Exchange with Neil McKenty

Neil’s reflections

bluemoosebicycle — Thu, 24 May 2012 12:44:46 +0000

These are four brief clips from interviews with Neil, done on Safe Space Radio, over the past four years, that were played at his funeral.

Stay tuned as we are working on digitizing more great stuff from Neil’s archives.

Neil’s broadcasting legacy has sown seeds now flourishing in the public discourse

bluemoosebicycle — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:28:15 +0000

Following Neil’s beautiful funeral on Saturday, May 19, I have been reflecting on the way Neil’s broadcasting legacy has sown seeds now flourishing in the public discourse. First and foremost is that the voice of the people can make a difference. We have seen this in the spontaneous cloud bursts of Occupy movements across the western world pointing us to the recognition that equality is better for everyone. ‘Exchange’ on CJAD and ‘McKenty Live’ on CFCF were fore-runners here. I believe that this is what the student protest in Montreal is basically about. As I read in a comment printed in The Globe and Mail this morning: ”This is as much about “low tuition” as the American Revolution was about cheap tea.”

Having listened to Paul Kennedy’s ‘Ideas in the Afternoon’ on CBC radio yesterday, I hasten to order the book: The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better by Richard G. Wilkinson and Kate Pickett. The description of the book is why I am curious to study it: ”It is a well-established fact that in rich societies the poor have shorter lives and suffer more from almost every social problem … poor health, violence, lack of community life, teen pregnancy, mental illness — is more likely to occur in a less-equal society…

The Spirit Level, based on thirty years of research, takes this truth a step further. One common factor links the healthiest and happiest societies: the degree of equality among their members. Further, more unequal societies are bad for everyone within them-the rich and middle class as well as the poor.

The authors do not merely tell us what’s wrong. They offer a way toward a new political outlook, shifting from self-interested consumerism to a friendlier, more sustainable society.” Neil lived, broadcast and wrote about this deeply held conviction.

Clare Hallward

Interviews with Neil

bluemoosebicycle — Tue, 22 May 2012 14:20:57 +0000

My name is Anne Hallward and I am a friend of Neil’s. He helped me get my start in radio four years ago, during which time I had the chance to interview Neil three times about depression and addiction, about celibacy, and about aging. At Neil’s funeral I put together four brief clips from these interviews to play, so that we could hear Neil’s voice with us in the room.

If you want to hear the full interviews, you can go to the website

www.safespaceradio.com

and type in Neil McKenty in the search window, the interviews on depression and celibacy will come up. The interview on aging is not posted yet, but will be soon. The show provides a live forum for the courageous discussion of difficult subjects. As you can imagine, Neil was such an ideal guest, with his deep commitment to being as real as he could be. happy listening, Anne

Neil McKenty 1924 – 2012

bluemoosebicycle — Sat, 12 May 2012 17:09:32 +0000

On May 12, after a short illness, Neil left on his final journey, surrounded by close friends and family, and comforted by the wonderful caregivers of the Montreal General Hospital. Dearly beloved husband of Catharine; caring uncle to the McKenty and Fleming families; honorary uncle to the John and Clare Hallward family; and Stéphanie Pagano. Neil will be sorely missed for his insight, intellect and enthusiasm for alternative opinion and sparring partners. Respected author of five books, host of Exchange, CJAD’s daily talk show, and McKenty Live on CFCF, Neil zeroed in on the people and issues that mattered to him. He will always be remembered for his outstanding ability to connect with people, to listen, and to go straight to the heart of the matter.

The wake, including Irish music, will be held at the Côte-des-Neiges Funeral Home, 4525 Chemin Cote-des-Neiges, 514 342-8000 on Friday, May 18, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. The service will be on Saturday, May 19, at 3:30 p.m. with a reception following.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Desta, Benedict Labre House, or Nazareth House. Your comments are welcome here and also at www.dignitequebec.com.

PERSONAL NOTE

Neil McKenty — Tue, 01 May 2012 21:09:08 +0000

Sick again. Awaiting results of tests from my doctor. Expect to be be back with you soon. Neil

SHOULD CANADA EXTEND ITS PARTICIPATION IN THE AFGHAN WAR?

Neil McKenty — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 15:35:12 +0000

Stephen Harper is leaving the door open to extending Canada’s military participation in the costly Afghan war. He told the Commons this week that all options are still on the table including extending our stay beyond 2014. We now have 950 military personnell in Afghanistan mostly engaged in helping train Afghan security.

Canadian taxpayers’ bill for the conflict is expected to exceed $14 billion dollars. So far Canada has suffered 158 fatalities and 635 wounded.

Even if we stay is Afghanistan likely to emerge from this conflict a peaceful country?

Should Canada extend its military participation in the Afghan war?

What do you think?

SHOULD CANADA HAVE A LAW GOVERNING ABORTION?

Neil McKenty — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:42:51 +0000

Today the House of Commons is debating a private member’s bill about whether a fetus is a human being.

NDP leader Thomas Mulcair charges this is the Conservative’s way of smuggling the abortion issue back onto the public agenda.

Canada is one of the few western countries that has no law whatsoever governing abortion.

Should Canada have a law governing abortion?

What do you think?

WILL QUEBEC SEPARATE?

Neil McKenty — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 18:39:18 +0000

Former Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff has raised a storm in Canada with an interview he gave in Britain in which he said Quebec will “eventually” separate. Even now, he said, Quebec is master in its own house.

“Now effectively …. we’re almost two separate countries.”

Later Ignatieff said he was a strong federalist and that he had been taken out of context. It is hard to see how.

Will Quebec separate?

What do you think?

SHOULD CANADA HAVE AN ELECTED SENATE?

Neil McKenty — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:30:45 +0000

Today is election day in Alberta – two women leaders vying for office. It looks very much like the Wildrose party will defeat the sitting government. But what caught my attention is the fact that Albertans will elect three federal “senators-in-waiting”. Alberta is the only province with legislation to complement Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s scheme to “elect’ the entire Senate by appointing individuals chosen in this back-room way. Three more provinces are considering joining this game. This is the most harmful and radical item on Harper’s agenda.

But do Canadians want an elected Senate?

An elected Senate would bring the worst of America’s dysfunctional system to Canada, eviscerating Canada’s advantage in making tough, timely decisions with transparency and accountability in the parliamentary system.

Should the Senate be abolished?

Should Canada have an elected Senate?

What do you think?

IS HOCKEY TOO VIOLENT?

Neil McKenty — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 12:54:37 +0000

THE NHL has just suspended Raffi Torres for 25 games for slamming an opposing player into the ice. There are many stories in the media that hockey is too violent.

But is it? Ratings are higher than ever both in the United States and Canada. The sports editor of the Montreal Gazette wrote on Saturday: “Face it: Fans want violence.”

And here is what Don Cherry said about violence: “The fans who pay the money love it. The players don’t seem to mind it; the coaches don’t seem to mind it. So who is it who doesn’t like the fights and the banging around? It’s the reporters who get in free. This is war. This has been going on forever.

Is hockey too violent?

What do you think?