Science Talk

K+ · Guest

Today, June 3rd, at the Toronto Reference Library I attended a
presentation
on addiction given by Dr. Gabor Maté @ 2 p.m.

Dr.Gabor Maté works at the Portland Hotel in Vancouver’s
Downtown Eastside.

His 4th book dealing with the dynamics of addiction is highly
acclaimed: "In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters
with Addiction". (See book review: http://www.walrusmagazine.
com/articles/2008.03-walrus-reads-book-review-gabor-mate/)

What he said that resonated most with me is that addicts like
the feeling of *NOT* being addicted.

And he quoted from Thomas Merton, my favorite author: a British
homosexual sex addict + Columbia University grad who became
a Catholic Trappist priest who said that the goal of all spirituality
is to become a Buddha, an independent being: not to be dependent
on anyone or anything.

Dr.Gabor Maté was invited by the City of Toronto Harm Reduction
Program to do speak @ the Toronto Reference Library on the topic
of drug addiction.

The TWIST on this is that I'm in the Toronto Harm Reduction Program
on the 4th floor of Seaton House put there - NOT BY CHOICE - by
the Gov't along with other homeless people + a lot of undercover
cops who "terrorize" the place by calling the homeless (some with
mental problems) nogs, pieces of shit, goofs, ... .

They'll even set themselves up in a shared room of 6-persons with
their own *huge* TVs etc. to make the point that they're KING OF
THE HILL.

The staff also includes undercover cops - from what I can tell - who
lets them have their way.

Plus, I've been subjected to outrageous treatment by THESE GOONS.

But I digress.

Dr. Gabor Maté points out that an addict is an addict *NOT* BY
CHOICE.

An addict is a human being just like U + me.

An addict can overcome his addiction if given the *proper* emotional
support.

Because the System marginalizes, oppresses, and blames the addict
for his/her problem which creates more STRESS, the MAIN MOTOR
of addiction, THE SYSTEM CONTRIBUTES TO THE PROBLEM: it
incorrectly believes its the addict's fault that s/he is an addict.

This is NOT TRUE according to Dr.Gabor Maté: an addict does NOT
chose to be an addict anymore than a person with a sedentary lifestyle
choses to have a heart attack.

An addict is a SICK person that needs help just like the person who
has a heart attack.

Dr.Gabor Maté is therefore an ACTIVE SUPPORTER of Vancouver
injection clinic where drug addicts can be revived whenever they
overdose in clinic.

However, Dr. Gabor Maté pointed out that the Gov't under Mr.Harper
wants to close it down.

The Minister of Health, Tony Clement, is saying that it's an incentive
to youth to become drug addicts.

For that reason, Dr. Maté calls the Minister of Health the Minister
of Disease.

He says such an argument is unfounded + ridiculous.

I, as President/Party Leader of the Égalité Party of Canada, am
TOTALLY! IN FAVOUR of the Vancouver injection clinic.

By the way, last year I spent from mid-April till the beginning of
July in Vancouver and spent 6 days out of 7 in Vancouver’s Down-
town Eastside + I went by the clinic almost daily.

What is REALLY SHOCKING is that our Canadian Court System
will find drug addicts guilty when they did NOT have a choice in
committing the crime or NOT.

For there to be a crime, the person MUST HAVE HAD A CHOICE
TO COMMIT the crime OR NOT.

Sentencing these people is clearly a TRAVESTY of justice, but
GOOD BUSINESS for the undercover cops (the Police), prisons,
+ judicial system, but a TREMENDOUS *UNNECESSARY*
BURDEN for the Canadian taxpayer.

The Égalité Party of Canada is AGAINST people going to jail
UNNECESSARILY, people paying taxes UNNECESSARILY,
Gov't spending UNNECESSARILY.

In fact, with the the Égalité Party of Canada in power,
UNNECESSARY Gov't spending would be considered
A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

For CLEAN! government that REDISTRIBUTES! the wealth
of the country BY DESIGN, join + support the the Égalité
Party of Canada.

Kenneth Selin (say'leen)
B.A.(Psychology), B.A.(Spanish), B.Admin.,
B.Comm.(Honours), B.A.(Italian) "magna cum laude"
~~~
President/Party Leader of the Égalité Party of Canada
(http://www.eh-ok.ca)
~~~
Let's DEcriminalize Government in order to end proverty.
DÉcriminalisons le Gouvernement afin d'enrayer la pauvreté.
~~~
"talking about a revolution" (Tracy Chapman)
http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=SKYWOwWAguk&mode=related&search =