Cold Makes Crazy

I debated for a bit whether or not I would actually post this entry, but in spirit of saying whatever the hell I want and not wanting to self-censor, I decided in the end that I would post it.

I know I've been talking about the cold a lot lately, but it's been on a lot of people's mind here in more then just a small-talk-reserve in the back of your brain kind of way.
The thing is, cold makes some people go a little crazy. Just like excessive heat, wind, rain, drought, or darkness, you've gotta wonder sometimes how much the recent cold spell in the Canadian Prairies has been effecting our brains.

A lot of people, myself included, like to rave about how perfect Canada is. Low crime rates, generally nice people (I have to qualify that just because nobody is perfect), equal opportunities, beautiful countryside, and hot hockey players have all combined to make Canada my perfect and ideal home. However, just like anywhere else, we have our problems. What might be different is that our problems and flaws seem to spring up when the temperature goes way down.

You've probably read the horrifying story that took place on Tuesday when a father of two little girls, aged 1 and 3, took them out for a 400 meter walk at 12:30 am. When it was minus 35 degrees without the wind chill factor. Oh, and the girls were only wearing diapers and t shirts.
Talking about this makes me sick. WRITING about this makes me sick.

There are so many other societal issues that go along with this, I don't even know where to start! The father was drinking. The mother isn't saying where she was or what she was doing when this happened. It happened on a reserve. The father didn't even mention that his children were still outside in the cold until eight hours after he got to the hospital.

Many representatives for the First Nations People say that this kind of behavior is the result of the treatment received in residential schools (what, 100 years ago now?) and neglect from the Canadian government. This is where I tend to get riled, so I'll stop this rant right here.

This doesn't mean that I think that Canada is a worse place because of the winter-crazy, it just means that Canada is a nation like any other: imperfect, but, hopefully, growing and getting better.
Basically, in conclusion, cold makes the crazies crazier and those who just want to report a horrifying tragedy in the news in their nothing blog, seem like extra strength near political ranters.