journal features

in Toronto

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

Toronto, 2022.07.30

We're in Toronto. We came up with the kids this morning, and "surprised" Ken's friend Liam by showing up with a bunch of pizzas. Curiously, the boy - who did not know we would be in-country - took it all in stride and there was no real reaction. But the kids went their way and we had a great catch-up with the parents after nearly 2.5 years (for me, anyway). It was a really pleasant evening. No mosquitos, a temperature in the upper twenties instead of the mid-upper thirties, and did I mention no mosquitoes. The Boy has ~eighty infected bites on his legs from having spent a day in the park with his girlfriend before we left, it's a real mess. Tokyo is becoming unlivable in the summer.

rand()m quote

Naturally the common people don't want war: Neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.

—Hermann Goering