Publisher's Synopsis
Bryn Terfel and Sissel sang "Give Me My Song" on classical radio recently which impressed me. I applied bits and pieces of the lyrics as introductions in the chapters of my new book, "Give Us Hopes and Dreams." Benny Andersson, the composer, complains in the song that he has lost his Muse, his inner fire to write, before he discovers at the end of the song, that indeed he is the song. Every person is his or her own song.
My book combines insights in self-discovery with the weekly and monthly happenings of the Pandemic in Ontario during the Third Wave. The second half of my book includes 19 contemplations about issues relevant to our modern times of healthcare, old-age, gun control, police brutality, faith and extremism. The incidences of George Floyd and also the discovery of 215 graves on the grounds of a residential school in Kamloops have heightened social awareness and the need to bring justice into our society. -- John Hartig Canadian Author
Both the United States and Canada have had shameful histories. The United States' first President, George Washington, owned slaves, but for his time, he seemed to have been a kind person. John A. Macdonald, Canada's first Prime Minister, had fewer saving graces even for his era. He was a drunkard and political manipulator. He ignored petitions from the Metis and Plains Indians while he forged ahead with his plans to build the Canadian Pacific Railway across the Prairies and the Rocky Mountains. He also promoted residential schools to assimilate indigenous peoples, a program which has proved to be an embarrassment to Canada's reputation.
American and Canadian cultures have inherited a lot of intolerance. Intolerance still rears its ugly head as illustrated in that murder of that Muslim family driven over by a white guy in a truck on a quiet sunny Sunday evening in London, Ontario. We have a long way to go to celebrate the sacred song in each person's life, no matter what colour, religion or inclination they are. Covid-19 has pointed out the failures where we need to improve but stupid people are still stupid and there seems to be no vaccine for that. I hope that my book helps to correct the moral compass in some people's lives to make a better world. We need more activists of good social and moral conscience.
