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I’ve been thinking about

June 25, 2001 by Michael Boyle

seeing all the riot cops last night, and about the (several) experiences I’ve had in my life of “riots” – plus the many more stories I’ve heard from friends and others in my circle. And – as I’ve felt for ages but not expressed in so many words – I have grave misgivings about the situation. Notwithstanding my past as a political theory student and very minor-league activist, I think I’m a bit of a poster boy for “non-radical” in most ways. I now work in Big Industry. I own things, I pay taxes. I enjoy considering a purchase of a new car for the first time in my life in a couple of months. Also – I live in a community, I try my best (and succeed to some extent) to contribute to my community and society in various ways. I have an ever-deepening commitment to urban living.

Time was when I was exactly who the cops were “serving and protecting”. When people like me were precisely who was enfranchised by our society to the exclusion of many, if not most, others. But now, for me, I don’t feel that included. I don’t think they represent me. I don’t feel that they in any way reflect my values or wishes as a citizen. And if they can’t even represent me – well, there’s a fundamental problem there. And, thinking back to Quebec City, it’s obvious that many, many people are in the same boat as I am. Poster kids for “doing pretty well” and completely nonplussed by the government and its institutions – indeed, convinced that they are actively undermining my values and those of my friends and community.

Tags: Community, Friend, Quebec, Riot

Last night was

June 25, 2001 by Michael Boyle

the big party for St-Jean, aka Fete nationale, in Parc Maisonneuve, and today is a (very lovely) holiday here in Montreal. Traditionally there have been big problems associated with this event, but reports are that last night was calm. I was sitting in a window on St-Laurent with some friends and I was amazed by the numbers of riot cops, who, as one should expect by now, seemed to have started the fracas mentioned in the last part of the above-linked story. Funny sight of the night: riot cops in full gear driving up the Main in rented vans. It looked like a family vacation from hell.

Tags: Friend, Funny, Gear, Montreal, Riot

Weirdness

June 24, 2001 by Michael Boyle

: I met someone a couple of weeks ago who is the spitting image of Caterina. This strange clone has actually been around the neighbourhood for some time, and in fact was formerly the roommate of a friend of mine. But it only struck me when I walked into Nantha’s two Fridays ago that the resemblance is quite spooky.

Tags: Friend, Nantha's

It’s the most beautiful

June 10, 2001 by Michael Boyle

weekend yet this summer here in Montreal, but alas I’ve been pretty much tied to my desk, other than meeting with a friend of mine for breakfast this morning. The choice came down to the following question: do I do the work that’s been languishing in various folders on my machine all at once and get it done, or do I put it off in favour of a great weekend and then fret about it for weeks or months, possibly ruining a good portion of the summer? So I came down on the side of the future, I voted for the potential of the entire summer rather than one glorious weekend.

Tags: ALA, Friend, Montreal

I had a rare

June 6, 2001 by Michael Boyle

opportunity to see Ron Sexsmith last night at the Cabaret, a nice cozy room just down the street from me. It was great to see him live – I missed what has become a legendary show he played about 4 yrs ago at a now-defunct space called Isart. He seemed a little hemmed in by his band – his solo songs were better, and although the band was OK, they seemed to put a box around him a bit more than I would have liked. Probably just a lack of familiarity – the guitar and bass were pretty new. Incidentally, the bassist (Maury LeFoy) used to play in my friend Ian’s band, Starling.
In case it’s not obvious, I (and many others) consider Ron Sexsmith to be among the very best songwriters and performers of the past several years. You could say he’s like the demon spawn of Brian Wilson, Tom Waits (who he covered last night) and Neil Young (maybe), but that wouldn’t be quite right. I can leave his first CD (or his third, for that matter) in my car for weeks and listen to it over and over – it’s never boring. Just in case it wasn’t clear.

Tags: Demo, Friend, Space, Writers

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