TORONTO WORLD AND DISPATCH
The views expressed in this editorial do not necessarily reflect the views of the Toronto World and Dispatch, its editors, advertisers or publisher.
- by Nathan O'Rourke
Who is Commander Fred Waterford? Who is his wife, Serena Joy Waterford? Who is Mr. Luke Bankole? How are they connected? Those of us in Canada who have followed the latest in the Gilead-saga - in the former USA - will be surprised.
Given that The Republic of Gilead is a secretive federal State, there is surprisingly much that is already known about The Commander and his wife. Let's start with Serena Joy Waterford.
Festooned in blue from head to toe today in Toronto, Serena Joy has this past week accompanied her husband on his one-person trade mission to Canada. Gilead's secretive economy has been the subject of much speculation in both Canadian academia as well as in our popular press. It is currently unknown whether or not 'The Second American Revolution' of a few years ago has been an economic benefit for our southern neighbours. Who can forget the live broadcast of the storming of the US Capitol, where even the US Vice-President himself was hustled away by security forces just seconds ahead of Capitol rioters?
So, starting with Serena Joy Waterford, she herself is the author (pun intended) of much of what we know about Gilead, as its theonomic sensibilities over-ran American democracy. She bears ideological responsibility for why what was once known as 'The USA', is now huddled mainly along the long west coast - and into the Pacific. With its provisional capital in Anchorage, Alaska.
Mrs. Waterford was, last week, roaming Toronto's streets followed by a Canadian foreign affairs clerk who was showing her pictograms. Why pictograms? Because she cannot be seen reading. These pictures describe stores in plain sight to her, which we know she can very well read for herself. Why do we know that? Because of her book which many academics claim is also the blueprint for women's oppression in Gilead. Written under the cover of claiming to address the world's fertility crisis.
Commander Waterford told World and Dispatch reporters that his tall and stately wife's presence in Toronto with him, was proof of the lies and exaggerations that the exiled-U.S. government was telling about his reformed society. "Women in Gilead embrace their God-given, higher responsibilities with reproduction in these dangerous times - while men sacrificially immerse themselves in the more mucky world of politics and diplomacy. It's quite the reverse from American propaganda, it is women who have the higher calling."
LUKE BANKOLE - GILEAD CRITIC
With views like that, you can imagine the reception The Waterfords received in Toronto. I met one such demonstrator outside of the Royal York Hotel, where the Waterfords were staying - Luke Bankole. A registered refugee from Gilead. A man behind a police barricade, carrying an exaggeratedly, oversized photo of headshots of himself, a woman and a young girl. He claims that the two females with him are his family, kidnapped and now imprisoned in Gilead. He claims his wife is now held in sexual servitude by no less than Commander Waterford himself, she a prisoner in the Waterford home.
So, meet Mr. Bankole. My disclaimer is that by the nature of this subject matter there is no real way to either confirm or disprove his claims. Marriage and birth records in old-Boston are no longer available. But his claims are very much consistent with what can be known about Gilead, otherwise such a secretive State.
So let me end this piece by saying that Mr. Bankole claims that his wife, June Osborne, is Commander Waterford's 'Handmaid'. Allegedly now known only by a patronymic 'Offred', meaning literally, 'of Fred.' That she is being held in sexual slavery, having been made ready for such duty at an alleged training place, known as 'The Red Centre', where other fertile women are held. Bankole claims that his daughter Hannah (Osborne being Hannah's mother) has been assigned to yet another Commander's family to be raised by them, not The Waterfords.
Of course, as with all things Gilead, there is no real way to confirm or disprove Mr. Bankole's claims. Today in Toronto, the Waterfords did not want to talk about that.
Which brings me to this last item. The webpage which blew up the Waterford trade mission to Canada. On the webpage was published 150 to 160 postcard-style, brief pleas from women trapped in Gilead, somehow smuggled out and into American-exile hands here in Toronto. Please follow the link below. Even if a fraction of those postcard claims are true, they are a heartbreaking reminder of what is more than likely true about our new southern neighbours - the human rights abuses there are larger than even I had imagined.
TORONTO WORLD AND DISPATCH
The views expressed in this editorial do not necessarily reflect the views of the Toronto World and Dispatch, its editors, advertisers or publisher.
- by Nathan O'Rourke
Just when you thought it could not get worse. Following up on my last piece about Mr. Luke Bankole. It seems there is now proof - supplied by no less than by the Gilead propaganda machine - that his claims about Handmaids are true.
You remember Bankole. He had been seen outside the Royal York with an oversized picture of himself, his wife, and their child - yelling invective across a police barricade at Commander Fred Waterford, as the latter was being limo'ed around Toronto. (In fairness to the government here, they did break off trade talks with Gilead upon the publication of the 'postcards from the edge'.)
It seems that the Canadian and American-in-exile population was treated to a brief glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes, when the Canadian government won't pull back the curtain to let us see. I will get to that in a minute.
Who should appear on Gilead T.V. but The Commander Waterford, is Wife (with a capital 'W') in a plea for a return of 'their daughter', Nichole Waterford. In a spectacular media 'own-goal', Gilead has just confirmed the claims of one of its more vocal local critics - Luke Bankole. Up until that T.V. piece, we had not really known much about Handmaids, the Bilhah program, or even other of the rumoured Gilead 'institutions' meant to enslave women.
So, who should be standing beside the seated Waterfords but Mr. Bankole's June Osborne. The very one in the oversized photo. Bankole had previously claimed that she was in what amounted to sexual servitude; unfortunately, though, even he admitted that he lacked proof. However, dressed in the formerly rumoured red, 'Offred' (as she was identified) was there for all to see, part of the Waterford family. Yecch. Rather than denying this sexual servitude, media-guru Fred Waterford has now simply confirmed and defended it.
Family values, Gilead style.
The irony is that while the United States was still in business many years ago, Fred Waterford had been a high-priced media executive. Indeed, although information is still murky, Waterford has been said to have been the Sons of Jacob 'media expert', guiding them to power at the Second American Revolution.
However, there is a glaring onion layer to be pealed back here. It's far more than the Waterfords, and far more than even Gilead. In the T.V. piece, Fred Waterford pleaded with the Canadian government to return his kidnapped daughter, Nichole.
What!?
A kidnapped daughter? In Canada? All that can be known about that claim is in the Gilead T.V. segment - the link to it is below.
Here is what I've pieced together, with Mr. Bankole's help. And to be honest, he's not saying everything. Even I can see that.
WHO IS NICHOLE WATERFORD?
Some time in the past month, an escape from Gilead had been orchestrated for a Handmaid, not Bankole's wife. However, this handmaid had arrived in Canada, and sought refugee status while accompanying a baby - who The Waterfords' claim is Baby Nichole With 'Offred' (as she was called) as the surrogate mother, standing with them as part of the 'family'. According to what the Gilead's Bilhah program dictates, Commander Waterford is the biological father.
Yeech.
For me, this is the first official confirmation of the Bilhah Program in Gilead, from which Handmaids come. Who is Bilhah? Me, I'd been to Sunday school and I had never heard of her. Yet in Gilead's religious revolution down south, Bilhah had been hijacked by their patriarchal State - she being the handmaid that Rachel in the Old Testament had given to Jacob so that their family could have children.
Sick enough for you yet? Although these rumours had been spoken of by hundreds of Gilead refugees now living in Little America in Toronto, media genius Fred Waterford has just given his enemies - enemies of God as he calls them - ammunition, by confirming the Bilhah practise in their country.
But I've not yet got to the weird part yet. The one that is perhaps even more troubling. Even I get sidetracked by the ever increasing horrors we, here, discover about our new neighbours to the south.
That onion layer? Somewhere here in Toronto, apparently, is a baby named 'Nichole'. Regardless of what you think about Gilead, the claim is that that baby has recently been trafficked to Canada. Yes, I said 'trafficked'. Say what you want about Fred Waterford who everyone loves to hate anyway, but when it comes to Nichole, no one is talking. Not in the Canadian government, not in the American government-in-exile, and no one in Little America.
Say what you want about Gilead. Are we now condoning child trafficking?
Much more needs to be known about that handmaid presently in Toronto, and why she kidnapped a baby-not-her-own. And no one inside Canadian or American officialdom is talking.
TORONTO WORLD AND DISPATCH
The views expressed in this editorial do not necessarily reflect the views of the Toronto World and Dispatch, its editors, advertisers or publisher.
- by Nathan O'Rourke
My colleagues here at The TWD accuse me of developing quite the obsession with all things Gilead, particularly with New Gilead District Commander Fred Waterford. Indeed, one of our senior political reporters here credits me with unearthing formerly unknown governmental structures within that patriarchal, theonomic State. I, apparently, was the first to distinguish between the local New Gilead District and the larger Gilead as a de facto republic. Obsession covers many sins, I guess.
Further, TWD lawyers have vetted what you are about to read, given that much of what I cannot write is now subject to a publication ban. I know it, but I cannot tell you. Yes, the Security of Information Act (2001) of the Canadian federal parliament now guides much of what you can and cannot read. Address all complaints to the Minister of Public Safety, his link is below. As well, if you think I'm going to mess around with this, consider that a man named Jeffrey Delisle is now doing 20 years for contravening this Act.
The following is what I can say. I hope you are sitting down. It should guide you in imagining what I cannot write.
GILEAD COMMANDERS AS KEYSTONE KOPS?
Commander Fred Waterford is currently in Toronto. Yes, Fred is here. But this is no trade junket. He is currently the guest of International Tribunal for War Crimes, as well as a consortium of security groups which include CSIS, RCMP, The International Criminal Court, as well as a whole host of American-in-exile groups which, quite frankly, I'd assumed had not survived the Second Revolution. Before my attendance at court this week, I had not known that that many of the old-America's federal police and spy agencies now have offices in Fairbanks. The Office of Naval Intelligence now operates out of Pearl Harbor. Who knew? Did you?
That, friends, is all I can write. Fred is here. In prison. The TWD, my newspaper, is currently making a Charter challenge against the publication ban for the rest of the information. Stay tuned.
Oh yes, I can also add this - Mrs. Waterford is also in Toronto. Serena is, apparently, not under arrest, but in prison just the same. I am prohibited by law to say more than that. Unlike her husband, her status is one I can report on. Meaning, her status is unclear. There, I reported on it. More layers. More onion. If this is not clear to you, take a number because even with the other stuff I do know (but cannot report) it is still unclear.
But now to the good part - is anyone wanting to buy a brand new, low mileage, upmarket Mercedes Benz? Depending on how things work out for The Mrs., she may be driving it on the Gardner Expressway soon. At this point, our lawyers want me to stop.
TORONTO WORLD AND DISPATCH
The views expressed in this editorial do not necessarily reflect the views of the Toronto World and Dispatch, its editors, advertisers or publisher.
- by Nathan O'Rourke
If you are just waking perhaps you have not heard. All is not right in Gilead-land. The angels have flown. All may also be 'not right' in Canada or even for that exiled American administration which still hangs around on the periphery.
I had taken a call at 2 am, and was implored to head to a remote part of Pearson Airport, where my press credentials would get me past an outer security perimeter. I had got there by 3 am where, I was told, most of the chaos was being managed and being made sense of, inside of a second, inner security barrier.
Behind this second security perimeter, was a modern jet airliner all kitted out for cargo. It's livery (paintjob) was plain white, with a blue, rear stablizer characteristic of Gilead's jet fleet. It was in a well-lit hangar, with flashing emergency vehicles parked everywhere, every which-way, fussing blue-bibbed refugee personnel with clipboards hovering everywhere…..
And what turned out to be 86 children - all under the age of 12 - the only cargo on the airplane. They were accompanied by 9 older women in grey smocks who were identified to me as 'marthas'. Marthas. A formerly only rumoured class of women in Gilead, set aside to cook, clean, and raise the children of Commanders and other elite. There I was standing next to two of them. ('Martha' being a classification taken from the New Testament story of the sisters Mary and Martha, the latter of whom had seen to the practical needs of Jesus during a home visit.)
Like many in that hangar, I had no idea - not fully - what I was witnessing. That is until one of the blue-bibbed refugee people in my hearing, herself in tears, said that this had been an 'angel's flight'. In the coming days, my bet is that is the name that sticks.
It may be because I have devoted too much of my journalistic career to this lately, that in the midst of only a few tearful reunions in the hangar of maybe three children with their parents, that I smelled trouble. Trouble for Canada, trouble for Americans-in-exile. Like I just wrote, only a few of the children had parents in that hangar, adults already in Canada. The rest of the 86 looked, I dare say, lost.
I talked with two Marthas, but have nothing coherent to report. Not really. They seemed to be in shock, and very unused to talking to men.
These women reminded me of my own father, who himself had been a prisoner of war in Japan during World War 2. He rarely talked about those years - except once he told us that on his emancipation from the POW camp his weight had been down to 80 pounds. He said that he'd been taken to the mess deck of The USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay in September 1945. The cooks had been told to prepare whatever he wanted. In relating this, his weak smile turned to a ghostly look when he concluded, "we almost killed ourselves with the food. I couldn't keep it down. I wretched all over the mess floor."
I thought of my father talking to those two Marthas. They had the same look of terror on their faces. And they'd just been emancipated! I did not get their names. (I caught it from my editor for that oversight.)
Once again, this column has been vetted by The TWD lawyers, for both privacy as well as dreaded national security concerns, real or imagined. I have not touched the non-disclosure agreement I had to sign to leave the security perimeter. Information you read above was not included in that document, the image of which is available at the link below.
But I then as well as now smell trouble. Already I have heard that the government of Nigeria is comparing this 'Angel's Flight' to the kidnapping of the 276 Chibok schoolgirls in that country by Boko Haran, Nigeria's version of The Sons of Jacob. Although so far standing alone with Gilead in the international sphere, one can only wonder what conversations are like in Canadian government offices this morning, not to mention the rented construction trailers that American officials meet in.
One of my colleagues here at TWD says that this could lead to war. Given that Gilead's Districts control a large portion of Americas former and formidable military, Canada should take note.
TORONTO WORLD AND DISPATCH
The views expressed in this editorial do not necessarily reflect the views of the Toronto World and Dispatch, its editors, advertisers or publisher.
- by Nathan O'Rourke
Elvis is in the building.
My mother tells me not to make light of such things. I should listen to her. So let me begin again.
June Osborne has made her way to Canada, and as per this publication date, is now in Toronto reunited with her husband, Luke Bankole; as well as her famous daughter, Nichole. As a journalist I should be chomping at the bit for a scoop involving her, but Mr. Bankole has labeled me personna non grata for some weeks now.
It may have something to do with me securing his 'Fred Waterford' file, the one which Bankole had left in The Commander's prison room during some sort of altercation. Most of the impressive volume of information Bankole had amassed, is covered under a court publication ban. I am also advised that the vast majority of Bankole's documents have now been returned to him.
But that is about me and Mr. Bankole, not the big catch - June Osborne. Now it is not only Ms. Rita Blue who will be testifying at Commander Waterford's trial in provincial Supreme Court. June Osborne herself will be there. While not technically an 'extradition', what is at stake is whether or not The Commander goes from the ITWC to the Criminal Court at The Hague accused of war crimes.
TORONTO WORLD AND DISPATCH
The views expressed in this editorial do not necessarily reflect the views of the Toronto World and Dispatch, its editors, advertisers or publisher.
- by Nathan O'Rourke
The European, Mexican and Canadian press has a history of critiquing The Republic of Gilead - for what can be known about it. Despite all I have written and despite all the academic conferences overseas about it - let's face it, not a lot is known about Gilead.
So before I move on to our own sins, let me concede how bad Gilead actually is - lest you think I am an apologist for them. I am not. Lest you think I am crying for Fred Waterford. I am not.
I am just distressed as to how much Canada and America-in-exile has climbed into their gutter. Both Fred and 'due process' have been killed as a result. Maybe neither of those things mean much to you.
The chief criticism about Gilead is from the remaining first world, it is the very lack of a free press in that patriarchal, theonomic state. What can be known about Gilead's inner workings and human rights abuses still come mainly from the many refugees making their way into Canada - particularly women. Indeed, Gilead makes North Korea look like a liberal democracy on many regards. There are very few Rita Blue's, June Osborne's or Luke Bankole's.
Far far fewer than refugees from North Korea to piece together the extent of Gilead's crimes.
So I will not repeat what you can read just about anywhere else. The only reason why someone would not say, 'Gilead is a death-state' is that we actually do not know that for sure. We rely on anecdotes, albeit in this case numerous and consistent themes in them. But accurate information about the true discrimination in Gilead against women, LGBTQ+, Jehovah Witnesses, Masons, or mainline religious people just doesn't exist.
CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK
So let me concede what is speculated and move on. Because the first world is starting to act as if it, too, should not play by the rules of a civilized world. The first world - Canada and the exiled government of The United States to whit - is simply starting to act as if by the same rules as what we fear down south.
Take the case of Commander Fred Waterford, recently found hanged mere yards south of the Canadian border with the former-Vermont. Does anyone really care about Fred? I do not. He was found within what is euphemistically called 'the disputed area', an area of convenient fuzzy jurisdiction. A piece of real estate located on the former-American side of the border (in New England) that is neither under the control of Gilead, nor the Americans, nor even any of the many groups which are organized internally in resistance against Gilead. Certainly not Canada, whose jurisdiction ended about 20 yards north of where dear Fred was found, at the 45th Parallel.
Remember that name: Fred Waterford. A former prisoner of the International Tribunal for War Crimes, held in Toronto for atrocities, and crimes against his own population - namely, the New Gilead District (Boston) of Gilead. Many other outlets or editorials vilify (appropriately) Commander Waterford.
But this is not that. First world law systems are predicated on the assumption that even the lowest of the low are afforded due process.
Do any of my readers even care if this attack on due process really matters?
Ok, I am told that Canada was simply responding to a deportation request from Gilead. Not an extradition, because Gilead was not retrieving one of its Commanders because of any crime which he may have committed against them. He had not. His crimes were against humanity, and in a dramatic last-minute action, an Ontario Superior Court had both refused his request for a 'plea deal', as well as the ICC's request that he be transferred to The Hague.
He was ordered to be released, that's what the Superior Court had ruled. But he was to be deported, in essence released to officers of Gilead at Canada's southern border. Canada and Gilead had its own 'Bridge of No Return'. Technically speaking, it was none of Canada's business that the territory on the other side of the bridge was in dispute.
What happened between then and the discovery of his body will more than likely remain embedded forever in the quagmire known as Gilead.
The subsequent hubbub in Little America is perhaps to be excused. What cannot be excused is both of Canada and the exiled-American government perhaps knowingly sending a man to his death.
Yes, even Fred Waterford. Do I have to quote Martin Niemöller to you?