The world has changed overnight. There was major police and security presence all over gov't buildings today near Queen's Park in Toronto, where I work. The police were making their presence felt by jut being there, not doing much of anything at all. You don't notice it so much in the building where I work, because it's not an official "government" building, even though it is 80% occupied by gov't offices, the rest by a private art and design college. At a meeting I went to in the minister's office today, a security guard was posted right outside the door. I've never seen that before. And we're not even in this war.
Had to go to another two-hour meeting today as part of the building's emergency preparedness group, updating procedures on what to do in event of fire, flood, bombing, biohazards and what have you. Before all we really worried about was fire. Now there's so much more to consider. After work, on the way back to where I park my car, I was walking down Yonge Street when along came a parade of war-protesters. They were all very young, mostly university students, but some high school kids as well, (and a couple of "old" people like me), carrying Iraqi flags and signs saying "Stop mad cowboy disease" and so on. A group of five or so people was holding aloft a bird made of sticks and coloured paper, sort of along the lines of a Chinese dragon (but a bird - possibly a phoenix? certainly not a dove.) There were some women pushing their babies in carriages, kids with painted faces and some people dressed in carnival-like clothing, chanting things like, "One-two-three-four, we don't want your f*cking war" and so on. All along the street, people were coming out of shops to watch and listen - and everyone was smiling. I walked along with them for a while grinning like a fool 'til I came to my turnoff. I believe they're down in front of the US consulate on University Ave right now - it's raining like crazy tonight. ===== Catherine Toronto ______________________________________________________________________ Post your free ad now! http://personals.yahoo.ca
