? I can do these protests because I have no kids of my own. < Thank God for that!! >
If I was married with kids? The wife would have grab me by the ear and ordered me out of my tent and get some work so the kids can be fed! ..lol…
I was surprise that Dan Bussieres never came and met with me because he was on my list of people who I sent emails that I was going to the Capital to renew my protest.
I would have never believed that I would have stayed in that till the cold month of December where the temperatures reach -40 with wind-chill.
I’m not going to tell you the many stories but thank God after 4 weeks of protesting? Someone mentioned to me the word- Petition!!!
It was at that point that I confronted the citizens in the Capital and I did a pretty good job at it. At the end, I collected 10,000 signatures asking Bernard Lord to do a study on Ritalin.
Those days are long gone and I must admit that it was an experience of a lifetime.
It did play a toll with my health but it was worth it!!!
After the protest, I wrote a book < 200,000 words > and I was certain that the individual was going to published my stories but it never happen and it’s a darn shame.
The old saying is so true! If you wish to get something done? You have to do it yourself. But a person needs money to do this which I don’t have!!!
This individual never told me that the book will never get printed but it sure takes a lot of time.
I might add that if you would have told me 2 years ago that I would still be hanging around the Legislature? I would have probably told you that you were nuts!
What has happen since my protest ended in December 2003?
Well, in February, I had a meeting with those racist members of the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission and they did admit that they didn’t handle my case properly!
But they will not admit that they made a huge error telling the Irvings that is ok in the workplace and that minorities can be assaulted or that s with ADHD are close to mental Retardation!
You know why? Because these racist members have dedicated their life and soul to the evil Irving Empire.
One of them Christian Whalen showed up at a function for disability awareness month and I quickly confronted the guy of the reason he was here because they will not support people with disability!
Months later, Bernard Richard suggested that the Lord Government should study the issue of Ritalin.
Last summer a few protesters began protesting in tents all around the City. They were evicted from the ground of the Legislature.
In December, I visited Dorothy Dawson and she gave me an earful! She told me that I should take a Journalism course. She told me to Call Philippe Lee at Saint Thomas.
I called the guy and left a message. He never returned my call and I found out days later that the Irvings gave millions to the University to train our young journalists!
Of course these students will have to dedicate their life and soul to the irvings and promise not to write any critical stories on the Irvings! Knowing the way I am?
There's no way in the world that I could do this so I quickly drop that idea!!!
Then this year, Tim Smith came into my life as a good friend and protester. He arrived in January and protested in the cold wind-chill of -30!!!
He came back a few months ago and was immediately told that he wasn’t allowed to pitch a tent!
So? A person could say that I am part of history because I don’t believe that someone will live in a tent for six months in front of the Legislature. I guess that I truly am the last of the true protesters!!!
During my protest, I had a list of people that I would send a daily update to on a daily basis. Some of these people are still with me today and they were the ones who kept me doing.
One sad but true story was that it took the Irving papers 50 days to cover my protest.
One woman showed up for a few hours on the front steps of the Legislature and protested against insurance.
Her picture was on the Front page of the Daily Gleaner. But me? Nothing!
Don’t tell me that the Irvings don’t deny the freedom of speech to New Brunswickers in this Province.
As I said in the past - It Germany all over again!
Then I met WCIE and he approached me to be a blogger. I was asked in the past about this line of communication but I wasn’t interested.
At the end, I decided to give it a try and look at me now? My God? We came a long way!
I used to send an update to everyone and they would delete my email and that was it!
These days, it’s a total different ballgame! If someone search for Bernard Lord, The Irvings and any other people on the information Highway? My web site would come up!
I expected to hit 10,000 hits in the fall. The way this site is going? I’ll maybe hit 30,000 visitors.
It’s been a very hard and emotional battle with the Government but do you know what keeps me going?
Of course we could blame it on my Scottish because I’m half Scottish and we know there’s nothing more stubborn than a darn Scotsman!!!..lol…
Seriously? This is what keeps me going!
What are the odds of me living in the Capital and fighting with these politicians and Bureaucrats on a daily basis and my best friend is the Priest?
We are not speaking of a Priest that I just met during my protest. We are talking about a Priest that I have known for 40 years!
I am not born again but I strongly believe there’s a reason for everything and Father Brien was the backbone of my protest because he truly cares for the children on this Planet.
Then WCIE and I parted ways but not before he sent out a plea for money for I could have a computer at computer. It’s an wireless computer and it does the job! I wish that I could be connected on line 24 hours a day but I got the Library to go to during the day!
Bernard Richard spoke again last week on the issue of Ritalin and this is a good thing for the kids.
People are congratulating me but my answer is always the same- It’s for the kids!! Not me!!!
Once Shawn Graham gets elected Premier of this Province?
I see myself appearing in front of the Education and Health Standing Committee and say - Thank God for Shawn Graham because the kids of this province can have a chance with their lives beside becoming the social outcast of Society!
Bernard Lord will go down in history by being remembered of the ging and of the children of New Brunswick!
The other day someone called me a bum because I'm always around the Legislature!!!
Well? Maybe I am a bum with no money but I am certain on one issue!!!
Once my day of Judgment arrives?
He cannot say that I didn’t try to help my fellow human beings! You know what?
Noting else really matters!
I made some good friends during my protest and afterwards. I wish to thank WCIE, WCIE jr, Tim Smith and ARTIST WCIE!!! This little team came together and we will continue to debate issues that matters to New Brunswickers!
MY GOD????? 1,400 WORDS ALREADY????????
Ok..at the end of my protest, I received this email from a woman that I didn’t know. This letter was very nice and I will share it in this blog!
If you’re still with me? I doubt it!!! Way too long and please excuse the style of this blog because I just write the darn thing and send it along the information Highway!!! Bye bye
Here’s the letter
I just received a lot of good praise but this one
really touch me where it hurts!!!! I wish to share it
with you readers!!!
THIS WAS EMAIL TO ME ON DECEMBER 10, 2003!!!!
Charles,
You asked for our opinions...lol...I'm a rambler too!
:P
Nothin'wrong with that...So bear with me on this,okay?
Charles you sound so defeated and unsure of yourself....my goodness
Charles look how VOCAL you have been over the years and what
you have accomplished in this year alone!
HOW MANY MILES HAVE YA PUT ON YOUR SHOES, BUDDY?
Are they warm enough and do ya need extra socks?
You've gone SO MANY PLACES and SPOKE TO SO MANY PEOPLE...ON THE STREET!
You've been getting to the HEARTS AND MINDS OF MANY PEOPLE!
BE VERY VERY PROUD OF THAT!
You were relentless in getting the attention of the people in the province
and WOW that petition... 9,665 names so far...RIGHT ON! And you say
some people who wish that they could sign could not "for
their own reasons"
You KNOW WHAT SOME OF THOSE REASONS ARE....sooooo YOU KNOW you are starting
to bend the "ridged minds sets" of some of the people you have been
talking too!
RIGHT ON AGAIN MAN!
And you're meetings with some of the officials...have got to make ya
proud!
You might leave a meeting thinking you have not affected anything BUT
YOU NEVER KNOW WHO MIGHT BE STARTING TO GET A SMALL UNDERSTANDING OF SOME
OF THE REAL PROBLEMS IN THE PROVINCE.
Maybe SOME DAY we will start to see changes and you know Charles some of these young kids and s you are talking to on campus and around Fredericton MAY BE REALLY
IMPACTED BY YOUR VOICE...
They may be the next generation coming on line to make the changes needed.
Sometimes we do NOT REALIZE the impact we have on others!
Your being persistent in SPEAKING OUT and your approach of “Stand Up
and Speak Your Mind and the IN YOUR FACE…you can’t ignore
ME...I’m HERE AND I’m NOT GOING AWAY AND BEING QUIETED" approach is starting
to beat some of these people down.
I couldn't be prouder of you!
Charles, I consider you to be one of the most passionate people in the
province speaking out for the children, teens, young s and
families.
YOU HAVE BEEN ON THE STREETS and you have heard and seen many of our
horror stories.
You have been a presence for US to speak about injustice...
when we have been so CONSUMED AND BUSY working with our children with the day
to day stuff that we can't do what YOU DO!
You ask: Do you believe that I failed????
Let’s face it….would ANY government official you know put him/herself
in “your SHOES or TENT for a day and night, week, months to fight for a
cause for the people?"
I know that they all have homes, heat, food, personal safety, loving families and friends and most importantly jobs and money that provides
for them very well even if the difficulty (of Autism/ADHD/
Learning Disability and the list goes on and on,) was faced in their
family.
You have SPOKEN UP WELL FOR THE ONES WHO CAN'T SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES!
How long would some of these politicians last if they lost all their supports? Where would their passion be on the side of the POLITICIANS or would they fight to improve things for themselves and their families?
They would quickly see themselves on OUR SIDE OF THE FENCE PRETTY QUICKLY IS
MY GUESS!
You ask: "Can I leave the Capital with my head high???"
My answer is ....You bet your BOOTS, YOU CAN!"
Charles look how many people you have talked to, the pictures and publicity,
the news articles and all the problems in the province concerning New
Brunswick Kids you have brought right OUT IN THE OPEN!
And trust me you hit on the REAL BIG ISSUES that many people would rather
not even discuss and want to BRUSH UNDER THE CARPET AS IF THEY DON"T EXIST!
THERE YOU ARE being BRAVE collecting names, (in all kinds of weather)
talking to people even if you do feel you are gonna get kicked off or out of a
place.
THAT TAKES GUTS AND STAMINA!
You say: Many parents urged me to fight till the end!!!
Only you know how long the fight can last and how you are going to fight...that answer and decision lies with you, Charles.
YOU KNOW when people work to hard at something "burn out from exhaustion" can pose a
real problem. Sometimes we need the time to rest and think about things to
RECHARGE OUR BATTERIES. That is part of taking care yourself.
It can also be good strategy to take the time to focus...what our next steps will be
so you can come back even stronger!
I don't doubt that you will see this through to the end, you are very passionate about the cause how it has affected you and so many others!
You may want to consider taking a break from your WORK FOR
THE PROVINCE AND THE FAMILIES.
Everyone seems to take a break from work during this season. Families all around the province ...spend precious time together! Even the politicians are unfocused during this time of year in their work and spend time with their families.
My concern is for you....Charles...
This Christmas Season as the weather gets bitter and cold...will you have a
warm place to find some comfort and a good Christmas meal under your
belt?
I SURE HOPE SO CAUSE NOONE DESERVES IT MORE THAN YOU!
If you decide to stop...NO ONE could consider YOU A QUITTER OR A
COWARD...maybe YOU CAN CONSIDER IT AS YOUR BREAK, enjoy yourself and do
some of the things you like to do such as WRITING ARTICLES
until YOU DECIDE when to resume again! It may be Spring or 6 weeks from
now... You will know WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT! TRUST IN YOURSELF!
Just take care of yourself Charles, you are a VALUE to
yourself and all the many friends you have found in your travels and the
people of New Brunswick.
You are one of the strongest ADVOCATES I KNOW OF!
So you asked me for my view...and I gave it to ya!
Straight up!
BIG PAT ON THE BACK! GREAT JOB! I'M PROUD OF YOU!
Pam from Saint John
Don't forget to write me a note back to let me know
what your Christmas
